Guest belboid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi all, I am writing a piece for the Burngreave Messenger about the upcoming Centenary of Abbeyfield becoming a public park - it was officially opened on July 15th 1909 - and am very interested in any stories people have of the park and how it's changed over the years. We have quite a bit of information about the last thirty years or so, but it is very sparse from before then. If anyone has any contributions they'd like to make, and don't object to them being in print then I'd love to hear them. Also any old photo's of the park would be great. I have most of the relevant informatn about the Corporation purchasing the park in the first place, and of course I wil post it up here as soon as it's been in the Messenger. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Abbeyfield House in Abbeyfield Park, Pitsmoor (1930's) The Boating Lake at Abbeyfield Park, Pitsmoor with Abbeyfield House in the background Barnsley Road, site of the old Pitsmoor Toll Bar with the old road on the left an Abbeyfield Park across the road (1950's) Burngreave Road at the old Toll Bar looking towards Mrs. E. E. Dey's Dancing Academy in the 'Tower', Pitsmoor Road with Abbeyfield Park on the right (1940's) Abbeyfield House, Abbeyfield Park, Pitsmoor (1980's) Burngreave Road looking towards the junction with Pitsmoor Road andamp; Barnsley Road with the old Toll Bar House visible after the garage, Kingdom Hall (centre), Tower Ballroom (white building) and Abbeyfield Park on the right (1960's) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi all, I am writing a piece for the Burngreave Messenger about the upcoming Centenary of Abbeyfield becoming a public park - it was officially opened on July 15th 1909 - and am very interested in any stories people have of the park and how it's changed over the years. We have quite a bit of information about the last thirty years or so, but it is very sparse from before then. If anyone has any contributions they'd like to make, and don't object to them being in print then I'd love to hear them. Also any old photo's of the park would be great. I have most of the relevant informatn about the Corporation purchasing the park in the first place, and of course I wil post it up here as soon as it's been in the Messenger. Thanks in advance. It was a splendid little park in the 1940s and 1950s. In those days there were swings and roundabouts (a children's playground), and, alongside, a pond with ducks. Then they filled in the pond, and the playground closed, I think. The big house was interesting, there being a sun dial on the front somewhere. Many years ago, an old schoolpal of mine called Ken Lathasm, lived in that house. His father was the head gardener, I think. Of course, in the days when the park originally opened (and there used to be a plaque giving details of the opening) the area immediately around Abbeyfield Park was rather "posher" than it is today --there were lots of big houses nearby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest belboid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 It was indeed 'posher' - but changing rapidly. The house and grounds were sold because the Wake wasn't keen on 'the changed conditons of the neighbourhood.' Thanks for those links Richard, I do love that pic of the boating lake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 It was a splendid little park in the 1940s and 1950s. In those days there were swings and roundabouts (a children's playground), and, alongside, a pond with ducks. Then they filled in the pond, and the playground closed, I think. The big house was interesting, there being a sun dial on the front somewhere. Many years ago, an old schoolpal of mine called Ken Lathasm, lived in that house. His father was the head gardener, I think. Of course, in the days when the park originally opened (and there used to be a plaque giving details of the opening) the area immediately around Abbeyfield Park was rather "posher" than it is today --there were lots of big houses nearby. There is still a playground where the old lake was OKSL The famous Bernard Wake Sundial :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 You are most welcome, just went onto PictureSheffield and posted links to their pictures. Welcome to the site; ask questions, contribute, enjoy - we all get a better site for every new Member that posts - it also keeps the long-standing Members awake, we do try hard to provide content but the great mass of Members are the ones with photos of Grannies back garden or Uncle Bert in his Uniform - those are the posts we need the most - we may even be able to improve the photo identify more details/extra related people provide birth/marriage/death/burial details take the Mickey out of 1930's haircuts ... not bad for nowt ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 There is still a playground where the old lake was OKSL The famous Bernard Wake Sundial The Wake family were a curious lot. There was one story about one of the Wakes causing a right rumpus at Olive Grove after a Wednesday match in the Victorian era. Can't remember the details off hand, but it is in the book "Wednesday!" So for the Wakes to clear out of Abbeyfield house because they thought the area was going downhill was probably an exaggeration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 The Wake family were a curious lot. There was one story about one of the Wakes causing a right rumpus at Olive Grove after a Wednesday match in the Victorian era. Can't remember the details off hand, but it is in the book "Wednesday!" So for the Wakes to clear out of Abbeyfield house because they thought the area was going downhill was probably an exaggeration. The house from the