The Funeral of Squadron Leader Ken "Hawkeye" Lee (1915 - 2008)

 This cutting is from The Sheffield Weekly Gazette dated Thursday 7th February 2008 and refers to the funeral in Sheffield of Squadron Leader Ken "Hawkeye" Lee (1915 - 2008), one of "The Few" 

There is an excellent article on Ken's life on the Hurricane 201 site 

There is also a book that has been written about Ken 

Kenneth 'Hawkeye' Lee Battle of Britain Ace: Battle of Britain & Desert Air Force Fighter Ace Hardcover – 17 Feb. 2011

by Nick Thomas  (Author)

Following training Hawkeye Lee received his commission and was posted to 501 Squadron which was sent to support the Expeditionary Force in France, arriving on 10 May, only hours after the Blitzkrieg had been launched. Lee quickly opened his score, claiming several bombers during the first week of operations. Having been wounded when his Hurricane exploded following a dogfight, Lee was briefly rested but soon rejoined the Squadron before they moved to their first Battle of Britain base at Middle Wallop. Lee scored more damaged and destroyed enemy aircraft and by the end of July he was Mentioned in Dispatches. Lee was forced to take to his parachute for the second time. He later recalled how each of the Squadron s aces , even Ginger Lacey, had been shot down at least twice during that summer. Lee was later posted to 112 (Shark) Squadron, flying Curtis Kittyhawks on Fighter and Fighter-Bomber missions in North Africa and then to 260 Squadron which was heavily involved in the lead-up to the battle of El Alamein, seeking out and destroying enemy troop columns and fighting off the Luftwaffe which still had air superiority. In March 1943, 123 Squadron began Fighter-Bomber operations against Mediterranean targets, during one Lee was hit by AA and made a forced landing in an olive grove. He was captured and sent to Stalagluft III just in time to play a key role in the Great Escape.

 

Images of the Sheffield Flood - March 1864

I have never written about the Sheffield  Flood of March 1864 on the grounds that the tragedy was well covered both in print and on-line and there was nothing really I could add to the narrative. Two of my wife's ancestors had their businesses and property damaged and made successful claims but so did many others.

However quite a few years ago a neighbour gave me the following photocards of the disaster. He had had them in his possession for some years and seemed to believe that they were taken initially from lantern slides taken at the time of the disaster.  

Images of the Sheffield Flood - March 1864

Sheffield Whitsuntide Fair - May 1869

This is a report from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 19th May 1869 and refers to the annual Sheffield Whitsuntide Fair that was held 153 years ago this week

Sadly the print and image quality is poor and so this is a transcription of the report - apologies for any errors. The other amusing part of the report is the jaded recollections of the reporter who was sent to view the affair. Apart from the Queens Menagerie from Wombwell he was not at all impressed by the event!

"SHEFFIELD WHITSUNTIDE FAIR. 

The Sheffield Whitsuntide fair of 1869 is precisely similar to that of last year, and to those of twenty years previous. There are same novelties to attract not only the attention of youth but even children of larger growth. There is food for the body and food for the mind. You "simply pay your money and take your choice." 

Should you feel hungry and wish to dine economically score of portly purveyors are at your service, and having replenished the inner man the vulgarities of the " noble art of self defence" claim your patronage. In their saloon, for the trifling charge one penny, the human face divine can be beaten to a pulp with the gratifying knowledge that it has been accomplished by the renowned Ben Caunt, —the world famed Molyneaux, or the ever-to-be remembered rival of Tom Sayers. 

Next you have the Hottentot Venus, a peculiar specimen of humanity weighing sixty stones, more or less, who might have been considered " a beauty had not itinerant showmen recently introduced to the British public the French Giantess whose colossal dimensions we should be afraid to describe. 

Tbe man who rejoices in the possession of three legs and thirty toes should not be permitted to pass his days in solitude. So his keepers are of opinion, and during the time he is " on view " may be safely computed that it is £2 per hour to their advantage. 

But the most attractive feature in the whole fair is the Queen's Menagerie, Wombwells Royal No 1. This noble collection has been several times exhibited in Sheffield, and on each occasion has received well-deserve patronage. is one of the largest in Europe, and comprises lions from South Africa and Barbary, tigers from the haunts of India, leopards from the Cape, the ocelot from Chile and Mexico, tibetan sun bear and the polar bear, the Tasmanian devil from Van Dieinan's Land, wolves from Egypt and Lapland, elephants from the southern part of India, and host of other wild and tame animate and birds, which to the student of natural history as well as to the public at large, must prove interesting and instructive. 

The quantity of provisions necessary for the animals in this establishment is very large. The carnivorous or flesh eating animals require about 2 cwt. of meat daily, and it composed generally of bullock's shins, hearts, and heads; lion requires about 121bs. of solid flesh; tiger about the same, a leopard 51bs.; bears are fed almost exclusively on bread and sop; monkeys on rice, bread, sop, and fruits; and the herbivorous animals are fed much the same as horses. As a proof of the excellence of the menagerie it may be stated that it has been patronised by Royalty on four separate occasions. 

There are other attractions "too numerous to mention," all of which, no doubt, will have sight-seers galore. The horse fair was not nearly so well attended as previous years, nor were the animals offered for sale much value. They were mostly cart horses, but the demand was very limited. The cheese fair was an equal failure. There was not one fifth of the usual quantity exhibited, and of little not more than half was sold. Cheshire thicks realised from 80s. to 95s and Derby cheeses from 80s. to 90s.

