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Showing content with the highest reputation since 31/12/16 in Posts

  1. Because River Don is the major river of South Yorkshire and flows right across it from the extreme west to the extreme east I have always had an interest in its source. The location of the latter is somewhat complicated by the fact it is dammed very early in its course by the Winscar reservoir which is about 6 miles west of Penistone. However, careful inspection of a large scale map shows that the Don, as a stream, flows into the reservoir's western arm (see pic 1) and its source being just over a mile further west from there at SE 119 027 (see pics 13 & 14). By the time the Don flows into Winscar numerous streams have already converged into it including one from "Don Well" (see pic 6) which is situated at SE 133 027. Despite its name the well cannot really be thought of as the source because the Don is already a significant stream (see pic 5) before it reaches that area. Furthermore the quantity of water flowing into the Don from the well is relatively insignificant, or it was on the day I visited (see pic 8). Arguably, because it is all a little subjective, the Don rises from an area of marshy ground around Withens edge and at that point it appears to be named Great Grain(s). Interestingly the aforementioned area is the watershed for the Don and the River Etherow (see pics 13 to 16) , the latter flowing in the opposite direction and eventually ending up in the Irish sea via the rivers Goyt, Tame and Mersey. The Don's eventual destination is, of course, the North sea so, in this area, drops of rain landing just a few feet one way or the other determines which sea they flow into 140 miles apart. It is not just coincidence that Holme Moss radio transmitter is situated less than 2 miles from this watershed (see pic 13) because transmitters are, ideally, situated at altitude to maximise their coverage. Holme Moss is purely a radio TX these days but when it was built in 1951 it transmitted TV (on VHF) over both sides of the Pennines, just like the Don/Etherow watershed does for water ! Also see : https://drtomsbooks.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/the-yorkshire-river-don-b.pdf Pictures (in rough geographical order E to W) : 1 - River Don entering the west end of Winscar reservoir 2 - River Don flowing down towards Winscar reservoir 3 - Confluence of Little Grain Clough (?) and the Don 4 - The River Don just downstream of Don Well 5 - Last confluence of the Don (or Great Grain) before Don Well 6 - Don Well 7 - Water rising from the marsh at Don Well 8 - Water from Don Well seeping into the Don 9 - Just down from the Don watershed, looking west 10 - Early course of the Great Grain 11 - Typical rising of a watercourse 12 - Great Grain as a brook 13 - River Don watershed facing WNW towards Holme Moss transmitter 14 - River Don watershed facing east 15 - River Etherow watershed facing SW 16 - River Etherow watershed facing SW (note Holme Moss transmitter to the right).
    8 points
  2. I am a 75yo disabled American. I just want to say how sorry I am at the loss of Queen Elizabeth. I will miss her so much. Nothing will ever be the same again. But, GOD SAVE THE KING!
    8 points
  3. Enhanced version of the Tram Ride Through Sheffield in 1902.
    6 points
  4. Here are a selection of paintings by a Sheffield artist who was active in the very early 1800's, W Botham. There's not much information available but apart from the late birth date I'd say he was William Hallam Botham, born 23rd April 1790 to Eleanor and George Botham. George Botham was a Confectioner and Glass and China merchant in 1792, based at Irish Cross, selling raisins, nuts, lemons, prunes etc. In August 1797 the business was at 14 Market Place. William Botham was a fellow apprentice of Francis Chantrey when they were both at Ramsey's carver and gilder, High Street. Later, Chantrey worked in a room above a confectionery shop in the High Street kept by a man named Botham - possibly George?
