Enid Blyton and the Sheffield Connection - An Update 2

I received this information from a reader who came across an article on the website about the author Enid Blyton and her connection with Sheffield

The reader was Cliff Watkin and he sent me two photos from a book that he had privately published in 2010 for

a)    members of the Enid Blyton Society

b)    old BSC colleagues who worked in the British Steel Corporation (BSC) in works in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas

I also placed on the blog an obituary of Enid Blyton in March 2019

George Robert Patchett 1903 - 1974 Sheffield

A couple of years ago I posted an article to my website relating to the tragic death of a five year old girl Doris Hill in a traffic accident on City Road Sheffield on 8th October 1929.

Decsendents of Doris kindly provided me with information which I was able to incorporate into the article. And at the end of the article I asked that if anyone could assist me with any further material to contact me.

In response to my request I received an e-mail from a reader of the article who stated that he was the grandson of George Robert Patchett, the driver of the vehicle that fatally injured Doris.

" I read with sadness and interest the article on your blog at the following link.

George Robert Patchett was my own grandfather, and he was deeply affected by that tragic day for the remainder of his life.

He had two children of his own including Robert Valen (my father) who was an RAF officer killed in tragic circumstances in 1969.

George has (had) 3 grandchildren, myself, my brother Mike and also a granddaughter Samantha who was herself killed in 1967 at the age of 18 months in similar circumstances to little Doris.

Smanatha had been sitting with myself and a group of young friends outside our house in RAF Little Rissington. I ran across the road to get some money from the house as an Ice cream van had just turned up, Samantha followed and was run over as the vehicle reversed back.
My Grandfather was haunted till the end of this days by this event - believing it was payback for what happened to young Doris all those years previously."

The newspaper reports of the time show that Doris's death was just a tragic accident but it clearly affected George for the rest of his life. The loss of his own granddaughter Samantha in 1967 must have been unbearable for George, given the circumstances of her death

Sheffield's Treasures Are Put In Dustbins - September 1939

I came across this newspaper article from September 1939.

Apart from acknowledging the foresight and ingenuity of the Curator, it would be interesting to know where the dustbins were stored once they were full.

The Funeral of Mr G Middleton - Burngreave Cemetery Sheffield - 16th September 1920

Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 20th September 1920

The remarkable feature of this cutting is that Mr G Howell worked for the same company in Sheffield for over 40 years. Howell and Co were based at Wincobank in Sheffield and were Tube manufacturers. A fuller history of the company can be found in the excellent Graces Guide.

The Wicker Congregational Church where the funeral took place was at the junction of Burngreave Road and Ellesmere Road. It was demolished in the mid 1960's

Although not mentioned in the report his christian name was George. When I checked his burial record I found that his son William died less than nine years after his father in 1929. He was just 36 years old

MIDDLETON, George (Secretary, age 57).
Died at Cardigan Nursing Home; Buried on September 16, 1920 in General ground;
Grave Number 347, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, A Dring: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
 
MIDDLETON, William (~, age 36).
Died at Brinkburn, Grenoside; Buried on March 16, 1929 in General ground;
Grave Number 347, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, J.A. Halfpenny: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

The Last of the Dennis Dominator Buses - Sheffield June 2006

The following cutting is taken from The Sheffield Weekly Gazette dated Thursday 15th June 2006 and is a report of the last Dennis Dominator Buses to run in Sheffield

City Bids Farewell To A Tramp - Cyril Griffin Sheffield January 1976

I have just posted a brief article to the site that I obtained from The Guardian dated 5th January 1977

There was a brief thread on the Sheffield Forum in 2005 which added some more information but it was the burial record that I found rather poignant. Cyril is buried in a public grave in Sheffield's City Road Cemetery along with 12 other people - some of the burials go back to the late C 19th.

GRIFFIN, Cyril (Electrician, age 52).
Died at British Home Stores Haymarket; Buried on January 6, 1977 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 7031, Section V2 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Page No 230 

BMD References

Births Sep 1924 quarter Griffin Cyril Mothers Maiden Name Howe Sheffield Volume 9c Page 839 

Deaths Dec 1976 quarter - GRIFFIN CYRIL Born 19JE1924 SHEFFIELD Volume 3 Page 2047 

It states that he "Died at British Home Stores Haymarket" when the truth is that he died in the "doorway" of British Home Stores and not the actual store. A whole world of difference on a bitterly cold night in December. 

