Mark Firth

His connection to Broomhall

Jessica Yates

Mark Firth
Photo: SALS PSs08344
85 Wilkinson Street, Broomhall. Now known as ‘Firth House’. 2014
Photo: OUR Broomhall
Grave of Mark Firth. General Cemetery
Photo: Our Broomhall
Grave of Mark Firth. General Cemetery
Photo: Our Broomhall

Mark Firth (1819-1880) was a local steel manufacturer, a Master Cutler in 1867 and 1868 and also the Mayor of Sheffield in 1874. He had a great impact on many iconic Sheffield landmarks that can be seen today. Mark Firth established Firth College in 1879, which was one of the founding colleges of the University of Sheffield which taught science and arts subjects – this building is now the Leopold Hotel in Leopold Square. Additionally, Firth Court, which is the current home of the departments of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences for the University of Sheffield, also gets its name from this great man.

The 1851 census tell us that Mark Firth and his family once lived in a large Georgian house at 85 Wilkinson Street, Broomhall. Now known as ‘Firth House’ this building is currently home to the University of Sheffield Department of Adult and Continuing Education.

1851 Census:

NameMark Firth
Age in 185131
Estimated year of birth1820
PositionHead of   House
GenderMale
Birth PlaceSheffield
Civil ParishSheffield
CountyYorkshire
CountryEngland
Street AddressWilkinson Street
Marital StatusMarried
OccupationSteel   Manufacturer and Merchant
Other Household Members
  •   Sarah Firth, wife, 38, born in Sheffield.
  •   Sarah Firth, daughter, 8, scholar, born in Sheffield.
  •   Mary Slater, servant, 43, born in Barnsley.

Sources:

Tilthammer. 2013. Steel City Founder: Mark Firth. < http://www.tilthammer.com/bio/firth.html

Sheffield University. 2014. Firth Court. < http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/maps/firth

1851 census courtesy of www.ancestry.co.uk

This page was added by Jennie Beard on 29/12/2014.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *