Record Detail

Ruins of Queen Mary's window 'rescued' by Samuel Roberts and re-erected in grounds of Queen's Tower, Norfolk Park. Samuel Roberts who built Queen's Tower, was an admirer of Mary, Queen of Scots and believed she would have looked through this window

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Ruins of Queen Mary's window 'rescued' by Samuel Roberts and re-erected in grounds of Queen's Tower, Norfolk Park. Samuel Roberts who built Queen's Tower, was an admirer of Mary, Queen of Scots and believed she would have looked through this window
Sheffield_Norfolk_Park
1900-1919
W. H. Babington

Samuel Roberts (1763-1848) who built Queen's Tower was an enthusiastic apologist and admirer of Mary, Queen of Scots. When the Manor was mouldering in decay, he rescued from total destruction a portion of the old wall and the mullioned window through which it is believed the royal sufferer looked out from her prision apartment. These memorials were arranged in the grounds of Queen's Tower, which he named after her, and on a small marble tablet was traced a tribute of sympathy. The son of Samuel Roberts (1800-1887) writes; 'The removal of Queen Mary's window perhaps requires a little explanation. At first sight it would seem to be an act od vandalism, but if so it was many which were then being perpetrated, and also have been since; a numerous poor population have long been located within the ruined walls and dwellings round about them. A coal pit has for a long time been at work in what I believe was the inner court of the Manor. The dilapidation during the last thirty years may be called the work of time, but it has been more the result of the vicinity of the Manor to our large Town; and the removal thirty years ago, of the small portion now standing in the grounds of Queen's Tower, probably preserved it from the entire destruction which has befallen nearly all the rest. I believe my father saw what was going on, and he obtained permission to remove the window traditionally called Queen Mary's. For more information see, 'The Manor Lodge, Sheffield', by Thomas Winder, Box 2.

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