A Bulldog at 167 Crookes Sheffield - 15th September 1924 - The Heroism of Joshua Greatorex

The above cutting is from The Manchester Guardian dated 2nd December 1924 and refers to the actions of Joshua Greatorex at a house at 167 Crookes. The report ends by stating that he "undoubtedly saved the boy's life". I wonder what happened to the boy whose life was saved.

The house at 167 Crookes where the attack took place no longer exists. It was demolished after the war and replaced with flats   

As for Joshua, I have found out that at the time of the attack he would have been around 63 years old. He was to live for another 19 years before passing away in July 1943. He is buried in the cemetery at Crookes

GREATOREX, Joshua Frederick (Retired, age 82).

Died at 52 Newlands Drive; Buried on July 31, 1943 in Consecrated ground; 

Grave Number 5159, Section JJ of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

The Death of Samuel Brameld - Brightside Sheffield September 1880

This is from The Times dated 8th September 1880 and refers to the death of a steelworks labourer Samuel Brameld in a steelworks accident

Samuel must have suffered an agonising death as he was "terribly scalded about the body" and in addition suffered a broken hip.

As usual The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 11th September 1880 gave a fuller account of the events leading up to the tragedy

And with the help of the excellent Sheffield Indexers site I have been able to locate Samuel's grave in St Thomas Cemetery, Brightside Sheffield and confirm that he was only 28 years old when he died

BRAMELD, Samuel (~, age 28). Died at Carlisle Rd Grimesthorpe; Buried on September 7, 1880 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 127, Section ~ of St Thomas Cemetery, Brightside.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: ~.Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 198  

Enid Blyton and the Sheffield Connection - An Update

I have just posted three newspaper reports from The Times to an article I posted many years ago concerning the author Enid Blyton and her Sheffield connection.

 For most of her writing career, Enid Blyton lived at Green Hedges, a house in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. The house was named by her readers through a competition in the children's magazine 'Sunny Stories'. The demolition of Green Hedges, came about after the house was sold at auction in 1971. The plot where Green Hedges and its gardens once stood is now a small development of  dwellings called imaginatively called Blyton Close.

Sheffield By Night - Kenneth Steel Sheffield circa 1960

I received this e-mail note the other day asking about a work by the Sheffield artist Kenneth Steel

"I have viewed your website regarding Kenneth Steele.

I recently bought a print by Steele knowing nothing about him but because I liked it as it reminds me of Crookes in Sheffield.  I have put it in another frame and the print has faded from the original colours.Have you come across it before and have you heard anything about where the original might be?"

Unfortunately my response was a double negative - I have never seen the painting before and I do not know where the original is. But I said that I would post the details on this blog and hope that a reader would provide some additional information.

And for my part I think it is a rather impressive piece of art 

Gold Mining in Derbyshire - June 1854

The following is from The Times dated Monday 19th June 1854 but it looks as though the initial report was from the Derbyshire Courier.

I was going to post an article to my site about this facet of Derbyshire's history but found this article that is from Bygone Industries of The Peak which seems to cover the salient points.  I was unaware that the Crown, under the auspices of the Duchy of Lancaster, was the owner of such deposits.  

The Untimely Death of Dr. Alexander Robert R. Hudson - Grimesthorpe Sheffield October 1931

The following cutting is from The Manchester Guardian dated 3rd October 1931 and relates to the sudden death of Dr. Alexander Robert R. Hudson. Alexander was described as "one of the oldest and best known medical practitioners in the city" 

I checked and found that his surgery was at 4 Burngreave Road Sheffield - the house no longer stands but there is a Surgery on the opposite side of the road.

I also checked the excellent Sheffield Indexers site and found this burial record for the Hudson family

HUDSON, Alexander R R (Medical Practitioner, age 64).
Died at Royal Infirmary; Buried on October 7, 1931 in General ground;
Grave Number 3641, Section LL of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, R Walter Hull: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
   
HUDSON, Constance (Spinster, age 13).
Died at 4 Burngreave Rd; Buried on January 22, 1926 in General ground;
Grave Number 3641, Section LL of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, H Oliver Evans: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
   
HUDSON, Lydia Constance (Widow, age 98).
Died at High Torr Nursing Home; Buried on August 20, 1971 in General ground;
Grave Number 3641, Section LL of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Removed from Hoysthorpe, Nr. Skegness Parish.
   
HUDSON, Stuart (~, age 30).
Died at The Mental Hospital; Buried on November 16, 1942 in General ground;
Grave Number 3641, Section LL of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: L B W Heppenstall: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

The age at the date of death differs from the newspaper report by 4 years but 64 is the correct age as Free BMD has this record

Deaths Dec 1931 Hudson Alexander R R age 64 Sheffield  Vol 9c Page 469

And it looks from the burial record that the Hudson family were not new to tragedy

The Death of Elizabeth Trott - Little Sheffield Sunday 23rd March 1806.

I came across this report the other day, It is dated Saturday 29th March 1806 and refers to the death of Elizabeth Trott that occurred on Sunday 23rd March 1806.

Little Sheffield, was a small collection of dwellings which was separate from the main town of Sheffield which was over "the Moor", then a muddy rural area. It is roughly around the bottom of what is now London Road and Cemetery Road.

"On Tuesday a Coroners Inquest was held on the body of Elizabeth Trott, a young woman of Little Sheffield, who in a fit of despair drowned herself in a pond on Sunday last.

The deliberate manner in which she put an end to her existence is somewhat extraordinary; the pond being frozen over, she broke a hole in the ice, just to admin her head, which she put into the water, and her body remained quite dry".

For the end of March it must have been particularly cold that year for ice to have formed on the pond. And poor Elizabeth must have really been in a state of deep despair for her to take her life in such a manner.

Fred Dawson (1897 - 1915) Gallipoli and Crookes

This headstone appears in Crookes Cemetery Sheffield and relates to the last resting place of the Dawson Family.

These photographs were taken on 27th January 2018 and what is unusual about them is that they show a replacement memorial. 

The original memorial is shown below  

Photo courtesy of Dean Hill

My interest was in their younger son Fred

"Also of FRED the youngest son of the above named HENRY & ANNIE DAWSON who died on active service Oct 20th 1915 in his 18th year."

A check on the GWGC database gave the following information

Lance Corporal DAWSON, FRED

Service Number 17510

Died 20/10/1915

Aged 18

6th Bn - York and Lancaster Regiment

Buried PORTIANOS MILITARY CEMETERY IV. B. 212.

Son of Mrs. Annie Dawson, of 42, Vernon Terrace, Manchester Rd., Sheffield.

6th Bn - York and Lancaster Regiment

Aug 1914 Formed at Pontefract as part of the First New Army (K1) and then moved to Grantham as part of the 32nd Brigade in the 11th Division and then moved to Witley by April 1915.

03.07.1915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Gallipoli from Liverpool via Mudros.

0.08.1915 Landed at Sulvla Bay and engaged in various actions against the Ottoman Empire including; The Battle of Scimitar Hill and attack on Hill 60.

Dec 1915 Evacuated to Mudros due to serve casualties from combat and disease.

And so it appears that Fred died from his wounds or disease in Greece after service with his regiment in Gallipoli

He is remembered as well on 

Sheffield Council Official Roll of Honour

Ranmoor War Memorial

St John The Evangelist Church Ranmoor Roll of Honour

The original headstone must have been erected circa 1939  - the first burial in the grave was that of Fred's father Henry. You can clearly see the effects of 80 years of Crookes weather on the stone but it is refreshing to see that they are not forgotten after all these years. Someone still cares

DAWSON, Annie (Widow, age 98).

     Died at 42 Vernon Terrace; Buried on January 19, 1953 in Consecrated ground; 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 201 

DAWSON, Henry (Retired, age 81).

     Died at 42 Vernon Terrace; Buried on December 30, 1959 in Consecrated ground; 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Plot Owner: of . Page No 294 

DAWSON, Henry (Retired, age 91).

     Died at 42 Vernon Terrace; Buried on January 4, 1939 in Consecrated ground; 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 327 

     

DAWSON, Kate (Spinster, age 92).

     Died at Lodge Moor Hospital; Buried on August 4, 1967 in Consecrated ground; 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Plot Owner: of . Page No 16 

     

HARRISON, May (~, age 91).

     Died at 3 Barncliffe Road; Buried on April 11, 1983 in Consecrated ground; cremated. 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Remarks: Cremated remains removed from City Rd No 312633.

     Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 122 

     

HARRISON, Victor (~, age 72).

     Died at 3 Barncliffe Road; Buried on January 31, 1973 in Consecrated ground; cremated. 

