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I mentioned this topic to a retired Councillor friend and she reminded me that during the MASSIVE slum clearances of the 50/60s ,when whole local communities and their infrastructure were being discarded/destroyed to be rehoused in new Council estates and high rise flats, its affects on mental health was such that Sheffield had one of the highest incidences of suicide in the UK. Sheffield was, indeed, a wealthy City...in parts. It was said that outside of London our Rolls Royce dealer (Hoffman's?) sold more "Rollers" than anywhere else. That said, there was poverty...even post War and with full employment. The lot of a steel works labourer, married, with a couple of children and a wife who didn't work ( as most didn't once they had children) and with little "overtime" was one of belt tightening at all times. Similarly, many widows had a hard time of things especially if they had no close living relatives. All of the above is history as much as dates and battles ( beloved of my old history masters).

From the directories. J Wilson and Son, toy and fancy dealers, 57 Fargate. 1901, 1905 and 1911. Wilson, Gumpert & Co. Ltd., toy and fancy dealers, 57 Fargate. 1925.

That’s the company that published postcard and whose name runs up the left edge. Also their logo in the top centre JW&SS. Here’s another card published by them, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sheffield-Fargate-Edwardian-Half-Penny-Stamp-John-Wilson-Son-Postcard-/402175968921 Assume they were photographers, printers, publishers, but some clues to suggest they might have been toy importers and dealers. Also, not sure where exactly on Fargate? https://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/topic/150299-willson-and-gumpets/

Hi all, I wondered if anyone knew if there was a shop called "Wilson's" in Fargate and what sort of thing it was? I have attached a postcard to my Great Nan which I have transcribed as: ***************** Miss M Beaumont 74 South Street, Moor, Sheffield Post Marked Sheffield Apr 15th 1908 Dear Maud, Just a line to say I got your letter this morning Monday. My word you are going to be busy. I hope it keeps fine for you. I could see you had been doing the attics that is the reason I write to ask if you had done. Do you like my postcards I got at Wilson's in Fargate only 1d each. From Mary xxxxxxxx How is your friend Jessie going on. **************************** I am not sure the sign off is "Mary", hard to read it all really! Do you think I have the date from the date stamp correct? Also if anyone thinks I have transcribed it incorrectly I am happy to be told otherwise! Cheers MJ

This one has only the stamp on the obverse side, but you get the idea..

Well, it makes sense, as the space purportedly for the address is bigger than one for communication, which is surely arse-about-face. I have seen old French postcards where the sendee's name and address have been written on the picture side, I assume to allow more space for "communication". I remember Wilson Gumpert's from the late '50s/ early '60s but I'm not sure if they were in Fargate by that time.

Wilson's when they were on Snig Hill, circa 1887.

Have you noticed that she put the address in the section she was meant to put the message in and the message in the address section! Can you imagine the Post Office people saying "another one in the wrong place"

I'vehad a trip up the the tunnel on Monday morning. I've been making some local railway history videos and explores recently and wanted to go see it. Not a pleasant experience to be honest. After navigating the piles of fly tipping on the path to the tunnel portal from the footpath on brunswick Road, its a case of dodging needles. Couldn't believe the amount of syringe packets on the floor. Hundreds with no exaggeration. Anyway in the 5 mins I was in there another fly tipper arrived to make another deposit. There are also people living just by the portal who I accidentally distributed and they starting banging stuff to try to scare me away. I didn't hang around. Quite upsetting for grade 2 listed structure to be in this state. .... anyway I'll post my video later in the week.

Might also explain the expression "Gone to pot"!

The prefabs were never "home" to me, I was always in the main building in Mr Dysons class, but I remember the meals being delivered in large grey lorries with "School Meals" on the side, The food was in large aluminium drums, and was cooked off site, and delivered to all schools by lorry,

Derbyshire Lane, not sure of the date..

Electrically powered vehicles? Bottles which are recycled? Gosh, how very old-fashioned.