View From A Hill - Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - Sheffield

This blog is now over thirteen years old - the first blog was posted on Wednesday 17th November 2010. And this is the 657th blog in that period. A rough calculation means that on average I post about fifty blogs a year, or one a week  

Last year 2023 I posted thirty-four blogs which was below average but that has been the case in five of the last six years. It was only in 2020 that I posted in excess of fifty and that was the year I was put under house imprisonment by the UK government. 

I still enjoy posting material that catches my eye and so I have no intentions of retiring even though I am well past retirement age. 

And so 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 my website with new information and that is always a pleasurable and rewarding experience.  

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

Death on Wentworth Street, Netherthorpe, Sheffield - May 1900

Wentworth Street in the Netherthorpe district of Sheffield no longer exists. The terraced houses that lined this street were demolished in the late 1950's and replaced by the tower blocks that look over what is no known as the Ponderosa.

It was a vibrant working class area in the early C20th and my research into my ancestry showed that my great grandfathers eldest brother William Sanby and his family lived there for a time.

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 15th May 1900 carried this report of a tragic incident that led to the appalling death of a six year old boy Frederick Burton.

The verdict of "accidental death" was a forgone conclusion and possibly was the only verdict the jury could return. But it does seem rather inadequate. The collision with the wall does seem a pure accident but there is nothing accidental about the defective condition of the wall and the fact that is had been neglected for a "considerable" time. The rider also pointed to the fact that it was the responsibility of the city authorities and inferred that they had been negligent in this respect.

It is a shame that negligence did not feature in the verdict

Frederick is buried in a grave in Sheffield's City Road Cemetery - Sheffield Indexers

Burton, Eliza (Widow, age 76). 

     Died at 5 Wood Fold; Buried on June 17, 1933 in General Portion ground;

     Grave Number 12037, Section AA of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.

    

Burton, Fredk. (Child, age 6).

     Died at 14 Wentworth St; Buried on May 15, 1900 in Unconsecrated ground;

     Grave Number 12037, Section AA of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.

     

Burton, James (Clerk, age 62).

     Died at 97 Hoyle St; Buried on November 29, 1904 in Unconsecrated ground;

     Grave Number 12037, Section AA of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.

     

McDermott, Sarah (Widow, age 78).

     Died at 48 Summer St; Buried on November 14, 1901 in Unconsecrated ground;

     Grave Number 12037, Section AA of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. 

 

Edward Pope and the murder of Henry Watts - Greenhill Sheffield February 1939 - An Update

 About three months ago I posted an article to the site the covered the death of Henry Watts in Greenhill Sheffield in February 1939. The tag line was "It would be difficult to imagine a more clearer case of murder."

The assailant Edward Pope was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging at Leeds Assizes. The jury did pass a recommendation for mercy which the trial judge forwarded to the appropriate authorities for consideration.

After due consideration Edward Pope was reprieved and his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. It was clear that Edward was suffering from a form of paranoia but he did not meet the threshold for a defence of insanity.

The 1939 National Register has him as an inmate at Maidstone Gaol but three years later his probate record shows that he died on 8th June 1942 at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight. He was 49 years old 

His effects that he left to his widow Winifred amounted to £15000 in todays money. But it is looks as though Edward did not receive any meaningful treatment for his mental condition(s). Parkhurst had and probably still does have a reputation for being one of the toughest prisons in the UK. I would think that any treatment Edward did receive would be purely incidental. And I think that it would be very unlikely that he would have received any visits from family given the wartime restrictions that were in force in the Isle of Wight.       

The Sad Death of William Drabble - Sheffield September 1930

I came across this report from the Manchester Guardian dated Saturday 4th October 1930

I was a bit puzzled by this report at first. The resumed inquest took place on Friday 3rd October 1930 and it states that William was found dead on the morning of Thursday last week which would have been Thursday 25th September 1930. His trip to London was on Saturday 20th September 1930 and he returned the next day Sunday the 21st.

He must have been absent from work from Saturday the 20th until Wednesday the 24th because when he did arrive at work on Thursday the 25th he found a letter on his desk suspending him from his post pending a full explanation for his absence. 

This evidently was the final straw for William who then shot himself in the basement of the shop. Of course this does beg the question of why a loaded gun was available to William at the time. Did he keep it at the shop or did he take it from home with the intention of killing himself at the shop.

