Attercliffe Old Cemetery Attercliffe Common Sheffield

The following is a postcard that has the title "Old Cemetery Attercliffe Common Sheffield" 

I could not place it initially but after checking on Wikipedia I found this information on Wikipedia

Attercliffe Chapel, also known as the Hill Top Chapel, is a Gothic chapel in Attercliffe, now a suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The chapel was constructed in 1629, when Attercliffe was a township separate from Sheffield, although in the same parish. Consecration took place on St. Matthias' day, 24 February 1630. By the 1840s, the chapel was used only for funeral services.

The chapel, surrounded by its cemetery, and lying on the south bank of the River Don, was largely rebuilt in 1909, but retains its period atmosphere. It is Grade II listed.

As of 2014, the Sheffield congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales meets at the Chapel.

And on the Find A Grave website 1,387 memorials from the Cemetery are listed!

The Late Mr Samuel Bennett - Burgreave Cemetery Sheffield December 1869

I came across this cutting from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 27th December 1879 which announced the death and interment of the first superintendent of Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery

By the time of his death nearly 30,000 persons had been buried there and it had only opened in 1861 (the first burial was on 23rd March 1861 - it was a five year old boy named Oscar Brooks) 

The Cemetery was closed for new burials in the 1960's by which time over 160,000 had been buried there. Amongst this number are a few of my ancestors

And from the burial record that appears on the Sheffield Indexers site it looks as though Samuel had to endure what no parent should have to - the death and burial of his son Thomas Laurie ten years prior in 1869

BENNETT, Elizabeth (spinster, age 76).
Died at 29 Upper Albert Rd; Buried on November 11, 1924 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8, Section P3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, Spencer H Elliott: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

BENNETT, Jane (Widow, age 71).
Died at Cambridge; Buried on April 9, 1892 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8, Section P3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 11548 / 2.
 
BENNETT, Samuel (Superintendent, age 61).
Died at Burngreave; Buried on December 24, 1879 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8, Section P3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Reopened 11548.

BENNETT, Thomas Laurie (Son of Samuel Bennett, age 20).
Died at Burngreave Cemetery; Buried on November 1, 1869 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8, Section P3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: .
Plot Owner: Samuel BENNETT of Burngreave Cemetery. Page No

The Return of the Charabanc W 671 - Joseph Tomlinson & Sons Ltd. Sheffield

Many years ago I posted an article to the site about the tragedy that occurred at Moscar near Sheffield on 25th August 1907

I also posted an update to this blog at the end of last month - The Funeral of "the boy Harrison" - Sheffield Friday 30th August 1907 

But last week a descendent of Joseph Tomlinson the owner of the charabanc involved in the accident. contacted me and kindly forwarded this photograph. 

It shows the charabanc reg no W671 on the road again - we are pretty positive that this was taken after the accident as the front mudguards are missing, and the radiator grill looks as though it has been replaced. There is no date or location given but it looks as though it is a day excursion from Sheffield into the Peak District that was during the summer months.

I wonder if any of the passengers knew of W671's past? 

Fred Hunter (1887 - 1916) - Crookes (Sheffield)

I have just received this photograph of a memorial in Crookes Cemetery (Sheffield) from a reader of my website. The grave belongs to the HUNTER family and is located in the far corner of the cemetery in section HH

This is the grave record from the excellent Sheffield Indexers site

HUNTER, Elizabeth (Widow, age 86).
     Died at 68 Bradley Street; Buried on January 27, 1933 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4064, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 239

HUNTER, William (Labourer, age 68).
     Died at 204 Stannington View Road; Buried on July 14, 1916 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4064, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 53

It is a splendid memorial although the inscription is now difficult to read.

But this is a transcription of the memorial from my site

HUNTER. In loving memory of William, the dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Hunter, who died July 9th 1916, aged 68 years.
"At rest."
Also of our dear brother Fred, dearly beloved and youngest son of the above, who fell in action in France, Sept 25th 1916, in his 29th year.
"He nobly answered duties call, his life he gave for one and all."
Also the above named Elizabeth Hunter, who died Jan 23rd 1933, aged 86 years.
"Re-united".
Also Kate, the beloved daughter of the above, died Feb 16th 1962, aged 82 years.
"At rest."
[Fred Hunter appears identical with Private, 21376, 10th Bn., King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died Tuesday 26th September 1916, age 29. Youngest son of Elizabeth Hunter, of 204 Stannington View Rd, Crookes, Sheffield, and the late William Hunter. Memorial Pier & Face 11C & 12A, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.]