     Grave Number 313, Section AA of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Remarks: Cremated remains removed from City Rd No.95849.

     Plot Owner: of . Page No 58 

Crookesmoor Junior School (1874 - 1994) - Crookesmoor Sheffield

I came across this cutting from the Yorkshire Post dated Wednesday 28th December 1994

I vaguely remember the occupation of the school but what I cannot understand is how and why Sheffield Education Authority permitted the school to be vandalised after it was closed in the summer of 1994. They were the legal owners of the school, as they reminded readers of the newspaper, but they had permitted "vandals" to smash toilets and windows, strip lead off the roof  and destroy the fabric of the building. And it begs the question of what the police were doing to apprehend the miscreants. Very little by all accounts

The squatters appear from the report to be doing the opposite!. Over the last few decades this type of vandalism has happened time and time again in publicly-owned properties in Sheffield, but the custodians of the properties (Sheffield City Council) are never held at least partly responsible for the destruction of their assets.

Perhaps responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of such buildings should be transferred to organisations that can fulfil that role.     

The Funeral of John Firth - Ecclesall Church Sheffield May 1869

I was going to post an article to the site based on this report  that appeared in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent newspaper on 8th May 1869. A classic Victorian funeral

But when I came to research it I found that there was an excellent summary of John's working life in Graces Guide to British Industrial History

John Firth (c 1824-1869) Merchant and steel manufacturer

c.1824 Born son of Thomas Firth, Senior in Sheffield

1841 Living in Sheffield: Thomas Firth (age c52), steel refiner, with Mary (age c48), Mark (age c220 a clerk, Thomas (age c190 a steel refiner, John (age c17) a clerk, Edward (age c11), Mary (age c9), Elizabeth (age c6), and Charles (age c4)[1]

1850 Thomas Firth Snr died. John joined his brothers in their business, Thomas Firth and Sons.

1856 Married Charlotte Harding

1861 A steel and iron manufacturer, living in Chesterfield with Charlotte 31, Charles H Firth 4, Lewis John Firth 2, Mary Alice Firth 10 months[2]

1869 Died at sea[3], whilst on holiday with his wife in the Mediterranean[4]  

Holt House also appears on my website - I spent a couple of years there as a pupil!

As a footnote the arrangements for the funeral was made by Mr Skelton Cole, one of the Cole Brothers

View From A Hill - 31st December 2018

This blog is the 31st I've posted in 2018 which is the lowest annual total since the blog started in 2010. I have also managed to post a few articles to the website but not as many as I would have liked. 

There are reasons for this tardiness on my part but it has meant that I have a rather larger backlog of material than is normal. I hope to get around to posting some new content in the next few months. 

And so all that remains is to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year

This photograph was taken on 2nd December 2018 and shows a rainbow over the Hill - quite a rare occurrence.

The Springfield Tavern Broomspring Lane Sheffield October 2006

This cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated 6th October 2006 and refers to the The Springfield Tavern in Broomspring Lane Sheffield. As the report says it was the first of its kind in Sheffield

The outcome of the Board's deliberations was that the couple were instructed to install noise abatement equipment

Photo courtesy of Peter Ashworth

The locals who challenged and opposed the granting of a licence to the public house did not have long to wait for a final solution though. The public house was permanently closed in 2010 and is now private rented accommodation.   

Christmas in the Workhouse - Sheffield December 1883

The following is a report that appeared in the Sheffield Independent dated 26th December 1883

"The inmates of the above Workhouse were yesterday provided with their Christmas treat. It consisted, as usual, of the substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding. A pint of beer was allowed for everyone except the imbeciles and children. They has coffee, as also did everyone who preferred it. The total number of inmates in the house this Christmas is 1334... after dinner they were briefly and suitably addressed by the Chairman (Ald. Hunter) ....The inmates were then dismissed to their various wards to pass the afternoon in recreation, various friends having kindly sent a quantity of illustrated papers and books for their use. `the old people were supplied with tobacco and snuff and the children with oranges. An excellent tea was given them, and to-day (Wed) there will be a magic lantern entertainment kindly supplied by Mr Rodgers. The Sheffield Pillow Mission sent their usual Christmas present of a letter and illustrated card to each inmate."

As with the previous blog I was going to post a fuller article but found this article about Christmas in the Workhouse which even includes a recipe for a workhouse plum pudding!