    6 points
  5. I don't know whether it's to do with the lockdown & Covid precautions and we are mainly staying at home but much of the site recently, has been taken up with photo's, videos etc of what's happening in the city centre now. Others may feel differently but I personally am not the slightest bit interested in today's modern Sheffield because I feel that the council and planners have ripped the heart out of everything this city meant to me. There was a bit of chat about the old Coles Bros etc but many seem not to care too much about the resulting demise of John Lewis and think it was too expensive anyway. As Debenhams has suffered the same fate, the result is that If you like wandering around department stores, then apart from Atkinson's (long may they survive), there is no point in going to town at all. In my early days of marriage, I was lucky enough to get the tenancy of the house next door to where I was born. It was left full of very good quality but quite old furniture. The first thing I did was chop it all up and buy modern, early 60's furniture throughout (the thought makes me shudder now) and only in later years did I realise my stupid mistake. I don't think Sheffield Council have had that realisation yet but, as in my case, it's now too late to rectify it. I view lots of old videos and photos of old Sheffield and it brings one close to tears when you see all those MASSIVE crowds of people scurrying about like ants in the old city centre, and compare that with the lifeless and soulless scenes of today. You would think we had endured a nuclear holocaust and the end of the world was nigh. I remember crossing the footbridge, (never seen any photos of this) to the old Castle Fish market with my Grandma in the early 40's and enjoying cockles or mussels or, better still, chips, pie & peas from a stall which I still took my family to more than half a century later and basked in the nostalgia of those poor but happy days. The old Rag & tag market was equally as much loved. What will younger generations get nostalgic about in years to come but a dead city centre which will look nice although soulless until it's covered in graphiti, beer cans and litter.
    6 points
  6. Hello I just finished writing the code for this Watermills of Sheffield page, it's an interactive map showing all the locations of the watermills listed in the book 'The Water-Mills of Sheffield' by W.T. Miller published in 1947. Tap on a mill for its name, and tap on the name for the description from the book. https://www.g7smy.co.uk/history/watermills/ I've written it for use on a mobile phone, for when you are out and about, and on this the GPS can be used to show your location. It will also work with a desktop PC. Thanks Karl.
    6 points
  7. Further to my June 3rd post about the European Heritage Days awards I'm excited and delighted to be one of the overall 2020 winners! Eleven storytellers from across the continent have won a funded Council of Europe heritage project. Mine is going to be the design of an app and website to help count and trace every single piece of historic pavement furniture in the city and to plot every such location. This will hopefully enable study of what we have, why they are important, and what they tell us. Building on the collective work of this thread I will be able to answer a few of the questions that have been raised! The work will run from September 30th till March 31st 2021 and I will mention this site in any publicity. I have been invited to address the European Parliament in November to introduce the topic and Sheffield heritage in general which I am looking forward to. Just to say many thanks again to contributors to this thread and I'm delighted that looking at Sheffield drain covers takes it's place in the favourite European heritage stories of the year http://www.europeanheritagedays.com/Story/cfbd0/Drainspotting-%40%40%40-A-European-Story%2c-Made-in-Sheffield^^^
    6 points
  8. Not a huge amount left now, but there's still snippets to find. Ones folk pass most days in their daily lives without realising
    5 points
  9. https://twitter.com/showtownhistory/status/1263545380911931397/photo/1
    5 points
  10. Possibly Gledhow Mount Mansion, Roxholme Grove, Leeds? https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5158034
    5 points
  11. Another interesting website: https://historyfuzz.com/kerbstone-symbols
    5 points
  12. Many will 'know' Jack Wrigley from his brilliant 'Sheffield Camera' book series, which detailed photos from his archives across many areas of Sheffield. He was also a member of the Sheffield History site for a while. Sadly news has reached me of his passing, just a few days before his 94th birthday. We've Jack to thank for documenting lots of Sheffield places back to the 1950s via an incredible collection of photographs, and for sharing them via his great books (and some on this website in the past). A small selection of some of his book covers: RIP Jack.
    5 points
  13. Just found this picture of the Albert Hall amongst my mother-in-laws old photos - it says it was taken just after the fire
    5 points
  14. Another photo, the ford is paved and as said is in good condition, this is taken from the Beeley Wood Lane side, have to try and get to the other bank and look for the track up to the toll house.
    5 points
  15. I could never understand, in fact I still don’t, as to why the council allowed the destruction of all the old Victorian shops on Pinstone Street including the Cambridge Arcade, then add insult to injury allow the horrible buildings that were put up in their place. Thanks to picture Sheffield.