As the reader of my article remarked at least William died just before his youngest son did in 1916, and was spared the grief and sorrow that would have accompanied the notice of death. Fred's body was never recovered from the battlefield and so like over 73,000 other fatalities he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. And also in Crookes Cemetery

Brook Cottages Atterclife Sheffield

I came across this photograph of Brook Cottages Atterclife Sheffield. There is no information on the reverse  of the postcard as to date etc.

I did a little checking and found he following information in White's Directory of Sheffield which was published in 1852.

"The poor have several small benefactions; ...The four old almshouses in Attercliffe, anciently the town school, were rebuilt by the overseers, in 1836, at the cost of about £170."

I should imagine that the cottages were demolished many years ago but I would like to find out the date.

Albert G Friedrich 233 Crookes Sheffield

I came across this photograph of Crookes. There is no date on the card but the Punch Bowl public house on the right of the photo was built in 1927 on the site of an ealier pub.

The butchers on the left is recorded  in: Sheffield & Rotherham Kelly's Directory.1925

FRIEDRICH, Albert G. (~, Pork Butcher). Address: 223 Crookes, ~ in 1925.

They were still there in 1939  - National Register entry as follows

Name: Albert G Friedrich
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Birth Date: 20 Sep 1885
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 223 Crookes(Shop)
Residence Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
Occupation: Cork Butcher (master salesman)
Schedule Number: 310
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: KKAR
Registration district: 510-6.
Inferred Spouse: Elsie Friedrich
Inferred Children: Albert E Friedrich
Household Members:
Name
Albert G Friedrich
Elsie Friedrich
Albert E Friedrich
Redacted
Freda Fredrick (Knowles)
Dorothy Gillott

After retiring Albert lived on Brookland Avenue Fulwood Sheffield, He died 5 days after his 85th birthday 

Name: Albert George Friedrich
Death Date: 25 Sep 1970
Death Place: Sheffield
Probate Date: 6 Nov 1970
Probate Registry: Sheffield

The Funeral of "the boy Harrison" - Sheffield Friday 30th August 1907

Many years ago I posted an article to the site about the terrible tragedy at Moscar on Sunday 25th August 1907 when a charabanc crashed into a wall killing 3 people outright. One of the fatalities was William Ernest Harrison age just 5 years old.

Since then I have expanded the article to include more photographs. Last week a contributor to the Sheffield History Forum posted this photograph showing the funeral procession behind the hearse that carried the coffin of young William. It looks as though the photograph was taken at the corner of Charlotte Road. In the back ground is the spire of St Mary's Church in Bramall Lane. I believe it was the same photographer that took the photograph of the interment at City Road Cemetery

Over a hundred years after the tragedy the grave of William is still lovingly tended

As Your Hair Grows Whiter - Henry Dale and The Upperthorpe Three - Sheffield September 1927

Until the events of the last month "rowdy singing at midnight" is a common occurrence in the district of Crookesmoor (Sheffield) but it is many many years since a presiding magistrate called it a great nuisance. In most cases it is just part of living in an area that accommodates a large student population

It was rather interesting to come across this report from the 1st September 1927 when Mr Henry Dale who was described as a wrathful householder decided that the singing of "As Your Hair Grows White" was inappropriate at that time of night.    

It must have been a ferocious assault that left two men unconscious in the road but apart from telling Henry that he had no right to take the law into his own hands, he merely bound him over for 12 months. Short of acquittal it was about the mildest sentence he could get. Perhaps the magistrate had some sympathy for Mr Dale and his actions 

The Birmingham District and Counties Banking Co. Ltd Commercial Street Sheffield

This postcard shows Barclays Bank that stood on the corner of Commercial Street and Fitzalan Square in Sheffield

It was originally built for the The Birmingham District and Counties Banking Co. Ltd but in 1916 that bank was taken over by Barclays Bank Ltd.

It is  a rather splendid building and one any city would be proud of. But as with many similar buildings in Sheffield it was demolished on the orders of the city planners. The reason was a road-widening scheme for Commercial Street so that it could be used as a temporary terminus for Supertram.

It was a shame but what was even worse were the buildings that replaced it in Commercial Street.

   

These are to the left of the above photograph - it certainly makes you think!

