THE HOLE IN THE ROAD SHEFFIELD - Sheffield's most famous landmark

THE HOLE IN THE ROAD SHEFFIELD - Sheffield's most famous landmark
A short video of The Hole In The Road in Sheffield city centre, surely Sheffield's most famous landmark with its infamous fish tank.
Leave a comment below with what you remember most about Sheffield's Hole In The Road
The Hole In The Road is perhaps one of Sheffield's most well known famous landmarks. It's no longer there now, having been replaced by Castle Square Roundabout tram stop.
The Hole In The Road was an underpass in the centre of Castle Square roundabout that was built in 1968.
Underneath the roads a labyrinth of walkways, shops and passageways was created to bring a state of the art area of Sheffield which was groundbreaking and extremely popular at first.
One of the most famous features of The Hole In The Road was the fishtank that was built into the walls containing 2000 gallons of water and usually around 20 fish including carp, goldfish, bream and roaches.
In the centre of the hole in the road was usually a flower feature and around the central part of this Sheffield landmark were benches where shoppers used to sit and rest their weary feet after a hard day shopping for bargains in Sheffield city centre.
To get down under the roads into the hole in the road there were pedestrian escalators or on other parts there were simple walkways that at first were popular but as time went on became very run down.
In 1994 The Hole In The Road met its end having been run down for many years. It was closed and filled in with the rubble from the demolition of Hyde Park Flats.
The famous Sheffield landmark was basically closed and filled in to make way for the brand new Supertram network with the Park Square Roundabout stop being located right above where the hole in the road would have been.
What started out as a subterranean shopping centre turned out being a run down and often scary place to be, with the benches being often filled with alcoholics or the homeless who found refuge in this underground location.
Shops that were located in or around the hole in the road were C&A, Thorntons, Walsh's, House Of Fraser, GT News and more. Back in those days this was still the hub of Sheffield shopping but as business moved further up town towards Division Street it soon started getting very quiet indeed.
Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker talked about the landmark when asked about places that inspired him, saying: "One of my earliest memories is of being taken there as a young child to look at the fish tank that was set into one wall, as a reward for not causing too much trouble during a shopping expedition.
“When it was first built I guess it was seen as a symbol of Sheffield's determination to be a 'City of the Future', but it soon became the favourite hang-out of the local wino population. They would occupy the long curved benches that ran around the circumference of the building leaving little or no room for weary shoppers."
As you can tell the Sheffield Hole In The Road landmark was both fondly remembered and disliked in equal measure but one thing is for sure, every Sheffielder remembers it.
Definitely a part of Sheffield's history
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[@SheffieldVideos]

Thanks for watching! For more Sheffield video you can subscribe to the Sheffield Videos KZbin Page here 👉 bit.ly/sheffieldvideos

[@grantgilbert6359]

Who remembers the big fish 🐠 tank in the hole in the road??? Used to love 💕 it as a kid

[@SheffieldVideos]

Definitely!

[@littleowlbooks8514]

So I didn't imagine it then?

[@wesleyrevitt3962]

And the thieves wiv briefcases or coats full of gold they had stole then plod running after them lol ...the memories.

[@TheDantheman12121]

yeah I was born in 84 but can still remember the big fish.

[@richardcrossley5581]

One of a few things I miss in Sheffield, the whole thing of being able to walk between shops away from traffic and with the fish. My Aunt, in her 80s, used to take me to the city, she'd ride with me on the upper deck of a bus and we would buy something in Redgates.

[@chrisstones1249]

Goodlord ,it only seems like yesterday .and now im 65 , but ,i still love my city of Sheffield and all the folks .👍

[@janinegove8045]

I loved the Hole in the Road too. It was a wonderfully mysterious place to me as a young kid and the fish looked as big as rabbits in that tank. I'm probably wrong about their size in reality, but that's how they seemed to me. Also those Sixties hexagonal tiles take me back straight away. Thank you for the video memories, I'm so sad they couldn't have kept (at least) this Sheffield landmark.

[@SheffieldVideos]

The problem was it got really tired and grim towards the end to the point of being a no-go area. Sad really

[@tommaguzzi1723]

You aren't wrong about the size of the fish, I believe they were some spices of piranha that ate all the others in the tank and just continued to grow. In the end there were only about 4 of them but they were huge.

[@helencoupland8331]

I will meet you at the fish tank 😂❤

[@JasonJason210]

I grew up in Sheffield in the 70s. Then I moved away. Almost everything I loved about that city is gone.

[@SIMON2500065]

Bloody hell remember it so well..! Bloody super tram

[@SheffieldVideos]

ha ha yes!!

[@rbnhd1144]

Its so nice to see pictures of The Hole in the Road being built and used, it was a safe way to cross the road and very convenient, also a great place to meet up with people as everyone knew where it was, I think we all remember the fish tank, it seemed huge at the time. You mentioned Thornton's in your write up, I used to call in at that Chocolate Cabin for some Coffee Cremes and Rum Truffles on my way back to Pond St Bus Station, its kinda sad that the hole is gone now and Thornton's too. Thanks for your hard work and dedication, your making a difference, your video's will be even more useful down the road as we all look back.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

When I started working in Sheffield in 1981 I heard someone talking about 'Oil int rord', it took me ages to understand what on earth they were going on about.

[@SheffieldVideos]

ha ha! What a place it was too!

[@jonnyhaw]

In 2019, Rob Brydon, Lee Mack and David Mitchell appeared at City Hall for an evening of improvised comedy. They asked the audience for questions, and someone piped up: "What do you think about The Hole In The Road being filled in?". And the audience cheered. A quarter of a century on!

[@SheffieldVideos]

🤣

[@AMikeOnLine]

They could have and should have kept it in some shape or form. Terrible decision to fill it in. Many fond memories were made in that hole. Of particular note for me personally...Me and me mate were running away from the police back in the 1980's. We shot down the escalators and dived straight into that flower display in the middle...The coppers ran straight past us and we got away. We later joked about us being flowerpot men...Bill and Ben...Ahhh...the good old days...Funny, back then, i would never have dreamed i'd be writing this on a computer and the whole world could see my words on something called the 'Internet' 40 years later..! Great video thank you. EDIT... Me and me mate Brian had just nicked a pair of 'Smart R's' from Western Jean Company at top of Fargate. Anyone remember 'Smart R's'? Took me a bleedin hour to get them past me ankles...Drain pipe jeans.. All the rage back then they were..! And full circle...2023... NOW they're bleedin back...!!

[@tingtongraas]

Oh yes. There was one lass at school who they looked particularly good on. Hers should have been called Perfect R's. Did you ever have any pinstripe jeans? lol

[@misscoutts6193]

I did! Stretch, yes I think it was Western Jeans.

[@AlexMitchell-sj4sb]

My aunt Sue used to work at the GT News shop in one of the walkways in the 80s.

[@SheffieldVideos]

I remember that place well!

[@FiveRiversCity]

Such a sad demise for a once great Sheffield landmark. The 'wedding cake' disappeared too, as did the 'egg box' (not unhappy about that one though!). The two cooling towers out by Meadowhall also gone.

[@SheffieldVideos]

More landmarks to replace them now tho!

[@misscoutts6193]

@@SheffieldVideos where? Castle market gone, Goodwin Fountain long gone. Old pubs gone Yorkshire Grey to make a car park and the Yorkshireman for another hotel. Many more ...

[@SheffieldVideos]

@@misscoutts6193 But that's just time moving on and things changing. All cities do that and have to do that to keep going

[@misscoutts6193]

We liked it as it was. Tram now bankrupt destroyed our High Street. 😢

[@misscoutts6193]

@@SheffieldVideos so now destruction is progress!

[@Stuntguitarman]

Good times in Sheffield

[@SheffieldVideos]

Definitely!

[@Colsoloact-po9wv]

Yh I remember it well, I'm from Doncaster and when I'd go to Sheffield I'd make a point of going to the hole in the road....it was just one of those places you visited! Sad that it went! I remember busking down there with my band! LOL!

[@SheffieldVideos]

Bet that was fun! There were many characters down there!

[@chiphawkins42]

All the Sheffield Punks would meet there every Saturday at 2pm then walk down the Moor ​@@SheffieldVideos

[@user-cc6qh8jw5t]

The fish tank was a meeting place for thousands of people.

[@melthebell33]

I miss the Hoile int rooad, and i used to hang around with those winos on the bench, sadly theyll be long gone :( the only trouble with the hole in the road was if you was being chased by the skinheads you quickly had to think which subway to run up for your getaway and stick to it lol

[@SheffieldVideos]

Ha ha amazing stuff! I remember those days. Crazy times!