The Death of William Blackshaw, Sheffield Union Workhouse December 1882

 In Sheffield's City Road Cemetery there is a public grave (Grave Number 11933, Section X) that houses 14 bodies. Most of them died at their own addresses in Sheffield but all were so poor they could not afford to pay for a grave. One of the persons in the grave is William Blackshaw and this is his burial record

Blackshaw, William (Cutler, age 40). Died at Union Workhouse; Buried on December 13, 1882 in Consecrated ground;  Grave Number 11933, Section X of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.

He died in The Sheffield Union Workhouse but the manner of his death caused a great deal of consternation at the subsequent inquest.

This is the report from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated December 19th 1882. As a footnote opium tincture or laudanum was widely used in the 19th century as a pain killer or sleeping aid; it was highly addictive, leading to many of its users forming a drug addiction.

 Nurse Thompson was censured for her neglect which was self evident from the report but for the Coroner to threaten her with a charge of manslaughter was a over the top but he obviously thought it was warranted

  

Places in Time - The Art of Kenneth Steel - Sheffield December 2021 - May 2022

 Many years ago I posted an article to the site relating to the life and work of a Sheffield artist Kenneth Steel  At the timer I had never heard of him and there was hardly any information either on-line or in print. But he had an interesting life that had more than its share of tragedy and sadness.

Since then awareness of his work has increased and over the last four months there has been an exhibition of his work at Sheffield's Weston Park Museum.

I visited the exhibition yesterday and to be quite truthful I was staggered by the number of exhibits and also the quality as well. It was very well laid out and informative. I just did not realise how prolific Kenneth was as an artist and also the range of his works. I did not know about his Mallorcan and Mediterranean works and so that was a bonus. 

All in all the exhibition did Kenneth proud and I hope it does bring his life and works to a wider public. 

Kenneth now has a dedicated website that vividly portrays his works and so is well worth a visit

The exhibition closes on Monday 2nd May 2022 and so there is only one week left to visit it.

 

 

Loxley Cemetery Sheffield Open Day - Monday 2nd May 2022

 A friend has asked me to post the following flyer on my blog. The event is for an Open Day on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2022 at Loxley Cemetery Sheffield 

   

The Tormented and Appalling Death of Ellen Thorpe - Sheffield November 1881

 I have just posted an article to the site entitled "The Tormented and Appalling Death of Ellen Thorpe - Sheffield November 1881" It was based on a cutting that I had from the London Times dated 7th December 1881 and relates to the death of 12 year old ELLEN THORPE.

The Sheffield Coroner stated that it was "the most abominable case of ill-treatment he had ever known" and severely admonished the father JOHN THORPE for his conduct and actions.. The Coroner did take the matter further but the eventual outcome was not what he and the jury had in mind when they delivered their verdict.

Note The insurance of £5GBP that he was due to as a result of her death is about £425 in todays money

Sgt. G H Newman was hacked off in Gallipoli - October 1915

 A researcher contacted me last week with this query

"I am currently doing a tidy up for the Sheffield Soldiers on the Gallipoli Campaign . It is taking longer than I thought as quite a few casualties are listed as Mediterranean ,Balkans or died at sea so have to wade through to see where they actually died  . 

Anyway came across an interesting little aside . Sheffield Evening Telegraph 2/10/1915 P4 In a letter from a Sgt G H Ramsden 6th Y & L  he seems to be unhappy about the status of other Sheffield soldiers . " Our battalion comes from Sheffield and Sheffielders have forgotten about them for their pets the Sheffield City Battalion " 

This is the first time I have ever come across any resentment towards them ,have you noticed anything.

I certainly had not and so I checked the article from the Sheffield Evening Telegraph

The print is not very good for this blog and so I have transcribed the article below

YORKSHIRE BRIGADE. 

Hard Task in Dardanelles Landing. 

The Editor has received the following letter from Sergeant G. H. Ramsden, York and Lancaster Regiment, somewhere in the Mediterranean, asking Sheffielders not forget them : Just line to let you know how proud Sheffielders ought to be of the boys from the old place. We had to make a new landing, and the Yorkshire brigade had a hard task, but did it wonderfully well. Although lost terribly, we managed to drive the Turks back five miles, but it was awful work. Rifle and shrapnel fire killed and wounded many of our brave fellows. We are present holding trench on tlhe front, many of us not having had time for a wash after 10 days of stiff fighting. I don’t know how much longer we shall be here before are relieved, but we are about worn out, not having had a night's sleep since we landed. Our battalion mostly comes from Sheffield, and the boy say that the Sheffielders have forgotten them for their pets — the City Battalion. However, as Sheffielders yet, so don’t forget the boys out here, as we cannot buy any “cigs,” and have to depend what they give us

Sheffield Evening Telegraph - Saturday 02 October 1915

The researcher and myself pondered the class angle which may be part of the bitterness but we think the following may be the main reason for the resentment that the lads in Gallipoli felt towards the City Battalion

I replied

"Attached are my findings - I do not have access to the Folio 3 (WW1 Pension) on Ancestry but have a transcript which is transcribed below.  

I am sure that  he is one and the same as the letter writer and in civilian life he was working class. He does mention in the letter that most of his battalion (6th York & Lancs) were Sheffielders but if you contrast the disaster that they were experiencing in Gallipoli with the military activities (and publicity) of the Sheffield City Battalion in 1915 you can plainly see why they were hacked off a treat."