But the sentence that shows just how tough life was in the 1880's is this "The total number of inmates in the house this Christmas is 1334" - a staggering total

Marjorie Stewart and Harry Fallows - Castleton Derbyshire January 1927

This cutting is from The Scotsman dated 12th January 1927. I was going to post an article to the site about their tragic deaths but found that there was this article that covered the event. (and others).

The article by Kay Harrison is very interesting to say the least and well worth a read. The couple lived at Hinde Street Moston which is a district in Manchester

The Beatles first appearance in Sheffield - Tuesday 2nd April 1963

This is a copy of a poster that has been circulating for years and has been shown to be a fake

The Beatles did not appear there on that date but did appear on Tuesday 2nd April 1963

There is an excellent blog that explains all about what happened and why But when I was in the Local Studies Library the other day, I found this advertisement in The Sheffield Star dated Tuesday 2nd April 1963,

The show did take place but I could find no report of the event in the following nights newspaper. Of course the typos are quite amusing "Tickets at the Noor" and Mark Stone I believe is "Mark Jones"

But the fascinating act has got to be the "Screaming Howling Horror of Fitzalan Sqaure - Count Linsey 111 and The Skeletons,." I wonder what happened to them? 

Alma Street Brightside Sheffield - August 1867

I came across this report in The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser dated 
3rd August 1867. (The National Library of Wales have placed their newspaper archive on-line and is well worth visiting)

The report appeared under the title SHEFFIELD SENTIMENT.

 The other night a commercial clerk, living in Alma- street, Brightside, Sheffield, beat his litttle boy, 11 years of age, with shocking severity. The child had caused his father a deal of trouble by his propensity to lying. On the other hand, the child has been much repressed at home, and very frequently beaten. His mother is dead, and his father has married again. In consequence of the cruel conduct of the father the neighbours communicated with the police, and the chief-constable sent the child to Dr Young to be examined.

The doctor found his shoulders, back, and loins covered with bruises and bleeding wounds, so that a finger could not be laid on a sound place. In consequence of the doctor's report the father has been brought before the magistrates, but the doctor not being present the case was remanded.

"I suppose, said one of the magistrates to the father, "that we must send the boy back with you, and I hope you can be trusted not to beat him again before tomorrow. I'll never touch him again," said the father, bursting into tears. Upon this the little boy looked up and began to cry too, and said, taking his father's hand,"Don't cry, father I'd sooner go to prison than you should go."

 Thus weeping, the father and child left the court together." 

These are the only details I have at the moment but it would be interesting to know what happened to the family

John Womersley's house on Bents Drive, Sheffield - April 1967

Just over  a year ago I posted a blog on John Lewis Womersley. John was City Architect for Sheffield from 1953 - 1963 and led the team that planned and designed the mixed high-density housing developments, Park Hill (1957-1961) and the Gleadless Valley estate (1955-1962). He was also involved in the building of the recently demolished Castle Market.  

I came across this cutting whilst I was researching something totally different. It is from The Sheffield Star and is dated April 1967

 Unfortunately the article does not stipulate the number of the house on Bents Drive but the fact that it is a three-bedroomed house with a large secluded garden does seem to indicate that John was not all that taken with the designs and visions of Le Corbusier. 

If anyone could supply me with either the number of the house or a photograph, please contact me. 

Aircraftman 2nd Class George William Rhodes (1916-1940) - Commonside Sheffield

Photograph taken 25th April 2012

Sec. J.J. grave 5603, Sheffield (Crookes) Cemetery.]

The memorial inscription reads

RHODES. Sacred to the affectionate and happy memories of George William Rhodes, 996999, AC2, RAF, only son of William and Amelia Rhodes, killed on active service August 1st 1940, age 24.
"He shall never grow old."
Also the above William, who died June 24th 1963, aged 73 years.

George William Rhodes appears identical to Aircraftman 2nd Class 996999, Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve, died Thursday 1st August 1940, age 24. Son of William & Amelia Rhodes, Commonside, Sheffield. 

