Zion Graveyard Attercliffe
Location/Address
Zion Lane/Lawrence Street, Sheffield, S9 3RG
Type
Other site, structure or landscape
Assets that cannot fit any of the other categories. This category includes sites of archaeological interest, where the original form and function may not be apparent without the use of archaeological techniques and interpretation.Description
Zion Graveyard is a precious piece of Attercliffe history with deep roots in the non-conformist tradition of worship in the Lower Don Valley. The graveyard was most likely formed in the early 1800s, with known burials dating from 1803 to 1916.
Sometime in the 1760s a group of Calvanistic dissenters met on the site that later became the Congregational Church (demolished and now a car storage area). In 1793 they opened a temporary chapel where the Sabbath School now stands, and in 1805 moved into a plain brick building across the lane.
The congregation experienced mixed fortunes until the arrival, in 1857, of an impressive young preacher, Rev John Calvert (1832-1922). He replaced the 1805 chapel with a new brick thousand-seat building, which opened in 1863 - the Sunday School had been rebuilt in 1854. Calvert's ministry was the heyday of Zion. He attracted larger congregations than any other Attercliffe place of worship and formed three other branch churches among the steelworks and cramped housing in the bustling, polluted valley.
By 1903 Zion was the biggest Congregational church in the city, and to accommodate hundreds of Sunday School pupils an Institute was built alongside, which opened on 1911. The graveyard was reduced in size to allow for the new building. Zion's influence declined after the 1920s, but the dwindling congregations survived the war, a devastating storm and clearance until the congregation amalgamated with Darnall Congregational Church and closed the Zion Chapel in 1969.
The chapel building was reused for a period as a warehouse until it was gutted by a fire in 1987, leading to its subsequent demolition. The graveyard and former Sunday School (Locally Listed) are all that now remain.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
PlaceAge
c.1800Rarity
Surviving small burial ground of the demolished Congregationalist Zion Chapel, provided for the internment of non-conformist Christians in the local area, including several historically notable persons.Architectural and Artistic Interest
The graveyard includes a variety of 19th century headstones (some of which have been laid flat), ledgers and table tombs with several retaining cast iron rails. These possess artistic interest as examples of non-conformist grave markers for the area.Group Value
The Zion Graveyard is next to the site of the former Congregational Church, and across the lane from the chapel's former Sunday School (Locally Listed). Although many historic buildings have been lost, the surrounding lanes retain their historic cobbles which contributes towards the legibility of the areas history.Historic Interest
The graveyard has associative historical interest in relation to the development of non-conformist faith in South Yorkshire and the history of the Zion Chapel in Attercliffe more specifically. The graves contained in the plot are of great historic interest both in terms of family history and the history of the region. One notable grave is that of the Read family, including Mary Anne Rawson . Joseph Read (1774-1837), of Wincobank Hall, had inherited from his father the precious-metal refinery that became the Sheffield Smelting Company. His wife Elizabeth Read (1778-1865) and daughter Mary Anne Rawson (1801-1887) were notable and energetic anti-slavery campaigners. Mary Anne's husband, William Bacon Rawson, died in 1829 after two years of marriage, leaving her financially independent. She became a prominent campaigner for the abolition of slavery and supported educational and social causes at home and abroad. She built the village school that is now Upper Wincobank Undenominational Chapel. Her sister, Emily Read (1808-1883), taught Sunday School classes at Zion and Wincobank for seventy years. Another daughter, Elizabeth 'Eliza' Read (1803-1851), married a Nottingham hosiery manufacturer, William Wilson (1800-1866). Their sons were Henry Joseph Wilson (1833-1914), Liberal MP for Holmfirth 1885-1912, and John Wycliffe Wilson JP (1836-1921), Lord Mayor of Sheffield in 1902. The Read family ran the Sheffield Smelting Company, which operated for 263 years until its closure in 2023 (latterly trading as Thessco).Archaeological Interest
The investigation of burial ground has potential to further our understanding of its age, use and design and the lives of local inhabitants. The burials themselves are also of potential future archaeological interest.Landmark Status
Although hidden, The Zion Graveyard is well known in the local area, having an active Friends group which hosts regular open days: https://ziongraveyard.chessck.co.uk/Images and Documents
Date Listed
08 May 2025
Last Updated
27 Nov 2024
Find Out More
Find out more about this Asset in South Yorkshire Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/south-yorkshire/asset/15897
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/south-yorkshire/asset/15897