    5 points
  16. Hi all, so glad I found this site, so much history in one place. I was born at walkley in 65, moved to Bubwith rd Brightside where my mum was born and grandparents lived. From there we lived in a cottage in Roe Woods, my dad became one of the first 6 park patrollers, on motorbikes, in Sheffield while at Roe Wood. From there we moved to Shiregreen where mum still lives. Dad was born at the bottom end of Bellhouse rd. Have lived in a few places in Sheffield and now 20 years in Chesterfield. Looking forward to reading lots more and to dig up some of my own memories and photos to share with everyone. :-))
    5 points
  17. Bus stop out side Northern General Hospital...Herries Road End
    5 points
  18. It could be Hang Bank Wood. Comparing the OS 1830s-1880s 6" map the wood has encroached on pasture which was continuous with Heeley common. The area is now occupied by Callow Road, round about SK 365 844
    4 points
  19. Amazing picture in High Street 1966 of a Victorian sewer. This was found during work to construct the new Castle Square roundabout.
    4 points
  20. My guess (not being a tram afficionado) is Blackpool, the vehicle is an English Electric Tram, number 204, photo here:
    4 points
  21. Here's the Nickel Blanks building on Chester Street in a post blitz photo of what's now Devonshire Green.
    4 points
  22. Bramall Lane Bridge has been placed on the latest Local Heritage List. I've had a bit of back and forth over the last few months as there were some doubts expressed that the remains are the original structure, and the listing hedges its bets over Bramall Lane Bridge/Culvert! I'm pleased to have got some recognition especially with planning applications going on next door to the site. https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/south-yorkshire/asset/13007
    4 points
  23. The Vulcan Bomber was a delta-winged wonder, which I was very lucky enough to have gone down the runway at RAF Waddington (late 1970s) in the co-pilot seat when I was working at RAF Waddington, an experience I've treasured since and will never be forgtton. There were 5 men sat in the front of the Vulcan. For me it was a sad day when they were retired. Interestingly XH558 (in the pic) pilot was Ft Lt Martin Withers he was the pilot of XM607 on the first sortie to bomb the runway at the Falkland Isles back in 1982.
    4 points
  24. You might enjoy this from my family history - Chimney sweeps are a rare sight nowadays with the advent of gas fires and central heating. During my childhood they were frequently to be seen riding about on their bikes with their brushes strapped to their backs and their faces black with soot. It would create a bit of amusement for the children around who stood around watching and waiting for the brushes to appear out of the chimney tops. Dad as usual, loathe to waste money on something he felt he could do just as well as anyone else, bought his own set of brushes. No matter how careful he was soot still got everywhere. All the furniture would be moved back and covered with old sheets and the carpet rolled back. A sheet would be draped over the fireplace under which he would disappear along with the brushes and extending rods. Invariably he would get the brushes stuck up the chimney and amid much swearing, cursing and large amounts of falling soot, Mum would inevitably get the blame for it all. We would keep being sent outside to see if the brush had appeared yet. When the rods and the brush were finally pulled down there would always be a large fall of soot and dad would emerge coughing, spluttering and cursing with a black face. People of my generation often say there is nothing to beat a coal fire. Perhaps there isn't when you do see a good one burning but what about trying to light one on a cold winter's morning. No thank you. First there was the grate to empty and the ash-pan. Crumpled up newspaper would be placed in the grate with firewood placed sparingly across it and if mum could afford it firelighters. Decent sized pieces of coal would then be placed on and the newspaper lit. The shovel would be propped up across the front and a sheet of newspaper placed across it to help 'draw the fire'. More often than not the sheet of newspaper would catch fire too. Some housewives would throw sugar or lighter fluid on to help get it going and many a chimney fire would be started that way. Coal fires were only warm if you were sat on top of them: the back of you would be freezing.
    4 points
  25. Sadly John Wreaks died suddenly aged 46 in January 1866, only a few months after the noted angling competion. A dinner was about to commence at the Crown Inn, as a testimonial to David Sellars, huntsman of the Sheffield harriers, with watch and chain to be presented. Mr Wreaks suddenly complained of a pain in the head and went to the door for some fresh air, where he promptly collapsed and died. The dinner was abandoned and the next day Mr Sellars presented it to the Ragged School. Over 1000 people attended the funeral and Scotland street was blocked by the number of people wishing to convey their respects. "He was uniformly admired for his unostentatious promotion of angling and the best class of sporting pastimes". His grave was on the right hand side of the main avenue at Burngreave Cemetery, (grave 14 section P). It was proposed to erect a memorial by public subscription and by 8th September £53 8s 4d had been raised. The monument including design, cost £42 and the balance was disposed of by his Memorial Committee as follows: £2 10s to the General Infirmary, £2 10s to the Dispensary, £2 10s to the Ragged School, £2 10s to the Orphanage with the remaining £1 8s 4d towards the printing and advertising costs.
