Off The Shelf Festival - Sheffield 2012

Old Dog and New Tricks spring to mind. When our book was launched in April, our publisher asked if we would be interested in giving talk(s) on the said book. We agreed and it was arranged that we would do three talks in the Autumn at Sheffield's Off The Shelf Festival 

After quite a bit of thought and research during the summer I brought together a presentation that I thought would illustrate the main themes in the book, as well as engage those people who attended the talks.

Now rather foolishly I anticipated that not many people would be interested in C19th Sheffield history and even less so in the ramblings of a middle-aged man in such matters. Hope wrong can you be. The first talk at Firth Park library on a Monday afternoon in mid October attracted around 60 people, none of whom walked out. And the second took place at Sheffield's Central Library last night and attracted over 100!. 

Now for someone who has spent his life avoiding public speaking and the like, I should have found the prospect daunting and nerve-racking but the opposite was the case. Even when the PA system packed up last night half way through the talk I just carried on as though nothing had happened.  

The presentation was well received and we did receive some favourable comments about the talk and its contents afterwards.   

I am certainly glad that I agreed to do the talks but I honestly thought that they would only attract a few people at best. I have one other at Crystal Peaks library on Thursday 8th November 2012 at 2.00 and I must say that I am looking forward to it.

English Mother Dies on Son's Grave - DEATH THROUGH GRIEF

From the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated September 1925

Came across the following newspaper cutting purely by chance - it certainly makes you stop and think!

I managed to find one of her sons through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database -

JAMES, RUPERT FREDERICK
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death:     27/03/1918 - Age:     35
Regiment/Service: East Yorkshire Regiment  11th Bn.
Grave Reference II. H. 4. - Cemetery DOUCHY-LES-AYETTE BRITISH CEMETERY

Additional Information:  - Son of Frederick John and Alice Augustine James, late of Seaview, Isle of Wight.

Childen's Train on the Air - 1946

Whilst I was researching a murder case the other day, I came across the following article in the Sheffield Telegraph from 1946.

Nowadays, a day's outing to Cleethorpes would be looked upon with disdain but for the 500 children who went on the train in the summer of 1946 it must have been a wonderful if not magical experience.

You tend to forget the hardship and at times the fear that the children must have suffered in the preceding six years whilst the country was at war. For many it would have been their first glimpse of a beach and the sea.

It's importance in showing "that life was getting back to normal" was demonstrated by the fact that the BBC were covering and recording the event. I wonder if the footage still exists?

The other praiseworthy note in the article is that they were accompanied on their trip by volunteer teachers. 

Of course such trips would not be possible today - 500 children on a train would give our franchised rail network a severe case of the "health and safety's". And imagine the paperwork the teachers would have to do to comply with current practices and regulations - they would be too exhausted to accompany the children by the time they had completed all the forms and assessments

 
 

Friends Of Walkey Cemetery - Programme of Events 2012-2013

Attached a programme of events for Walkley Cemetery for the rest of this year and into 2013.

Wardsend Cemetery - Sheffield

I went to Wardsend Cemetery on Saturday morning to find a murderer's grave. It is a number of years since I was last down that part of Sheffield and so it was interesting to see if any developments had been made.

Apart from a new bridge that crosses the River Don at Livesey Street (the old one was destroyed in the floods of June 2007) very little really had changed. The Cemetery has been closed since 1988 but the last interments there were in 1977, thirty five years ago.

The cemetery is the last resting place of over 30,000 Sheffielders but has remained neglected and abandoned for many years. I was expecting to find a wilderness but thanks to the efforts of volunteers and supporters most of the main pathways are now clear and you can now have a pleasant stroll around what is quite an historic cemetery. 

But at the back of my mind all the time I was there was the question as to why did the Church of England allow one of their cemeteries to deteriorate to such an extent that it became a dangerous and hostile environment. I realise that the church that served the cemetery was demolished many years ago, but surely just because the church no longer existed, it did not mean that it absolved the church from its responsibilities and duties towards the cemetery.