And this is how George died. He was based at RAF Upper Heyford with the  16 OTU (Operational Training Unit). There were satellite airfields at RAF Barford St Michael, RAF Croughton and RAF Hinton in the Hedges

On 1 August 1940   a Hereford L6067  Training plane crashed near Souldern which is 7 miles north west of Bicester in Oxfordshire

On board the aircraft were the following personnel - all four died in the crash

Sergeant (Pilot) Oswald George DAY   RAFVR No. 742004

Age 24 and the son of Harold Johnson Day and Gertrude Day of Leicester. He is buried in Sec V Grave 126 Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester

Flying Officer (Pilot) George Holland THEVENARD  RAFVR No. 70668

Age 33, the son of Ernest Frank and Margaret Montgomery Thevenard and the  husband of Jeannie Thevenard of Hull. He is buried in Plot 1 Row B Grave 14 in the churchyard of All Saints Church, Middleton Stoney

Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Sydney Nevil BAKER  RAF No. 645894

Age 21 and the son of S G and Annie Baker of Dordon.  He was the foster son and nephew of Mr H E Thorpe of Dordon. He is buried near the south boundary of the churchyard of St Leonard’s Church, Dordon, Warwickshire

Aircraftman 2nd Class George William RHODES  RAFVR No. 996999 Age 24 and the son of William and Amelia Rhodes of Commonside, Sheffield. He is buried in Sec JJ Grave 5603, Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield

One source states that George was a passenger on the aircraft.

Head Office of D North Homes Ltd 63 - 73 Commonside Sheffield.

In the previous blog I posted a photograph of Commonside, Sheffield dated October 2012

In the centre of the photograph is the Head Office of D North Homes Ltd 63 - 73 Commonside Sheffield.

But whilst the building was there, the company had ceased to exist. I am unsure as to why the firm packed up but pack up it did.
But by July 2015 even the building had gone. It was demolished and replaced by a private residential development that are all the rage in Sheffield at the moment.

Photograph taken July 2015

Photograph of a Sheffield Family Commonside Sheffield

I came across this photograph last week that shows a family at the door of a house in Commonside, Sheffield. Unfortunately there are no details on the postcard but given the decorations on the house it must have been for some celebration. Date-wise I would guess circa 1930.

I believe that the house was demolished many years ago. It is difficult to place where the house actually was on Commonside apart from it being on the flatter part. There were some houses demolished at the bottom of Hands Road where it joins Commonside. There is a photograph of the derelict land on Picture Sheffield and that is dated 11th November 1971. And so possibly the demolition took place earlier in the 1960's

If anyone can help please let me know.  

Photo taken October 2012

231 Crookes Sheffield - Paranormal Activity June 2018

Many years ago I posted an article on the Crookes Laundry Murder that took place in 1922 and was to quote the Sheffield Independent

"one of the most sensational crimes Sheffield police have ever investigated"  

Photo taken 2004

In June this year I received this e-mail. It is something I did not expect

"what a fascinating website! I stumbled across it because of a strange occurrence yesterday. I went up Crookes with my friend Sue to browse the charity shops. We started down at the Age Concern shop and made our way up to St.Lukes. When we arrived at the Barnardo.s shop I found a couple of tops I like so decided to try them on. There was a blue vest top and a light chiffon top both on separate hanger so I carried them both into the changing room and hooked them on the inside of the changing room. I tried them both on together, one over the top of the other, then opened the door to show my friend. We both decided it wasn’t me so I proceeded to take them off. I got the hanger and put the chiffon top back on it then picked up the vest top and looked for the hanger but found it had completely vanished I looked all over the 4 ft square changing room but it was just not there. I went to the rail where I had got it from and there were no empty hangers. I told my friend and she agreed how very odd. 

This morning I started thinking about it again and then seemed to remember a story about a murder on Crookes so I googled it and came across your site. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it was that shop. I text a friend of mine who volunteers in several of the charity shops in Crookes and asked him if he’d heard of anything and this was his reply

“Hi, yep the shop is haunted. Think its something to do with the cellar. The manager is called Kim, i used to help out at weekends on till when she was short of volunteers. She mentioned odd goings off in shop. I've seen items fall off rails still on hangers, thats impossible. Weird spooky stuff. I'll pop in after work & get some stories from her. Wouldn't it b eerie if that hanger turned up in ur wardrobe!! “

Have you heard anything about strange goings on?"

