Sheffield City Library basement tours: A look around the hidden part of Sheffield you can't normally see

An invitation to look around the basement of Sheffield City Library might not sound like a good way to pass the time.
By Steve Teale
Published 27th Mar 2023, 08:56 BST

But It is a behind-the-scenes tour which has proved popular over the years and Sheffield character Sheridan Shacklethwaite – portrayed by Paul Casson – is determined to fascinate visitors.

He says this torchlit tour takes people to a part of the city they would not normally be allowed to explore.

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And he says the tour regularly attracts people coming for repeat visits because they find it so enthralling.

Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.
Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.

“We always sell out,” he said. “We have been doing this for six or seven years now and people love it. They want to see what goes on in areas where they can’t normally get to.

“We provide a few laughs on the way and people love to take part. We love putting on the tour and people love to come along.”

Mr Shacklethwaite, a popular figure on local radio, leads the light-hearted tour on Saturdays with the next dates available in June.

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Several thousand books and periodicals are stored beneath the library and the stack is usually out of bounds.

Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.
Sheffield Central Library, are opening up their basement for tours called 'Secrets of the Stack' the archive houses several thousand books and periodicals deep beneath the library and the stack is an area not usually open to the public. Pictured Historian, Paul Casson, AKA Sheridan Shacklethwaite, tour guide. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty. Date: 6th March 2023.

Mr Shacklethwaite bills himself as “a broadcaster, historian, and after-tea speaker”, who presents a regular show on Sheffield Live! Radio.

He hopes that people will come along to explore this intriguing underground space with him, have fun and learn some interesting facts about the Central Library.

“I’ve carried out extensive research about the Central Library, and made the rest up over a cup of tea,” he said. “So I hope you’ll join me on this vaguely historical, mildly accurate, thoroughly-researched, completely made-up, yet hugely enjoyable tour.

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“Navigate the hitherto uncharted regions and allow your senses to become dislocated among the labyrinthine bookshelves on this vaguely historical, mildly accurate, thoroughly researched, completely made up, yet hugely enjoyable tour."

Sheffield Central Library was opened in 1934 by the future Queen Mother who was then the Duchess of York.

Work on the building began in 1929. Built in a broadly Art Deco style, it was opened in 1934. Conceived as part of a plan by Patrick Abercrombie to create a civic square, it was the only element of that proposal ever built and so it faces onto a narrow street.

In 1991, Tudor Square was constructed to one side of the library.

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It houses the city library service's single largest general lending and reference collection, as well as Graves Art Gallery, on the third floor, and a theatre in the basement.

The tour is run by Mr Casson and his wife Sue through their Cry Havoc touring theatre company.

Anyone interested in taking part in the visit should contact Mr Casson on 07979 273599,

Related topics:Sheffield