This cache hasn't been placed in one of the more picturesque parts of the city centre but, believe it or not, at GZ you are standing almost exactly on the eastern limit of the outer courtyard of Sheffield Castle. Although the castle was completely demolished in the seventeenth century, excavations in 1999 and 2001 revealed that the castle was among the largest medieval castles in England.
The original motte and bailey castle built on this site after the Norman Conquest in the eleventh century was replaced by a stone building in the thirteenth century. It was in this castle and its estates that Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I, for 14 years between 1570 and 1584. Mary was later executed on the orders of Elizabeth on 8th February 1587.
The castle was held by Royalist forces for part of the English Civil War, but was surrendered to the Parliamentarians in 1644 following a short siege; its demolition was ordered soon after.
When the site of the castle was excavated in 1927 prior to the construction of the Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society store, the base of one of the gateway bastion towers, as well as part of the gateway itself, were discovered and are preserved under the city's old indoor Castle Market. This market closed in 2013 when the Moor Market opened.
As you will notice at GZ, Castle Market is now in a rather derelict condition. The City Council currently plans to demolish the existing complex and open up a pedestrian route from the city centre to the Victoria Docks area and the new Riverside Quarter. Plans announced in August 2014 may see a rebuild of the entrance to the castle as part of a £5 million regeneration of the city's Castlegate area.
The geocache container may be a bit difficult to spot, especially for newer geocachers, and surrounding tall buildings may affect the accuracy of GPS. There is only room for a log sheet so please bring your own pen or pencil. Watch out for muggles and take care when replacing the cache as it will only fit properly if put back in exactly the right position. Happy finding!