Residential transformation for historic former city centre girls’ school
One of Sheffield city centre’s oldest buildings, which was once a school for the education of poor girls, is being transformed into apartments.
Work is currently being completed on the £2m conversion of the listed row of properties at St James Row – the late 18th Century Sheffield Girls’ Charity School – into 30 luxury studio, one and two bedroom apartments.
One of the few survivors of Sheffield’s Georgian past, research reveals that the buildings in the Row have had multiple uses over generations since they were built.
One of the most important properties in the block is Number 15, St James’ Row, the former Girls’ Charity School, dating back to 1786.
The school was funded by voluntary subscription to provide education for 60 underprivileged girls between the ages eight and 16 and train them for domestic service.
Another building was the vicarage to the Parish Church which would eventually become Sheffield Cathedral.
Like the rest of the buildings in the Row, by the 20th century the school had been converted into office space.
Managing the site on behalf of owners Broomgrove Properties is Sheffield lettings firm Martin & Co.
Branch manager Harriet Cooke said: “This has been a £2m project that has taken many months to complete, mainly due to the developers being completely aware of the site’s historical importance at the heart of the city.
“Even though so much had been lost, there were some original staircases and features like windows, bannisters and balustrades that have been retained and restored to give the apartments a genuine sense of the site’s past while also featuring all the things people expect of 21st century living, including free fibre internet access to all the apartments.”
The first phase of properties will be available to rent from August 21, while a second phase will become available in September and the final will be released in early November.