Although the Sheffield City Battalion was supposedly open to all it had a strong representation of the professional and commercial classes and they spent 1915 in the UK at various training camps rather than at the front line

What Sgt Ramsden and his lads did not know was what awaited the Sheffield City Battalion the following year

Notes

George did make it back to the UK but with a disability - he died in 1948 at the age of 69 

WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers

Name: George Harry Ramsden

Rank: Sgt

Record Type: Disability

Birth Date: 1878

Residence Place: Attercliffe Sheffield 

Military Service Region: Yorkshire, North East Military Country: England

Discharge Date: 10 Apr 1919

Service Number: 682340

Corps, Regiment or Unit: Labour LCNC Service Branch: Military (Army)

Title: WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers

Description: PRC Ledgers

Reference Number: 70226, 4/MR/No.27

Next of Kin: Name Relation to Soldier George Harry Ramsden

1911 Census

Name: George Harry Ramsden

Age in 1911: 33

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878

Relation to Head: Head

Gender: Male

Birth Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Civil Parish: Sheffield

Country: England

Street Address: 24 Howden Rd Sheffield

Marital status: Married

Occupation: Joiners Tool Maker

Registration District Number: 510 Sub-registration District: Attercliffe

ED, institution, or vessel: 16 Piece: 28004

Household Members:

Name Age

George Harry Ramsden33

Gertrude Ramsden 33

Annie E Ramsden 8

Mary Ethel Ramsden 4

George Harry Ramsden 2

Bertha Ramsden 3/12

George's burial record  - he is buried alongside his wife Gertrude who died in 1943

RAMSDEN, George Harry (Joiner Tool Maker, age 69).

     Died at 153 Richmond Road; Buried on March 13, 1948 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 1047, Section ~ of Handsworth Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Orgreave Lane ground.

    

RAMSDEN, Gertrude (Wife of George H Ramsden, age 63).

     Died at 153 Richmond Road; Buried on April 15, 1943 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 1047, Section ~ of Handsworth Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Orgreave Lane ground.

In May 2022 I received further information that re-enforces the notion of the Sheffield City Battalion being "pets", one surprisingly that still exists to this day

""The 6th Battalion Y&L was not in fact a Territorial Army unit but one of hundreds raised on the outbreak of war as Service Battalions.  I am not sure where they were recruited but trained near Grantham,  not in Sheffield.   By WW11 it was a distinguished Territorial Battalion.

I can well understand your comments about the Sheffield City Battalion being the "pets".   I can tell you that that exists to this day.   When the Y&L Monument in Weston Park,  next to Sheffield University,  was cleaned in conjunction with improvements to the Park,  the Council put up a Notice Board all about the Pals totally ignoring the fact that over 8,000 thousand Y&L died in WW1 of which a small number were Sheffield City Battalion.

Your knowledge is certainly correct." 

 

 

The Duchess of York's Visit to Sheffield - July 1934

The following two cuttings are from the London Times dated 6th and 7th July 1934 and detail the visit of the Duchess of York to Sheffield in 1934. Her husband the Duke of York (the future King Geoege V1) did not accompany her on this visit due to an indisposition.

There is a marvellous photograph of the the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother digging In Mr J Oliver''s Potato Plot during her visit to The Deep Pits Allotments Of The Sheffield Unemployed. But unfortunately I cannot use it in this blog due to copyright reasons. Well that is not true I could use it but I would have to pay money to some corporate entity that really has no place in copyrighting the image.

As for the The Deep Pits Allotments Of The Sheffield Unemployed I was not aware of the location but they were situated off City Road not far from City Road Cemetery. The 1200 men who contributed to the stainless steel garden fork and hand trowel raised £5.00 which is circa £250 in todays money which seems a touch pricey for the two items. I wonder if they are still being used today! 

Shiregreen Cemetery Sheffield - March 2022

It has been widely reported in the media that Shiregreen Cemetery now has the largest headstone in the United Kingdom and has attracted world wide interest. It is the grave of Willy Collins and was erected by the family and many friends of the deceased.

It used over 37 tons of Italian marble and is reputed to have cost in excess of £200,000. 

When I first read the story I was amazed and bewildered. The cemetery is owned and administered by Sheffield City Council who have traditionally imposed strict guidelines on what is and what is not allowed in the 16 municipal cemeteries they control. In fact one of the first blogs I posted was in relation to the Wooden Crosses of Burngreave Cemetery 1930 which even today still leaves an unsavoury taste in the mouth. And since then there has been a constant stream of stories of Sheffield City Council imposing harsh and in many cases unnecessary regulation on the bereaved families.

Shiregreen Cemetery Sheffield

But all was revealed when Sheffield City Council announced that the family of Willy Collins had not approached them to ask for permission to erect such a grand memorial. The memorial contravened their regulations in every respect. At the time of writing Bereavement Services at the Council were looking into the matter and had summoned the relatives of the late Willy Collins for a meeting to discuss matters arising for want of a better term.

There is speculation in the press that thw whole memorial will have to be demolished and one erected that complies with the Council's stict rules. But that is just speculation.

