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

Hathersage Open Air Swimming Pool opened 1936

The same paper that featured in the previous blog Sheffield Telegraph dated Thursday 17th March 2016 also carried a report about the eightieth anniversary of the opening of the Hathersage Open Air Swimming Pool in 1936 

The pool was made possible by the generous donation of a noted Sheffield industrialist Mr. George Lawrence who lived in the village. I have a great admiration for George and it is marvelous to see that some of the projects he help fund are still going strong today.   

William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875)

The following cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated Thursday 17th March 2016 and concerns the composer and musician William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875).

It was the bi-centennial anniversary of his birth and a series of events were to be held throughout the year to commemorate the event.

But what the article fails to mention is that William Sterndale Bennett is the only person from Sheffield to be buried in Westminster Abbey  I am unsure of the criteria that are adopted that permit a person to be buried in the Abbey, but a recent publication stated that over three thousand people are buried within the Abbey's precincts. For William to be Sheffield's only burial at the Abbey is rather perplexing given the City's prominence in the late nineteenth and twentieth century

Mr Benjamin Unwin (1799-1881) of Cromwell Street North Sheffield

In my family tree, my great uncle George SANBY married a Maud UNWIN on  13 Feb 1916 at St Bartholomew's Church , Primrose View, Langsett Road, Sheffield
 
But just six months later George lost his life due to the wounds he received on the Somme. Maud was the 21 year old daughter of Thornhill  Unwin and it whilst I was researching the UNWIN name I came across this obituary in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 9th April 1881.
 
AN OCTOGENARIAN GRINDER.

The theory that grinders are never long-lived is not borne out by the experience of Mr Benjamin Unwin, spring-knife grinder, who died a few days ago at the advanced age of 82, after a life spent in pursuit of his calling. He worked at the trade named without any intermission from his youth until a few years ago, and he never suffered from what is commonly known as the grinders' complaint. He was of a cheerful and hopeful disposition, and scrupulously temperate, which may perhaps have much to do with the manner in which he retained his health, and was unaffected by the injurious conditions of his calling.
In politics he was a sincere Radical. He had a great facility for expressing his opinions, and a singularly retentive memory enabled him to recall with precision the great political events of his time.

Quite a remarkable longevity for a Sheffield grinder who life expectancy on average was barely 35 years of age.

Benjamin was buried in Sheffield's Wardsend Cemetery on 7th April 1881

UNWIN Benjamin 7 Apr 1881 Cromwell St Nth 81

As far as I can ascertain he is not related to Thornhill Unwin and his daughter Maud

Private Frank Willetts (1920-1942) - Pioneer Corps

In February 2018  I received this information from a reader of the article I posted many years ago on the Beighton Rail Disaster of February 1942 and the aftermath of the tragedy

"I am getting in touch with you regarding the Beighton Train crash. My Father in-laws uncle Frank Willetts died on the 18th Jun 1942 - as a result of the train crash that happened on the 11th Feb 1942. Would love to know more about it. The family have no information and were never given a reason of his death. Would love to know more"

I checked the FreeBMD site and found that FRANK had died in Worksop, Notts. He would have been in hospital there.

Name: Frank Willetts
Death Age: 22 Birth Date: abt 1920
Registration Date: Jun 1942
Registration district: Worksop Inferred County: Nottinghamshire Volume: 7b Page: 48 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission had very little information about FRANK just that he was a private in the Pioneer Corps, his Service Number was 13038410 and that he died on 18/06/1942

But when I placed the name in a search engine I came across this information on the excellent Salford War Memorials Site together with a photo of Frank's last resting place.  

PRIVATE FRANK WILLETTS
BIRTH unknown
DEATH 18 Jun 1942
BURIAL Salford Cemetery Salford, Metropolitan Borough of Salford, Greater Manchester, England
PLOT Sec. N. Grave 1364.
MEMORIAL ID 60118914

Frank died four months after the tragedy, and so he will not be remembered as one of the 14 who were killed that night. And it makes you wonder how many more died as a result of the injuries they received in the crash.  

