19/05/2011 01:43 PM
The mystery of the missing gates may never be solved, but after a 17 year absence they're finally back where they belong.
One typical night in September 1994, the historic wrought iron gates from 1875 were padlocked as normal by park keepers at Weston Park in Sheffield. The next morning they were gone, and since then, had completely gone off the radar.
That was until last year when they were spotted at development site by someone who recognised them, reported the Sheffield Telegraph.
Andrew Renwick, a local blacksmith was then alerted, and in turn informed the council. He was then given the job of restoring the gates to their former glory.
Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Renwick, said: "They were in quite good condition. Over the 17 years they were missing, they have been in storage a lot of the time. They have not been hung and abused. They were also well protected in the 70s when the last restoration was done.”
The theft of the gates has always remained a mystery, not least because of their distinct style and the fact they are 20 foot high and weighing several tonnes.
It is to be left to folklore what the gates may have seen as the police have decided it is not conducive to their work to pursue the case any further.
While one set of gates have been replaced, another set have been taken away. In Liverpool, the original red Victorian gates at the site that inspired John Lennon to write Strawberry Fields Forever have been replaced with replicas and the original set put away in storage to protect them from the ravages of time.
One typical night in September 1994, the historic wrought iron gates from 1875 were padlocked as normal by park keepers at Weston Park in Sheffield. The next morning they were gone, and since then, had completely gone off the radar.
That was until last year when they were spotted at development site by someone who recognised them, reported the Sheffield Telegraph.
Andrew Renwick, a local blacksmith was then alerted, and in turn informed the council. He was then given the job of restoring the gates to their former glory.
Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Renwick, said: "They were in quite good condition. Over the 17 years they were missing, they have been in storage a lot of the time. They have not been hung and abused. They were also well protected in the 70s when the last restoration was done.”
The theft of the gates has always remained a mystery, not least because of their distinct style and the fact they are 20 foot high and weighing several tonnes.
It is to be left to folklore what the gates may have seen as the police have decided it is not conducive to their work to pursue the case any further.
While one set of gates have been replaced, another set have been taken away. In Liverpool, the original red Victorian gates at the site that inspired John Lennon to write Strawberry Fields Forever have been replaced with replicas and the original set put away in storage to protect them from the ravages of time.
Top