[@barrybradshaw7925]

If you hung around with those winos you will have deffinately known indian joe

[@melthebell33]

@@barrybradshaw7925 yup, around the peace gardens etc

[@barrybradshaw7925]

@@melthebell33 hes been dead a while now they all are, its about spice now in sheffield lol

[@melthebell33]

@@barrybradshaw7925 thought sadly i thought they all would be :( its a hard life living like that, even quite a few of mi old punk mates from that time are gone or going too

[@mbe4614]

I bought my first record from the record shop that was in the hole in the road. The record shop moved into castle market near the top of the ramp when the hole in the road closed. Talk about going backwards. We don’t have the policing that we used to have and so the bad elements move in.

[@mikeblade3095]

It was loved and also hated. But never forgotten. Especially the fish.

[@SheffieldVideos]

So true!

[@misscoutts6193]

Escalators never worked!

[@mikeyblade430]

I used to put the tv's in the window which can be seen in this film when i worked at Walshs. They had an entrance from in the hole in the road, the window was just to the left.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Ah amazing!! Happy memories!

[@misscoutts6193]

I watched Princess Anne's wedding in November I973 in my lunch break; I was late back and they said, "Where have you been?". I said, "Watching the Royal Wedding!" The chief clerk was speechless! It was in black & white though. 🎉

[@blades699]

Great video remember my skateboarding days in hole in road

[@SheffieldVideos]

Ah happy times!

[@lynnewhite4230]

Who remembers the 2 main meeting places in Sheff in the 70's . The fish tank in the ole in road and outside Walsh's big doors on Fargate x

[@SheffieldVideos]

Definitely!!

[@doravernon1511]

Outside the Classic, Fitzalan Square was another.

[@malcellison8831]

I was in Sheffield between 1973 and 1977. The hole in the road was brilliant back then. So very sad to hear that it degraded to the sorry state it was in the end. Nothing lasts for ever.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Very true It was grim towards the end - very much a no go area

[@1966owen]

Had to go for the Supertram to go over it, shame it couldn't have been restored and kept though

[@misscoutts6193]

​It's even more grim now. @@SheffieldVideos

[@kerryannestevenson6099]

I used to love walking under the ‘Hole in the Wall’,How could they get rid of it?Philistines!

[@thefxautopilot]

A beautiful place in its day with an absolutely brilliant little record shop. Funny to see how all the different types of fish all vanished as the carp got fatter. I sang Christmas Carols with my school in there one year, totally unique place and sorely missed (OK it was covered in graffiti and stank of piss at the end but don't knock the nostalgia eh?)

[@bellman8041]

Would often see Subway Cyril around the hole in the road in my younger days. Sadly he lived and died in the subways.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Ah sad news - was he well known?

[@bellman8041]

@@SheffieldVideos Yes in the 1970s possibly through to 80s. There was a piece in the Sheffield Star about him at the time. He was found dead in one of the shop doorways. www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/topic/53492-who-remembers-subway-cyril/

[@doravernon1511]

@@SheffieldVideos everyone knew him, the same as Pond Street Nora.

[@misscoutts6193]

@@doravernon1511 he was found dead in the snow one morning it was in The Star as he was a famous local 'tramp'.

[@misscoutts6193]

​@@SheffieldVideoshe died in a shop doorway in the snow. He didn't beg though.

[@richardsmith3585]

Its like sheffield council don't understand sheffield culture they knock every thing down where as other citys look after there history hole in road was great

[@misscoutts6193]

It could have been improved and city ambassadors patrolling - glass dome on top as another commenter said it was originally planned to have. Contracts won the day for the tram that doesn't benefit most people in the city.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Nobody ventured into the hole int he road in it's final few years - it was a horrific no-go area that smelt of wee Everyone complained about it And it was very unsafe at night

[@misscoutts6193]

High Street is lovely now; very fragrant.

[@TheDantheman12121]

too many sheffield landmarks have gone. the egg boxes (Yeah I know for some reason most hated them), the hole in the road, castle market.... Man I miss castle market

[@ShaneRounce]

Technically, Sheffield still has a lot of holes in its roads. This one was actually not in a road at all but instead was within the centre of what was a roundabout.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Very true!

[@paulshepherd1805]

I consider myself lucky to see/ use it when I came to a Sheffield in 1986. BUT I didn’t see it in it’s true glory, tramps and dodgy folk... it wasn’t a place to cross/use come dark... That said, loved the massive fish in the tank, I remember a hugh white goldfish? Shame we can’t have more such displays. While reminiscing, I believe Botanical Gardens Victorian glass houses had birds and fish, has anyone pictures of this... must have been in the 60s / 70s Shame we can’t have some enthusiasts bring the animal life back, it’s a great attraction for families/kids... Good old Sheffield and look at it now half developed/ half barren... give it a few years post COVID 👍🏻

[@SheffieldVideos]

Its got a lot of change coming up in the next few years for sure

[@misscoutts6193]

​@@SheffieldVideosyes plenty of student flats.

