Sunday 11 October 2015

Child's Body Found in an Ashpit - Woodgrove Lane, Sheffield - 28th February 1901


I came across this cutting in The Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 28th February 1901. The report shields the reader from the full horror of what occurred. The young child was found at two o'clock in the morning by Henry Hudson whilst emptying an ashpit. An ashpit is a euphemism for a cesspit and the Hudsons were employed to take away "night-soil." and other human waste. The child was basically dumped in a toilet, and left for the rats!

The scene is really the subject of nightmares and yet this occurred in twentieth-century Sheffield.    

Woodgrove Lane was off Penistone Road and was demolished many years ago. 


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