This is a copy of William's burial record from the Sheffield Indexers site - the location of the shop is vague on the record. It is also worth noting that William was buried just 2 days after his sad and untimely death 

 REVILL, William Reginald Drabble (Manager, age 35). Died at 42 Steesan? St; Buried on September 27, 1930 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 10466, Section P of Abbey Lane Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: of . Page No 142

Dr Higgins - A Warning from History - Thorne Yorkshire - January 1955

 Yorkshire Observer dated Friday 7th January 1955 had this report  that has a modern day ring to it - if only they had listened to his grave warnings at the time and acted upon them. It would have saved countless lives in my lifetime if just one government had acted on his suggestions,

Frederick Greenwood's "Family" - Collyhurst, Manchester August 1922

The following cutting is from The Manchester Guardian dated 19th August 1922 and I must admit I had a wry smile when I read the report. Collyhurst was a working class district of Manchester and is about one and a half miles north-east of the city centre.  

According to the report Frederick lived alone and was reclusive. But on the day of the funeral 18th August 1922 quite a few relatives attended, the most prominent being a Mrs Clara Hall and her two brothers from Sheffield. They "claimed" that Frederick was their great uncle. Another un-named women from Heaton Park Manchester also "claimed" she was related

For those relatives who were unable to attend the funeral they sent letters "claiming" they were also related to Frederick.  

The Hull Evening News dated 17th August 1922 had this far more detailed report

The last report is intriguing. The Sheffield connection is that one woman turned up on one occasion, got no reply and then went to a neighbours for a cup of tea. And the line that that his relatives may have been unaware of his failing health is clearly troubling inasmuch as they all seemed to know of his death and the funeral.  

However these "claims" of kinship at the funeral seem to be rather strange. As I cannot see any references to condolences in the reports  I can only assume that the "relatives" were more interested in acquiring the assets of the late Mr Greenwood rather the paying their respects to a departed family member . At the time of his death they were worth £18000 which is approximately £715,000 in todays money.    

I would like to know if any of the "relatives" did acquire Frederick's assets. If anyone can assist please let me know 

Death on Howden Moor Derbyshire - "Dying Man's Terrible 5 Day Ordeal" - 1924

I have just posted an article to my website that I have had on the go for the last couple of months. It relates to the death of Henry Starr, a 42 year old forge-man from the Upperthorpe district of Sheffield who went missing on Howden Moors in 1924.

It also gave me an opportunity to use a photograph I took in June 2006 when I flew over the Derbyshire Dames in a helicopter.

Manchester Guardian dated 9th October 1924

 

 

Sheffield and Aeroplane Building - November 1909

 This cutting is from the Times Engineering Supplement dated Wednesday 10th November 1909 and contains a startling revelation that I was unaware of. The Sheffield Simplex Motor-Car Co. were considering going into the manufacture of aeroplane engines and had actually purchased a Bleriot aeroplane

 According to the report they were actually designing an aeroplane engine and hinted that they were considering the manufacture of aeroplanes. But at present they had not even conducted experiments.

As far as I can ascertain this is about as far as Sheffield got in the development of aeronautics. From the information I have it seems as though any experiments that were conducted were deemed unsatisfactory and they concentrated on their core business of motor vehicle production 

     

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

Last year, Friday 1st April 2022 to be precise  I posted an article to this blog that featured The Duchess of York's Visit to Sheffield in July 1934. I was going to post an article to the website concerning the visit  but could not use any photos of the visit due to copyright reasons. I was vexed that I would have to pay money to some greedy corporate entity that really has no place in copyrighting the image in the first place.

But last week I came across this cutting from The Scotsman newspaper which goes into far more detail of the visit that its English counterparts but also gives a reason for the Duke of York's absence from the visit. It appears that he was suffering from a poisoned hand and was advised not to accompany his wife to the allotments to dig some spuds. 

On a wider note I have found over the years that non English newspapers often carry far more information about events than the English national newspapers do. Why this occurs I do not know and I have never been able to find a satisfactory explanation

  

   

Bernard Fisher and the award of an Edward Medal - July 29th 1939

  

I was totally unaware that there was an Edward Medal in existence until I read this article in The London Gazette

Fuller details can be found on Wikipedia 

According to Wikipedia the Edward Medal (Industry) was only awarded 188 times (25 silver and 163 bronze, of which only two were awarded to women), making the Edward Medal one of the rarest British gallantry awards. Only posthumous awards were made after 1949, and the Edward Medal (Industry) (1st class) was not awarded after 1948.

The Edward Medal was discontinued in 1971, when surviving recipients of the Edward Medal (along with holders of the Albert Medal) were invited to exchange their award for the George Cross. Nine (2 silver, 7 bronze) elected not to exchange their medals.