[@disraelidemon]

If you were there late on when it was empty, if you stood in one of the exits and clapped, the echo would go round the circle and come back to you on the other side.

[@deaconlycett696]

Never got to see it but my dad tells me stories of my great nanan taking him every month it always makes me sad I never got to experience it

[@SheffieldVideos]

It was memorable for sure. Towards the end it was a bit of a no go area and quite rough and dangerous

[@misscoutts6193]

It's lovely now! Remember "Sheffield in Bloom" lots of flowers surrounded the top of it. ❤

[@MsMarciax]

Der oil n roared. Fond memories as a kid but found out when I was older that it was a very seedy scary place to walk though at night. Still it was sad to see it go.

[@JackBlack-gh5yf]

What almost nobody seems to know about the Hole In The Road, is that it wasn't supposed to be a hole at all. The original architects' plans were that the 'hole' was surmounted with a glass dome. Artist's impression were published on the front pages of the Sheffield newspapers in the early 1960's, but then the scheme ran out of money, and the dome was never built. So the most famous Sheffield icon of the 20th century was actually an accident.

[@SheffieldVideos]

That's amazing - would love to see the artists impression of that!

[@JackBlack-gh5yf]

@@SheffieldVideos I'm sure it will be in the archives at The Star, and in the archives of the Local Studies section of the central library. I'm 60, and I remember my mother showing it to me when the scheme was announced. I'm sorry I don't know which year that was, (I would think around 1964 or '65), but I'm sure a little detective work could turn it up.

[@misscoutts6193]

@@JackBlack-gh5yf fascinating; how many people knew that!

[@1966owen]

Thats interesting because I always thought it would have been great with a glass dome.

[@misscoutts6193]

​@@1966owenit could have been renovated and a glass dome installed. The tram destroyed High Street.

[@theEnglishman420]

Sheffield kept getting rid of good looking landmarks for shit it's no wonder people say Sheffield is getting worse

[@SheffieldVideos]

Hole In The Road was a no go area for it's last few years

[@erectiledysfunction7399]

I like your video's. Can you try and make more retro stuff if you can.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Thank you so much! Yes - we are planning quite a few so stay tuned - will upload them once they're finished 😀

[@mrbetamax1969]

Used 2 go down there on bmx bikes Sunday..No Sunday shopping back then..hope they left them fish enough food...

[@mobinxd]

Why’s Sheffield destroying beautiful landmarks?

[@SheffieldVideos]

The hole in the road wasn't very beautiful towards the end - it was a no go area mostly

[@paulshepherd1805]

I think it had its day TBH and when the tram system came back (as it was many years back for a lot of cities) then the structure of Sheffield had to change, always moving forward or is it 1 step forward, 2 steps back? Who knows....!

[@neilhayz1555]

I’ve seen pictures of it when it was built and it looked great! But all I remember in the late 70’s and 80’s was the graffiti and the smell of wee.

[@Bhappi137]

The fish tank 😥

[@SheffieldVideos]

Stuff of Sheffield legend!

[@TheDantheman12121]

hole int road

[@dinointhetube]

Can’t believe they fill it in shame on council it was a landmark and part of my youth,suppose bit like steel works and actual city centre as opposed to Meadowhall like every town you ruined its heritage I grew up to know as a kid….shame.

[@SheffieldVideos]

It was a no go area in it's last few years though

[@misscoutts6193]

You had to go through it to get to where you were going that's why it was built so people didn't have to cross the road.

[@BigChungus-ou3gu]

I think it was closed because of homeless inhabitants using it as a shelter ( i do not fully know) and there is something similar in barnsley no shops ect, just a way to get to the numerous places in the town centre

[@carlmichael771]

Yeah but, and this is from a Barnsley lad, the "underpass" (that's all I've ever known it as ....the sheff rd/Alhambra underpass) isn't on the scale or as iconic as the hole in the road.....but I'd be very sad to see it gone. Theres been so many changes, always sad....its like a part of your life disappearing and really that's what it is.

[@BigChungus-ou3gu]

@@carlmichael771 Mhm, this areas gone to rubbish over the past decade unfortunately

[@SheffieldVideos]

Thanks for watching my channel - I really do appreciate it a lot ♥️ Where would you like to see me film next?