The Marriage of Bernard James Sanby and Margareitta Annie Howitt at St. John's Church, Sandiway, Cheshire - June 1906

I came across this small report in The Cheshire Observer 16th June 1906

It announced that the marriage of  Bernard James Sanby and Margareitta Annie Howitt at St. John's Church, Sandiway, Cheshire was the first to be held in the newly-built church. The church is still going strong today

Photo by Peter Vardy

SANDIWAY. FIRST WEDDING IN NEW CHURCH

The first wedding to take place in the new St. John's Church, Sandiway, Cheshire, was that I celebrated on Tuesday of Mr. Bernard J. Sanby, of Northfield, Knutsford, a well-known Manchester merchant, and Margareitta Annie, second daughter of Mr. J, J. Howitt, of Rosslyn, Cuddington. Fully one hundred guests accepted invitations to the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. J. Edwards, vicar of Christ Church, Blackpool.

Cheshire Observer 16th June 1906

SANBY is my grans maiden name and over the years I have researched the surname. They all originate from the area known as South Lincolnshire and West Norfolk. Bernard's great grandfather James Sanby was born in Thurlby, Lincs in 1769 and died in Holbeach in 1848. My great (x4) grandfather Joseph Sanby was christened in Holbeach in 1776. There is a link between these "branches" but to date I have been unable to confirm it. 

Within a year the couple had a daughter Kathleen Ewan SANBY

Chester Courant 3rd April 1907

BIRTHS. SANBY On the 31st March at Northfield, Knutsford the wife of Bernard J. Sanby, of a daughter.

But in November 1911 Margareitta Annie Sanby nee Howitt died and was buried at

21 Nov 1911 • Whitegate, Cheshire, England

Bernard re-married three years later. The name of the bride was Margery Yates

The Confession of Ernest Bramham - Sheffield March 1945

Another article I have just completed is "The Confession of Ernest Bramham - Sheffield March 1945"

It is related to an article I posted a few years ago concerning the murder of Eleanor Hammerton on Saturday 13th January 1945 at her shop on Eccesall Road

The Manchester Guardian dated Monday 15th January 1945

In June 1975 the Sheffield Star stated that this was an unsolved murder, and in his book on Yorkshire Murders, the author Stephen Wade referred to the victim as a "Heather Hamilton." Both assertions proved to be incorrect - the police did "solve the murder" and the victim was not "Heather Hamilton." but a Eleanor Hammerton.

   

Sheffield's First Cremation - Eliza Hawley 24th April 1905

I have just posted an article to the site about the first person to be cremated in Sheffield in April 1905, one hundred and thirteen years ago

Her name was Eliza Hawley and she was cremated on 24th April 1905 at Sheffield City Road Crematorium. She was only 46 years of age when she died and was residing at 14 Birkendale, Upperthorpe, Sheffield. But for many years she and her husband were the proprietors of an "eating house" on The Wicker in Sheffield

It was no 114 and was a transport cafe in 1965 when this photograph was taken, It was burnt down in the late 1980's and was later demolished, It was an Indian restaurant/takeaway by then

Eliza has the cremation number "1" but what I would be interested to know is why Eliza chose to be cremated at a time when the process was in its infancy, and why was she the first in Sheffield.

The Marriage of the Rev Frank Yates to Myrtle Robinson Holy Trinity The Wicker Sheffield - July 1926

A few years ago I posted an article to the site concerning the Holy Trinity Church (now The New Testament Church of God) on Nursery Street, Sheffield. It was opposite the Laurel Works where eight people died on the night of the Sheffield Blitz

The Laurel Works

But I came across this real photo postcard by L.D.Swift, 21 St Mary's Lane, Sheffield Yorkshire

On the back of the card in pencil is the 'Wedding of Frank Yates, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Wicker to Myrtle Robinson 1926'.

The wedding was actually on July 20th 1926

According to the directories Frank was vicar at the church in 1919-1920 but I am unsure when he (and Myrtle) left

Intake Tram Terminus Mansfield Road Intake Sheffield

Another old postcard that I have come across featuring the tram terminus at Intake

The Rex Cinema was situated on the corner of Hollinsend Road and Mansfield Road - the Intake tram terminus was situated in the middle of the Mansfield Road just a little further down from the cinema.