The wider point is that Sheffield City Council claims to be ignorant of the erection of the memorial. It must have taken days if not weeks to erect such a grand memorial which seems to indicate that the Council do not know what is going on in their cemeteries. Bereavement Services proudly claim that they are responsible for Shiregreen Cemetery and so it is the Council who should ensure that their regulations are enforced. It appears not for the first time that the Council have been negligent in fullfilling their responsibilities to the people of Sheffield

 

     

The Crookesmoor Dam Mystery - Sheffield October 1899

I have just posted an article to the site titled The River Don Tragedy - October 1901 in which a two year old boy named Sydney Talbot was drowned near Hillfoot Bridge by his mother Susannah

At the subsequent inquest and criminal trial reference was made to the death of her brother EDWARD BISHOP two years earlier by drowning in Crookes Dam.

And so I decided to check the details out using the British Newspaper Archive

Sheffield Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 01 November 1899

SHEFFIELD NOTES & JOTTINGS . 

Yesterday afternoon the body of man was drawn from the Ralph Dam, Crookesmoor Rjad, Sheffield, It has not yet been identified, but the deceased was apparently between 40 and 50 years of age, and dressed a style indicating that he was of the part.of the labouring class. In the pocket of the man clothes was found a bill-head from F. Mills and Company. Hanover Works. 63, Division Street, and made out to E. Bishop. The body, which was much decomposed, was taken to the mortuary. 

INQUESTS IN SHEFFIELD. 

THE CROOKESMOOR DAM MYSTERY. 

At the City Mortuary to-day the City Coroner held an inquest upon the body of Edward Bishop, aged 31 table-blade cutter, of Burton Road. Sheffield whoso body was found in the Ralph Dam. Road. last Tuesday. The deceased, had been drinking heavily for some time, He left home on October 5th. and was not seen alive again. Potice-constable Tomllmson, of Broomhill Police, fouud 'the body floating in the Ralph Dam Crokesmoor Road last Tuesday, Judging from appearance it had been in the water for several weeks. The man was fully dressed. The wife said her husband had neglected his work on account of drinking

The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane, brought on by excessive drink"

The details given at the trial were not strictly correct. Edward Bishop was foung in Ralph Dam not Crookes Dam. The former was adjacent to Crookesmoor Road just up from the wonderfully named Misfortune Dam. And secondly The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane, brought on by excessive drink," which was also not mentioned in the trial. The reader was led to believe that the family had a history of mental health problems when in fact the narrative is rather different.

The Despoiling of Walkley Garden Suburb by Sheffield Corporation - the destruction of "the worker's West End"

 This article appeared in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Thursday 06 June 1912

THRIFTY WALKLEY. GARDEN SUBURB OF HALF CENTURY AGO. 

SCHEMES DASHED. 

Half a century ago Walkley was a place of gardens and fields, of trees and ferns, of hills and rocks; it was a place beautiful of situation. Its rows of unlovely cottages had not yet appeared, it had not been overrun by the despoiling jerry-builder. Few men know more of Walkley and its development than Mr. Charles Hobson, and he tells the interesting story in the latest issue of the Town Planning Review.” 

About the middle of last century effort was made by a number of social reformers in the district of Sheffield to help the artisan classes living near the works where they were employed, to migrate the suburbs for healthful and remunerative exercise and with the further object of their permanent residence there. Walkley was selected for this excellent scheme. The fields abutting on Upperthorpe, Langsett Road, and the old turnpike road. Lower Walkley, were the first be appropriated for the purpose. Others followed in quick succession until a dozen societies or more had been formed with about 3,000 holders. The land dealt with covered an area of about 292 acres. The plots varied from 300 to 1,200 yards and the price from Is. per square yard as a minimum to 2s. a maximum, plus the bonus for choice of plot—.ranging from £1 to £2—with cost of road making, management, legal and other charges, resulting usually in the plot becoming £60, and the £60 plot £l20. Scarcely had the plots been staked out before the owners were digging and delving, fencing building, in tho early morn and late at night, and soon the rough plots took the shape of beautiful gardens, and the little freeholder with his wife and family had been given a new inspiration in life. Soon detached houses were built on the plots, the hillside was studded with little villas, and Walkley became the workers’ West End. 

Drawbacks and Disaster. 

But there were drawbacks to come. Some of the land societies met with disaster, but the chief agent responsible for the ending of the land society system in the Sheffield district was the exorbitant demands made the Sheffield's Corporation for road dedication. Take five typical cases. 

A 600 yards plot cost £90, Corporation charge for road dedication £45; 

600 yards plot cost £70, corner plot, road dedication £126 ; 

600 yards plot £70, comer plot, dedication £126; 

600 yards plot with three houses, dedication £126; 

600 yards plot, with two houses, dedication £126. 

So exorbitant were these demands that quite a number of holders had tried to rid themselves of their plots. They were not able to meet the liability. One holder offered his plot to the Corporation free if he could be rid of his liability; another sold for £26 what had cost him £l00, another for what had paid for; another got £l2 for what had cost him £50. This put end to many of the dreams of these industrious freeholders in Walkley's garden suburb. Some by the aid of friends have been able to retain their little plots and the houses upon them, but others have ridded themselves of their holdings, while still others are yet struggling with their burdens regretting that they ever became freeholders in the workers’ West End. 

It is necessary, concmdes Mr. Hobson, for confidence to restored an assurance of security before workmen can again be induced to invest their savings in land development schemes, and this might done were the local authority agree to take over roads when first made upon conditions which were reasonable and fair, and it might not be too much expect that the Local Government Board might grant facilities for acquiring land for such purpose in view of its great influence for good upon the working unity.”