From what I can ascertain the Church has done a "Pontias" over the cemetery and it no longer wants anything to do with it. The council took over the cemetery in 2010 but it is very much on a care and maintenance basis. It is a shame but I suppose that the council have far more pressing matters nowadays.  

A Headline That Will Not Appear Again

Whilst I was researching some material the other day at the Local Studies library I came across the following headline in The Sheffield Star which provoked a wry smile.

 Many years ago I had the misfortune to read the book, a task that I will thankfully never have to repeat.
It is an incoherent and chaotic mis-mash of "ideas" that make for turgid reading. The wry smile came about whn I looked at the date of the paper - September 1939 - I wonder if the people of Sheffield were getting genned up on the Nazis prior to their threatened invasion of this "sceptred isle"

The other point that made me smile was that it knocked Stanley Gibbons Stamp catalogue off the top spot. Personally I'd have Stanley Gibbons any day 

Grade 11 Listed Rubbish

We went for a walk on Sunday, and decided to amble around Sheffield's General Cemetery. Apart from the obligatory shower of rain, it was an interesting walk. But what really hacked me off was this. Bearing in mind that the entrance to the Cemetery is Grade 2 listed, and a marvellous example of early Victorian architecture, Shefffield City Council decided to place a bin at the entrance

 Not ideal I must admit, but if they are going to do it the least they can do is empty it!. As you can see it was literally overflowing with rubbish falling out all over the place. It is no good pointing this disgrace out to the Council, as you will get the familiar litany of government cuts, and savings that need to be made.

It is even more annoying when the self same council keep badgering the people of Sheffield about the need to re-cycle rubbish and enhance the environment. They ought to set an example

John Henry Yeardley 1894 - 1919

No blogs for over a month and then two come along together!

It was a workday last Saturday for the Friends of Walkley Cemetery last Saturday 4th August 2012. After an early "sharp" downpour that ensured I spent the next couple of hours in damp clothing I discovered an excellent memorial that was covered in thick undergrowth. After a bit of clearing I found it was the grave of the YEARDLEY family and the first inscription on the headstone refered to the loss the family experienced when their son JOHN HENRY died whilst on active service in January 1919 in Mons. The Great War had finished in November 1918 but tens of thousands were still awaiting demobilisation - John was obviously one of them but he never returned home 

YEARDLEY, JOHN HENRY
Rank: Private
Service No: T/254813
Date of Death: 30/01/1919
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
 "Y" Siege Park Workshops
Grave Reference  X. B. 3.
Cemetery MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Alfred Yeardley, of 86. Waller Rd., Walkley, Sheffield.

1911 Census Record
Name     John Henry Yeardley
Relationship to Head of Household     Son
Condition     Single Gender     Male
Age     17 Estimated Year of Birth     1894
Occupation     Grinder Pen Blade
Employed     Y Working at Home     N
Industry     Cutlery Manuf
Place of Birth     Sheffield Yorks
Enumerator Information Address     57 Newcastle St Parish     Sheffield Type of Building     Private House
Number of Rooms     4  Inhabited     Y
Reference     RG14PN27852 RG78PN1594 RD510 SD1 ED4 SN25
Administrative County     Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District     Sheffield Registration Sub District     South Sheffield Enumeration District     4
Reference Information Folio     55 Page     1 Piece     27852
RD number     510
SD number     1
ED number     4
Schedule     25

The First Week of War - Sheffield September 1939

It is over a month since I've posted any materail, thoughts etc to the blog but that does not mean I've been out in the garden sunbathing and just generally idling about. Far from it!

I'm  endeavouring at the moment to finalise material for a second book that hoopefully will come out in the autumn. This has necessitated a few trips to the excellent Local Studies Library in Sheffield and whilst I was there I came across a couple of newspaper reports relating to the events of September 1939.