The problem with postcards is that there is rarely a date on them - at best you get just a title and a publisher. All I can say is that it was taken prior to 1936 and judging by the dress it was more likely to be the early 1920's. The tram was no 248 and its destination was "City" 

Tapton Cliffe and Lodge 276 Fulwood Road Sheffield

I came across this postcard of Tapton Cliffe Residential Hotel which was situated at 276 Fulwood Road Sheffield

When I checked I found that the residence is now up for sale at a mere £1.75 million. This agents who are dealing with the sale gave a brief history of the property

"History Tapton Cliffe was constructed around 1864 by JohnYeomans Cowlishaw, a well-known Sheffield Cutler. The house was occupied as a private residence until 1920 when The University of Sheffield purchased the building as a hall for female students and this use continued until 1934 when Tapton Cliffe was converted to a residential hotel.

In 1948 the property was sold to the Secretary of State for Social Services and became the Royal Infirmary Sisters’ Home until 1963. The property remained in the ownership of United Sheffield Hospitals and NHS until 1985 when Tapton Cliffe became a private nursing home turning to Tapton Cliffe Clinic in 1990. Since 1995 the building has been occupied by Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Blind Veterans UK."

There is a summary of the Cowlishaw Family History on the above link but it appears that John Yeomans Cowlishaw had a tragic end

Sheffield Local Register

23 Jan 1895 Mr. J. Y. Cowlishaw, of Tapton Cliffe, Fulwood Road, shoots himself: Verdict of coroner's jury," Suicide while temporarily insane."

28 Aug 1895 Tapton Cliffe, the residence of the late Mr. J. Y. Cowlishaw, sold to Mr. J. J. Saville for £4500.

25 Oct 1895 The real and personal estate of the late John Yeomans Cowlishaw, of Tapton Cliffe, Sheffield, proved at £63,879.

The sale in 1895 of Tapton Cliffe would be approximately £530,00 at today's prices which gives a good indication of how property prices in the last 120 years have outstripped inflation

Haywood Road Pitsmoor Sheffield

I have just received this photograph from a person who was born in Pitsmoor Road in 1947

They also provided me with the following information

" It’s a photograph taken from Pitsmoor Road looking down Haywood Road . On the right is the old chapel that ran from Pitsmoor Road down to Fowler Street . We lived on Pitsmoor Road towards Pitsmoor Church . We entered on Pitsmoor Road and down a set of stairs out of another door down into a yard down some more steps onto Fowler Street. Called cellar kitchen house.

Looking down on the left side of the photo about half way down .  Behind these houses was Grove Street and further on Marshall Street. The pub at the bottom was the Fowler Hotel on Fowler Street. It’s about where the new road is just before it goes round the corner.    Round the corner down the Street from the pub was my mums house about 20 yards down a left turn up to Grove Street. The first house on the right was where Patricia died . Just higher up on the other side left was another bomb site taking perhaps four or five houses. In the distance on the photo is Woodside Lane and the chimney was a firm on Wood Fold" 

The reference to Patricia relates to a girl who died on the night of the Sheffield Blitz. Patricia Lee was a three year girl who was sheltering from the bombing with her grandparents in the cellar of 70 Grove Street. No-one survived. I have updated the article with the details 

John Hope (1949-2016) - Sheffield United goalkeeper

Well this is the first post of 2018. Such was the nature of the television programmes that were screened over the Xmas and New Year, I spent some time looking at some old Sheffield United programmes dating from the glory days of the early 1970's.

One I came across was from Saturday 3rd April 1971 and it was a game against Norwich in Division 2 at Bramall Lane. The cover featured one of the Blades all-time greats scoring the winning goal against Bristol City a week earlier

But inside the programme was a profile of the United goalkeeper at the time John Hope.

John sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 67. I was going to add some more information on John but there is this excellent article on View From The John Street blog which sums John's life at the Lane up perfectly. I simply could not better it.

By the way, in the match John kept a clean sheet in a 0 - 0 draw and his, and the teams efforts were rewarded that season with a deserved promotion to the old First Division. In fact the team never lost a game after the  draw against Norwich. And they only conceded two goals! 

View From A Hill - 31st December 2017

This blog is the 65th I've posted in 2017 which is an increase on 2016. I have also managed to post a few more articles to the site but not as many as I would have liked. 

I have had issues in recent months with Find My Past who were positive that a 26% increase in annual subscription rates was acceptable. Furthermore they seemed at the time to be at a loss as to why I did not renew my annual subscription. Since then they have had second thoughts and decided that 26% was on the low side, and increased it by nearly 90%!! 