Unfortunately the article does not stipulate if Bernard was awarded a silver or bronze medal but judged by his actions in the early morning of April 26th 1939 he certainly deserves the highest award possible -- a stunning act of bravery and selflessness! 

Joshua Frederick Greatorex Saves A Life - Crookes Sheffield - 1924

 Right at the top of Crookes Cemetery Sheffield in Section JJ which I believe is adjacent to the Roman Catholic section is the grave of Joshua Frederick Greatorex

GREATOREX, Joshua Frederick (Retired, age 82).

     Died at 52 Newlands Drive; Buried on July 31, 1943 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 5159, Section JJ of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 53

Joshua is no doubt forgotten now but in 1924 he was awarded a bravery award for saving a young boys life at 167 Crookes. 

This is from the Guardian dated 2nd December 1924

167 Crookes no longer exists - the houses there were demolished and replaced by flats in the 1960's

And unfortunately the report does not name the boy he rescued but he was fortunate to survive such a vicious attack.  

Pablo Fanque - Whitsuntide at Newhall Gardens Sheffield - May 1854

Many years ago I posted an article to the site called "The Henderson's were not there (and neither was Mr Kite)"  which centred on the appearance in Sheffield of Pablo Fanques Fair on 31st January 1848.

In August 2010 I came across an advertisement from The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 27th May 1854 which advertised "extraordinary novelty and attractions for Whitsuntide holidays at Newhall Gardens Sheffield

Pablo Fanque features prominently in providing the attractions and novelties in these "new and beautiful gardens," 

The last thing Newhall is nowadays is beautiful - in fact is a semi-derelict district that is devoid of any attractions whatsoever. It has in effect been thoroughly trashed.

But what I am having difficulty obtaining is obtaining an image of Newhall Gardens. There may well be no photographs taken of the Gardens in their prime but I would have expected to come across at least a  lithograph or engraving. But there is nothing so far which is strange for such a "beautiful place."      

AN OCTOGENARIAN GRINDER - Mr BENJAMIN UNWIN (1799 - 1881) - Sheffield

 The following is taken from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 9th April 1881 (page 6 column c) and refers to the death of one Benjamin Unwin. It was unusual for a "working man" to have an obituary published but I can only guess that it was due to the fact that Benjamin had defied the odds in contracting "grinders disease" which was all pervasive in his "calling"

"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."

It is also interesting to note that the obituary made a point of stressing Benjamin's temperate habits and how that may have contributed to his long life. 

 

DEATH AT SUTTON BRIDGE LINCOLNSHIRE- TUESDAY 22nd AUGUST 1893

 I have just posted an article to the site that I have been working on for the last few years. It is the first new one I have posted in over three months and so it is rather overdue.

The title "Death at Sutton Bridge Lincolnshire" is really a bit of a misnomer because no-one really knows what happened - there were no eyewitnesses and the tragedy occurred in a desolate section of the River Nene near Bay Sands. Sutton Bridge is the nearest village.

There was very little on-line or in print about the tragedy but nine people lost their lives by drowning in the River Nene. Seven of those who died were from Sheffield including all four members of the Burkinshaw family.

I cannot be sure but it quite possible that this was Sheffield's greatest loss of life in a boating accident and it took place 100 miles away from Sheffield. There was a disaster in Masborough Rotherham on 5th July 1841 when 64 people mainly children lost their lives when a boat was launched and some of the fatalities were from Sheffield. Either way both were terrible tragedies that with foredight may have been avoided. .

The other interesting point is the detailed coverage the incident and its aftermath received in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent. Their coverage of the inquest and the resultant funerals ay Burngreave Cemetery was exemplary.    

Photograph taken 03 March 2005 © Mr James Brown. Source Historic England Archive ref: 197930

Cross Keys Bridge was opened in 1897 as a road and rail hydraulic swing bridge. Two bridges spanning the river Nene had been built previously; the first by Thomas Telford, was opened in 1830-1 and the second in 1850. The current Cross Keys Bridge replaced the latter bridge and was used for both road and rail traffic. It cost £80,000 and is made of steel, iron and wood. When the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway closed in 1965 the tracks were converted to road use and Cross Keys Bridge became just a road bridge.

John Nicholson (1864 - 1932) Sheffield United - An update

 Whilst I was updating the page on the website and posting the previous blog I had a look at Ancestry to see if there was any other information that had come to light in the last few years

I found a copy of the 1891 UK Census that featured John and his wife Mary Elizabeth living at their house in 97 Pinfold Lane in the Attercliffe district of Sheffield

and a copy of John's probate record from 1932

The intriguing aspect of this is that these are the only two documents that I can find on Ancestry relating to John and his family. Whilst John Nicholson is quite a common name I still would have expected to locate him in the 1881 Census and the 1901 and 1911 Census but I was unsuccessful.