One concerne the exploits of a Robert Dunbar, an ex-Hunters Bar pupil who declared war on Nazi Germany. And the other was the forgotten death of John Hall who I believe may have been Sheffield's first casualty of World War 2  

Book-Signing - Waterstones Orchard Square Sheffield 7th July 2012

After posting the article on Ernest Hemingway and the Sheffield Connection, I must mention  a book-signing event this Saturday at Waterstones 7th July 2012 Orchard Square Sheffield. 

Although the estate of Ernest Hemingway will not be present, myself and co-author Matthew will be, to promote our recently published book Sheffield's Shocking Past  

It has been arranged by our publisher and not having done one before, I am not sure what to expect. But our publisher Neil has managed to get the event publicised in The Sheffield Star dated 28th June 2012

 

Papa Hemingway and the Sheffield Connection

Just posted an article to the site that I've been meaning to do for sometime. It has turned a lot better than I anticipated but the surprise was that Hemingway's grandfather ERNEST HALL (Hemingway was named after him) appears as a one year old child in the 1841 UK Census living at Brook Hill Sheffield of all places.

Perhaps a plaque on Brook Hill Roundabout would be appropiate with a Hemingway quote

"Never confuse movement with action"

On Yer Bike!

I came across this certificate yesterday which I had not seen for years.

I remember the test quite well which is surprsising to say the least. But what I had forgotten is the date I took the test. The certificate was signed - 18th July 1966, twelve days before England's last major success in an international football tournament.

And so I must have took the test during the World Cup campaign of 1966.

No immediate gain ensued for the test, but it did put me in a good position during the 1980's when Thatcher's goverment was telling everyone who did not have a job to "get on their bikes."!! 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the New Roots Cafe

Last week whilst I was in Burngreave I took the opportunity to photograph the New Roots cafe which is at the corner of Spital Hill and Hallcar Street. I've been meaning to do this for a few years as it is the place where Arthur Conan Doyle practised in 1878

 An archived site explains
"Arthur Conan Doyle had a brief acquaintance with Burngreave. In 1878 he came to Sheffield to work as an assistant to Dr Charles Sydney Richardson on Spital Hill. This was in the building on the corner of Spital Hill and Hallcar Street, which is now the New Roots Café and Burngreave Ashram. It seems that Conan Doyle did not get along with Dr Richardson or Sheffield patients as he later wrote:

'These Sheffielders would rather be poisoned by a man with a beard than saved by a man without one.'

In fact he stayed there for just three weeks before moving on. He was just 19 years of age.

When I saw the building I thought in looked newer than 1878, and so I checked on Picture Sheffield and found the following photograph that had the caption

"Nos 70-86, Spital Hill from Burngreave Road. Hallcar Street, left Sheffield_Burngreave 1900-1919

And so it was the buiding that Conan Doyle practised in, rather unsuccessfully it must be said

The New Heeley Voice - June 2012

Our recently published book "Sheffield's Shocking Past" has appeared in "The New Heeley Voice" for June 2012  

I am really pleased that it has been featured as the book contains three chapters that relate to Heeley.

The host website is also very impressive - in fact it is one of the best community sites I have come across!

Pitsmoor, a Peek into the Past. A Snapshot of Life and Times in Victorian Pitsmoor

I was invited to the following on Saturday

I'm writing on behalf of Burngreave Local History Group to invite you to the launch of their first local history book: - Pitsmoor, a Peek into the Past. A Snapshot of Life and Times in Victorian Pitsmoor

The Burngreave Local History Group was started in 2009 by the Burngreave Messenger. With the help of Local History Tutor Suzanne Bingham, the amazing resources available at Sheffield Local Studies Library and Sheffield Archives, and after months of research, local residents have put together a collection of articles about the streets, buildings and people of Pitsmoor in the Victorian Era. 

Please come along to Burngreave Library, on Saturday 16th June, 11am-2pm, to help us celebrate the completion of Pitsmoor, a Peek into the Past. You will be able to enjoy looking at the book and our local history exhibition. There will also be light refreshments.