[@carlmichael771]

@@SheffieldVideos personally I'd like you to venture out into the badlands I.e. Barnsley.....the town (tarn) centre. I know you're primarily Sheffield but I'm certain many Sheffielders know and have visited Barnsley often over the years, perhaps lived here, as i have Sheffield (visited many many times and formally lived at Woodseats and northfolk park)

[@misscoutts6193]

​@@SheffieldVideosfilm High Street as it is now in 2024.

[@misscoutts6193]

We lost this for the Supertram.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Good! Nobody would go down there towards the end - it was a crime and drug infested pit!

[@jonnyhaw]

There's a story that rubble from Hyde Park Flats was used to fill in the Hole in the Road - does anyone know if this is actually true?

[@SheffieldVideos]

it's partly true yes Kelvin Flats too

[@rjds1800]

I only truly remember it in the last 10 years of use and it's dingy demise...

[@SheffieldVideos]

Yeah it was definitely grim towards the end

[@douggherkin]

Strong memories of this place. ...is it true it was filled in from the remnants of Hyde park flats?

[@SheffieldVideos]

Think it was Kelvin Flats

[@craigwilson8750]

The Hole in the Road was filled in during 1994 to accommodate the Castle Square Supertram stop. Debris from the recently demolished Hyde Park and Kelvin Flats was used to fill the chasm.

[@misscoutts6193]

All those people had to be re-housed but not enough new homes built no wonder ended up with housing crisis. ​@@craigwilson8750

[@trevorfielding6792]

I lived in Sheffield in the time it was built I no longer live there and I am so sad to see a piece of structural construction that I would be proud to have been apart of is no longer there .Do not tell me about how it was degraded tell me more about how you used the Hole In The Road

[@SheffieldVideos]

The fishtank and the shops were great!

[@emulus4000]

As iconic as it was/is, from a lot of these pictures, it seems like filling it in was the best thing to do

[@SheffieldVideos]

Most definitely

[@AB-gz9yb]

If it was still there now it would be just full of spice heads

[@SheffieldVideos]

Ha ha true! Thank you so much for watching my channel I really do appreciate it ♥️

[@mrwilfredmyers7566]

Now everyones grandfathers worked for nothing.

[@michaeldoherty1287]

In the past..no one matters..do they.

[@SheffieldVideos]

Thanks for watching my channel - I really do appreciate it a lot ♥️ Where would you like to see me film next?

[@mrwilfredmyers7566]

@@michaeldoherty1287 everyone matters fella. Some folks just dont get to fuckup sombody else past like that lot did.

[@johnjo7778]

Something else the council destroyed!

[@SheffieldVideos]

We don't 'do' moaning about the council on this channel save that for the many Sheffield facebook groups where people sit and moan endlessly

[@johnjo7778]

@SheffieldVideos You put the video into the public domain, which means I'm entitled to my opinion. If you don't want different points of view, don't post the videos!

[@jeanmalcolm8372]

Yes remember hole in the road not from sheiffield but aunt was

[@SheffieldVideos]

Yes classic part of town!

[@greggbarnes8177]

Oil int ruuad

[@SheffieldVideos]

ha ha yes!!

[@michellemcgoran4873]

XXXX

[@SheffieldVideos]

Thanks for watching my channel - I really do appreciate it a lot ♥️ Where would you like to see me film next?

[@dinointhetube]

Let’s knock down the crucible it’s outdated

[@SheffieldVideos]

Someone has called for a bigger one to be built

[@misscoutts6193]

They knocked down a beautiful theatre for the Crucible concrete block. Only the Snooker saved it.

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

It was just a grotty underpass with the saddest looking fish ever. Anyone who claims fond memories of this dump never had to use it.

[@SheffieldVideos]

It was grim at the end wasn’t it

[@conorcoltman5756]

Why are people sentimental about this place. It stunk of piss and there was vomit everywhere. Litter, discarded fast food, (usually a tray of chips n ketchup) and diesel/petrol fumes from the traffic surrounding it. A crap aquarium by any standards and drunk tramps wandering around shouting a lot. In the evenings, often violence. You didnt get wet or run over down there though🙂 I'm not dissing the video, just the place.

[@SheffieldVideos]

I totally agree with you. There's some strange nostalgia about it's last few years and people wanting it back but not a single one of those people will have dared to venture down there towards the end. it was a real no go area

[@dinointhetube]

Load of crap you tube is a video sharing for public not a load of old postcards put together. In pictures.

[@SheffieldVideos]

KZbin is for whatever we want to do with it 👍