Kenneth Steel's painting of Sheffield Castle 1950

A fellow researcher sent me the following photographs on Saturday of  Kenneth Steel's painting of Sheffield Castle

I am a great admirer of Kenneth's work but I don't think that this is one of his best. Why? It is due to the aerial perspective and more importantly it seems rather trite and idealised. Just not for me I'm afraid

Harry Poole 1894 - 1916

Just posted Harry's will to the site.

 

It is one of the saddest documents I have placed on this site knowing what waitedin store for Harry the following year

Rab Howell 1869 - 1937

I've just updated the article on Rab. A fellow researcher kindly sent me some newspaper reports about the match against Sunderland that Rab was supposed to have thrown by scoring two own goals. But in the light of these reports and Rab's "activities" off the field this view should now be questioned

"You ask on your website if anyone has any information on Rab. I have done quiet a bit of research and written a novel about him. Official launch on 22nd Feb at the Copthorne, Sheffield. I've put more stuff on my website 

He didn't marry the second time: to Ada. They just lived together. She was Ada McGrail: family ran a fruit and veg shop on Bridge Street. One of Rab and Ada's great grandsons still lives in Preston.

I don't believe he was sacked due to match fixing. There is no evidence for it. Match reports do not give a reading to anything other than bad luck at the Sunderland game. Also I do not believe that Needham would have even mentioned him in his book if there had been such corruption at the heart of it. I believe the match fixing rumour was made up to fit known facts at the time. The bigger scandal, that required the club (founded on good Methodist principles) to cover it up, was him going off with another woman whilst still married."
 

It is a perfectly feasible explanation and one that would be churlish to ignore. Rab had always been a thorn in the side of the United directors, and it is possible in the light of the Sunderland game that they "played up" Rab's performance and inferred that he thrown the game. It is also true that Sheffield football at the time was dominated by men who had strong Christian and Temperance beliefs and they would have been aghast at the way Rab was conducting his life off the field.

 

Furnace Park Shalesmoor Sheffield - 22nd March 2014

I did my first ever open-air talk last Saturday afternoon at Furnace Park Shalesmoor Sheffield

Furnace Park occupies the site where an appalling tragedy took place on Wednesday 25th August 1886 when a wall collapsed on a group of children playing killing 8 of them. I placed the article on my site many years ago and was asked by the organisers to speak about the tragedy and its aftermath.

I really enjoyed the event and met some of the descendents of those poor children who were killed that day. And I also learned something - always put you notes on a clipboard. With the microphone in one hand and my notes in the other, the gusty wind kept blowing the notes apart which did not help my delivery.

Still I think those present found the talk interesting and informative, I certainly did

 

Sheffield's First Air Raid Victim - Frederick Stratford September 1916

Many years ago I posted an article to the site on Sheffield's First Air Raid on 26th September 1916. And here is a photo of the grave of the first victim 49 year old Frederick Stratford who was struck by shrapnel whilst in bed

 

The grave is in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery not far from where the first bomb to be dropped on Sheffield landed - it demolished a boundary wall. The grave record is as follows

STRATFORD, Frederick (Boiler Fireman, age 49).

     Died at 11-1 Danville Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;
     Grave Number 47, Section O2 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Killed in Zeppelin raid: Officiating Minister G G Swann, Removed from Pitsmoor Parish.
    
STRATFORD, Harriet (Widow, age 82).
     Died at 109 Southey Green Rd; Buried on February 23, 1942 in General ground;
     Grave Number 47, Section O2 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: R W Fitton: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

Information supplied by Sheffield Indexers

It is a sobering thought that Frederick was the first of nearly 700 Sheffielders to lose their lives in German air attacks on Sheffield during the twentieth century

Book Acknowledgements

My website has been on the go for over 15 years and over that time many people have contacted me over the articles that I have posted to it. I have always tried to help people out with their research and answer their questions as best I can.

A few have used the material I have supplied and kindly taken the time and trouble to include an acknowledgement in the books they have published.

I have finally compiled a list of the books that feature an acknowledgement - there may be more but these are the ones that I know about. I can of course recommend them all and would like to thank them for the enjoyment they have given me in assisting them.

BOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Beautiful Game - David Conn Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Yellow Jersey; New Ed edition (4 Aug 2005) ISBN-10: 0224064363 ISBN-13: 978-0224064361

Herbert Chapman: The First Great Manager - Simon Page     Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Heroes Publishing (18 Oct 2006)     ISBN-10: 0954388453     ISBN-13: 978-0954388454

A Fine Day For A Hanging - Carol Ann Lee Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (6 Sep 2012) ISBN-10: 1780575262 ISBN-13: 978-1780575261

George Lawrence - The Forgotten Philanthropist - Paperback: 76 pages
Publisher: Hucklow Publishing (9 July 2011) ISBN-10: 0956347339 ISBN-13: 978-0956347336

Ghosts & Gallows True Stories of Crime and the Paranormal - Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: The History Press (1 July 2012) ISBN-10: 075246339X ISBN-13: 978-0752463391

Forging History: The Story of George Barnsley and Sons Toolmakers and the Family Members Who Helped Forge Local and National History Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Arc Publishing and Print; 1st edition (27 Aug 2010)
ISBN-10: 1906722161 ISBN-13: 978-1906722166

Swifter Than the Arrow: Wilfred Bartrop, Football and War [Paperback]
Peter Holland (Author)
Paperback: 121 pages
Publisher: Matador (10 Dec 2008)
ISBN-10: 184876068X ISBN-13: 978-1848760684

The Sheffield Workhouse - Margaret Drinkall
Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: The History Press (1 July 2010)
ISBN-10: 0752459635 ISBN-13: 978-0752459639

Ring the Bell in the Gaols of Brecon: "Canwch Y Gloch!" Centuries of Barbarism, Rape, Murder and Incarceration in the County of Brecon
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch (15 Feb 2006)
ISBN-10: 1845270274 ISBN-13: 978-1845270278

Sheffield's Shocking Past: Forgotten Tales of Murder, Mishap & Gruesome Misdemeanour [Paperback]
Chris Hobbs (Author), Matthew Bell (Author)
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: ACM Retro (13 April 2012)
ISBN-10: 1908431083 ISBN-13: 978-1908431080

Sheffield's Shocking Past: Forgotten Tales of Murder, Mishap & Gruesome Misdemeanour [Paperback]
Chris Hobbs (Author), Matthew Bell (Author)
Paperback: 198 pages
Publisher: ACM Retro (16 Nov 2012)
ISBN-10: 1908431199 ISBN-13: 978-1908431196


    

My First Outdoor Talk - Furnace Park 22nd March 2014

Our publisher contacted me with regard to the following

"I had meeting with a colleague from Sheffield University today - I think I might have mentioned her before. She's called Amanda and she has been busy getting funding for 'Furnace Park' - an arts/ leisure space on the site of the Matthew Street accident.
Anyway, a lot has gone on since I last spoke to her!
On Saturday, March 22, at 2pm she's planning an event to mark the tragedy/plant a tree etc.
She has a performance artist doing an event based around the accident. I'm saying a few words as a descendent of Clifford Anderson and we wondered if you'd be willing to speak about the event/promote the book?
I think we could get a lot of interest.
There's now a website about Furnace Park 

The accident took place in 1886

APPALLING DISASTER AT SHEFFIELD - Eight children killed

Matthew Street, Sheffield - 25th August1886

Long Shadows Over Sheffield - Forgotten Voices of the Great War

Our third book is now going to be published on 21st March 2014 but unlike the first two this is focused on the First World War 

Long Shadows Over Sheffield - Forgotten Voices of the Great War

"The Great War had a devastating effect on Sheffield. Hundreds of the city’s young men were slaughtered on the first day of the disastrous Somme offensive. A shocking German Zeppelin raid dropped death from the skies above Sheffield in September 1916. Church Rolls of Honour and War Memorials still bear their names but their stories are largely forgotten, until now.

Long Shadows over Sheffield unearths some of the most jaw-dropping tales of the men who willingly gave up their civilian jobs to make the ultimate sacrifice for King and Country.
From the 67-year-old Sheffield resident who became one of the oldest men to die in the war, to the 15-year-old from Nether Edge whose fascination with the sea led to his death in battle.
The suffering didn’t end with the cessation of hostilities. Survivors – including three of the city’s holders of the Victoria Cross – relived the unspeakable carnage for the rest of their lives, whilst the grief of wives and parents is laid bare in previously unpublished correspondence.