Needless to say they have lost a subscriber 

But on a more upbeat note, a big thanks to the many readers who have contacted me in the last year, I have been able to update a few of the earlier articles on the site with new information.  

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

Crookes Valley Park - Sheffield - Old postcards

Just over three weeks ago I posted a blog relating to Crookesmoor Methodist Church. It is situated on the corner of Crookes Valley Road and Barber Road. Below are four old postcards of Crookes Valley Park. I was going to post them as part of an article but in the end decided not to.

The final two postcards clearly show Crookesmoor Methodist Church on the hillside overlooking the park. On the horizon in the first card is a construction that appears to be related to the buildings of the University of Sheffield. If that is the case it would date the card as being circa 1900.

There is also a piece of field artillery in the foreground. I am unsure of its purpose in the park and can only speculate that is was there for training and/or fund-raising purposes. (the Boer War was at it zenith in 1900). I think that if it was to be ornamental in purpose it would have been placed on a plinth and put in a more central location.      

The funeral of Colonel Mainwaring - St John's Roman Catholic Church Bath 11th January 1928

The following cutting is from the Manchester Guardian dated 12th January 1928

Colonel Charles Vaughan Mainwaring (1862 - ), Commander, City Battalion

Location: Sheffield  Date: 1914

 
Until I read the report, I had never heard of the Twelfth Club but there is a reference to it in Peter Warr's excellent book "Sheffield in the Great war and Beyond"

"Previous members of the Twelfth (Sheffield City) Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment (the Sheffield Pals) formed the Twelfth Club, taking part in annual memorial services close to 1 July, the initial day of slaughter in the Battle of the Somme, as well as reunion dinners, concerts, dances and other events"

"A tragedy of youth and inexperience" - Charles and Leonard Brett Sheffield August 1935

This is from the Manchester Guardian dated Saturday 24th August 1935

Drowning in the canal was not an unusual occurence, but what made this accident so tragic was that the younger brother Leonard had dragged his older brother Charles into the deeper water and they had both drowned as a result.

They were buried together in Sheffield's Tinsley Park Cemetery - the funeral took place on Tuesday 27th August 1935

BRETT Charles 27 Aug 1935 14 son of Louisa 11 Southern St Sheffield RC91c
BRETT Leonard 27 Aug 1935 12 son of Louisa 11 Southern St Sheffield RC91c

The boy who attempted to rescue the brothers Robert Partoon lived to be 90 years old. He died in Sheffield in 2013. His older brother Thomas (b1915) was killed in Normandy on 26th June 1944 whilst serving with the Hallamshire Batallion, Yorks and Lancs Regiment

A Victim of the Sheffield Blitz - Kate Tingle (1866 - 1940)

At the beginning of this month, there was a workday at Walkley Cemetery. The section that we were working in is called the new section which is on the hillside overlooking the Rivelin Valley.

And one of the graves in that section was a victim of the Sheffield Blitz (the only one in the cemetery)

TINGLE, Kate (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 74).  Died at 98 Cobden View Road on 13 Dec 1940; Buried on December 20, 1940 in Consecrated~ ground;
Grave Number 77, Section L of Walkley St Marys Cemetery, Sheffield.

Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Identified by Kate Ethel Ralsron of 52 Sheard Rd     (Daughter).

The actual grave is unmarked but now that it has been located it will be included in the annual remberance tour that takes place in the cemetery

Kate's family 1901 Census

Kate's family 1911 Census

As the 1911 census indicates Henry and Kate lost their son Cyril

This is the entry from the BMD registers

Deaths Sep 1907

TINGLE Cyril  age 10 Worksop  Volume 7b Page 2

 

Crookes Valley Methodist Church January 2005

On 29th June this year I posted a blog on the opening of Crookes Valley Methodist Church and mentioned how the building had been allowed to deteriorate prior to its conversion to the student apartments.

I came across this cutting the other day  - it is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated Thursday 6th January 2005 which reports that planning permission was given to developers for the change of use

What I did not realise was that there was widespread local opposition to the application and that Sheffield City Council hardly passed a ringing endorsement of the plans. No-one could come up with any viable alternative for this marvelous building and so student flats and apartments it became A DECADE LATER.