For more information about Victorian Land Society's in Walkley there is an excellent blog on the Walkley Historians site that explains the development of Walkley in the Victorian era

The last letter of James Hall - Leeds Prison 14th May 1881

The following is a cutting from the North East Courant newspaper dated 21st May 1881 and in it is a transcript of a letter that James Hall sent to his son Abraham.

There is an account of the murder in Judge David Bentley's book "The Sheffield Murders 1865 - 1965" but the following is a brief summary of the crime that is taken from the British Executions website

"May 23rd 1881: James HALL (53)

Leeds

A Sheffield cutler who killed his licentious wife, Polly, by splitting her head in two with an axe. Shortly before midnight on 26 March 1881, Hall's daughter and her boyfriend walked home from the pub and found they were unable to gain entry into the house. Looking through the window, she saw her father standing over her mother holding a hatchet. After repeatedly knocking on the window, Hall eventually opened the door and as the young couple entered, Hall struck his daughter in the face with the weapon. Her boyfriend managed to overpower Hall, while a neighbour who had been attracted by the commotion, called the police. 

Once in custody, Hall confessed to the murder and explained his motive. He claimed that three years earlier he had come home from work unexpectedly and found his wife with another man. He later forgave her but warned that if she was ever unfaithful again he would kill her. At 11pm on the night of the crime. he came home from the pub sooner than usual and found his wife on the sofa with a neighbour. William Londe. Mrs Hall grappled with her husband while the man made his escape. Then. in a violent, drunken rage. Hall picked up a hatchet and attacked her. His daughter denied that her mother was an adultress, as did Londe. who claimed he was nowhere near the house on the night in question. Sentenced to death at Leeds Assizes and hanged by Marwood.

   

The Defacement of the late Thomas Youdan's Monument - General Cemetery Sheffield 25th August 1879

I was going to write an article on Thomas Youdan and his connection to Sheffield back in 2016 but I never completed my research into what was a very colourful life. But thankfully last year The Totley Local History Group posted an article on Thomas Youdan to their excellent website.

It is very well researched and really portrays the man and the tims he lived in. But after he died there was a family dispute over his last will and testament that culminated in his brother John Youdan defacing his late brothers memorial in Sheffield's General Cemetery.

As Mr Hoole, one of the magistrates presiding over the case, notes that the whole affair was outrageous and that he had never come across anything like it in his life and he hope he wouldn't again. 

He imposed a fine of £10.00 and if John Youdan defaulted he would be sent to prison for two months.

The burial record is from the Sheffield Records Online database

burial no: 6125

grave no: G 72

death date: 28 Nov 1876

burial date: 01 Dec 1876

name: Thomas Youdan

sex: Male

age: 60

cause of death:

description: Gentleman Farmer

residence: Flotmanby House, Ganton, Filey

minister: Robert Mitford Taylor

burial type: consecrated 

All Saints School Pitsmoor Sheffield

I have just received an email from a researcher who had recently found a photo of an infant class at the  school taken in 1900. One of the pupils was her uncle Tommy who was six at the time. He is fifth from the left on the back row

I searched the British Newspaper Archive but there was surprisingly little reported on All Saints School in Pitsmoor. But a full list of admissions (1872 - 1940) can be found on the excellent Sheffield Indexers site.

Her uncle went to serve in the Great War and she kindly sent me a photo of Tommy with his two favourite horses Charlie and Bonnie. It was taken in France but the date is unknown. Tommy did return from the war but sadly his older brother Jack was killed in action 

If any reader of this blog can add any further information on All Saints School Pitsmoor Sheffield please contact me and I will pass it on  

The death of Richard Rainforth - Sheffield February 1885

This report appeared in the London Times dated 23rd February 1885 and refers to the death of a druggist Richard Rainforth. I should explain that when the coroner referred to "a clear case of hydrophobia" he was stating that the victim died of rabies. In other words he was bitten by a rabid collie dog

 What I found remarkable is that Mr Rainforth was sanguine about his imminent demise. He recognised at once that he was suffering from rabies and just accepted his fate. And he correct in doing so. It was later that year that Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux developed and administered the first rabies vaccine. For Richard it was just too late

He is buried in Sheffield's Norton Cemetery

RAINFORTH, Richard (~, age 43). Died at Bramall Lane, Sheffield; Buried on February 21, 1885 in Consecrated ground;  Grave Number 10, Section I1 of Norton Cemetery, Sheffield.Remarks: Removed from Sheffield parish.  Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 46

The wedding of Mr Alan Bassett Ward and Miss Rachel Rothenstein - Hampstead Parish Church London - 20th April 1937

 This is a cutting from the Sheffield Daily Independent dated 20th April 1937 reporting on the wedding of Mr Alan Bassett Ward and Miss Rachel Rothenstein in Hampstead Parish Church London 

The groom was the son of the noted Sheffield industrialist and "steel magnate" Thomas William Ward who was the founder of the world famous company T.W.Ward. The bride was the daughter of Sir William Rothenstein and the brother of Dr. John Rothenstein, both of whom played a prominent role in the history of art in Sheffield

Note:

Rachel Rothenstein was the daughter to a Jewish artist William Rothenstein. She is one of four children, her siblings being John Michael and Betty. Michael and John also became involved in the art world, Michael a printmaker; John  a art historian. Rothenstein (1872-1945) was an artist, print maker and writer. He is also known as a War artist. He co-founded the Carfax Gallery that held exhibitions of the Camden Town Group. Rothenstein became the Principal of Royal College of Art from 1920-1935. He was knighted in 1931.

