Thornbridge Outdoors – A Brief History
Thornbridge Outdoors has an interesting history which dates back to the days of William the Conqueror. Go back in time and find out more…
There is evidence of land ownership and a subsequent dwelling on the site dating back to the times of William the Conqueror. At this time it was known as ‘Thorne Breach’ (the clearing in the thorn woods). The last five owners over the past three centuries have had the most influence on Thornbridge as we see it today:
In 1896, George Marples bought Thornbridge Hall and lived there for approximately 30 years. As well as making significant modifications and enlargements to the house, he built gatehouses, glasshouses, water gardens, a stable block and installed central heating, electricity and built his own private waiting rooms for the local railway station (Great Longstone).
The archway and adjoining buildings that are now the entrance and reception to Thornbridge Outdoors were built by George Marples as his private access to the railway station. The buildings provided waiting rooms for Marples and his guests, recreation facilities for his servants, and the end two cottages housed some of his staff. Note how the driveway from the archway continues directly across the road to Thornbridge Hall. Other features of note are George Marples’ Coat of Arms carved in stone over the archway and the tying rings for carriage horses underneath.
Marples also had the Farm House built for his gamekeeper. Dog kennels and pheasant hatcheries were attached to its round house. There is a replica of the Farm House’s roundhouse as a dovecote in the grounds of the Riverside Hotel in Ashford in the Water, where Marples’ lady friend Dorothy Green lived. Later his fiancée, he would go on to leave her his estate, before dying in 1929.
Thornbridge Hall was bought by Charles Boot, a Sheffield Entrepreneur who built several estates in Sheffield; many with local Derbyshire names. Boot’s contributions to the Hall and the gardens include fireplaces, chandeliers, columns, and statuary, most of which were bought from stately homes about to be demolished (e.g. Derwent Hall {now under the reservoirs at Bamford}, Harlaxton Hall, Clumber, and from Pinewood Studios where Boot was a director).
During the last war, some of the accommodation at Thornbridge was taken over by Birkdale Preparatory School. The younger pupils along with the headmaster and his wife took over The Farm House, whilst the other staff and pupils stayed in the stables.
In 1945, following Boot’s death, Sheffield City Council bought Thornbridge Hall and it became a Teacher Training College for women from 1948 -1975. The winter gardens at the Hall were demolished and extra bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets and a large dining room were constructed. The three red brick classrooms (now the Base Camp, Wyedale/Lathkill/Cheedale rooms and Stores buildings) were built.
The first 60 students commenced their studies in 1948 with a Principal and 7 teaching staff. Wyedale Lodge was built in 1965 to provide extra lecture / tutorial space which became necessary as student numbers increased to a peak of 240 with 24 academic staff in 1968 / 69.
Between 1969–1971 student numbers declined and Thornbridge Hall College merged with Totley Hall College in Sheffield. The final teacher training class was held in the Wyedale Science room (now The Base Camp building) in December 1975.
From 1975 – 1997, still owned by Sheffield City Council, the Hall became a multi-purpose Education Centre, providing residential experiences for Sheffield children. The Lodge and The Farm House were converted to accommodate residential groups and the science room was converted into toilets, showers, a kitchen and dining room for the campers. The Main Hall and the stables were also used as residential accommodation for pupils providing approximately 160 bed spaces in total and camping facilities for up to 40.
In 1997, Sheffield City Council sold Thornbridge Hall and the formal gardens to the Hunt family, but still retained ownership of the 30 acre ‘Wyedale’ site (what we know today as Thornbridge Outdoors previously known as Thornbridge Education Centre).
In 2002, the present owners, the Harrison Family, bought Thornbridge Hall. They have carried out extensive work both internally and externally with the aim of restoring the Hall and gardens to their former glory.
In 2003, Thornbridge Education Centre became Thornbridge Outdoors. Whilst continuing to provide residential / outdoor and environmental experience for Sheffield children, it has now become far more than just an ‘Education Centre’.