    4 points
  26. The picture here, at Tinsley locks, is of a cruise organised by the Inland Waterways Protection Society (which I think may still be active) along the Sheffield Canal in 1968. The idea was to, in some way, to encourage a return of commercial traffic on the canal which was a bit of a forlorn hope. At that time there was only about one commercial canal user left whose base was Rotherham. A leading light in the IWPS was Bessie, whose enthusiasm for the canals was legendary, along with the ability to talk the hind leg off a donkey. The she was the author of the book Portrait of Sheffield, (for which I took many of the photographs) published in 1972 and now long out of print. Another of her pet subjects was cruck buildings and I believe she did a lot of research into these both locally and nationally. One of her successes was the initial restoration of the Buxworth Basin on the Peak Forest canal and much groundwork for it's restoration was down to her as the driving force and the society members. Subsequently, it has been given a fairly modern facelift by others and is now a national and well known feature of canal and tramway history. Bessie lived at Cartlidge, Holmsfield. Her actual driving was appalling and, from personal experience very dangerous. But she somehow survived! She is the lady in the white hat in the foreground, sitting next to my late wife. One the subject of the Sheffield Canal, many interesting historic photographs, which are still reasonably well known nowadays, were taken by a work colleague of mine, Mr Reg Frost, who worked in the photographic department of Firth Brown Ltd in the 60s and 70s.
    4 points
  27. I wrote this article on the 12/2/2017 so things may have changed since then but Williams home is still being used as offices. The tall chimney was part of Williams heating system in his greenhouse where he grew different fruits including Pineapples, the fireplace still sits at the base of the chimney, the bricks were in his garden too. Today’s article concerns the Sheffield Brewer, William Stones, I had a bit of a problem finding Williams house, it was named Ash Grove on Ashgrove but I couldn’t find Ashgrove on any street guide or even on Google Earth, it finally dawned on me that I’d been to his house just last week but didn’t realise, its part of the BHP Chartered Accountants complex that was last weeks subject, George Spencer Waterfall, the small street of Ashgrove doesn’t have Name plate but it does have a stone with Ashgrove hand painted on it. Right, the clue picture shows the very ornate greenhouse chimney that William had built, he grew Peaches here besides flowers and vegetables, the greenhouse was built partly with bricks from the Brickworks of Joseph Cliff & Sons in Wortley, Leeds, you can still see these bricks today with Cliff impressed on them. William Stones was born in Sheffield on 29 December 1826. His parents were Eliza and Joseph, both cabinet case makers. By 1870 William was living in Sheffield's Lowfield area. William purchased a large terraced house in 1883, although he had been renting the property for several years prior to this. Stones died aged 68 on 14 November 1894, having devoted his whole life to brewing. He never married, and was one of the richest men in Sheffield, leaving over £150,000 in his will, £15,403,641 in today’s money, He left his wealth to his sister, friends and various charitable concerns. William is said to have earned his success through clever marketing and a consistently good product. His Mother and Father had a business on Hartshead in 1825, making and selling the following goods, razor cases and strops, gentlemen and ladies' dressing cases, ladies' work boxes, portable writing desks, mahogany and oak table knife cases, pocket books, needle, knife, scissor, Spectacle and surgeons instrument cases, pattern cards and pouches for all sorts of cutlery. In 1847, Joseph Watts of Dewsbury and William Stones of began brewing together at the Cannon Brewery in Sheffield's Shalesmoor district near Kelham Island. The name may have come from the nearby foundry that cast gun barrels. In 1852 they acquired their first tied house, the Kelham Tavern. Watts died in May 1854 aged 46, and two years later Stones purchased his share of the business from his former partner's brother. By 1861 the brewery employed 23 men and two boys. In 1868, Stones took over the lease of the Shepherd, Green & Hatfield brewery in the Neepsend district, which had been founded as the Neepsend Brewery