It is a long and sorry saga that reflects badly on all those concerned but I suppose the fabric of the building was retained. But it is a mystery to me why so many glorious buildings are allowed to literally fall to bits before something is done. Surely the Methodist church should have least ensured that the dry rot should never have taken hold in the way that it did.

'Visitation of God' (ex visitacone dei). in Wickersley Rotherham - August 1828

A fellow researcher passed this cutting on to me. It is from The Sheffield Independent dated 30th August 1828. The interesting inquest is the third - that of the late Joshua Spurr who died by the "Visitation of God." I had not heard this phrase before in this context  

but it appears that is was used when doctors struggled in the darkness over the causes of disease and death, and how the human body functioned. If a person died, because of the doctor's limited knowledge they could only describe the cause of death as a fever, apoplexy, or convulsions, or what he could visibly see such as a head wound, or evidence of a lifestyle such as over indulgence of drink.

Occasionally he would describe the cause of death as a Visitation of God. Used in a more religious time than ours, it meant the death was inexplicable and it was thought that God had decided that it was time for the person to die.

It later came to mean that the person died of natural causes. It was a verdict often given by Coroner's juries, particularly in the 19th century. It was very rare that any autopsy was held and a doctor would give his opinion from the physical evidence of the body before him and the accounts he heard from others of the health of the deceased.

Also the coroner was only really concerned with the detection of crime, so the medical reason for the death did not matter to him once criminality had been ruled out.

In 1837 compulsory registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages was introduced. In an attempt to bring statistical order to the reports made by the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages on the numbers of such events, coroners were directed that the cause of death were to be made in precise terms. Terms such as Natural Death or Visitation of God were to be avoided where more precise medical terms on the cause of death could be used.

However, there was a slow response to these directions, and it did not overcome the problem of a death where the coroner was not involved. Many doctors continued using the term.

(From the History House site)

Attercliffe Parish Church (Sheffield) and the opening of a Garden of Rest - August 1953

The above photograph is Christ Church Attercliffe which is also referred to as Attercliffe Parish Church. My grandparents were married there on 12th August 1918. However the church was badly damaged in the Sheffield Blitz of December 1940 and was later demolished.

A shame because it was a fine building. But nearly thirteen years later the "Blitzed Church Site" was now "An Oasis". This cutting is from The Sheffield Telegraph dated 13th August 1953, thirty five years after my grandparents wedding.

I have not been to Attercliffe for three years but I cannot remember seeing "an area of pleasant green turf" with salvias and beds of petunias in bloom. I certainly cannot remember seeing a "refreshing spot in the heart of industrial Attercliffe." 

There is an excellent photograph taken in 1959 showing the Garden of Rest and it does look a "refreshing spot." I obviously need to find out its current status for want of a better term

  

The Opening of Tinsley Park Golf Club (Sheffield) Saturday 17th July 1920

This cutting is from The Manchester Guardian dated Monday 19th July 1920 and refers to the official opening of the golf course at Tinsley Park two days earlier.

I did not realise that the course was nearly 100 years old, and that plans for the course must have been made prior to that date. It would be interesting to know the last time the course was played by "celebrated professionals"!

St Cuthberts Church, Fir Vale Sheffield

I came across this postcard showing the interior and exterior of St Cuthberts Church Fir Vale

It is dated 1907. I must have passed this church hundreds of times over the years but ubtil I saw this postcard I did not know it was called St Cuthberts.

St Cuthberts Church- Barnsley Road - taken 2006

 © Copyright Richard Newall and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Helen Caverley's marriage - St Philips Church Shalesmoor Sheffield 25th April 1929

In the BMD registers there is this enetry for the marriage of Helen Caverley to George Shephard

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1929
Calverley Helen           Shephard Sheffield 9c 1126
Shephard George W           Calverley Sheffield 9c 1126

This is confirmed by this entry in the marriage register at St Philips Church Shalesmoor Sheffield

CALVERLEY, Helen (Spinster, age 24, ~, residing at 26 Upperthorpe).
Married George William SHEPHARD, on April 25, 1929, by E W Selwyn (Banns) at
St Philips Church, Shalesmoor.  Father's name is Joseph Calverley (Tackler).
Married in the presence of Albert Edwin Dodwell,Minnie Clayton,Ivy Olive Shephard.
Notes: ~.    Page No: 167 Reg No: 334

But neither of these entries reflect is the "excitement" of the previous day. The cutting is from The Manchester Guardian dated 26th April 1929

The altar at St Philips where Helen and George were married (at eight o'clock in the morning)

Sheffield United Gas Light Company Offices, Commercial Street Sheffield

The following cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated 20th October 1989

"One of Sheffield's finest buildings" and a "New role for a grand old lady" states the headlines.