Abbeyfield Road side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Looking down to the playground where the lake used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 T'porch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest belboid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 You are most welcome, just went onto PictureSheffield and posted links to their pictures. Welcome to the site; ask questions, contribute, enjoy - we all get a better site for every new Member that posts - it also keeps the long-standing Members awake, we do try hard to provide content but the great mass of Members are the ones with photos of Grannies back garden or Uncle Bert in his Uniform - those are the posts we need the most - we may even be able to improve the photo identify more details/extra related people provide birth/marriage/death/burial details take the Mickey out of 1930's haircuts ... not bad for nowt ! not bad indeed! I've been trying to get my dad to digitise some of his old photo's, I recall there being some crackers. And I'll have to see what you have about old chippies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest belboid Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 The Wake family were a curious lot. There was one story about one of the Wakes causing a right rumpus at Olive Grove after a Wednesday match in the Victorian era. Can't remember the details off hand, but it is in the book "Wednesday!" So for the Wakes to clear out of Abbeyfield house because they thought the area was going downhill was probably an exaggeration. aah, that sounds a good story, I may try and check it out, tho I dont want to write too much about the Wake's as it's after they went I'm really interested in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Came across a record of the aquisition of the property and the grounds in 1909. The 5 and a half acre plot was aquired for the sum of £10,500. The deal was nearly lost and the first proposal by the Parks Department was not accepted and it was only after the Town Trustees contributed £1,500 and Mr H J Wilson made a further £1,000 available that the Council was able to conclude the purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 During 1914 Unemployment was an increasing problem from 'Growth of a City' 'It was found that 300 women and 135 girls had registered at the Labour Exchange and as a result it was decided to open a workrrom at Abbeyfield House, which the Parks Department placed at the disposal of the Distress Committee rent free, for women to make and repair women's and children's garments. The garments were to be distributed among persons in need. The wages were 3d an hour and the workroom was to be opened for at least 30 hours per week.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest belboid Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Thanks everyone for the info they have posted up, I am about to send off the final article 9which can't include all the info I'd like as there isn't enough room in the magazine), but am stuck on one last query. Does anyone know just when Bernard Wake died? the info I have suggests it was actuallyhe who offered the grounds to the corp, but they were finally purchased from the estate of the LATE Mr Wake. So was it his family who wanted out after he'd died, or did he die before purchase was completed? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Thanks everyone for the info they have posted up, I am about to send off the final article 9which can't include all the info I'd like as there isn't enough room in the magazine), but am stuck on one last query. Does anyone know just when Bernard Wake died? the info I have suggests it was actuallyhe who offered the grounds to the corp, but they were finally purchased from the estate of the LATE Mr Wake. So was it his family who wanted out after he'd died, or did he die before purchase was completed? cheers There may be something on this thread - RichardB may have frurther info see his post on influenza! http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/i...893&hl=wake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 The article in the Messenger http://www.burngreavemessenger.org/archive...park-centenary/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Nice work; mine's a pint ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wallace25 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Early Photograph of ABBEYFIELD HOUSE LIBRARY Sheffield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wallace25 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 MRS ALICE JACKSON nee WAKE of ABBEYFIELD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHB Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Early Photograph of ABBEYFIELD HOUSE LIBRARY Sheffield MRS ALICE JACKSON nee WAKE of ABBEYFIELD Excellent scans, thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHB Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicRichardson Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I went to Firs Hill School and always went down to the park at lunch time. The also had a giant chess board with big steel pieces you moved with a stick with a hook on the end. Spent many happy hours in that park as a kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysander Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 The House was the original site of Firth Park Secondary School before it moved to The Brushes....and, latterly, became a "Grammar School". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHB Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 https://www.ebay.co.uk/ https://www.ebay.co.uk/2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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