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Tell Me Something About Sheffield City Centre That I Don't Already Know...


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Challenge for you all...

Tell me something about Sheffield City centre that I don't' know

Something about a place, building or street in the centre of Sheffield that we are familiar with, but with a fact that we don't know

Surprise me...

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Challenge for you all...

Tell me something about Sheffield City centre that I don't' know

Something about a place, building or street in the centre of Sheffield that we are familiar with, but with a fact that we don't know

Surprise me...

The Peace Gardens are really named after the famous Sheffield murderer Charlie Peace.

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Sheffelds first set of traffic lights were at the junction of Sidney Street and Matilda Street S1

(did a search on SH which didn't turn this up)

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There you go Neil pick the bones out of this, the piece is out of copyright but thanks go to Eric Youle for the transcription......


From the Church to Shales Moor coming from the Church, the
first place of note was the old Town Hall, built in the year 1700. It
stood at the South East Corner of the Church Yard. It was built
of Stone for the use of the Town. The Sessions was held here, and
the Magistrates used to do all their business in it. There was Steps
went up on each Side the door on the North Side into the Hall, also
a flight of Steps facing up Church Lane for the Magistrates and
other Officers to go into the Hall.
The prisons was underneath the Hall. The door was on the
South Side and faced nearly up Fargate, so that when any person
was Confined you had an opportunity of seeing them. I have peeped
many a time when a boy thro' the small round hole to see persons
whom perhaps I knew. Their friends had an opportunity of giving
them Vituals, but people often gave them Liquors. I have heard
many a drunken prisoner bawl there. There was 3 Prisons, 2 for
men and 1 for women. There was a dwelling over the woman's
prison; some one lived there to keep the hall clean etc. The Stocks
was in front of the Building, facing down High Street. Lionel
~Smilter the Town Crier, lived in a dwelling under the Hall.

There was some large Gates at the East Corner of the Hall and went
in a slanting direction across to the corner of the house once occupied
by Mr. Watkin [Walker] Confectioner. The Church yard was enclosed
by a low Stone wall only on the North and South sides. There was
a few old houses on the West side, built with no regularity. The road
to the Church was on the South, fronting Cutlers' Hall and [the other,
already mentioned] South East by the Town Hall. On the North
Side, from the top of Paradise square was up a flight of perhaps 12
or 14 Steps out of Campo Lane opposite that Grocer's Shop‹it was a
Grocer's shop at that time. These steps had a l ail in the middle.
There was only one door on the North Side the Church, the same as
now. These steps used to lead direct to that door‹no St. James
Street nor St. James Church. St. James row and the East Parade
is took from part of the Church yard.{1} Where the News Rooms are,
used to be some very old buildings belonging to the Church where they
once cast a Sett of Bells for the Church. All mason work belonging
to the Church was done here. {2}
Church Lane was made wider in the year [1785)] by taking a part
of the Church yard. When a boy going to School and passing by
the Church yard at the time when they was widening this street I
have seen them dig up dead bodies very often, there was a deal of
noise in the Town at that time about it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 The description of the Churchyard here given relates to the year 1785, when
the widening of Church Street, and the making of St. James Row (originally
called Virgins Row) by taking strips from the south and west sides led to
the erection of iron railings. Similar palisading was added on the north side
in 1791- but East Parade was much later, dating from the time of the removal
of the Town Hall in 1808. The walk opposite the Cutlers' Hall to the south
door of the Church had been made in 1725 as a sort of s~ate approach for the
Cutlers' Company, who paid for its construction and were responsible for its
repair. Besides the steps at the north west corner, which remained after the ,
St. James Row had been made, there were others at the north east corner into
the Churchyard by the Boys' Charity School. The Girls' Charity School, now
the offices of Messrs. Gibbs & Flockton, was the first building erected in St.
James Row (1786) on part of the Vicarage Croft. Mr. Wigfull tells me that ,
there is evidence of a north door into the Church, opening into the north aisle .
opposite to the second bay from the west; and facing a similar entrance from .
the south. In the re-building, 1790-1805, other doors were substituted in a
somewhat different position. These were closed in 1856, when the western
entrance was made. Mr. Woolhouse was right in taking it for granted that
everybody knew "that grocer's shop" at the corner of Paradise Street and
Campo Lane; for there Thomas Newton and his successors did a large trade
on small premises by supplying cutlers with emery, crocus and glue. Many
of us remember it.