And given his profile I would have expected some links in the Family Tree section but again nothing.

Puzzling to say the least!

  

John Nicholson (1864 - 1932) - Secretary of Sheffield United Football Club

Quite a few years ago I posted an article to the site that featured John Nicholson who was the secretary of Sheffield United Football from 1899 to 1932 and oversaw some of the most successful times in the clubs history 

In September 2023 I was contacted by a reader of this article who provided me with a fascinating update

" I have been reading your article about Nicholson in regards to his career with Sheffield United and the aftermath of his death. 

I have restored his grave which was crowdfunded by Sheffield United supporters through the group I have called "Sheffield United Preservation Society" which aims to protect the heritage of the club and the greats. Would you be able to assist with any of his ancestors as I saw that you had been contact by them?

I have attached the photos of the grave before and after. I shall look forward to hearing from you, Danny"

I contacted Danny and he kindly forwarded me the following information 

"My name is Danny, I’m part of massive Sheffield United family and loves the research along the way. I am the individual who is created Sheffield United Preservation Society which aim is to preserve the heritage of the football club via different variations. Ensuring former players will get recognised and featured on posts which will allow people to become educated about the club's history.

Nowadays it’s really hard to reach out to the younger generation these days due to technology especially! This way, this will allow the younger generation to know our heroes that laid the foundations of the club that we love today. This addiction started 127 years ago with me great father coming over in 1896 and leaving not a short way from Bramall Lane on Club Garden Road.

I always believe you should know where you come from. This is all started during COVID finding out about my ancestors that I have never heard of. 

My father, John Garrett is the curator of the Legends of The Lane at Bramall Lane in which I’ve grown around the club and grew to know the history of the club. My Dad has been trying for almost 20 years to restore former players grave various supporter's groups but sadly this has been unsuccessful. 

It made me realise, all these people with an unbelievable CV with medals, caps and success at the club were getting forgotten about.

Recently, I have restored Ernest Needham’s grave as well as John Nicholson’s grave. Roughly it costs £60-£80 depending on the state of the grave.

These are including:

-Memorial pot
-QR Code
- Pebbles & slates
-Cleaning products
-image of the individual 

A Facebook page will be created to allow this to happen so if anyone wishes to donate to this cause and be part of this project it will greatly appreciate.

Danny Garrett
Sheffield United Preservation Society"  

Danny also kindly sent two photographs of John's grave - before and after the restoration and refurbishment. Truly a fitting tribute to one of the most important people in the history of Sheffield United Football Club.

As a footnote I would like readers of this blog to visit the Find a Grave website. If you leave a flower on John's page this will then allow it be to become recognised on the site and become a ‘famous’ grave. I think John and his family deserves it.

May Simpson at a bus stop in Angel Street Sheffield - late 1960's

 I came across this photograph purely by chance. My daughter saw it on an online newsfeed from the retro section of  the local newspaper and instantly recognised a much loved family member who sadly is no longer with us.

Sadly it was not the man in hot pants carrying an umbrella. And neither was it the man holding a folded newspaper. But just behind the man with a newspaper is my late mother in laws sister May. It is hard to discern what May was thinking but I think I can safely say that she was not impressed with this latest fashion trend!

From the faces of the onlookers he seems to have attracted everyone's attention but no-one is smiling which speaks volumes for Sheffield in the "swinging sixties"

May died in January 2003 and is noted for being the first person in the family to have had a woodland burial.

Bolsterstone - The Village Where Time Stands Still - March of Ghostly Armies over Desolate Moorlands

 I was going to post an article to the website based on this report that appeared in The Sheffield Daily Independent dated 21st August 1931. But when I was preparing it I discovered that there was a Bolsterstone Archaeology and Heritage Group that had their own on-line presence.

The report did not feature on their website and so I decided to post it to the blog rather than my website.

The Sanby name in the 1881 Census - England and Wales

My grandmother's maiden name was Sanby which is not a common surname. I knew very little about my gran's ancestors  when I started off researching my family history but over the years I have pieced the Sheffield Sanbys and have a fair grip on their comings and goings

I have just come across this information which was supplied to me over 20 years ago and forgotten about it.

It is not a complete list - for instance my great grandparents Edwin and Mary Sanby nee Broomhead do not featured on the list  - they were transcribed as Sambery!

