Mystery over disappearing park gates is finally solved

The gates disappeared from one of the entrances to Weston Park in 1994 and police presumed it was a professional job, with the 20ft gates possibly being shipped abroad.

Replica gates were installed as part of the park’s restoration in 2008, and the question of what happened to the Victorian originals was left open.

But now, after all this time, the original gates have turned up on a development site in Derbyshire after being spotted by a member of the public.

The two gates, each weighing a ton, are now being restored by local craftsmen and are due to go back into Weston Park in the summer.

David Cooper, from Sheffield Council, said yesterday that the wrought-iron gates had been found at the end of a drive on a farm redevelopment site.

He said: “A member of the public spotted them and alerted us.

“We are now in discussions with the property owner to get the gates back.

“We believe he acquired the gates in good faith. He was very co-operative and he was happy to return them.”