2 From 1722 the Capital Burgesses rented a "laith," or barn, on the property
of the Heatons, for the accommodation of workmen during church repairs.
In 174445, departing from the usual custom of obtaining bells from distant
foundries a peal of eight was here cast, or recast, by one Daniel Hedderley,
the metal being also locally supplied. The barn is always spoken of as "in
the churchyard" until 1809 when, East Parade having been made, it "adjoined"
the Churchyard, and having been used by the masons during recent rebuilding,
its tenancy was then given up. It is possible that the Award relative to an
alleged encroachment in 1636 quoted in H.A.S. Transactions, i. p. 74, related
to this site. For the position of the East Parade News Room see H.A-S-
Transactions. i. p 156-


10

The Town Hall was pulled down in the year 17‹-[1808] and the
street made wider and in its present form. The High Street was
composed of very low old-built houses, a many pulled down and others
new fronted. I believe there was once, a little above the middle of
this street, stood a Priory, and I believe that yard leading from Gales'
Shop to High Street was once called Prior Row; and this Street,
High Street, was then called Fryars Gate.{3} Where the present Shambles
are built once stood the old Shambles built of wood and very dirty.
I only remember seeing these old Wooden Shambles and being in them
some several times.{4} I here was a cross (the same was removed into
Paradise Square) stood at the top of Pudding Lane (now King Street).
A little lower down the Street stood the old Angel Inn, The most noted
inn between London and Edinburg, kept then. by Mr. Samuel Peech,
a very wicked but honest man. A little lower, opposite the Sign of
the Castle, once stood a Cross, (but before my time).{5}
There was no Bank Street, nor do I believe that Street took its
name from the Bank. But there was where the Bank now is, some
very old houses stood as tho' they was upon a piece of rock or high
bank, say 2 or 3 yards higher than the Street or road. As the Street
was very imperfect at that time and a considerable deal higher than
now, with a number of old houses all the way down Snig hill. West
Barr was in the same direction as now, only some new houses have
been built and a number of old ones new-fronted.{6}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 I have on various occasions refuted, by the production of definite evidence, the
fiction, persistent since the publication of Gosling's plan in 1736, that the
original name of High Street was Prior Gate; and "Fryars Gate" is altogether
mythical. Prior Row was never the passage between High Street and Hartshead
now known (after many changes of name) as Aldine Court. It was the name
of the houses along the north side‹that is, they were Prior Row in High
Street. The houses on the south side were never described as Prior Row, but
in High Street "over against Prior Row. " There is not the slightest historical
basis for the statement that there was once a Priory in the street.

"Shambles" has become so generally regarded as a synonym for slaughter-
houses as to make it necessary to remember that Sheffield clung tenaciously
to its primary, and etymological meaning‹a bench or stall, on which goods,
and especially meat, were exposed for sale. When, in 1786, the butchers were
relegated from the open street to better, but duller habitations within four
walls, and with them the vendors of butter, eggs and poultry, the name was
transferred with them‹it remained the Shambles, not the Market. Fruiterers
and others continued outside until the demolition of the Debtors' Gaol in King
Street, in 1818 (on the site now occupied by the Norris Deakin Buildings) made
a void which they filled‹to the great relief of the congested streets but with
some loss of picturesque but slovenly litter. (For Killing Shambles see Note
3~).

5 The Irish Cross. The Castle Inn stood at the corner of Water Lane, facing
Angel Street.

6 This somewhat confused paragraph seems to suggest that Bank Street took its
name from the rather abrupt descent of the ground towards Snig Hill and the
commencement of West Bar-‹apparent enough farther on, in Scargill Croft and
New Street. But there is nothing more certain in Sheffield nomenclature than
the fact that Bank Street, made in 1791, was run through "the orchard or
garden " of the bankers, Shores, and took its name from their bank‹the
structure of which is still seen behind and above the shop at the corner of
Angel Street and Bank Street. It was originally intended to call the latter
Shore Street. By 1793 it had become known as Bank Street.


11

There was an old Workhouse at the end of West Barr, at the
Bottom of Workhouse Croft. This Workhouse was considerably
enlarged in my time and was entirely pulled down in the year 18‹
[1829]. At the North side of this Workhouse stood a Quantity of
old houses, upon West barr green. They was pulled down to make
the large opening Street at the west end of West Barr green. These
houses proceeded nearly to the bottom of Lambert Croft. At the
bottom corner of Lambert Croft stood a Public house kept by Charles
Kelk.{7} It stood within the Street and was pulled down to make the
Street uniform at the bottom. Gibraltar Street was a deal narrower
in places than now, and there was a long walk on the right hand
going on, and all was fields and Gardens to the Cotton Mill, a Mill
which stood upon the ground where the Workhouse now stands.
The Lancasterian School was then a Rolling Mill belonging to one
Parkin. The Public house opposite the Lancasterian School, (Sign of
the Greyhound) was kept by John Hinchcliffe, one of the acting
Constables of Sheffield. T his was the last house in Sheffield that
way; beyond the Lancasterian School was all fields and gardens. On
the right hand side and near to where Ebenezer Chapel now stands
was a bowling Green, a very elegant one kept by John Hinchcliffe.{8}
My father used to frequent this Green often and I have been many a
time to accompany him home when a boy from this Green. The
Shales Moor commenced here. It was a piece of Waste ground
reaching from the bottom of Trinity Street to where the Roscoe
Factory is built. It was there where the Farmers used to deposit
the manure which they brought out of the Town. There was some
Steps to go over into a Field called the Coach gate, this is now Hoyle
Street, which led up to Mr. Hoyle's house. There was a Carriage
road through this field up to Mr. Hoyle's House and a small brook
of water run through it and from here this water was conducted
underground into the river.{9} It goes just under the doors and windows
of those houses in Cornish Street, thro' Green Lane into the river.
It was what used to overflow at Crookes Moor dams. Proceeding
on, now Cornish Street, was a very large and neat Bowling Green
belonging to the Cleekham public house. Afterwards a large Steam
grinding wheel was built and the green destroyed; then the wheel
was destroyed, and Mr. Dixon's white metal manufactory built upon
the ruins.{10} The main Turnpike road went on this way at that time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Charles Kelk was dead in 1797, and the house was kept by his widow, and
West Bar and West Bar Green so teemed with public houses that the sign
of this is doubtful.