The Mysterious Disappearance of William Dunkley - Monday 28th December 1931 - Sheffield

I have just posted an article to the site concerning the disappearance of William Dunkley in Sheffield on the night of Monday 28th December 1931

It was based on a brief newspaper report that appeared in The Scotsman dated Thursday 31st December 1931

Unfortunately the information given in the article was rather sparse and so I checked to see if the disappearance was covered elsewhere. Thankfully the disappearance was covered in greater detail in other papers and based on that material I was able to draw a feasible solution to the disappearance.

A Disgusting Sheffield Home - Thomas and Florence Maskery's house in Boston Street Sheffield - February 1901

I have just posted an article to the site - A Disgusting Sheffield Home - Thomas and Florence Maskery's house in Boston Street Sheffield - February 1901

It is based on a cutting that appeared in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 28th February 1901. This edition has appeared in this blog in earlier postings

The problem I had with the article was that I could not find any trace of Florence after 1901. The assumption is that she is the mother of Edward and Florence who were born after her time in prison and so she would have still been alive in 1904. I cannot find any trace of her in the 1911 Census, and the only other lead I have is this entry in the BMD Registers

Name: Florence Maskrey
Event Type: Death
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep Registration Year: 1912
Registration District: Chesterfield County: Derbyshire
Event Place: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Age: 42
Birth Year (Estimated): 1870
Volume: 7B Page: 647 Affiliate Line Number: 58.

The age ties in with UK Census information but I cannot collaborate it with any other records. A family tree on Ancestry actually gives the date of death as 17th July 1912 but like so many Family Trees on Ancestry fails to give an authorative source for the information.

Her husband Thomas lived until he was 68 years of age, dying in Sheffield on 16th May 1936.

It was  an interesting event to research. And my favourite line from the report "Each defendant blamed the other." Nothing ever changes!

Empire Day - June 1907 - Lowfield School, Sheffield

This was the original poster for the event but I came across this postcard of the event

Historic England has this to say about the school

"Lowfield Board School was built in 1874 in a Gothic Revival style. It was one of the earliest board schools. It catered for 305 boys, 220 girls and 260 infants. The Sheffield School Board employed the architects Innocent and Brown. By 1889 they had twenty six schools and were planning four more. Lowfield Community Primary School is still educating children today (2020).

Sheffield at the dawn of the twentieth century - Effingham Road and The Wicker - February 1901

You may be glad or pained to hear that the last blog I posted was the 500th article since the blogs inception in November 2010.

To mark this occasion, and also keep within the themes of the blog, this is a cutting from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 28th February 1901. For those who are not familiar with the term "nightsoil" it is defined by Wikipedia as " a historically used euphemism for human excreta collected from cesspools, privies, pail closets, pit latrines, privy middens, septic tanks, etc. This material was removed from the immediate area, usually at night, by workers employed in this trade".
But night soil was not allowed to be deposited in Effingham Road at any time and Mr John Callaghan was fined 10s (abt £43 in todays money)

On the same day, two men were prosecuted for "unlawfully conveying offensive matter namely manure" through The Wicker on Monday morning 9th February. The two men admitted conveying the manure at the time in question but argued that the manure was dry and could not be deemed offensive. The Bench concurred on the matter and stated that the prosecution had not proved that the manure was offensive. The case was dismissed.

Of course, a couple of points arise from this offence - what was the official title of Inspectors Cherry and Rossington and what was their role. Was it just monitor the movement of manure around the streets of Sheffield or did they have a wider brief. Were they the forerunners of today's traffic cameras spying on the unlawful conveyancing of manures as opposed to traffic violations.

The other point is does the offence of "unlawfully conveying offensive matter on a public thoroughfare" still exist. Personally after seeing the amount of offensive matter that is shipped around the streets of Sheffield I doubt it! But if you do need to convey manure make sure it is dry and if apprehended refer to the case of Sheffield City Council v Turner and Laycock - February 1901 in your defence.

For those readers wishing to re-enact Turner and Laycock's journey on 9th February 1901 be warned - The Wicker has a complex traffic management scheme that defies logic but raises the most money in fines than any other similar scheme in the city. 

 

George Sanby at the River Ancholme near Brigg, Lincolnshire - July 1893

My late grans maiden name was SANBY and over the last 20 years or so of family history research I have acquired quite a lot of information on the SANBY name. In fact most of the Sanby's in Sheffield are related in one way or another.

I found this cutting in the York Herald dated 29th July 1893 under the title ANGLING GOSSIP. The unnamed writer of the article is incensed about the rapid commercialisation of the sport. Whereas at one time fishing was an "honour" nowadays there are proposals for a single match to be worth £100 to the winner (abt £13000 in today's money).