Graphic newspaper reports are mixed with rare photographs and a Sheffield soldier’s personal war diary to provide a memorable tapestry of hardship, heartbreak and horror that was the result of the Great War which began a century ago."

Long Shadows Over Sheffield - Forgotten Voices of the Great War can be bought direct from the publisher ACM RETRO

 

Ronald Ludwig 1931 - 1933

This is the burial record of Ronald Ludwig
 
LUDWIG, Ronald (son of Matthew, age 2).
     Died at 12 Herries Rd; Buried on August 28, 1933 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 7771, Section U of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.

 Ronald's death appeared in The Times Friday August 25th 1933

BOY'S DEATH FROM TETANUS

Death form tetanus following an accidental abrasion was the verdict at an inquest in Sheffield yesterday on the body of RONALD LUDWIG aged two, whose mother stated that the boy had a small abrasion on the left heel, caused through wearing shoes without stockings. A  doctor expressed the opinion that the child contacted the infection through running about without shoes and stockings 

Of course there is a slight problem here - Ronald's mother stated that the abrasion was caused by wearing shoes without stockings whereas the doctor stated that he contracted tetanus by not wearing shoes.

What probably happened is that the ill-fitting shoes caused the abrasion and to lessen the irritation and pain, young Ronald took his shoes off, and in doing so, contracted tetanus through the sore(s)

Long Shadows Over Sheffield: Forgotten Lives of the Great War

As you may have gathered from the postings that I have made so far this year there has been an over-emphasis on events relating to World War One. The reason for this is quite simple - a third book is due hopefully for publication in the spring.

The title " Long Shadows Over Sheffield: Forgotten Lives of the Great War"

At work reading the proofs!

Most of the material was taken from articles on my website but myself and co-author Matthew Bell have conducted some additional research to ensure that the articles are rounded off. I'm currently proof-reading the final draft and it is something that I do get perturbed about. You can alter a webpage at anytime but with a book any errors are there for posterity and so you have to ensure that it is both factually and grammatically correct.

It is also slightly shorter than our earlier two books which may please some readers!

One of the main problems we had was deciding the orders of the chapters but in the end we decided to leave it random. I was initially in favour of it being in alphabetical name order or even chronological but after reading the proof I warmed to the random nature.

And the final photo is rather poignant

Clifford Lawrence Mann 1896 - 1915

I was at a workday for the Friends of Walkley Cemetery a couple of weeks ago and was tackling a section of the cemetery that was overgrown - see photo

In this section I uncovered a memorial that was in remarkable condition for its age

And at the base of the memorial was this dedication to James and Caroline's grandson Clifford who was killed in action on 8th May 1915

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database gives the following details

MANN, CLIFFORD LAWRENCE

Rank:Private

Service No:11136

Date of Death:08/05/1915

Age:19

Regiment/Service King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1st Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 47.

Memorial YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of William E. and Lucy Mann, of 19, Wynyard Rd., Sheffield.

Of course Clifford was one of many thousands who have "no known grave" and is remembered on Ypres Menin Gate. 

But he is now remembered in Walkley  

John Scanlan died 12th December 1919

 

I've just updated the article I did earlier this month after a visit to the Local Studies library. I assumed that it was a weapon that killed John but it was in fact a bullet from a German magazine clip, 

And the question is and no-one can really answer it - was John the last man from Sheffield to be shot by a German bullet from the Great War?

Willam Thompson Smout

And following on from the last article I have eventually found a photo of William Smout


Sheffield Daily Independent 22nd September 1916

 

Private Smout features in an article on the site

A Dastardly Outrage - 13th December 1919 High Melton

I went down to the Local Studies Library In Sheffield today, to research a few articles. And just below one report was this small cutting from the Sheffield Daily Independent dated 13th December 1919

 

It was undoubtedly a savage assault but what struck me was the fact that Ada's husband had been killed in the war. To have had to go through his death and then be subject to this reprehensible attack does make you question the human condition.

I have been unable to find details of Ada's husband on the CWGC site but there is a BMD record of an ADA WINTERSGILL dying in the September quarter of 1960 aged 80. The district where the death was registered was Don Valley (Volume 2B Page 377)  

Update - WW1

Well first may I wish my reader(s) peace and prosperity in the new year.

