Henry and Emily Swan - Walkley Sheffield

 I have just received from the author the following book

John Ruskin’s faithful stewards, Henry and Emily Swan, made a practical success of an educational ideal. They were the curators of Ruskin’s art-treasures at St George’s Museum, in Walkley. Local metal-workers and visitors from across the world were greeted with courtesy, enthusiasm, and deep knowledge.

In the first biography of the Swans ever to be published, Stuart Eagles digs into the archives to reveal the fascinating story of a couple who embraced Quakerism, vegetarianism and spiritualism. Born in Devizes, Wiltshire, Henry moved with his parents to London. In a life of extraordinary energy and innovation, he became a writing engraver, devised the ‘Regent Method’  of musical notation to teach singing, embraced spelling reform, learned shorthand, and printed some of Isaac Pitman’s publications. An early adopter of the bicycle, he sought to make boomerang-throwing an athletic sport. He was among the first students at the London Working Men’s College, where he met Ruskin, and copied illuminated manuscripts for him.

But it was in the world of stereoscopy, a form of 3D photography, that Swan first made his mark. He invented the ‘Clairvoyant’, a hand-held stereoscope. Then he patented the ‘crystal-cube miniature’,  a self-contained, hand-coloured 3D portrait which he marketed through his Casket Portrait Co.

Crucially, Henry and Emily Swan were two of Ruskin’s most dedicated and consequential disciples. Together they helped shape both Sheffield’s cultural heritage and Ruskin’s enduring legacy.

Stuart has a dedicated website that is well worth visiting 

Air Raid Precautions Sheffield - April 1937

 This cutting is from the Daily Independent dated 17th April 1937 

I was surprised when I first saw this as I was always under the impression that Britain in general and Sheffield in particular were not fully prepared for was in the summer of 1939.

But this article contradicts that viewpoint but you cannot help thinking that Britain was extremely nervous about the impact of enemy air raids and the causalities that would entail from such raids.

This was the prevailing thinking throughout the Thirties and stems from the British PM Stanley Baldwin

"The bomber will always get through" was a phrase used by Stanley Baldwin in a 1932 speech "A Fear for the Future" given to the British Parliament. His speech stated that contemporary bomber aircraft had the performance necessary to conduct a strategic bombing campaign that would destroy a country's cities and there was little that could be done in response"

Resurrection Day Service - Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 9th April 1939

Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 27th October 2012

Resurrection Day Services were not that common in the United Kingdom but it appears that the first one to be held in Walkley was in 1902. Traditionally associated with the Easter period and the Resurrection of Christ the service also had another purpose. Taking place in a cemetery it was an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the lives of their family and friends in that particular cemetery, whose graves they dressed with flowers. And such activities meant that the cemeteries would avoid falling into neglect  

As stated above the Rev Sydney T.G. Smith of St Mary’s Church, Walkley, conducted the first Resurrection Day Service in the Walkley Cemetery on Easter Sunday 1902. Five years later research found an official count of 12,764 people attending the Walkley Resurrection Day Service

Thirty two years later over 5000 were still attending the Resurrection Day Service in the Cemetery

Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 9th April 1939

The Resurrection Day Service was still in existence in 1950 This cutting is from the Yorkshire Post dated 9th April 1950

I am unsure when the annual Resurrection Day Services came to an end in Walkley 

Golf in Sheffield - May 1925 - The State of Play

 I came across this in the Sheffield Daily Independent Daily Independent dated Friday 22nd May 1925

I was considering expanding this article as it had some interesting points about the history of golf in Sheffield. But when I had a look I found this excellent site that covers the origins of municipal golf in Sheffield in a most comprehensive manner     

A Frightful Death of Emma Memmott - Sheffield - August 1856

 A report from Manchester Times (Manchester, England), Saturday, August 9, 1856; 

FRIGHTFUL DEATH AT SHEFFIELD 

Shortly before eleven o'clock on Monday morning, a frightful accident occurred at the silver-plating works of Messrs. Wm Hutton & Sons, High Street, Sheffield. The unfortunate victim of the casualty is a girl named Emma Memmott, age 13 years who was employed to assist in the various occupations of the works. A few moments before eleven o'clock she was engaged at a lathe making up some finished articles when a shaft, which runs underneath the lathe, caught her dress. The place where she was caught was at the coupling point, and so firm was the hold which had been taken. that her efforts to disentangle herself were fruitless. She screamed aloud and a man named Birks, who was at work close by, ran to her assistance. 