I have not heard of anything re paranormal activity at the shop and it does not appear in Valerie Salim's "Ghost Hunters Guide to Sheffield" which is really the standard work on the subject. And so if anyone can throw any light on the matter I would be grateful 



 

Cookridge Haven Home Sheffield September 1922

The attached is from The Manchester Guardian dated 7th September 1922

Superficially it is a case of "nothing ever changes," Nearly one hundred years later, people are still being neglected and abused in adult and children's care homes despite the strict regulatory regimes they operate under, and the governments rigorous inspection schedules(mmm!)

But in this case it appears that four or five old people were accommodated as well as about ten children in this one home in just six bedrooms. The report gives the impression that they did not know how many people were in the home at the time of the Home Office inspection. But what is astounding is that all the children were infested and suffering from malnutrition and the health inspector inferred that "there had never been any permanent improvement."

In other words neglect was the norm. And Eliza King who was matron of Cookridge Haven Home was fined £5 (about £200 in today's money) for running this hovel in a cruel and malicious way. It is almost as if the authorities condoned this state of affairs

To date I have been unable to find anything about the Cookridge Haven Home



    

Gunner James Samuel King R.A. Died Beighton Sheffield 12th February 1942

Many years ago I published an article on the Beighton Rail Disaster 1942 and its aftermath, and since then I have updated it as and when information has become available 

KING James Samuel. Nationality: United Kingdom. Rank: Gunner. Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery. Age: 32. Date of Death: 12/02/1942. Service No: 11264438. Additional information: Son of Samuel and Bertha Grace King, of Westcliff-on-Sea. Plot R. Grave 12050.

James is buried in Sutton Road Cemetery Southend on Sea. He is buried in buried in Plot R, outside the hedged perimeter of the War Memorial.

In March 2013 I received this e-mail from James' nephew

"Thank you for the information on your web site about the Beighton Train Disaster. I have always wondered about what precisely happened.
My uncle James King was killed in the crash. From the information on the web sites linked to yours it appears he died on the day after the crash so he must have been one of those taken to Sheffield Royal Infirmary. Jim was a 32 year old single man. He had trained to become a draughtsman. But probably due to the difficulty in finding such work in the depression had joined with his brother Stanley to start in about 1938 a sweet making firm in Southend on Sea. The firm continued into the 1960s still trading as J & S King. My two brothers and I were born after the tragedy but we all knew the outline of the story, that a metal girder/plate had sliced into a troop train from a goods train on the other line and killed my uncle and other soldiers.

You ask whether the facts were kept from the families at the time. I suspect not. My grandfather had copies of the Times report of the Crash and also a copy of the coroners report and a report from the Southend Standard amongst his papers when he died. My brothers and I were regularly taken to his grave when I was younger. I remember being shocked once when my grandfather commented that some of the soldiers on the train had been beheaded."

In October 2018 James' nephew contacted me again and kindly supplied me with a copy of his obituary from the local newspaper The Southend Standard

and also a family photograph that shows Jim's parents Sam and Bertha Grace King standing next to his grave at Sutton Road Cemetery Southend on Sea.

"The photograph was taken probably in the mid 1950s on one of the regular visits of me and my family to his grave. Jim’s parents paid for a private grave plot just outside the official Commonwealth war graves plot of Southend war dead. You can see the official war graves and memorial in the background. Their other son Stanley, my father, survived four and a half years in the army and the fighting in Normandy and across Europe into Germany".

The family are attempting to find photographs of the accident. There were photographs taken at the time of the accident but sadly the ones we have been able to obtain are of poor quality. And so if anyone knows of any good quality photos let me know and I will pass the inforamtion on

George Lambert VC - The Garrison Hotel - 18th June 2018

An article was posted  in the Sheffield Star dated 18th June 2018 about the unveiling of a plaque in the Garrison Hotel to George Lambert VC .

George was the first person to be awarded a Victoria Cross who had a Sheffield connection. I posted the article on George to the website many years ago and over time I have managed to add some additional content, But sadly a photo and or image of George has always proved elusive.

I was invited to the ceremony and manged to take this photo of the event. I am glad that George's bravery and courage are still being recognised today.

 

Deaths under Anaesthetic - Sheffield February 1935

This is the first post to the blog I have done in over six months. There are a number of reasons for this tardy behaviour but the main one is that I would rather sit outside in the summer sunshine reading a good book, than sitting inside posting content to the blog and site.

