An installation at Sheffield Station is allowing passengers to experience a long-hidden stretch of the River Sheaf for the first time in more than a century.
THE new River Sheaf Lightwell, unveiled on Platform Five, provides sight, sound and even the scent of the river as it flows beneath the station – a route it has taken unseen since the mid-19th century.
The project, led by the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust, represents six years of work and persistence. Designer Ric Bingham played a central role in bringing the concept to life, supported by engineers, local organisations and charitable funders.
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Contributions came from a range of groups, including the Sheffield Town Trust, Sheffield City Council and regional foundations, alongside support from transport operators and private companies. Volunteers involved in the trust’s Hidden Rivers Tours also helped raise funds for the scheme.
The lightwell allows daylight to reach the river for the first time in generations, creating what organisers describe as a striking and immersive experience. It includes artistic elements, featuring haiku poems written by local young people alongside a contribution from Yorkshire writer and poet Ian McMillan.
Construction and installation were carried out by local firms, with specialist metalwork and finishing provided by regional manufacturers. Station operator EMR also backed the initiative.
Visitors are encouraged to walk along Platform Five, towards Chesterfield, where the installation offers a unique vantage point into the culvert below.
“For the first time since the middle of the 19th century, passengers are able to hear, glimpse, smell and feel the Sheaf as it makes way under the station,” said the trust on its Facebook page. “We’re biased, but we think it looks great! Next time you’re at the station, take a moment to walk along Platform 5 towards Chesterfield and you can enjoy the amazing sense of our river.”
The River Sheaf was central in shaping Sheffield’s geography, industry and identity from early Anglo-Saxon times. Rising from streams such as Oldhay Brook and Totley Brook, the river once marked boundaries between historic kingdoms and later county lines, giving Sheffield its name. From the 17th century, it powered more than 160 mills, supporting the city’s renowned steel and cutlery industries. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, much of the river was culverted to allow urban expansion, becoming hidden and heavily polluted.
In recent years, restoration projects have begun to uncover sections of the Sheaf, improving environmental conditions and reconnecting people with the river. Initiatives like the Castlegate regeneration scheme and conservation efforts aim to enhance wildlife habitats and public access.