Print of Rachel Rothenstein by Eric Gill 1924

A Surprise for Slackers - Sheffield April 1917

 This cutting I hgave had for years and it is fron the Western Daily Press dated 22nd April 1917.

I did not do anything with the cutting as I did not know where the raid was carried out - it had been blanked for some reason or another. But a trawl of the British Newspaper Archive had another report from the Weekly Dispatch dated 22nd April 1922 and it was idetical but this time it stated that raid was on the coke ovens at Nunnery Colliery in Sheffield. 

Unfortunately there were no further details of these "batch of men" but reading the newspapers around that time it is startling to read the bitterness and anger that was directed towards anyone who was perceived to be "shirking" or "slacking" or "not pulling their weight." And particular hostility was directed at consientious objectors who apart from periods of imprisonment and forced labour had to endure constant vilification from politicians, the press and the general public. Modern parallels??. 

Tom Gaunt (1907 - 1938) - International Brigade Spanish Civil War

 Another cutting but this is slightly different in that I do not have a record of the date but I do have the publication - The Workshire Post. It states that Tom was posted as missing in action on March 17 1938 and so 48 years on would make that article publication date 1986.

A plaque was to Tom was placed in the Parish House at Clowne, Derbyshire and erected by Chesterfield & District Cooperative Party, It was unveiled by Dennis Skinner MP, on 31 October 2009.

Walkley National School Walkley Sheffield 1895

 Another postcard from the Walkley district of Sheffield. It states that it is of  "Walkley National School  1895."

There is a similar photograph on Picture Sheffield but that was taken ten years later, Information is thin on the ground but I believe that the school referred to is now known as Walkley Primary School and located on Burnaby Crescent in the Lower Walkley area of Sheffield. 

West Bar Police Station Sheffield (1965 - 2011)

 This cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph Thursday 21st October 2021.

It did close six months later and it was reported on the BBC website

"It is the end of an era for Sheffield's main police station, which opens its doors for the final time on Friday.
West Bar police station opened on 16 July in 1965 under the City of Sheffield Police Force.
Now the crumbling building, which once towered over the city's skyline and served the force for over 45 years, is closing for a new state-of-the-art building.
Chief Superintendant Andy Barr told BBC Sheffield: "It's a day of sadness, a lot of the cops have loved working there over the years. There are some fond memories and some great stories."
The five-storey building has been sold to a development company which plan to demolish the former headquarters to make room for a new hotel and restaurant establishment.
"Instead of housing prisoners it will be housing some of Sheffield's many visitors."
Mr Barr added: "We're closing it because it's past its sell by date.
"The boiler and lifts kept breaking down. It's very cold and officers need somewhere better to work. We've also had a rat infestation problem too.
"We accessed the costs and they really would be too much for the police to continue working there and update the building."
Officers and staff will be relocated over the weekend to the new headquarters at Snig Hill.
The police will remain to operate a 24-hour public enquiry desk which was available at West Bar."

From the Sheffield History Forum

The Chapel House Channing Street Lower Walkley Sheffield

 I came across this rather slendid postcard of The Chapel House Channing Street Lower Walkley Sheffield

On the reverse it stated just "112 Channing Street" It looks as though it was associated with the Sheffield, Wesleyan Reform Union chapel. As far as I can ascertain both the chapel and the house were demolished in 1967 and replaced by the modern housing which now forms part of the Langsett Estate.

The Methodist Church is Sheffield in Sheffield 

"Hampden View Wesleyan Reform Union Chapel which is  a plain, modern, square building given a mark of distinction by its lantern with its echoes of clerestories and steeples".   

Alexander Stacey (1834-1897)- A Sheffield Impresario

 I was going to post an article to the website relating to this cutting that is from The Era dated 16th January 1897. It concerns the death of Mr Alexander Stacey at his home 122 Upperthorpe, Sheffield.

But there is an excellent site that concentrates on the historic photographs of historic theatres and the Lyceum is one of them and so I decided that I would just post Alexander's obituary to the blog and leave it at that.

The house where Alexander and his family lived in Upperthorpe is still there

 

Women's Screams Cost Man's Life - Sheffield October 1928

 I came across this report in The Manchester Guardian dated 31st October 1928 quite a few years back

On the face of it it looks as though it would be worth an article on the website. But there is a major problem - there is a total dearth of information in the report - there are no names, no locations, no identifying features: absolutely nothing beyond the fact that the inquest was held in Sheffield on 30th October 1928 and that the victim was a Corporation employee.

I tried the British Newspaper Archive for the period in question and there were no reports at all. Well none that I could locate.

And it got me to think whether or not this incident ever happened. It has all the hallmarks of a spoof or prank  probably initiated by some reporter(s) who were short on copy at the time of publication. Apart from the lack of information I doubt if a Coroner would use the phrases at the foot of the report.

I may be incorrect in my assumption - if so please let me know

Xmas Day in the Sheffield Workhouse 1883

The following report is from the Sheffield Independent dated 26 December 1883

"The inmates of the above Workhouse were yesterday provided with their Christmas treat. It consisted, as usual, of the substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding. A pint of beer was allowed for everyone except the imbeciles and children. They has coffee, as also did everyone who preferred it. The total number of inmates in the house this Christmas is 1334... after dinner they were briefly and suitably addressed by the Chairman (Ald. Hunter). The inmates were then dismissed to their various wards to pass the afternoon in recreation, various friends having kindly sent a quantity of illustrated papers and books for their use. `the old people were supplied with tobacco and snuff and the children with oranges. An excellent tea was given them, and to-day (Wed) there will be a magic lantern entertainment kindly supplied by Mr Rodgers. The Sheffield Pillow Mission sent their usual Christmas present of a letter and illustrated card to each inmate."