Nevertheless, material has surfaced over the period, a lot of which deserves publication

The first is from The Manchester Guardian dated 25th February 1935

Bearing in mind that this was the last week in February, the Coroner remarked that he had already officiated in 12 inquests this year where the victim was under anaesthetic at the time of their death. And that 10 of those deaths occurred at the Sheffield Royal Infirmary. He stated that he was "concerned" at the "unusual number of anaesthetic deaths" that had resulted and suggested an inquiry into the methods used.

I would have expected that any sudden death under anaesthetic would have been investigated by the hospital but it is inferred in the report the this was not the case. In fact you get the impression that if the matter had not been raised by the Coroner, no action would have been taken.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find out the reasons for these "unusual number of anaesthetic deaths" and I have not been able to locate any reports

  

Irene Wilson May Queen - Sheffield 1937

This marvelous photograph appeared on Ebay this week but the details are non-existent.

It just states "Irene Wilson May Queen Sheffield 1937"

It would be fascinating to ascertain some further details about the photograph. The photograph looks as though it was taken by a professional photographer and the setting is formal.

Queen Victoria Memorial Statue - Fargate Sheffield 1905

I came across this photograph of the Queen Victoria Memorial Statue that used to be situated at the top of Fargate Sheffield near the junction with Pinstone Street (Sheffield)

This is the description from the Sheffield Halllam University Sheffield Public Art Website

""The bronze figure of a crowned Queen Victoria holding an orb and sceptre stands on top of a plinth of limestone blocks. The figure is about 3m high. She is attended by two bronze figures representing Maternity and Labour seated on either side of the main plinth, each about 2m high. 'Maternity' is a young woman holding a baby with her left arm around a young girl . 'Labour' is a young man sitting on an anvil with a sledgehammer propped against his left knee. The base of this bronze is signed: "ALFRED TURNER SC. 1904" - the '4' is somewhat indistinct. "

It was moved to Endcliffe Park on 24th February 1930 as part of yet another "road improvement" scheme that has tended to blight the area over the last century.

There are further details of the statue on the Sheffield History forum

The Family of Henry Hughes (1891 - 1918) - Sheffield and Merthyr Tydfil

Henry Hughes was executed by the British Army on  10th April 1918. He was 27 years old

Information on Henry is scarce but the CWGC records show that he was the son of John Charles and Ellen Hughes. 
I was researching the 1911 Census and found this entry


Name: John Hughes
Age in 1911: 52
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Relation to Head: Head Gender: Male
Birth Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Civil Parish: Sheffield County/Island: Yorkshire-West Riding Country: England
Street address: 25 New St Sheffield Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Hawker Of Hardware
Registration district: Sheffield Registration District Number: 510 Sub-registration district: South Sheffield ED, institution, or vessel: 8 Piece: 27856
Household Members:
Name Age
John Hughes 52
Ellen Hughes 42
James Hughes 12

His wife of 25 years Ellen was born in Merthyr Tydfil and a check on the BMD registers revealed this entry 

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Sep 1886 HUGHES John Merthyr T Volume 11a Page 659 Spouse Ellen Jones

and then there was this entry five years later

Births Mar 1891 Hughes Henry Merthyr T. Volume 11a  Page 671.

Superficially this could be Henry's family but to be certain I would need further information to verify them. I could send of for the certificates and this would undoubtedly help. But they cost £9.25 each at the moment which is prohibitive to say the least.  

Nevertheless three points on the census stand-out - firstly John was unable to read and write - he just placed his mark on the form and someone else must have completed it for him Secondly the family were living in just two rooms and finally their son James was living with them. There was another child that was still living (was this Henry who would have been 20 at the time of the census?) but was not resident at 25 New Street. John and Ellen had eleven children but only two were still living in 1911. 

If Henry was the other son it means that the British Army executed one of their only two surviving children. You are left literally speechless! 

Wingerworth Hall near Chesterfield Derbyshire - April 1924

I came across this cutting whilst researching an article for the site. I was going to incorporate it into an article but I found that there was an excellent website that was devoted to the history of the Hall and its occupants.

The cutting is dated 16th April 1924

Sadly this fine mansion with its many distinctive architectural features was demolished. According to the Wingerworth Hall website

"One of the (Wingerworth Hall) rooms was sold to the St Louis Museum in Missouri. The staircase, drawing room and library were for sale at Robersons of Knightsbridge in 1929, but their fate is unknown. The seventeenth century wing and stable block were subsequently converted and much of the park has now been built on."

And so if anyone comes across this blog and knows the fate of the staircase, drawing room and library please let me know