Whilst he admits the he is "old school" and not against matches as such, he bemoans the fact that match fishing by "clubmen" has become increasingly popular, attracting many competitors and spectators.

He then goes onto report on a large fishing match that took place on the  River Ancholme near Brigg, Lincolnshire

My interest is that the person who finished 4th out of 270 in the match was one GEORGE SANBY. I do not know if he was my gran's uncle or cousin but his endeavours at the riverside that day earned him £3 (nearly £400 in today's money) and if he had caught another 2 oz his prize money would have been £5. A sizeable sum of money for a days fishing.

And of course, the writer could not help pointing out that the predominance of the Sheffield men at the top of the match figures was due firstly to their preponderance, and secondly to their good fortune in securing the pegs with the best fishing. The writer certainly does like to carp on about things. !! 

Gilmour's Imperial Invalid Stout - Sheffield 1904

This advertisement promoting the the health giving properties of Gilmour's Imperial Invalid Stout appeared in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph circa 1904.

But unfortunately the brewing of this stout with "exceptional medicinal properties" came to late for the founder of the brewery Duncan Gilmour. He died on 11th January 1889 and is buried in Fulwood Churchyard.

I have not checked on this article on Duncan Gilmour for nine years and I have just found out that the links to the Gilmour Family History are now redundant. I have updated the article.

Esther Ball (1770 - 1828) - The First Burial in the Churchyard of St Philips Church, Shalesmoor,Sheffield 1st January 1829

In the burial registers of  St Philips Church, Shalesmoor,Sheffield is this entry

BALL Esther 1 Jan 1829 Sheffield age 59 wife of  Jonathan.

But what is a lesser known fact is that Esther was the first interment in the churchyard of the newly commissioned church.

It is engraved on her memorial stone.that is inlaid into a wall in Hillsborough Barracks Sheffield

Photograph Taken August 2012

 

Also remembered on the stone are her son Richard who died in June 1834 

BALL Richard 17 Jun 1834 Sheffield age 30

and a young infant Ann who died aged 11 months

BALL Ann 11 Oct 1835 Sheffield 11m daughter of  William 

I did not know that the memorial was there until it was pointed out to me by Ron Clayton who was instrumental in its relocation (and a few more) from the churchyard

St Philips Church, Shalesmoor,Sheffield was one of the million pound churches and played a prominent role in the life of the district for over 120 years. But like many similar churches it outlived its usefulness and purpose and was demolished in the mid 1950's

 Full details of its history can be found on the Sheffield History Forum

Esther's memorial was fortunate to survive - this is what I have been able to ascertain about the fate of those many thousands who were buried there and their headstones.

All the bodies were exhumed under the remit of Sheffield City Council (the church authorities seem to have gone missing). Their department Bereavement Services confirmed that all the remains were taken from St Philips to Abbey Lane cemetery, Section H and placed in a communal grave with no memorials

One descendent whose forbears were buried in St Philips contacted the council to see if anyone had made a record of who exactly was moved. He was referred to the Council's  legal team to see if there were any details collected when licences were gained to exhume the remains. The answer they  received was that it does not appear that any records were made of who was moved. 

A subscriber to the Sheffield History Forum was told that the headstones from St Philips were sold to stonemasons, and some of them, cut into blocks. They can be seen in the retaining wall of the River Porter in Bingham Park (Sheffield). It is certainly true that sections of gravestones are present in the wall, as ornamentation is visible in places. I believe they were also used in the low wall on the path leading down to Forge Dam.  

And so without the actions of  Ron Clayton this piece of Sheffield history would have been forgotten.

As a footnote I was told years ago that the pews and other wooden fittings in the church ended upp on local bonfires and of course  there is the apocryphal story that when they exhumed some of the coffins they were scratches on the inside of the coffin lids. I was very sceptical of this but after reading about the exploits of Mr Heywood and the revival of Joseph Fegan I am not that sure.! 

 

The Footpaths of Walkley (Sheffield) - January 1892

This cutting is from the Sheffield Independent dated 19th January 1892 and it relates to the footpaths of Walkley

It did provoke a wry smile given that after 128 years I can answer the readers question. They were  fortunate to experience a time when men placed "careful and constant attention to the placing on ashes on footpaths." The writer laments that during the inclement weather that persisted in January 1892 the persons spreading the ashes were less than diligent to the extent of neglect.