It is  a rather sobering thought that "the number of inmates in the house" that Xmas Day was 1334, but it elicited no comment from the reporter. The other point of note is the reference to "The Sheffield Pillow Mission." I have never heard of this organisation before and so I can only speculate that it was tied in with some form of Methodism or Non-conformism. 

The Suitcase of a Gentleman - Sir Joseph Jonas Sheffield

 In July 2021 I was contacted by a reader of my site and blog who stated

"I am clearing out some items, one of which is a lovely crocodile effect gentleman’s suitcase.  It is generally very good condition with many of the original accessories, some with silver tops and antique ivory handles etc. The front of the suitcase has JONAS on one lock and SHEFFIELD on the other.  I googled this and came up with your fascinating article on Sir Joseph Jonas.

I was about to put the suitcase on Ebay but perhaps there is a better home for it in a museum or at the Jonas Hotel?"

It was a fascinating find and I attempted to put the reader in touch with descendents of Sir Joseph who had contacted me in the past. But they eventually must have decided to place the case on Ebay. It had a starting price bid of £250GBP and I was slightly tempted to buy a piece of Sheffield history. But on reflection the handle was detached and the contents looked incomplete and it would have cost me more money to renovate it. In the end I decided that it just was not worth it. Infortunately I do not know if the case sold and what price it fetched but it is still an interesting item.

Also on Ebay was this note on Sir Joseph - it appears it was removed from a periodical

 

       

St Michael and All Angels church Neepsend Sheffield - Location

 In September 2017 I posted an article to the blog relating to the missing was memorial at St Michael's and All Angels church in Neepsend Sheffield.

Sad to say that the war memorial is still missing but a friend read the blog and kindly sent me a map of where the church stood. It faced Neepsend Lane and from the map it looks as though it backed onto houses on Percy Street.

Neepsend Lane and Percy Street are still there but there is very little left from the early C20th.  

Stanley Woolass's present 1915

 Quite a few years ago I posted an article to the website relating to the life and tragic death of Ralph Skelton Woolass. Ralph was a fighter pilot in WW2 and was on a channel sweep on 16th April 1942 when his Spitfire was shot down by a Me109 off Cap de la Hague in Northern France.

His brother kindly assisted me with additional information in 2013 which I placed on the blog 

Last week a reader of the site sent me three images

They stated that they had " bought a book in a charity shop. The book is a 1912 RL Stevenson book and is presented to Stan Woolass from a friend in 1915 with a Latin quotation. In hoc signo vinces" 

NB For those readers of the blog that are not conversant with Latin it conventionally translates into English as "In this sign thou shalt conquer". The sign means The Cross

I was wondering whether this is the Stanley Woolass who was the father father of Ralph. The dates seem to match up. If it is Ralph’s father, he will have been 23 Years old at the time he received the book."

Although I cannot be certain I think that on the balance of possibilities the book was gifted to Ralph's father. A very interesting find  

The Grave of Ada Bradley - Wadsley Churchyard Sheffield

Many years ago I posted an article to the site relating to the brutal murder in Sheffield of nurse Ada Bradley (April 1923)

In December 2021 I was asked by a friend if I knew where Ada was buried in Wadsley Churchyard. Quite a few years ago I did attempt to find the grave based on the photograph that was taken at the time of Ada's funeral but without a grave reference it was a thankless task. I was put in touch with volunteers at Wadsley Church who kindly undertook some research into the location of Ada's grave.

This is their reply

"I looked up the grave then and found the only candidate was a grave plot just in the name of Bradley AA82/2 in the 1921 to 1933 section adjacent Prescott Road. It is unusual not to have a christian name in our grave plot records and there is no headstone. 
There is one other possible grave plot, EE46/3 in the 1908 to 1921 section adjacent Vainer Road. This is the grave of Mary Bradley and then Joe H Bradley. Ada`s sister and grandfather?? If Ada was a subsequent burial in this grave she is much more likely to have been unrecorded in the grave plot records. Again no headstone so I have no other information.

My records are based on the grave plot registers. The only other avenue is to check the burial registers which are in Sheffield Archives. As you have Ada`s funeral date this is very easy to find. The entries do not usually mention the grave plot number but there is a tiny chance. Either way there is no headstone to add to your story.

To find AA82/2 enter from Prescott Road and go down the edge of the field to the 22nd row below the path. Bradley plot with no headstone is 3 plots from the boundary wall. We have ten Bradley grave plots in total, 5 with headstones, but I assume you are not interested in them"

A disappointing end to the search and also a surprising one. Given the cruel nature of Ada's death and the very large crowds who attended the funeral I would have expected a headstone or similar memorial but there is none to be found.

Richard Johnson and the Atlas Lodge of the Sheffield Equalised Druids

I came across this entry in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated Saturday January 24th 1904 which refers to the death of a Mr Richard Johnson at the Cross Scythes Hotel Totley;Sheffield and his funeral that took place two days earlier.

Apart from noting that Richard had worked for 40 years at the firm of Messrs. Bury of Penistone Road Sheffield, it also states that Richard was Treasurer for Atlas Lodge of the Equalised Druids in Sheffield for 22 years. 