A strong iron bar which had been placed in front of the lather had enabled her to withstand the drawing of the shaft and Birks who took hold of her, feeling that she was dragged from his grasp, called lustily for assistance and for the engine to be stopped. In another moment however the poor girl was dragged from his arms, the strong iron bar bent, and the body literally twisted around the shaft, which was revolving at the rate of 300 times a minute. It was about a minute before the engine was stopped and then the mangled corpse was shocking to be looked upon. Though it was presently known that the girl was dead, yet the men who extricated her from the shaft hurried her to the Infirmary but the attention of the surgeon was fruitless. 

A truly horrifying death and Emma was just 13 years old

The Sad Story of Sheffield's "Starfish" Sites at Strines End and Grindleford

 These two pages are from a book I read years ago called Trojan Horses that dealt with deception and misdirection in wartime. On pages 130 and 131 there is a section on what were known as Starfish sites and it makes particular reference to the events in the Sheffield area in the summer and autumn of 1940.

I was not aware of the dismantling of the site and of course you are always left wondering if the fatalities and destruction that occurred on the nights of 13the and 15th December 1940 would have be less had the site remained active.

Dewsbury Woman Cured by Doan's Backache Kidney Pills - December 1903

 This advertisement is from The News dated 11th December 1903 and I must admit it made smile. In fact I thought if you altered the arrangement of  just two words you may get nearer the truth in our household! Needless being the person I am I kept these thoughts to myself for obvious reasons

Anyway thankfully Mrs H Walker of 15 East Parade Dewsbury was cured by taking Doan's Backache Kidney pills

I have tried to locate East Parade in Dewsbury but have had no success. The BNA goes no further than 1952 but one cutting I did find was of interest. I wonder if she knew of Mrs Walker 

 Of course Miss Boothroyd was to have what can only be described as an interesting life 

Six Children Left Alone At Night - 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield February 1941

The following cutting is from 1941 and concerns the case of 27 year old Elsie May Clark of 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield.

The puzzling part for me about this case is the entry in the 1939 National Register for the property. The only occupant is Elsie May Clark date of birth 4th March 1914 who is listed as married and performing unpaid domestic duties. In the next property is a Harriet Clark date of birth 1st May 1878 who is a widow also performing household duties. It is quite possible that Harriet was Elsie's mother-in-law.

There is no record of any children or husband for that matter

Where ere the children in 1939? 

The other point that I discovered was that leaving children alone at night was widespread and been a feature of British life for decades. This certainly was not an isolated case  - the newspapers were full of cases of unattended children that had been left alone. Probably this came more to the fore in wartime when there was far greater vigilance on the population by the public authorities. 

But what made it even worse was the condition of the children who were in the house. They were all six years of age and under and were suffering from sores and were in bad condition.

It reflects a side of the war that is overlooked. The article states that the husband was in the forces and so was in no position to find out the situation at home. I wonder if he was informed that his children were in care and his wife in prison for neglect 
     

 

Private John Reynolds RAMC and the sinking of the HMHS Britannic - 21st November 1916

There is an excellent article on Wikipedia about the HMHS Britannic and its sinking on 21st November 1916 of Kea in the Aegean Sea 

Despite carrying over 1000 passengers and crew at the time of the sinking, only 30 people lost their lives. One of the survivors was Private John Reynolds who wrote letters home to his parents and friens in Sheffield describing his experiences

  

The propeller's John mentions were possibly some of the largest ever manufactured - HMRS was a sister ship of the RMS Titanic after all! 