Books will be available on the day for £7, and in Burngreave Library after the launch

 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience with a excellent display of material. Needless to say I purchased the book and was amazed at the amount of effort and research that had gone into the production of the book. They can all be very proud of their achievements 

 

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The Trials of Selina Mannifield

Just posted an article to the site that has it's roots in the 1891 Census for Spring Hill.It relates to the Mannifield family and is rather sobering one to say the least!

I also updated the Walkley Cemetery page in the light of the information that I obtained on the work day last Saturday (9th June 2012)

The Hampton by Hilton Hotel formerly known as West Bar Nick

On 8th March 2011 the BBC reported that

"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".

Bearing in mind that the building is "crumbling" (a common condition that afflicts many public buildings that were built in the 1960's) and that it was "passed it sell-by date", I was not surprised to see that the building was to be demolished and be replaced by a new hotel on the site.

But I was taken aback when it was reported last week that this crumbling obsolete building was NOT going to be demolished but was going to be converted into a 142 bed city centre hotel. 

The Sheffield Telegaph dated 7th June 2012 report

 It seems perverse to me that a building that is deemed fit for demolition and has no architectural and/or historical significance whatsoever should be renovated at a cost of £9 million. And to call it one of Sheffield's "high profile buildings" is just plain rubbish - it is a building that was flawed when it was built and always has been.

But what is even more disconcerting is that the same newspaper carried a report which stated that

 I feel as though I'm missing something here!

Deals Worth Celebrating??

" Nisa on Barber Road in Crookesmoor, now Costcutter, has been found on several occasions to sell dangerous, illegal alcohol to students. The illicit substances were tested and it was found the vodka was in fact industrial alcohol and contained a chemical commonly used in bleach, as well as xylene and toluene – two compounds found in paint stripper and dangerous for human consumption.

Despite this, the council renewed the store’s alcohol licence on Tuesday morning, on the condition that the premises supervisor was removed from his post...

(Forge Today - May 2012)

Does the decision by the Council condone the sale of industrial alcohol to students and other members of the public?  

Taking a view on Sheffield and its shocking history

 Well they say that there is a first time for everything but I never thought I would appear in the "lifestyle" section of a newspaper!. The article was a means of promoting the new book that was published last month

Sheffield's Shocking Past - Forgotten Tales of Murder, Mishap & Gruesome Misdemeanour by Chris Hobbs & Matthew Bell.

I must admit I enjoyed writing the article - my remit was to write about 800 words and not mention the Winter Gardens or the Millenium Gallery - there was no danger of that as I'm not that impressed with either. 

Anyway here are a few of my favourite things!  

Published on Friday 11 May 2012 09:00

 

What Chris Hobbs started as a hobby 13 years ago to trace his ancestors became a website of Sheffield’s murky past with 30,000 page views a month. Now he has teamed up with Sheffield author Matthew Bell for a book, Sheffield’s Shocking Past, which records bizarre and disturbing episodes from Victorian times. You won’t find the Sheffield Flood of 1864 or the murderous deeds of Charlie Peace - “they’ve been done to death and I can’t add anything new”. Instead there are tales of multiple murders, strange and untimely deaths, hideous accidents and a factory explosion. Chris Hobbs lives in Crookes with his wife of 31 years and has two grown up children.

lSheffield’s Shocking History is published by ACM Retro and available from The Star Shop and local book shops at £12.95. Visit www.chrishobbs.com.

Central Library

A marvellous building where I’ve spent many hours over the years researching both my family tree and articles for the website. The Local Studies section on the first floor is a particular favourite. The staff are knowledgeable and are always helpful if you have a query. And after spending a few hours researching material, there is an excellent cafe on the third floor.