I've managed to publish a few articles to the site over the Xmas period, that are primarily based on the First World War
 - the Wrigley Family
- Clement Kendrick
- Second Lieut Edward Durnan

the last two articles require a bit more research to round them off. the most pressing is finding the action in which Edward and George Bonsall lost their life's. I even had the standard text on the 14th Yorks and Lancs here in the house - Barnsley Pals -  The 13th & 14th Battalions York & Lancaster Regiment by John Cooksey but there is no mention of Edward apart from recording the date of his death.

A Merry Xmas - not in Crookes

Well I'm afraid I'm not seeing much joviality and celebration in the streets of Crookes at the beginning of the festive period. In fact, everyone you see looks downcast and miserable.

And so in an attempt to at least bring a smile or even guffaw to people's faces, here are a couple of cards I have found in the archives. The first one is one of my all-time favourites

 

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Guy Gibson's Memorial - Steenbergen Holland -August 2013

A friend sent me these two photos he took in August this year on a visit to Holland,
They were taken in

Steenbergen-En-Kruisland Churchyard - Steenbergen - Noord-Brabant  Netherlands

 

They are a memorial to Guy Gibson and Jim Warwick who are buried in the churchyard. The circumstances surrounding their deaths have never been fully resolved but a brief summary.of the theories are on wikipedia   

Berni Inns

I cae across this advertisement for Berni Inns

and it certainly brought a few memories back. I knew that the Norton was a Whitbread pub prior to being a Berni Inn, and so  check on wikipedia revealed that after it was sold by Grand Metropolitan in 1990, it reverted back to Whitbread's ownership under their Beefeater brand

But what I did not know was that by 1970 Berni Inns was the largest food chain outside the USA. It had taken them just 15 years to achieve this

The Mitchell Family - 107 Pitsmoor Road Sheffield - 14th December 1940

I received the following mail this week

"I have spent ages looking through your wonderful sites and have come across the one about civilians who died in Pitsmoor during the blitz.
My sister in laws family were the Mitchell’s of 107 Pitsmoor Road.  I have looked all through the newspapers from the date of the blitz up to their burial on Dec 24th in Burngrave Cemetery and can find no mention of anything much about the blitz.  I can only conclude that this was not reported in full as the authorities did not want the full extent to be know.
Is there anywhere else I can look that will perhaps tell us what their story was ?
Hope you can help"

I check on the Sheffield Indexers site showed the full horror of the tragedy - 4 member of the family were killed hat night and are buried together. The funeral took place on Xmas Eve 1940


BREAN, Annie ((Air Raid Victim), age 22).
     Died at 107 Pitsmoor Rd; Buried on December 24, 1940 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4358, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: E. P. Cook: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
    

LAYTON, Harry (Greengrocer, age 64).
     Died at 155 Skinnerthorpe Rd; Buried on April 16, 1924 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4358, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, H.D. Mullett: Removed from St Cuthberts Parish.
    
MITCHELL, Agnes (air raid victim, age 54).
     Died at 107 Pitsmoor Road; Buried on December 24, 1940 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4358, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: E P Cook: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
    
MITCHELL, Archie (shoe maker (Air Raid Victim), age 14).
     Died at 107 Pitsmoor Rd; Buried on December 24, 1940 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4358, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: E. P. Cook: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

MITCHELL, Gordon (air raid victim, age 12).
     Died at 107 Pitsmoor Road; Buried on December 24, 1940 in Consecrated ground;
     Grave Number 4358, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister: E P Cook: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

I could not add any further information about the event - it is a fact that the press both locally and nationally were heavily censored by the Ministry of Information. And the information that was printed was at best "sketchy" and at worst just plain incorrect.

If anyone can throw any more light on the fate of the Mitchell family please let me know

 

















   

November 2013 Update

I've just got around to posting updates to some of the articles on the site.

George Lawrence - a request from Brian Ward for further information

The Shocking Xylonite Fire at Netherthorpe Sheffield 14th December 1921 I was contacted by the great-grandson of one of the victim's of the fire and was delighted to supply him with further information on the tragedy

A Grave Affair in Sheffield  in 1862 which covered the cemetery riots at Wardsend Cemetery. A student contacted me in the spring of 2012 and I was able to supply him with references etc. His finished dissertation has been added to the site in pdf format

and finally an actual eye witness account of the Zeppelin raid on Sheffield on September 25th 1916 

http://www.chrishobbs.com/sheffieldsfirstraid1916.htm

There are a couple more items that I need to post but a bit more research is required

The Flashing Lights

It has been well over three weeks since the last posting, but I can assure my reader(s) that I have not been idling about.

