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Elephants in the Circus parade in Sheffield city centre, April 21, 1974 Star Retro - Elephants (photo No 8 )

In 1878 Joshua Wigfull junior, aged 36, the previous occupant of Crabtree Farm decided to leave the district. His father had died the previous year, so there may have been an inheritance. He sold all his live and dead stock in March 1798 and his furniture in May. By August, Edward Dodson was the occupant and showing his exceptionally large mangolds and turnips at the Handsworth Horticultural Show. Edward Dodson farmed at Crabtree Farm from 1878 until 1903. In April 1903 Edward was giving up farming, selling off 9 horses, carts, harness, implements, fowls, and some furniture. By October 1905 John Heward was the occupier. With capital of £200 Edward began a Hay and Straw Dealer business. There is no record of the farm itself being advertised for sale, and being only able to raise £200 it would seem that he had only rented the farm. The hay and straw business failed due to bad trade, sickness and pressure from creditors, who sued him in May 1904. In August 1904 he was living at Sherwood House, Dover Road at the corner with Bristol Road (off Ecclesall Road) and trading from Sutherland Street, Attercliffe. He told the Official Receiver that his furniture shouldn't be included in his assets as it all belonged to his wife, to whom it had been given by her parents before her marriage. (The first tenant of Crabtree Farm was John Cawthorn, who in the mid 1600s planted a row of crab apple trees from which he supplied verjuice to the local doctors, for use as a medicine.)