in 1838. He renamed it the Cannon Brewery after his original premises. In 1880 Stones built two malthouses in Worksop. When William died in 1894, and he left the brewery to his cashier, James Haynes, and Richard Wigfull, a corn miller, as tenants in common. William Stones became a limited company in 1895 with £275,000 of capital £28,647,072 in today’s money and had by this time grown to become one of the largest businesses in Sheffield, with a tied estate of 84 pubs primarily in its home city and Chesterfield. Distribution was extended to Huddersfield in 1896. William didn’t live to see the Bitter that carried his name and was loved by thousands of Sheffield drinkers, Stones Bitter was brewed at the Cannon Brewery from 1948 and was popular with Sheffield's steel workers. It was originally available across the south of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with distribution extended to the rest of the north of England in 1977, and nationwide from 1979, accompanied by a considerable marketing push. Increasing demand saw it also brewed at other Bass breweries from the 1970s onwards. The beer's popularity reached its apex in 1992 when it was the country's highest selling bitter, selling over a million barrels. The beer has been lauded in certain quarters as "one of Sheffield's most famous exports". A famous major television campaign ran nationally from 1983 until 1991 with the tagline "Wherever you may wander there's no taste like Stones" and starred Tony Barton and Michael Angelis. By 1987 it had become the UK's longest running bitter campaign of all time. Stones also sponsored the Rugby Football League Championship from 1986 to 1995 and its successor the Rugby Super League from 1996–7.After the Cannon's closure production was continued elsewhere. Keg Stones Bitter is brewed by Molson Coors at their brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and the canned product at their Burton upon Trent brewery. Many a wife still curse the “Jungle Juice” as the bitter was fondly called, when their loving husbands came home worse for wear trying to sing like Mario Lanza, happy days. My two blunt blade pals, Mr Dawson and Mr Sorsby, did their best to drink Sheffield dry but never achieved success, Lovely Boys!. The company was taken over by Bass in 1968. In 2000, Bass sold its brewing operations to the Belgian brewer Interbrew who were ordered by the Competition Commission to sell the Stones brand. In 2002, the brand was purchased by the American Coors Brewing Company, who merged to become Molson Coors in 2005. Stones is still a name that’s synonymous with great beer, but today the taste has possible lost the spark that the great Sheffield workers loved and now its not easy to find in the pubs in town which are now full of expensive, impossible to pronounce, foreign beers, Im afraid the youth of today believe all the advertising hype. Stones, Tetley and Smiths never relied on silly adverts, their product adverts were just “Drink Beer" so we did.
    4 points
  28. My gggg grandfather was found guilty of robbery on the highway near Kirton Lindsey…(they stole about 30 bobs worth of promissory notes from a grain dealer…without violence)Sentenced to hang at Lincoln Assizes ,this was commuted to transportation to Oz for life on account of there being no violence. He left a heavily pregnant wife who had no chance of remarriage until her husband died. He did so , of influenza, aged 65 in Sydney workhouse. She never remarried. His wife became a midwife and was helped , presumably financially,by a Mr Foster . In gratitude her son was christened… Foster …and to this day the eldest son still carries that name.
    4 points
  29. Walk notes by Derek Baylis, South Yorkshire Industrial Society, revised 15/4/1995 Amended 11/12/00.
    4 points
  30. Number 15 Reads Road (sometimes Avenue), Blackpool (at the corner with Coronation Street). But there is a Sheffield connection. James Buckley farmed at Rodney farm, Loxley until about 1890 when he took on the nearby Lee Bank Farm. Both were within a mile of Loxley House. In 1899 he sold up and moved to 15 Reads Road, Blackpool to run it as a boarding house. At the 1901 census the enumerator seems to have misheard the name and written in "Lodge House" but James had actually called it Loxley House. In 1901 he was with wife Ann, sister in law Betty Ollerenshaw and niece Agnes (14). Unfortunately James died on 13th December 1903, but Ann continued to run the boarding house until her death on 10th December 1913.
