In The Region Sacred To Vulcan!

[RichardB]

When a stranger makes his appearance in Sheffield, he does not require to look up at the front of the new Meat Market to know the name of the diety who prisides over its brawny inhabitants.

Everything around him indicates the metallic character of the place, and both the men and the atmosphere reminds him he is in the region sacred to Vulcan !

(I love these Victorian descriptions ... God Bless you Google Books; a full link will be posted when it's all been suitably edited for modern consumption).

[RichardB]

In our imagination it reminds us of one of those animals of the canine tribe certain ladies are in the habit of bestowing their surplus affections on, whose ugliness constitutes their principal beauty.

If one can imagine a glorious battle royal to have taken place between two monster giants, and their weapons of warfare were streets and houses which they hurled at each other, and after the strife was over, the said streets and houses were allowed to remain where they fell; we will have no bad idea of the orderly arrangements of Sheffield.

[RichardB]

More than two thirds of the town appears to be of modern construction, and although there is plenty of excellent freestone in the immediate neighbourhood, nearly the whole of the buildings are of brick.

The fact is, that unlike all the rest of English towns of any note, there is not one single old house, or the remains of a solitary ruin to indicate that the place is not in its infancy !

[RichardB]

It would be unfair, however, to pass over the fact that the Sheffieldonians were once blessed with a feudal keep, and when it was in being and health no doubt they were proud of it.

The locality that now bears the name of Castle green is well known to be sacred to black eyes, scranbags, and bloody noses.

It may be noticed for the honour of the town, that the castle of Sheffield was converted into a prison, in which Mary of Scotland was immured, at the instance of her amiable and kind hearted cousin Bess.

-----------------

black eyes, scranbags, and bloody noses = ruffians ?, criminal classes ?

What on earth was a scranbag ?

[vox]

-----------------

black eyes, scranbags, and bloody noses = ruffians ?, criminal classes ?

What on earth was a scranbag ?

Scran bag A scruffy individual who looks like his clothes have never been ironed

Scran bag Also a collection point for loose bits of kit on a ship. A small fine is paid before retrieval

[RichardB]

Scran bag A scruffy individual who looks like his clothes have never been ironed

No need to get personal Vox, I was only digging the garden over and chucking weeds over the neighbours fence

(Thanks for the details)

[RichardB]

Less than two hundred years ago there were not more than four thousand inhabitants in Sheffield.

At that date it must have been a poor miserable place, as the country round it for miles was wild and sterile, and formed a bleak and dreary solitude.

The immense and valuable fields of coal and other minerals which lie beneath the soil had not then invited the enterprise and industry of the people.

The Sheffield whittle manufacturers must have been a spicy set of fellows in those days, and the man among them who could purchase a hundred weight of steel from Danzic, must have been looked up to as a man of consequence.

[RichardB]

From what we have said above, you will observe, that Sheffield in its character as a town, possesses little or nothing to call forth the descriptive powers of a writer; there are no splendid streets, squares or crescents - no magnificent public buildings or ruins sacred to the memory of family greatness, patriotism or princely munificence.

[RichardB]

Notwithstanding these wants of external embellishment, Sheffield is not without special claims upon all who take an interest either in the progress of British manufacture or the social condition of our industrial population.

When the stranger emerges from the railway station into the open space, there are several objects which immediately arrest his attention.

In the first place, he observes a large castellated building immediately beneath him on his right hand; this building will readily be taken for a baronial residence, but upon a nearer approach it will be observed the windows present a strange appearance : the panes of glass are in keeping with the ancient character of the edifice, being small squares inserted into metal frames.

Upon a close inspection, it will be seen that there is scarcely a whole pane of glass in any of the windows, and that the spaces beneath several of them are coloured with iron rust.

The Sheffield people call this princely looking castle a wheel.

In Sheffield phraseology, a wheel means a building where machinery is kept for working a certain number of grinding stones, and we believe this one is among the largest in the town.

-------------------

This lot, I hope is crying out to someone for Company/building names, maps and some PictureSheffield links

[hilldweller]

Notwithstanding these wants of external embellishment, Sheffield is not without special claims upon all who take an interest either in the progress of British manufacture or the social condition of our industrial population.

When the stranger emerges from the railway station into the open space, there are several objects which immediately arrest his attention.

In the first place, he observes a large castellated building immediately beneath him on his right hand; this building will readily be taken for a baronial residence, but upon a nearer approach it will be observed the windows present a strange appearance : the panes of glass are in keeping with the ancient character of the edifice, being small squares inserted into metal frames.

Upon a close inspection, it will be seen that there is scarcely a whole pane of glass in any of the windows, and that the spaces beneath several of them are coloured with iron rust.

The Sheffield people call this princely looking castle a wheel.

In Sheffield phraseology, a wheel means a building where machinery is kept for working a certain number of grinding stones, and we believe this one is among the largest in the town.

-------------------

This lot, I hope is crying out to someone for Company/building names, maps and some PictureSheffield links

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

We can't let that get in our way; if that's all there is then that's what we will have ... and maybe ... who knows.

Lady's Bridge & No 34, Waingate, former Elephant & Castle Tea Co., Tea Dealers, Tower Grinding Wheel in background (no date given) Link

Looks like it is trying to hide behind a passing tram.

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

I could see someone thinking this from 1844 was a Castle-like appearance.

Lady's Bridge, Wicker, Tower Grinding Wheel in background, Wicker Tilt in foreground, Henry H. Earl (Etcher.