They infer that the reason for this tardiness in the placing of ashes is the fact that a prominent Corporation official has left the area, In relocating to another district, the official has left the citizens of Walkley with the "laborious task" of walking up and done the numerous hills in the district on icy and snow-covered footpaths

The Corporation must have been aware of this criticism and came up with a solution. They decided to do away with the spreading of ashes on the footpaths and pavements altogether. I have lived in the district for over forty years and have never once experienced men playing ""careful and constant attention to the placing on ashes on footpaths.." In fact when winter weather hits the hills of Shefffield, the last thing you will see are corporation employees clearing the footpaths. A grit bin at the top of a few streets is the best you are going to get!

         

There are no ashes on Spring Hill today (or any day)!

The Undertakers Conference Sheffield 28th May 1907 and the restoration of James Fegan

I have just posted a quite remarkable article to the site concerning an Undertakers Conference that was held in Sheffield on 28th May 1907 and the "restoration" of James Fegan.

It all stems from the blog I posted earlier today relating to the life and tragic death of Edward Guite, a native of Walkley, Sheffield. I used a cutting from the Nottingham Evening Post dated 29th May 1907 which contained a short report on Edward's transfer to Nottingham Forest FC. On the same page in the adjacent column was this report from an Undertakers Conference 

This is the report

And according to Mr H. A. Sherry who addressed the conference this was not an isolated instance. On a few occasions undertakers have had the task of restoring a corpse that has been certified as being dead by doctors. Unfortunately Mr Sherry does not explain the correct method to restore a corpse" 

This has all the hallmarks of a gothic novel!    

The Barnsley Football Club Mascot - FA Cup Final 1910

Many years ago I posted an article to the site relating to the FA Cup Final Replay of 1912 between Barnsley FC and West Bromwich Albion. It was the only time that a FA Cup Final was held in Sheffield (and to date the only time Barnsley FC have won the Cup!)

And as a result of the article I posted further articles concerning persons associated with the match  The Chairman of the Football Association Charles Clegg who presented the Cup to the victorious Barnsley team, Harry Tufnell the winning goal-scorer and Reverend Tiverton Preedy (1863 - 1928) the original founder of Barnsley FC   

The reception for the team after the match was held at the Clarence Hotel Barnsley and the matchball, was presented to the guest of honour the  Reverend Tiverton Preedy 

But two years earlier Barnsley lost a FA Cup Final after a replay. Barnsley lost the final 2-0 to Newcastle at Goodison Park Liverpool (28 April 1910). The original FA Cup final at Crystal Palace ended 1-1 (23 April 1910).

But for me the Final will be remembered for this magnificent photograph taken outside The Clarence Hotel Barnsley. It shows Amos the donkey, Barnsley FC's official mascot, pictured with his ‘jockey’ outside the team’s HQ .   

Edward Guite (1885 - 1918) - Walkley Sheffield

A couple of days ago I received this information concerning an Edward Guite who was fromthe Walkley distrci of  Sheffield

"I am researching my family history, but was wondering if you might be able to help with my research into my Great uncle Edward Guite (1885 - 1918). Edward had a wholesale pork butchers’ business at 175 Walkley Lane, and died as a prisoner of war in Germany in 1918 (his letters to his wife Clara are in the Sheffield Archive).

Edward was a keen sportsman, playing both football and cricket; there are numerous newspaper references to him. Edward played for Walkley, Doncaster Rovers and Nottingham Forest. The attached newspaper features  his signing for Forest in 1907.

Specifically I was wondering if you could help me identify the team in the third picture and the name of the trophy he has between his legs.

 Any thought would be appreciated"

These are the rather splendid photographs that were supplied by the researcher

It is the third photograph that the researcher was attempting to identify - the team and the trophy and so if any reader of this post can help please contact me and I will pass on the information.

There is a sad postscript to the story - Like millions of other men, Edward joined up and fought on the Western Front in WW1.

"Edward was taken prisoner on 28 March 1918   near the village of Bucquoy  at Rossignol Wood (see attached). It is likely that this was the same action in which Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Cyril Spencer  Watson D.S.O. of the Yorkshire Regiment attached as commanding officer to Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), was awarded the V.C. for bravery. Edward was uninjured on capture but died of pneumonia in very poor conditions and malnutrition may have been a cause."

This is the information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Lance Corporal GUITE, E
Service Number 47779
Died 20/05/1918
Aged 34
2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Son of John and Sarah Guite, of Sheffield, Yorks.; husband of Clara Guite, of 8, Layton Avenue, Blackpool.

Buried at PREMONT BRITISH CEMETERY Location: Aisne, France
Number of casualties: 563 Cemetery/memorial reference: IV. B. 7.