The History of the Building

The oldest parts of Bishops’ House were built in the 1500s. It’s one of the oldest timber-framed building in Sheffield, typical of a large farmhouse or small manor house from that time. There are only three other surviving buildings of a similar date in Sheffield; Carbrook Hall (now the Carbrook Inn), Broomhall and the Queen’s Head pub (previously known as the Hall in the Ponds).

It isn’t known who Bishops’ House was built for but is probably about the right size for a wealthy gentleman or farmer who owned his own land. When it was first built Bishops’ House followed a traditional medieval plan. Builders at the time preferred to construct buildings only one room deep to make it easier to erect the roof.

Bishops’ House had a hall open to the roof with a kitchen next door and private rooms for the family. The hall would have been the main living space where people ate, conducted business and entertained guests. There would have originally been two external doors in the kitchen which were blocked up in later times.

The drawing (right) was completed in 1992 based on the 1823
original by Edward Blore. Click on it for a larger version (which children might like to colour in!)

Bishops’ House 1500 - 1600
The windows were originally unglazed with wooden shutters or fabric to keep the weather out. The windows were also used to let smoke out from the fire and tallow (animal fat) candles. Window glass wasn’t very often in ordinary houses until the late 1500s.

In the mid 1500s the west wing was rebuilt with a second storey with oak flooring. There were four rooms; a parlour and a buttery on the ground floor and two rooms upstairs. The second floor was probably reached by ladder like stairs coming up from the parlour.

The parlour would have been mainly used as a bedroom, with the upper rooms providing additional sleeping space and storage. The buttery was used to store butts (barrels) of beer. Most people at this time drank small (weak) beer as water was usually not safe for drinking.

The Squint - today there is a small window on the first floor landing opposite the bedroom door. It was dates from before 1550 and was probably originally situated were the door next to it is now. The window or squint would have been used for looking at what was happening in the hall below.

The buttery was used to store butts (barrels) of beer. Most people at this time drank small (weak) beer as water was usually not safe for drinking.

The drawing on the right shows the layout of the house during the mid 1500’s. The two upstairs chambers above the parlour and buttery would have been reached by ladder like stairs from the parlour.

Bishops’ House 1600—1642
After 1600 improvements were made to the house making it a more comfortable place to live in. Windows and fireplaces were added to improve the light and warmth within the house. Wooden panelling and plasterwork were added to make the rooms less draughty and for decoration. These alterations suggest the owners of the house were reasonably wealthy with a disposable income for home improvements.

Two fireplaces were added into the west wing, in the parlour and the chamber above. Around the same time a new window was put in each room. Decorative plasterwork was also added over the fireplace of the chamber. It is decorated with popular designs of the period including grapes, vine leaves and figs. The ceiling in the parlour was also decorated with Tudor roses.

The hall was split into two storeys with the addition of a floor. The new room could have been used for storage as it would have been the warmest and driest in the house. Two windows on this floor were added to improve the lighting and a new door connected it to the west wing.

New wooden panelling was added to the hall showing the rooms importance as a reception area for guests. The panelling is beautifully carved with interlacing strap-like bands known as strapwork. This wood work and some of the furniture currently on display show the influence of Flemish design from the early 1600s. In the central carved panel “WB 1627” is visible and is thought to stand for William Blythe the first recorded owner of the house.

The drwaing (right) shows the layout of the house from 1600—1662. Two fireplaces have been added as well as additional chambers over the hall and kitchen.
Downstairs

Bishops’ House 1642—1753
The next phase of alterations to Bishops’ House were probably completed by the second William Blythe, son of the first known owner of the house. He built a stone two storey extension to the back of the west wing. This added two extra rooms, a cellar and a new staircase. This staircase was a spiral, which was later replaced by the staircase you see today. The original timbers on the ground floor were replaced by stonework.

Wooden panel walls were added to separate the rooms and decorative plaster was inserted over the fireplace in the New Chamber (now displayed at the bedroom).

William Blythe was a Captain in the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War. He was one of the two officers who were in charge of the demolition of Sheffield Castle in 1648. It is recorded that a “Capt Blithe” paid £3 for “bords and plaster” from the castle. These may have been used to make some of the improvements to the house.

William Blythe died in 1665 having received a free pardon from Charles II for his part in the English Civil War against the Royalists. A copy of the inventory produced on his death also survives. It shows more furnishings than in the previous list, and extra items including books, time-pieces and close stools (toilets) appear. He also possessed more silver than his father.

The house remained in the family for a further 92 years. The last Blythe to live in the house was Samuel, minister at Attercliffe. On his death in 1753 his son sold the house to William Shore.

Bishops’ House 1753—1974
After 1753 the house was let to a farmer and his labourer. The house was divided into two separates homes. In the east wing the alterations included adding an extra staircase, a dairy, new windows, partition walls and fireplaces. All the current external doors were present at this time.

In 1886 the house passed to the Corporation. Around this time some renovation work was done on the house and the surrounding barns and outbuildings were demolished. No major alterations were made to the house during this time. The house was let to employees of the Recreation Department and their families until 1974.

In 1975 and 1976 extensive renovations to the building and interior took place. For more information and images of the renovation process please see the Renovation of Bishops’ House Find Out More. Bishops’ House opened as a museum in July 1976.

This plan shows the layout of the rooms in Bishops’ House in 1971 before the renovation project began. The building at this time was divided into two separate houses. The house division is shown by the colour of the room names.

^ top