Gunner Gordon's Victoria Cross - Ashford Kent 11th June 1942

 The wearing of decorations and medals has been in the news this last month. The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire  Nicholas Adderley served as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police from 2018 to 2024, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He had embellished his military service in the Royal Navy and fabricated receiving both Northern Ireland and Falklands medals.

There is a fuller account on Wikipedia on what only be called a very unsavoury episode. Funnily enough this only came out into the open when his ex-wife took the steps to expose his lies and deceit.

But back to June 1942 when Sheffield's Gunner Gordon was court-martialled in Kent for wearing a VC ribbon that he was not entitled to wear. It was awarded ostensibly for his actions on the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940 but this was a complete fabrication. He had bought the ribbon from a shop in Hythe Kent for the sum of 1s 9d (9p) as he wanted his wife to read about his heroism in the newspapers.

From the report Gunner Graham seems more like a fantasist than one who sets out deliberately to  misrepresent his achievements to others so that they can further their own careers    

As a footnote only 181 Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Second World War and none of the recipients had a Sheffield connection.

Walter Holbem (1884 - 1930) - An Update

I posted this article on Walter many years ago. A former Sheffield footballer, Walter was killed by lightening whilst standing as a bookmaker at Royal Ascot on 18th June 1930.

The inquest was reported in the Times two days later

DEATH BY LIGHTNING AT ASCOT

At the inquest at Ascot last night on the body of WALTER HOLBEM, of Ribble Avenue, Southport, a bookmaker who was killed by lightning on Wednesday while standing in the Tattersalls, Ring, it was stated that there were no witnesses to the actual occurrence. Dr W.H. Brown of St Mary’s Hospital, London who was on duty behind the grandstand said that Holbem, was gasping for breath when he was brought in, and died almost immediately. His condition was consistent with his having been struck by lightning. The only mark on his body was an abrasion of the skin on his Adam’s apple. Samuel McClarence, who was employed by Holbem, said that he ran for shelter from the rain leaving Holbem standng under his umbrella. Two minutes afterwards he saw him being carried away. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

The Times, June 20th 1930

But I have just found this cutting that states that a fund was set up to provide financial support for Walter's widow and four children  

 

"Healthy Sheffield" - 1924

 This report appeared in the local press on 29th August 1925 and refers to the previous year 1924, It starts on what I can only say is an optimistic note noting that Sheffield compares favourably with other industrial cities.

But a full reading of the report reveals a catalogue of misery and squalor that continued to affect swathes of Sheffield's inhabitants. Progress was been made in certain areas and not before time, But when phrases like "overcrowding in the city is deplorable" and conditions in the cutlery trade are "profoundly unsatisfactory" for the workers, a lot more needed doing and quickly. Sadly as we know this did not happen.

THE APPALLING CRASH AT MOSCAR, SHEFFIELD - 25th AUGUST 1907 - An Update

 One of the oldest articles on my site is the account of  the tragedy that occurred at Moscar, Sheffield on 25th August 1907 in which three people died at the scene and five were badly injured, 

The Sheffield Daily Independent dated Monday 26th August 1907 carried the headline

"APPALLING SMASH NEAR MOSCAR, MOTOR CHAR-A-BANC  DASHED INTO WALL. THREE KILLED, MANY OTHERS INJURED. SICKENING SCENES"

Under the headlines the paper revealed that the char-a-banc was proceeding past a carriage and a pair of horses when it hit a telegraph pole, causing it to skid and then crash into a stone wall. A man with a little boy, aged seven on his knees was killed instantly and another man was killed by being thrown from the vehicle. A person who was passing by on the road tried to run away but was caught by the crashing vehicle and pushed through a stone wall. He suffered a broken right leg and severe head injuries.

For many years I could not locate the final verdict of the subsequent inquest as it was adjourned so that the injured could attend and give evidence. 

A couple of days ago a a reader of this article was kind enough to contact me and send me two cuttings. The first was from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 2 October 1907, and the second from the Stockton & Thornaby Herald 5 October 1907. 

Given the evidence that was put before the inquest and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the crash, a verdict of accidental death was the only one that was available to the jury.