Pre-booking not required.

Dig an excavation pit in the heritage garden behind the library to reveal some everyday items from the past. Find out about the history of the garden and the family home known as Oriel House. Event for families and children age 5 - 12+

An opportunity for children to have a hands-on experience to see how an archaeological dig works. Using tools, they will find out how discoveries are made, the past is revealed and we can learn more about the ordinary lives of people who lived long ago.

Fun activities with earlier finds from the garden. Exploration of the site with garden volunteers. Come at the start or drop in during the time slot.

Thin gloves advisable. We can provide if not available. Hand washing facilities on site.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required.

Self-guided trail starting at Broomhill’s Percy Cane Heritage Garden on to Sheffield Botanical Gardens ending at Sheffield General Cemetery. This trail will discover some of the people connected with the gardens and buildings on the route.

A gentle stroll for all the family, fun run or cycle to find out about some of the heritage treasures on your doorstep. A trail guide can be collected at the start at Broomhill Library and Percy Cane Heritage Garden (when open) or be downloaded to your phone. Refreshments and places to sit or picnic are at each main venue.

The library has steps to the main entrance and front garden. The rear garden has uneven ground but the gardens can be viewed in part from the street or driveway. Trail guides will be available from the entrance even when the library is closed. Access to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens will be during opening hours 8.00am- 7.45pm each day. Sheffield General Cemetery is open 24 hours. Facilities vary at each venue. 

This trail is best started at Broomhill Library. It may be completed in one outing, or it could be done in stages on different days to suit. There is plenty to explore at each main garden/park location. 

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required.

A guided tour following the new ‘Three Gardens Eighteen People Trail” from Broomhill Community Library to Sheffield Botanical Gardens where the tour will continue.

An opportunity to join others for a gentle walk downhill while finding out some of the everyday histories of the people connected to the Percy Cane Heritage Garden and Oriel House (Broomhill Community Library) and other places of interest on the route.

The guided tour is planned to take about 1 hour and continue with a new guide at the Botanical Gardens.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days websiteI

In person event. Pre-booking not required

Paul Iseard, who ran the Famous Sheffield Shop, will open the ‘fork talk’ with a quiz, before taking us on the journey of the humble table fork from the Persian Empire to the British dining room. Bring an item of cutlery to share and test Paul.

Sheffield is the home of cutlery making. At this event we will discover the fascinating story of one of our everyday objects - the fork. A relatively recent introduction to our daily mealtimes but what did people use before and how did this new custom evolve.
Also an opportunity to find out about that mystery cutlery piece you may have hidden away at home.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required.

Tour of the Percy Cane heritage garden with Jill Sinclair. Join the garden volunteers in exploring some of the everyday tools past and present. Bring along a photo or artefact from your garden shed! A chance to catch up with all the progress volunteers have made in the now listed heritage garden since the wall collapse. Come and chat to us about any quirky tools you have inherited, find out about some of the garden implements of the past and present. Join us for a garden session and a cuppa after your tour.

The front garden is only accessible via flight of steps with handrail; the rear garden is down the slightly sloping driveway at the side of the library. The rear garden has some small steps and uneven pathways. Outdoor footwear essential. Toilet available inside the library only accessible via stairs.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking preferred

We shall walk down Oakholme Road and find out about some of its inhabitants - Mayors, Masters Cutler, steel manufacturers, education and a new Bishop!

Oakholme Road was developed and named after a property called Oakholme which is now part of the University of Sheffield property portfolio. We will find out about early neighbourhood land disputes and how they were resolved. We will also learn about the inhabitants of Oakholme Road - from the enormous houses to the semi-detached properties at the bottom of the road. On the way we will find out about the inhabitants - solicitors, steel manufacturers, early schools on the road, brewers and a large-scale provision merchant who lived here.

The walk is down Oakholme Road and finishes before the junction with Endcliffe Vale Road. We will be going on to University of Sheffield property so please do not bring any dogs. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for the walk and come prepared for whatever the weather does!

Estimated duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Maximum number of people: 20

Booking opens: August 20

Booking closes: September 16

Booking email: judith.pitchforth@broomhill-library.org.uk

Booking website:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ashdelloakholme-road-local-history-walk-tickets-1992714620071?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required

Interested in Broomhill’s heritage, family history and archiving? Do you have information on local people, places and stories? Come and join us as we take our first steps to develop an accessible resource for the community.

Local historians Eva Wilkinson and Lee Kenny gathered a wealth of information on people, places and stories that happened in Broomhill over many years. Some of these are only paper records and deserve to be made more accessible. Others have taken up the mantle and added to this knowledge. Following the interest shown last year the library would like to host a regular local heritage group to explore our everyday histories and find ways to share these in a meaningful way to our diverse community.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required

How an ordinary Sheffield family became grand - and ordinary again!

 Geoffrey Harbord will explore how over 200 years the Staniforth family became leading scythe and sickle manufacturers before returning to obscurity. How social and local history sources can make sense of your family legends. Followed by an opportunity to discuss ways forward in your family history journey and to view Eva Wilkinson’s Broomhill archive.

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website

Pre-booking not required

Experience the everyday lives of the residents of Oriel House from the 1870’s through to the 1950’s. House tour, exhibition, and afternoon tea for today’s visitors. Activities for children.

Oriel House, now Broomhill Community Library, was from 1870 until 1956 a home for families and their servants. Research has uncovered something of their lives. Two floors of the library have been largely untouched and some of the original features are still to be seen. The mystery of this past will be revealed!

Read the event listing on the Sheffield Heritage Open Days website