I have never heard of the Atlas Lodge of the Equalised Druids in Sheffield. The Ancient Order of Druids still exist and is still a viable organisation.  

 

However there is an old thread on the Sheffield Forum dating from 2007 that gives a bit more information about the organisation

"White's 1919/20 Directory suggests that there were 2 different kinds of 'Druids' in Sheffield. As well as the "Equalized District Order" in Queen Street (Mr Short already secretary) there is...

Sheffield Equalized Independent Druids (Isaac Wright, general sec.), at 35 & 37 Suffolk Road.

I wonder if the 'Idependent' means there had been a split in the Order, with this being a 'breakaway' group.

I also found these in the Sheffield Local Register (digest of local news stories up to 1908 )

12 Oct 1891 - The Druids’ Society: Sheffield Equalised District decides by 9018 votes to 282 to secede from the order [this secession allowed on 26 Feb 1892]

8 Aug 1892 - First Quarterly meeting of the Sheffield Independent Druids; secession completed.

9 May 1898 - Half-yearly meeting of the Sheffield Equalised Independent Druids. Membership, 21,134; capital, £72,723. 12s. 10¾d....

 There are lots of other mentions of both organisations. It seems that the Independent Druids (and possibly their rivals) were running into financial problems after 1900 when outgoings were exceeding income by substantial ammounts"

 

The Sheffield Indexers state that Richard is buried in Grave Number 25, Section C of Walkley Cemetery Cemetery alongside his wife Emma

JOHNSON, Emma (~, age 66). Died at 40 Woollen Lane; Buried on June 6, 1897 in ~ ground;

Grave Number 25, Section C of Walkley Cemetery Cemetery, Nichols Rd  Page No 36

JOHNSON, Richard (~, age 70). Died at Cross Scythes Hotel Totley; Buried on January 21, 1904 in ~ ground;      Grave Number 25, Section C of Walkley Cemetery Cemetery, Nichols Rd Page No 45

Beauchief & Abbey Dale Railway Station Sheffield

I came across the postcard showing the Manchester Express roaring through Beauchief & Abbey Dale Railway Station Sheffield. Unfortunately the card is not dated but the indications are that the station was still in use, The Wikipedia entry quoted below states that the station closed on New Years day 1961 

"The station was built by the Midland Railway in 1870 and was designed by the company architect John Holloway Sanders.

The station served the communities of Beauchief, Woodseats and Ecclesall and was situated on the Midland Main Line between Millhouses railway station and Dore & Totley station, near Abbeydale Road South in Abbeydale. The station was originally called Abbey Houses and later Beauchief & Abbey Dale station.

The station was opened on the site of Hutcliffe Mill at the same time as the main line from Chesterfield. At opening it had two platforms, but this was increased to four with the widening which took place between 1901 and 1903. It closed on 1 January 1961. The stationmasters house survives as a private residence and the nearby Abbeydale Station Hotel was renamed the Beauchief Hotel. In 2018 the hotel site was redeveloped as apartments.

Photographs of the stationmasters house taken in March 2011

Sheffield Telegraph dated 25th May 2017 had this report on the development of the site. 

"Proposals to create a development of 30 properties on the site of the former hotel and restaurant on Abbeydale Road South are recommended for approval at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The scheme would involve creating six two-bedroom apartments in the existing hotel building, as well as putting up a new block of 12 two-bedroom flats and 12 detached homes.

A report to councillors said just five objections had been received since the plans were lodged. Reasons for opposition included the impact on air quality, and fears the proposal would ‘overdevelop’ the site. Neighbours also claimed the character of the old hotel building itself would be affected.

However, the report said: “The extension to the main hotel has been amended to ensure that the new development does not detract from the distinct character and appearance of the original hotel. The extension and hotel are both four floors in height; however, as the ground levels fall away to the rear of the existing hotel, the overall height of the extension is significantly lower than the original building.

The site was a ‘sustainable location’ and the layout was ‘reflective of the wider area’, officers added.

“The proposal involves a range of different house types that have been designed to ensure the living conditions are of a good standard.”

Officers also accepted the outcome of a review that concluded offering affordable homes ‘would not be financially viable’.

“It is considered that the applicant has proposed a good quality housing scheme,” said the report.

Brocco Street Netherthorpe Sheffield

Brocco Street was where my great grandparents Edwin and Mary Sanby (nee Broomhead) began their married lives together and started raising a family in 1879. They were living next door to my great great grandfather Edward Broomhead who was a widower by then

This photograph was taken in 1902 and shows Brocco Street looking up from Edward Street towards Solly Street. The district name was Netherthorpe.

Sixty years later in 1960 Brocco Street as a residential area had disappeared being replaced by small scale commercial and industrial units

And sixty years later in 2020 it is now a student quarter

I suppose the photographs mirror the changes that have occurred in Sheffield over the last 140 years but I feel there is a constant theme running through all three photographs - the dire quality of the buildings that have been erected on the street. "Nihil (umquam) mutatur" as they used to say!

  

Ebeneezer Elliott (1781 - 1849) - Upperthorpe Sheffield

There is quite a lot of information on-line and in-print relating to Ebeneezer Elliott (1781 - 1849) but the other month I came across a postcard of his house in the Upperthorpe district of Sheffield. He lived at this address from 1834 until his retirement in 1841 after which he moved to Great Houghton near Barnsley. 

He is also remembered by a statue that is located in Sheffield's Weston Park

Photograph taken August 2012