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Mary Ann is my 4th great grandmother, wasn’t we looking at Sellars before?

30, Mowbray Street 'back to back' house, a listed building as an example of workers' housing of the 1850s. 2006. t11433 Photographer: Mary Rhodes.

Sheffield was noted for having many two storey back to backs (not attics). Here's a photo of my mum in 1936 outside her house on Jericho street. Note the bedroom windows open to get as much ventilation as possible, also shutters on the ground floor, and donkey stoned steps. In her new Whitsun outfit.

Many people still confuse “back to back’s “with all terraced housing. A terrace of “back to back's “meant that an individual dwelling only had a frontage of its own. The rear was shared with its back street neighbour’s back wall and the end walls, either side ,were also shared. They lacked adequate ventilation had poor sanitation ……which encouraged the transmission of infectious diseases, and bugs in general. Gone and not missed…although one wonders with the current housing crisis if some bright spark might push for their reIntroduction?

National Trust: Birmingham. The last Back to Back houses in the Country.

That's very interesting, Eric. The lamps were to tell staff that it was the end of the train. Any train without an end lamp had to be reported to the signal man to stop it. As this meant that part of the train could have decoupled. Fitting and checking was thus an important job. There's another thread with more pictures of the station on this section. Be sure to check it out. Such a shame your dad is not around. I could have a million questions for him. The chances now of speaking to someone who actually worked on the station are getting less each year. Since it closed 54 years ago, the only people alive now would be under 30 when it was still open. And I can't see them having younger staff on the station from about 1966 to 1970. Which limits the number of people left to answer questions. One being what were the brick buildings used for?

Without doubt it's Victoria Station looking out towards the station approach. My Dad was a porter-cum-lamp man there in the 1950's and 60's and I spent may hours of my childhood accompanying him to work where he regularly pushed me along the platforms on the back of a luggage trolley. He also allowed me to secure the lamps on the front and back of trains whilst they were parked at a platform, but I don't think @Elf n Safety' would be too happy with that. He also took on the station announcer's role advising travellers of incoming trains and the destination of outgoing trains. Once he'd done the announcing, and unknowingly to me, he used the microphone to contact Father Christmas's fairies to order a supply of goodies for me such as spangles, lucky bags, Fry's Five Boys chocolate bars and sherbet dips, but my wife thought I was stupid. (Only joking. I was only 6 or 7 at the time). Happy days! Eric Boocock

Spot on

One of the access subways photographed earlier this year. This would be the one on the right of the earlier picture. What was steps is now a ramp.

Castle Hill: Britain from Above 1921. The construction of Exchange Place is under way. The Sheaf culverted over and on the location of the Alexander Theatre(demolished 1914) the yet to be built Alexander Hotel. Castle Folds Lane running down from Exchange Street to Chandlers Row, rear of the shambles. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=printdetails&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y10037&prevUrl=

According to Wikipedia ,the station received a new front in 1908 and further improvements in the period 1939/40.

Possibly design for the proposed Tontine Inn, c.1780-1785. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;arc04491&pos=200&action=zoom&id=155647 Marked 'level with swine market, bottom of King Street, King Street raised'. Possibly Stables, etc for the proposed Tontine Inn, c.1780 -1785. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;arc04489&pos=198&action=zoom&id=155645 Marked shoeing house, pig stys, court for pigs, grains [store], [? Ostry]. Possibly Stables, etc for the proposed Tontine Inn, c.1780 -1785. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;arc04490&pos=199&action=zoom&id=155646 Marked [? Ostry], Mrs Smilter’s premises, Swindon and Beardsall’s premises, pig stys, grains [store], smith’s shop,

Deerlands Farm, bottom of Southey Hill. t08381 s00621 Deer Lands Farm [Deerlands Farm], Southey. 1879. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;arc04500&pos=143&action=zoom&id=155656 Stamped Wortley Rural Sanitary Authority approved 21 Feb 1879.

Advertisement for Cashmere and Millthorpe Sandals, made by Edward Carpenter and George E. Adams, c. 1900. arc06299 Sandals made to order. These sandals, which are made of the best leather and are very durable, can be worn either with or without stockings, and are suitable for indoor use at all times and for outdoors in dry weather. By freeing the foot from the confinement of the closed shoe or boot they render it in a short time as healthy and vital as the hand; its comfort is greatly increased; the circulation is improved, and the feet become much warmer and less liable to chill than before. Of the two patterns the Cashmere is the most elegant in appearance, and has the advantage of allowing the sandal to be easily slipped on and off. The Millthorpe Sandal on the other hand leaves the toes perfectly free and untrammeled; and is capable of being strapped more firmly at the heal. For children this pattern is specially recommended. Prices of sandals, either pattern: Men’s 12/-, women’s 10/6, Children’s from 5/6 upwards, in tan leather; in black 1/- extra; in russia or coloured calf, 1/6 extra. With heal-caps at back instead of straps (Millthorpe pattern only) men’s 2/- extra, women’s 1/6, children’s 1/3. Measurements: give outline of foot on paper, and length from instep round extreme point of heel to instep again. Cash to be sent with order to George E. Adam, Adamfield, Holmesfield, near Sheffield. N.B. owing to the great demand for the sandals in the summer, orders should be sent early in the year if possible. Original at Sheffield City Archives: Carpenter/NC/4/71c.

Another view of the furnace, around 1825, in a picture of the River Sheaf and Shrewsbury Hospital (unknown artist, ArtUK website)

Here's one of mine:

I can't see that happening. Since the castle site would have been built over by the time the station was built. The approach road would have taken loads of material to fill it up. They could have taken that from material roundabout, say something from the river - old stones and gravel, but it would be for infill. The facing stones and walls would have been brought in.

"Supposedly" the walls of the approach road to the Victoria Station were largely built with stone from the castle, and there are hundreds of them bearing masons' marks. One to add to my list of walks during my next visit to Sheffield.

Yes I remember that when I was nobbut a lad. Always enjoyed the trip to see the grandparents in Nottingham as the train passed close by the iron works at Renishaw and the tipping of hot slag over the dumps was terrific at night! The white tiles at the Vic always reminded me of going into a giant public convenience!

Looks a big case in 1860’s, joshua Tyzack explosion and shooting etc. lots of evidence here

That’s interesting to know. I’ve been away from the city a decade and even then probably several years since before that since I was in the Wicker area….so that information on remaining station features actually surprises me. I guess prospects of reusing / regenerating that station withered with the arguments on re opening the Woodhead…

There is a bit left. Some walls and a lined (with those tiles) passageway. A bit of the platform and of course the lift building at the side of the Wicker.

It’s many a year …but certainly looks like how I recall Sheffield Victoria ( and trips across the Pennines) …..as it did then…still strikes me as having a ‘Stateside’ look about it….truly don’t know the respective design/ building dates but does look more modern than the Midland LMS…particularly of 50s/60s. Very interesting to see the place again…guess nothing remains of it, covered or otherwise..