There were a total of 72 Sanbys who appear on the 1881 Census. The first of the two places names is place of birth and the second the place the person was living at the time the Census was taken 

SANBY, Kemp FathL <1796> Linc Lanc
SANBY, Jane Wife <1819> Nham Nham
SANBY, John Head <1820> Linc Nham
SANBY, James R. Head <1825> Lanc Lanc
SANBY, Agnes Wife <1831> York York
SANBY, Hannah M. Wife <1831> Lanc Lanc
SANBY, Hannah Head <1833> York York
SANBY, Frederick Head <1835> Nott Mntg
SANBY, Isabella Wife <1840> Mntg Mntg
SANBY, Mary Wife <1844> Leic York
SANBY, Absolam Head <1845> Linc York
SANBY, Edward Head <1846> Suss Lond
SANBY, Edwin Head <1846> York Derb
SANBY, George Head <1846> Irel Dors
SANBY, Elizabeth Wife <1847> Surr Lond
SANBY, Elizabeth Wife <1849> York Derb
SANBY, Annie Wife <1850> York York
SANBY, Ellen Wife <1850> Hamp Suss
SANBY, Samuel D. Head <1851> Suss
SANBY, William B. Head <1851> York York
SANBY, Helen A.C. Wife <1852> Suss Lond
SANBY, Job E. Head <1853> Linc Nott
SANBY, Elizth. Ann Serv <1854> Linc Nott
SANBY, George Head <1854> Kent Lond
SANBY, Joseph Bord <1854> York York
SANBY, Emily Wife <1855> Dors Dors
SANBY, John E. Head <1856> Nott Nott
SANBY, Frederick Head <1857> York York
SANBY, Jane Bord <1857> York York
SANBY, Sarah A. Wife <1859> Nott Nott
SANBY, Annie J. Serv <1860> York York
SANBY, Bernard J. Son <1860> Lanc Lanc
SANBY, Elizabeth Wife <1860> York York
SANBY, Priscilla Sis <1861> Kent Lond
SANBY, Charles R. Son <1862> Lanc Lanc
SANBY, George C. Cous <1862> Indi Glou
SANBY, Kate C. Wife <1864> Nott
SANBY, Geo. Son <1865> York York
SANBY, Martha Dau <1865> Staf Mntg
SANBY, Agnes Dau <1867> York York
SANBY, George T.W. Neph <1868> Lond Lond
SANBY, Sarah Ann Dau <1869> York Derb
SANBY, Clara Dau <1870> York Derb
SANBY, Jane Dau <1870> York York
SANBY, John Son <1870> Mntg Mntg
SANBY, Benjamin Son <1872> Mntg Mntg
SANBY, Edwin Son <1872> York Derb
SANBY, Annie E. Dau <1873> York York
SANBY, Emily Dau <1874> York York
SANBY, George H. Son <1874> Mntg Mntg
SANBY, Alfred E. Nrsl <1876> Surr
SANBY, Alice Dau <1876> York Derb
SANBY, Ada Dau <1877> York York
SANBY, Robert W. Son <1877> Suss
SANBY, Ada Dau <1878> York York
SANBY, Albert J. Son <1878> Lond Lond
SANBY, Bertha Dau <1878> York York
SANBY, Elizabeth Dau <1878> York Derb
SANBY, George Son <1878> Dors Dors
SANBY, Jane Bord <1878> York York
SANBY, Arthur G. Son <1879> Lond Lond
SANBY, Athur Son <1879> Nott Nott
SANBY, Eliza Ann Dau <1879> York York
SANBY, Henry Bord <1879> York York
SANBY, Mary E. Dau <1879> Mntg Mntg
SANBY, May Dau <1879> Dors Dors
SANBY, Elizabeth Dau <1880> York York
SANBY, Florence H. Dau <1880> Lond Lond
SANBY, George Son <1880> Derb Derb
SANBY, Henry W. Son <1880> York York
SANBY, Leonard Son <1880> Dors Dors
SANBY, Sabina Dau <1880> Nott Nott

There are Sanbys still around in Sheffield but there are fewer than they were in 1881. 

Any information on the Sanbys would be gratefully received,

Murder on Spring Hill Crookes Sheffield - June 1980

 I have just posted an article to the site that I have had for the best part of 20 years. The murder occurred 43 years ago next week at the bottom of the road I live,

Photographs taken March 2010 - the murder victim was discovered just where the double yellow lines end to the right of the photo

I do not know the outcome of the trial or the inquest. The case against the accused seems on the face of it a strong one, and I have no doubt that it went to trial. The difficulty I had was that I do not know where and when the trial took place. And so if any reader of this article can help me out I would be grateful.