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Sheffield Mencap and Gateway was started by families in 1951. It began as the
Sheffield Society for Handicapped Children. An account written by Herbert Housley in 1994 on the 20th Anniversary of the opening of
Norfolk Lodge (Norfolk Lodge - its conception) was the source for most of the following information.
The idea of purpose-built premises for the then Sheffield Society for Mentally Handicapped Children
was first mooted around 1966. At that time activities were based in premises on Brunswick Street,
a large terrace house with an annexe in the yard.
A lot of hard work had gone into acquiring, developing and running
the centre in Brunswick Street (pictured right, with the hall extension behind), and many children had benefited from and
enjoyed the facilities there.
A selection of press cuttings
from around the time the centre in Brunswick Street was first established is stored at Norfolk Lodge.
But some members wanted to build a new social centre,
purpose-built to their requirements away from what was then the red light district of Sheffield.
Looking for a site large enough for a variety of indoor and
outdoor activities, near the city centre and on a bus route,
Herbert Housley gives this account of how he found Norfolk Lodge:
When I first walked down the lane that leads to Norfolk Lodge and peered through the gate,
the first thing I saw was a group of rabbits playing on the grass.
They appeared to be running round in circles. I pushed open the gate to see what was beyond.
I saw a large empty house of considerable character, set in nearly two acres of beautiful grounds, with
a private access to Norfolk Park...
(Above: View from gates 1969, and old Coach House.)
It also had a caretaker's cottage. The lady from the cottage came out to ask what I was doing,
and to tell me I was trespassing. When I told her the reason for my interest, she informed me that
many people had shown an interest in the property, but none had been successful in their attempts to acquire it.
There followed a period of negotiation and, even though the Executive Committee of the Society were deeply divided,
things began to move forward. Sheffield City Council owned the property, but a restrictive covenant placed
on it by Duke of Norfolk Estates prevented the building being demolished.
When the Duke of Norfolk Estates applied to demolish nearby Talbot Lodge, and applied for planning permission
to build flats, it was probably difficult to justify retaining the restrictive covenants on Norfolk Lodge.
Consequently, the Duke got his planning permission, and both buildings were demolished.
Sheffield Education Committee took over responsibility for Norfolk Lodge and leased it to the Society
for 99 years at a peppercorn rent.
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