    4 points
  31. Your posts seem to have an aggressive tone we don’t do that on here 👍 keep to fun and friendly please
    4 points
  32. This was a sad story... The owner of the headstone was came form my hometown: Xinhui. The headtone shows owner's information, including where he came from, when he born and dead. The limitied information shown that he only live 33 years old, form 1956-1989, and he have became a father before he dead. I can image that he came here and try to living for a good time, however, he never enjoy The Bliss of Family, which makes me sad.
    4 points
  33. Following Jean Cass's excellent history of the Rivelin Tunnel, published here in August 2010, hildweller posted a comment and a photo of the tunnel exit. His last two sentences referred to the tunnel’s entrance, somewhere in the wood behind the Ladybower Fisheries Office.He wrote “Has anyone ever seen this portal I wonder. I’m afraid exploring up there is beyond me nowadays.” Please see the attached photo, taken from the woods behind the Fisheries. I was surprised to find that the Rivelin junction is open to the elements, outside the Valve House. The flow from right to left is the gravity fed flow from Derwent to Bamford filters. The flow towards the bottom right of the photo is Sheffield’s supply, about to enter the Rivelin Tunnel.
    4 points
  34. Hello All, I'm delighted to say that I have been shortlisted for European Heritage Storyteller of the Year for 'Drainspotting'. The link here is the just published submission which formed the final part of the process. There are now just 20 stories left in the contest (of which I am one) and the final 10 are announced later this month. Hopefully there will more updates to follow but thank you very much to all the people who contributed to this long running thread which was part of my story and supporting evidence https://www.europeanheritagedays.com/Story/cfbd0/Drainspotting-%40%40%40-A-European-Story%2c-Made-in-Sheffield^^^
    4 points
  35. I have recently helped write and install a second information board on the opposite side of the bridge in conjunction with Decathlon, who have been very supportive and interested.
    4 points
  36. Picture 1 is the approach to the station taken in 1937. 2 is the top end from 1948 and picture 3. Picture 4 shows the turntable also 1948 By the way the white lines are crop marks for photo editing purposes.
    4 points
  37. The Porter Brook emerging briefly in the former Staples car park off Eyre Street. 1949 and 2019.
    4 points
  38. Weston bank. That's Wards Universtity bookshop ahead.
    4 points
  39. Here is one of my Grandfather's glass slides of High Street that looks to be taken from about the same place
    4 points
  40. Last year's thread and I rediscovered this 35mm slide which seems to fit appropriately into this one.Taken in June 1963 when rear loaders were favourite and steam locos much in evidence at Midland Station.
    4 points
  41. If you look at Victorian etchings or photos of the Cathedral you can see that the headstones seem to have been always laid flat, but the Victorians laid paths among them and nobody walked on the stones BUT I think it's a case of showing a total lack of respect for the people who's names are on the headstones, to use them as paving slabs is shameful. The finest churchyard I've ever been in is Greyfriars in Edinburgh.
    4 points
  42. A post-war vision of Sheffield, published by Sheffield City Council. Most likely still copyrighted, so reproduced for research and discussion purposes only. Interesting comparisons between what was proposed and what actually happened. Not reproduced in full, but some of those parts shown have previously been the subject of much discussion on this site.
    4 points
  43. Johnson Class 1P-D, then a Grimesthorpe based engine, poses for the camera, whilst on station pilot duties, at Midland Station in 1931. Built at Derby in May 1886, as Midland Railway No.1825, and withdrawn from service at Grimesthorpe, on 26/12/1931. Renumbered as No.1333, in 1907, as portrayed here. A tantalising glimpse of Granville Street, (highlighted), beyond the station perimeter as well. Was it still Granville Street in 1931? POSTSCRIPT: There is a story associated with this photograph that what is recorded here, is this locomotive's last scheduled day of working on 24/12/1931, but that story has never been verified.
    4 points
  44. Absolutely fascinated by these images and the differences and similarities. Here's an animation: https://i.imgur.com/O6hYAdp.gifv
    4 points
  45. Crookes, the tracks to the right go up Pickmere Road to the tram sheds. Also School Road to the right which was shown on destination blinds, a terminus for short runners.
    4 points
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