As most people know, everyday life has a habit of interfering with things you enjoy doing. I went for a long overdue eye-test last month - I have worn contact lens every day for nearly forty years. The optician noticed some slight inflamation around the pupils, and said that it was due to the lens sticking to the pupil rather than moving with the pupil. A new set of lens were ordered which was not unexpected as the last time I changed them was in 2010.( I inadvertantly washed them down the sink whilst I was cleaning my lens case!)

Anyway ever since the examination I have had what is termed "flashing lights" in my left eye. At first it was rather disconcerting but I am gradually getting used to them.  I "googled" the condition and ascertained that it was nothing to worry about - it should settle down in a month or two. But what was rather more perturbing is that they are yet another sign of old age!!.

Despite the "lights", I have manged to update a few articles on the website: the most noticable one being The Beighton Doodlebug - Xmas Eve December 1944.

A number of people have contacted me over the years regarding the raid on Xmas Eve 1944. The latest person was a researcher from North Wales who kindly sent me a newspaper cutting from the local paper about a V1 that landed at Rofft Wood near Foel y Crio. It was launched at the time as the one that exploded at Beighton, but this one did not explode. The lack of official records has caused some controversy amongst historians, but there is no doubt in my mind regarding the veracity of the incident.  

 

       

Gas Masks and Window Masking - Public Information

In the light of recent events in Syria, and the reponse of the international "community", I thought that this would be an appropiate time to remind readers of the procedures to adopt. The last time the British were threatened by a chemical attack the government published this advice in the form of a public information leaflet

Sadly to date the coalition government have issued no advice about what the public should do in the event of an gas attack. A sign of the times!.

Shocking Xylonite Fire at Netherthorpe Sheffield December 1921

Continuing with a theme of industrial tragedies, I have just posted another article to the site concerning a fire in Netherthorpe Sheffield - 14th December 1921 - which claimed four victims including a father and son. The son who died in the tragedy, Thomas Clark left a widow and seven children, with no means of support - an indication of how precarious life was for a worker's family in the 1920's

Sudbury Street 2000

.

Sudbury Street 2012

The fire took place at the Progress Works in Sudbury Street Netherthorpe. The works were demolished many years ago, and I have been unable to date to locate a photo of the place. Two points are worth mentioning - the first is that this tragedy was just around the corner from the site of the Sheffield Boiler Explosion of 1899. (see earlier blog) in which 7 workers lost their lives. And the second point is that I have been able to locate the graves of all 4 victims of the Sudbury Street fire

The Sheffield Boiler Explosion - 1st November 1899

I've eventually posted an article to the site that has been has been in the "digital in-tray" for nigh on two years.

The article on the boiler explosion and subsequent inquest appears in our first book but I have been able to expand it to incorporate additional information.The article also ties in with the tragedy at Daniel Doncasters that occurred 13 years earlier in August 1886.

The site of Messrs Southern and Richardson, Doncaster Street, with Shepherd Street in the background and Ellis Street in the foreground.

The current building, now out of use and boarded up, was most recently occupied by toolmakers Record Ridgeway (photograph 2012)

William Astwood's Contemptible Offence - Ecclesall Churchyard

Whilst I was researching the fate of a certain Arthur Gleave earlier this year, I saw this report of William Astwood's activities in Ecclesall Churchyard dating from 3rd September 1925

Obviously the offences that Astwood committed were that serious that they warranted a "special watch" by the police (two constables apprehended Astwood) . And the fine was heavy  as well - over £250 at current prices. In addition the presiding magistrate let his feelings be known in no uncertain terms
.
Nowadays I doubt if anyone would care one jot!

Starved to Death by the Germans - Charles Hurt 1915

I've just posted an article to the site that I came across in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph April 1915. I stated that I know very little about the British POW's in the Great War, but the circumstances surrounding Charles' death are quite harrowing. Their suffering seems forgotten now

Sgt Wilfred Billingham (1922 - 1943)

I came across this article that was published in The Sheffield Star on Friday 9th August 2013

 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has this entry for Wilfred

BILLINGHAM, WILFRED
Rank Sergeant
Trade Nav./Bomber
Service No: 1233699
Date of Death: 05/02/1943
Age:  21
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Grave Reference     Sec. C. (Gen.). Grave 2829.
Cemetery SHEFFIELD (SHIREGREEN) CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Eliza Billingham, of Shiregreen, Sheffield.