Cemeteries

In researching my family history, I have found that several cemeteries in the city are the last resting places of many of my ancestors. Naturally I have tried over the years to locate their graves and in quite a few cases I have been successful. The search can be both puzzling and time-consuming - many of the cemeteries seem to me at least to follow no logical plan or order. But it does add to a sense of achievement in locating a grave. On the whole, I find the cemeteries restful and peaceful places where you can get lost in your thoughts. Being a resident of Crookes, my particular favourite is Crookes Cemetery, which has tremendous views out towards Loxley, Rivelin and the surrounding moors. I am also a Friend of Walkley Cemetery, which is in a peaceful and tranquil setting above the Rivelin Valley. It relies heavily on the efforts of volunteers and supporters, but it is a fascinating place that reflects the district’s varied past. The Friends run tours throughout the summer, and I can thoroughly recommend them. Stout shoes are advisable, though!

Parks

When I was young, it was a real treat to go for a day out in Millhouses Park. I can still remember the open air swimming pool, which was replaced sometime in the mid-1960s by a modern lido. At the time, I never quite understood why they called it a lido. I’m now informed that lido is the Italian for beach. But Millhouses Beach just does not have the right ring to it somehow. Of course the whole area fell into a state of terrible disrepair and neglect in the 1980s, which was tragic. By that time I had a young family and it was difficult to explain to them that only a few years earlier that area of badly fenced off derelict wasteland was one of the best swimming pools in Sheffield. But at least the park is back on its feet now which is great to see, but it is sad that my children never experienced the joys of the Millhouses lido!

Just a few hundred yards further on towards Totley are Beauchief Gardens, which were donated to the city by the Graves Trust in 1935. Like Millhouses Park they were also allowed to decline in the 1980s but thanks mainly to the efforts of volunteers, they are now in a more healthy state and are an excellent place to eat a sandwich, and have a flask, especially in the summer.

Bramall Lane

It was 50 years ago when I first went to the Lane to see United play Burnley in the FA Cup. They lost 1 - 0. But over the years I have had some fantastic experiences watching the Blades, and also some downright miserable ones. With regard to the latter, the events of May 2 1981 (relegation to the old Division Four) are still vivid in the memory! But hope springs eternal, as they say.

Sheffield beer

I’m not averse to the odd pint or two with the proviso that it must taste like beer. Like many industries, brewing in Sheffield has undergone many changes and there have been some very dark times. But thankfully things seem to be on the up, and there are some really good local beers now available in all sorts of outlets. And by drinking them, you support local businesses rather than international conglomerates, which can’t be bad.

And the best ...

There is no doubt about it, my favourite thing about Sheffield are the views you get of the city from the surrounding hills. A few years ago I was treated to a helicopter flight over the dams at Ladybower and Howden. Whilst the perspective you get of the dams in awesome, the most surprising feature of the flight is the real beauty and variety within the boundaries of Sheffield. I saw it on a bright and clear summer’s day, but I feel it would still be jaw dropping on a cold winter’s day.

And it must not be forgotten that you can get some tremendous views from the hills within the city.

Local Elections - May 2011

At 20.40pm last night I was sat watching the "match of the season" between the two Manchester sides at home. The scores were level when there was a knock on the front door. I got up and was greeted by the local Green Party candidate in the forthcoming election. As this was the first candidate from ANY party to knock on the door since the early 1980's I took the opportunity to "bend his ear" on a number of local matters that were and still are vexing me.

I did of course caution him about the dangers of "coalition politics" and he gave me his assurances that if elected the Green Party would pursue an independent course, and not "cosy" up to any particular party.

The fact that he took the trouble to knock on my door has impressed me. What was less impressive is that I missed seeing Sir Alex's face when the City scored. My wife used the phrase "taciturn". And so as the choruses of "Blue Moon" echoed around the Etihad Stadium, the song seemed to reflect the chances of the Green Party achieving electoral success in Sheffield.

But you never know!

Update - He lost to New Labour by about 200 votes but he ran into a fine second, and secured a lot more votes than the Liberal Democrats whose vote collapsed. I wonder why?. The Conservative party put up there normal lamentable show