1800s

In the nineteenth century the Park Hill area was made up of old quarries, untidy waste ground, steep alleyways and some of the worst slums in Sheffield.  This densely populated area consisted of 2 or 3 storey back-to-back housing around central courtyards.  Often there would be just one standpipe for around a hundred people.  This, combined with the lack of any proper sewage system, allowed diseases such as typhus, dysentery and cholera to ravage the area.  In 1864 back to back housing of this type was prohibited.

Map of 1823

During the 1870's Sheffield Corporation built drains and sewers through the city.  Although originally the untreated raw sewage was sent directly into the rivers, at least the sanitation within the housing areas like Park Hill was improved.  During the 1880's the provision of water supplies passed from a private company to the corporation and the first sewage treatment plant was built.

Map 0f 1881