The entry also notes that there are another 68 burials that

"are scattered throughout the cemetery. Two special memorials erected one on either side of the path between Sections G and H, on the right hand side, record the names of two servicemen whose graves could not be marked by headstones."

I wonder why not?? Yet another mystery

And on the excellent Findagrave website there are further details of the tragic accident that cost Wilfred his life, as well as a photo of Wilfred's last resting place

View From Another Hill - Friday 26th July 2013

These photos were taken from near the top of Townend Street Crookes on Friday 26th July 2013.
A clear blue evening sky and a warm breeze and tremendous views across the city

Incidentally the large stone-built house on the left used to be the house of Professor James William Edington, a Professor of Bacteriology at Sheffield University who was tragically killed in a car accident whilst driving home from a rugby match in April 1939

View From A Hill - 29th July 2013

We are in the process of having the wall at the back of our house re-rendered. I believe that it was last done in the 1950's and over the last few years the covering had deteriorated quite badly.

 
Whilst the scaffolding was up I took the opportunity to check the roof, clear the gutter out and revarnish the upper window frames. I also took the following photographs looking out over the city of  Sheffield

As you can see the the skyline is dominated by the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. You can also see the gathering storm clouds. Ten minutes after these photos were taken, a thunderstorm broke and it bucketed it down. Time to get down from the scaffolding!

I am hoping that the varnish does what it says on the tin - dry's in 30 minutes otherwise it is another trip up the ladder.

Hill 60 Zillebeke 1918

I'm still sorting through the photos that were mentioned in an earlier blog. One which is again not inscribed shows the British trenches at Hill 60 at Ypres.

I am unsure why the photo is in the box but it is only one of  two in the box. The other is of the Menin Gate in Ypres which is where those soldiers who fought on Hill 60 and have no known grave are comemorated. I wonder if there is a link between these two photos and the family?

THE WATCH TOWER - BRADFIELD St Nicholas Churchyard - Bradfield

Whilst I was scanning the aforementioned photographs I came across an old monochrome  postcard of the Watch House at High Bradfield

 
THE WATCH HOUSE - BRADFIELD
St Nicholas Churchyard - Bradfield

The Watch House at High Bradfield was built in 1745 as a place from which to guard newly buried bodies (from bodysnatchers) in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Church. There are apparently only two or three of this type of building still in existence in the country and this is the only one left in Yorkshire.

The house is now a privately owned dwelling.

Old Photographs of Spring Hill Sheffield

Old photographs of Spring Hill Sheffield are not commonplace. And so I was surprised when my next door neighbour handed me a box of old photographs and other miscellanous items that the previous owner had left behind in his house well over thrirty years ago!!.

Over the last week I have been scanning the material found in the box into digital formats, and have found some fascinating content. Unfortunately many of the photos have no information on them whatsoever, but after some research I think I can identify some of the people in them. If I can get enough information I plan to put the information into a coherent form.

Anyway here are the two photographs of Spring Hill that were taken possibly in the late 1950's

 

The two girls in the photo that was taken in the garden of 35 Spring Hill may have been called Marilyn and Linda Hobson, and were the daughters of the owner at that time James Hobson. The second photo was taken from the front bedroom window of number 35 and shows the "View From the Hill" prior to the construction of the University Arts Tower   

 

George Herbert Lawrence - Hathersage 5th July 2013

For the first time in my life, I was invited to a presentation, or to be more precise, the unveiling of a plaque that was to remember and honour a person that gave so much to the community.

His name was Geoge Lawrence and details of his life and work can be found on my web-site. The Ceremony occurred last Friday and for once the weather was glorious.

The unvieling of the plaque was a fitting tribute to George's works, and as Brian Ward who wrote an excellent biography of George remarked, the title of  "forgotten philanthropist" may now have to be revised.

I was also given the opportunity to meet descendents of George and Elsie, and that was a most enjoyable and enlightening experience for me. It helped me to appreciate just how important George was to both his family and the community.