University of Sheffield History Society

University of Sheffield History Society Welcome to the University of Sheffield History Society! Hello you lovely HSTSOC-ers, welcome to our page! HSTSOC XX

Keep an eye on this page, as this is where we will publish all of the information about upcoming HSTSOC events, opportunities and shenanigans throughout the year. So, let us introduce the HSTSOC committee for 2022/23

PRESIDENT: Daisy Vogel
INCLUSIONS OFFICER: Mary Hazelgrave
SECRETARY: Eliza Bellis
TREASURER: Kate Porter
PUBLICITY: Mairead Lyons
EDUCATION AND CAREERS: Maisie Clarke
CHARITY: Verity Hastings and Isaac Howarth
VOLUNTEERING: Anna Heath
SOCIAL: Aine Connell, Annie Hourahane and Frances Wall
NETBALL: Iesha Price
FOOTBALL: Gwyn Roberts
FRESHERS REPS:

Please do not hesitate to contact any of us with queries or comments! Or alternatively, you can contact us at: [email protected] with any questions you might have!

30/09/2026

šŸŖ HISTORY BITE 6: SHEFFIELD CASTLE & THE FUTURE

Did you know that Sheffield Castle was, at its height, the largest castle in the North?

But sadly, thereā€™s not very much of it left. Damage to the castle from the 17th century onwards means that there is very little to be seen above ground.

But today, weā€™re going behind the scenes and looking at how Sheffield City Council and the Friends of Sheffield Castle (in collaboration with Wessex Archaeology) are going to turn the castle into the cityā€™s newest heritage attraction.

23/09/2026

šŸŒ³ HISTORY BITE 5: FRANK FEARNE AND WADSLEY & LOXLEY COMMON

In 1782 Frank Fearne was obsessed with watches, but lived a life of poverty so couldnā€™t afford one. He was always known as a bit of a ā€˜wrong unā€™, but proved himself when he planned to murder and rob local watchmaker Nathan Andrews.

Several witnesses saw the pair together, and when Andrews was discovered Fearne was arrested, tried in York, and executed. His body was brought up to Loxley Common and gibbeted.

Itā€™s such a sad story connected to such a beautiful place.

17/09/2026

šŸ˜HISTORY BITE 4: KELHAM ISLAND & LIZZIE

Did you know there were elephants in Sheffield?

Well, there was one elephant in particular called Lizzie, who was used during WW1 to pull mu*****ns carts around the cityā€™s steelworks.

She was quite a case and apparently used to steal peopleā€™s dinners with her trunk.

No one really knows what happened to her after the war, but today she has been honoured by the Herd of Sheffield sculpture trail, in which artists and local schools painted elephants which were auctioned off in aid of Sheffield Childrenā€™s Hospital.

05/08/2026

šŸ§» HISTORY BITE 3- MANOR LODGE

Join Bess at Manor Lodge- the prison of both Mary, Queen of Scots, and Cardinal Wolsey.

In 1530 Cardinal Wolsey was imprisoned at Manor Lodge. He had been Henry VIIIā€™s Lord Chancellor, and was highly influential in the Tudor court (just ask Hilary Mantel!).

He was slow to react to the annulment of the marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, so Henry VIII imprisoned him and sent him to Manor Lodge for 18 days.

Cardinal Wolsey started to display symptoms of what he would later die of- dysentery. This is key, as we still have the toilet which would have been in his tower.

I canā€™t help putting two and two together...

24/07/2026

šŸ’§ HISTORY BITES 2: DALE D**E RESERVOIR

Join Bess on a (very windy) trip to Dale D**e Reservoir, where 114 million cubic metres of water burst out of the embankment, and into Sheffield.

Sheffieldā€™s population had grown massively in the 40 years leading up to the Great Flood. The water at Dale D**e was needed to supply this swelling population, and so the Sheffield Waterworks Company built the reservoir.

However, on March 11th 1864, the embankment burst. Water flooded out of the reservoir and into the Loxley Valley, leaving destruction in its path. Buildings were destroyed, and over 240 people died.

This was the worst civilian catastrophe in Victorian history.

16/07/2026

šŸ° HISTORY BITE 1: CONISBROUGH CASTLE
Join Bess for a whistlestop tour of Conisbrough Castle, looking at the Southampton Plot of 1415, which was forged there.

Richard Earl of Cambridge (also known as Richard of Conisbrough) and several other Yorkshire nobles plotted to kill Henry V at Southampton just before Agincourt in 1415. Their plan was to depose Henry V and place Edmund of Langley on the throne instead. The nobles met here, at Conisbrough, to forge the plan.

But the plot was foiled! Richard of Conisbrough was executed and Henry V went on
to continue fighting in the 100 Yearsā€™ War, eventually winning at Agincourt.

Richard, Earl of Cambridge did something very important, however, for later conflicts. His son was Richard of York (who gave battle in vain šŸŒˆ). York made a bid for the throne in 1460, and headed the Yorkist army during the Wars of the Roses.

Conisbrough Castle, a Yorkist castle with a fascinating history, is easily accessible by bus or train- perfect for a day out!

06/07/2026

Introducing our new segment History Bites!
Bess has just finished her first year, and will be our historical tour guide to Sheffield over the summer. Expect dressing up, castles, plots, (lots of) steel, and stories from across the city all summer long.

PAID OPPORTUNITY! Beginning To Now are looking for researchers for on-camera YouTube documentaries. Take a look at the l...
02/02/2026

PAID OPPORTUNITY! Beginning To Now are looking for researchers for on-camera YouTube documentaries. Take a look at the link in our bio to apply, you can also find more information on this form ā¤ļø

The Azerbaijan Society have invited us to a screening of ā€˜Ali and Ninoā€™ in the SU on Monday the 2nd of February! To sign...
29/01/2026

The Azerbaijan Society have invited us to a screening of ā€˜Ali and Ninoā€™ in the SU on Monday the 2nd of February! To sign up and secure your place visit the Google form linked in our bio ā¤ļø

Welcome back to uni HSTSOC members! We hope exam season is treating you well! We have sent out a few emails to you regar...
24/01/2026

Welcome back to uni HSTSOC members! We hope exam season is treating you well! We have sent out a few emails to you regarding the ongoing situation with the strikes. On Thursday the 29th of January at 12:30pm the UCU is hosting a demonstration outside of firth court. Our committee will be present so you will see many friendly faces. We hope to see you all there!

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