The following is from Wikipedia

"The Gas Company vacated the premises in 1972 and was offered for sale but no buyers came forward. Property developers sought consent to demolish the building and redevelop the site but this was opposed by several preservation societies and in June 1973 it was designated as a Grade II* listed building (later downgraded to Grade II).

An inquiry into the building’s future in 1977 resulted in Sheffield’s Assistant Chief Planner David Cathels stating that the building was considered to be “A vigorous and distinguished example of Victorian architecture which should be retained”. Local businessman Les Vickers paid £110,000 for the building in 1978 with a scheme to turn it into a hotel and conference centre, however these plan fell through and in the early 1980s the building’s lower floor was converted into “Turn Ups” nightclub and “Bloomers” pub. In 1990 Canadian Business Parks of Bedfordshire acquired the building with plans to restore it, but this never happened as the company hit financial problems.

The building continued to deteriorate throughout the early 1990s and in 1996 Sheffield City Council served a legal notice on the owners to effect repairs. However, no maintenance was carried out, rain came in through the damaged roof and period fireplaces were stolen by thieves. The Council in partnership with English Heritage sealed the building against further damage and it was then acquired by English Partnerships, the Government agency for regeneration. The building has been restored and at present hosts the No. 1 Oriental Buffet Restaurant on it lower floor with office space above.

Sadly the building never became "the headquarters of a major prestigous company" but it does host a Oriental Restaurant. Not what Sheffield City Council had envisaged in October 1989  

Alfred Hancock's Accident - Sheffield January 1932

Sheffield's City Hall was officially opened in September 1932 but nine months prior to the event the site was the scene of an unusual accident

This cutting is from The Times and is dated 18th January 1932

It was a pure twist of fate but Alfred Hancock had a lucky escape from a terrifying death. I have checked the BMD registers for the period but can fing no trace of his death and so I can only summise that he survived his injuries  

Sheffield Methodist Bookshop (1839 - 1991)

A cutting from the Sheffield Telegraph 1991 marking the closure after 152 years of the Methodist Book shop. I remember it from the 1960's on Sheffield's Chapel Walk. The reasons given for the closure are still relevant today.

St. Vincent's Home for Belgian Refugees, Shirle Hill, Cherry Tree Road, Sheffield

I came across this rather marvelous photograph that must have been taken over 100 years ago

Britain welcomed around 250,000 Belgians to its shores following the German invasion of Belgium in August 1914. Sheffield offered hospitality to some 3,000 of these displaced Belgians. Shirle Hill at Nether Edge became a receiving base for Belgian refugees and other receiving bases were established in Westbrook House, Firvale House, Wadsley Hall and the Ecclesall Union.

The core of the Shirle Hill, (Cherry Tree Road, Nether Edge) was built in 1809. For a time it was the home of John Brown who founded the world famous firm of John Brown and Co. Ltd. More information is in the publication "Old Sharrow and Nether Edge in Photographs" by the Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group

Beauchief Post Office Sheffield

I came across this postcard recently that shows the old post office at Beauchief (Sheffield). It was on the corner of Abbey Lane and Abbeydale Road South, opposite the former Beauchief Hotel (Abbeydale Station Hotel)

The site is now occupied by a set of mundane flats/apartments and before those were built, it was a garage forecourt.

There is no date on the postcard but it looks as though it was taken in the inter-war period. The tram tracks are visible and there are no motor vehicle in sight!.

The post office was still there in June 1964. There is a copyrighted photograph on Picture Sheffield that shows the building but the tram tracks had been taken up by that time.

I would like to know when the post office demolished, and more importantly for what reason.

Tudor Square Sheffield 7th June 1991

The following cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated Friday 7th June 1991 and refers to the official opening of Sheffield's Tudor Square 

Tudor Sqaure Sheffield

Until I read this cutting I was unaware that this was the first public square to be opened in Sheffield for nigh on 81 years. And of course the square nowadays is rather different form when it was opened - the grassed area has disappeared and has been replaced by flagstones