Historic hall a step closer to reopening to public

A campaign group which aims to save a Grade II listed mansion has announced it is seeking a two-year agreement with Sheffield City Council to bring the building back into community use.

Meersbrook Hall has been unused since 2023, but now, a community assets transfer (CAT) is being sought to give control to campaigners.

If agreed, the council would retain ownership and the Friends of Meersbrook Hall would take on day-to-day management of the building.

"We'll slowly breathe life back into the building, testing out different uses and bringing the community in," Mark Cordle, from the group, said.

They were initially granted a two-month access licence, which began in August, and have plans for community events and fundraisers, including a 'big clean-up weekend' and community picnic.

Cordle said the group would now work with the council "over the period of potentially two years to develop a proper business plan for taking the building on".

Meersbrook Hall was built as a family home in the 18th Century before being bought by the Sheffield Corporation in 1887.

It became the Ruskin Museum three years later, exhibiting the art collection of Victorian writer John Ruskin until 1953 when it was converted to council offices.

Heeley Trust, a Sheffield community organisation, occupied the heritage site from 2016 to 2023, and it has since lain dormant.

"It's been closed up and unloved for the last couple of years. Unless we pulled together and made a plan for it, the worry was it would continue to deteriorate", Cordle added.

The Friends group believe roof repairs, mould removal, and accessibility improvements may be needed before the building is ready for the public to use.

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