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

Lady's Bridge, Wicker, Tower Grinding Wheel in background. No 2, Wicker, Wicker Tilt also known as Huntsman's Forge, occupied by Benjamin Huntsman, Tilter, and Wards, Blonk & Co., left

1900-1909 or thereabouts

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

View from window of Victoria Hotel, near the Great Central Railway Station, Tower Grinding Wheel and Blonk Street Bridge in foreground, tower of new Town Hall and spire of St. Mary's, Norfolk Row in distance. (No date given, but New Town Hall might narrow it down)

Image by "Jotter".

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

Scene on the River Don, No 2, Wicker, Wicker Tilt also known as Huntsman's Forge, occupied by Benjamin Huntsman, Tilter, and Wards, Blonk & Co., in foreground, Blonk Street Bridge and Tower Grinding Wheel in background.

No date given here

These are OK for background views HD; we're getting the flavour of it.

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

River Don from Lady's Bridge, No 2, Wicker, Wicker Tilt also known as Huntsman's Forge, occupied by Benjamin Huntsman, Tilter, and Wards, Blonk & Co., foreground, left. Blonk Street Bridge in near distance, Tower Grinding Wheel in background.

1896

[RichardB]

The Tower Wheel, Blonk Street, on the right at the bottom of the Victoria Station Approach, would fit the bill. A very "castle" like building but unfortunately only available as a background view on various Picture Sheffield views.

HD

Detail of South East View of Sheffield from Park Hill, by William Ibbitt. Tower Grinding Wheel and Canal Basin in distance.

Now, depending on the year viewed ... this from 1853

[RichardB]

After the surprise produced by the wheel, the eye immediately takes in a vast number of brick cones and chimney stalks; these ventilators are continually vomiting forth huge volumes of smoke, which roll over the town like so many clouds, twisting themselves into a thousand fantastic shapes, and scattering their sooty treasures over the space beneath, to the no small delight of thrifty housewives and lovers of clean linen !

[RichardB]

When the wind sweeps the valleys of the Don and the Sheaf, a great part of Sheffield is sure to be shrouded in a pall of living vapour impregnated with vast quantities of earthy matter, and ever and anon some of the stalks or church towers stand out in relief against some clear spot in the sky, and are again speedily enveloped in the rolling clouds.

[RichardB]

In the months of November, December and January Sheffield is continually covered with a dull, heavy leaden-coloured atmosphere; the proximity of the town to the central ridge of hills which divide Yorkshire and Lancashire, frequently denominated the backbone of England, is a means of exposing it to certain watery influences, and the passing clouds are apt to make unacceptable offerings of their liquid treasures into the burning sanctuary of Vulcan, during which occasions the streets and numerous dingy lanes wear the livery of seedy mourning.

--------------

i.e. It's grim when it rains in winter.

[RichardB]

Sheffield has partaken largely in the general prosperity of the nation during the last sixty years.

In the early part of the present century, the town was nearly confined to the lower part of the ridge which forms the fork of the Don and the Sheaf : since then the moor has been covered with bricks, mortar and an industrious population; the park, too has been robbed of its rural character, and the north part of the town has extended itself more than a mile in length.

Saville street which is a continuation of the town in this direction, can now boast of more large manufacturers in several of the leading branches of Sheffield industry than the whole town could produce less than fifty years ago.

[RichardB]

In the early part of the present century, the Sheffield manufacturers were wont to reside on the premises where their business was conducted; since then the bulk of them have been enabled to occupy suburban villas, and surround themselves with the artificial appliances of civilised life their forefathers never could have dreamt of.

The sunny slope of Broomhill is now covered with numerous villas and mansions, many of which are built in good taste. This locality is the West End of Sheffield, and of course forms the aristocratic region of her more prosperous merchants and manufacturers.

[RichardB]

A very large portion of the town of Sheffield belongs to the Duke of Norfolk. We have heard that the revenue arising from his Sheffield estate amounts to £50,000 annually and we are led to believe that the Norfolk family have been considerable benefactors to the Sheffield people.

The late Duke laid out a splendid park, with footpaths and a beautiful carriage drive, which he has thrown open to the public.

This park commands a beautiful bird's eye view of Sheffield and the surrounding hills, and the whole forms a delightful and healthy retreat for the inhabitants.

An hospital stands on the hill between the park and the town that is worthy of notice; this building is a three sided parallelogram with accommodation for twenty male and as many female inmates.

The style of the building is of the rounded Gothic, and we saw a more healthy or beautiful site made choice of for such a purpose. This institution was founded and endowed by one of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Some few years ago, before the new market erected, and the other improvements which have been made in low part of the town, the old hospital stood in a low unhealthy situation immediately beneath where the Exchange now stands.

[RichardB]

When these improvements were about taking place, the late Duke of Norfolk gave the site and erected the present beautiful building at his own expense.

This institution was endowed for an asylum, for the number above stated of decayed widows of merchants, or widowers who had undergone a reverse of fortune.

The men are allowed ten shillings a week, with coals and a certain quantity of clothing annually, and the females receive two shillings a week less with coal and clothing.

They are also cared for in a religious point of view, inasmuch as there is a very neat chapel in the center of the building and a minister of the Church of England has his residence in the south wing.

In the front of the building there is a beautiful lawn, ornamented with parterres and handsomely laid out walks.

------------------

Parterres ?

[RichardB]

On the opposite side of the road which passes in front of the lawn, there is an object which possesses considerable interest, from the fact that it recalls to memory one of the most severe calamities that have visited this country during the present century.

This is a triangular monument in a sort of b____d style of Gothic architecture. This monument is sacred to the memory of all those who fell victims to the cholera in Sheffield in 1832.

We may here mention that the population of Sheffield in 1851 was returned in round numbers at 135,000; and calculating upon the increase of the previous ten years the present number of inhabitants may be fairly set down at 160,000.