8 Hence Bowling Green Street.

9 Hence Watery Street.

10 Cornish Place.
~

12

up past Morton Wheel which is now Vulcan Works,{11} and a foot-road
used to strike into the fields a little above Cleekham Inn on the left
hand and come out again near the bottom of Pack Horse Lane (now
the Lane leading up to the Barracks).{12}
My GrandFather kept a public house in Green Lane and this
Cleekham Inn was also one at that time. l he large house (I don't
know who dwells there now), with the Pallasades and Trees before
it, was built upon the place where my GrandFather kept ale. I can
remember the same workshops my grandFather had; they was standing
but not the house. The foot road at that time came up close by my
GrandFather's house and kept up by the water side to the front
of the Cleekham Inn. There was a long walk fenced on each side
with a Stone wall, came from the end of Spring Street (or Spring
Croft called at that time) up Long Croft to Green Lane, and not
one house built between Spring Croft and Green Lane. My mother
saw them building the first Silk Mill. The Contractor or overlooker
for the building boarded at their house in Green Lane‹while the Mill
was building. This Mill was burnt down several times, I saw it myself
each time. The present Workhouse stands upon the same ground
as the Mill used to do. Kelham Wheel was part belonging to the
Mill. {13}

We will now return to Gibraltar Street. On the left hand side
as you proceed to Cupalo Street, there used to be a Cupalo at the
Top~ This Street is much as it were; same by Copper Street, and
Trinity Street and Snow Lane. Smith Field has had a many houses
built in it. Mr. Morton, Silversmith (Mr. Thomas Dunn, Table Knife
Manufacturer, married his Daughter). I knew this Mr. Morton very
well and he told me himself that he dug the first sod up in Smith
Field to build his house upon, and he built the first house in
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Morton's Wheel was very ancient. Vulcan Works on its site have become
Rutland Works. The Owlerton Road ran much nearer to the river than at
present.

12 The old Barracks at Philadelphia. When the Langsett Road was widened it
went through these. The present Barrack Lane indicates approximately their
position. The last part of this sentence is rather obscure, but it probably means
that the writer having followed the turnpike to Morton Wheel, returns to
Cleckham Inn (Cornish Place), and decribes a footpath leading thence on his
left in the direction of the present Infirmary Road once rural Whitehouse
Lane; whence Causey Lane led to Upperthorpe and Daniel Hill. Now it is
interesting to find Mr. Woolhouse speaking of Pack Horse Lane hereabouts,
because it suggests (and additionally in conjunction with "Causey Lane"),
a connection with that Racker Way which Mr. T. Walter Hall traced from
Walkley Hall to Stannington. H.A.S. Transections, i. p. 63. Nor is the
interest removed if this interpretation be wrong, and the writer meant that
Pack Horse Lane led to the old Barracks. Because there is thence also an
approach to Daniel Hill, but from the other side, by what is now called
Woollen Lane. Further, what has become Infirmary Road is marked, on early
nineteenth century maps "Walkley Road."

13 The silk mill, built in 1758, became a cotton mill. It was burnt down in 179~,
and again in 1810.



13

Smith Field. What is now Allen Street was a very deep narrow
Lane. My mother used to come from Green Lane to Sheffield to
School sometimes up this lane. It was then called Cuckoo Allen Lane
because they generally heard the Cuckoo sing first in this lane as
they went to School. The House now occupied by Mr. Hoyle was
my GrandFather's nearest neighbour, as Green Lane was all Tanyards
belonging to Mr. Aldam of Upperthorpe‹no house between this house
(now Mr. Hoyle's) and Green Lane. This Elegant Country house
as it was then, belonged to a very eminent Lawyer, called Redfern
(oftener by the name of Devil Redfern). These Hoyles is descended
from him. This House in my Time was situated in the midst of
Fields, Gardens, and pleasure grounds. There was a row of Aspen
trees from Allen Lane to Burnwell as high as most houses, used to
shade the road as you approached to the house, also very elegant
privet hedges, and a very large Rookery, a large Dove Cote, etc. etc.,
Stables, out-buildings, etc. etc. etc.{14}
There was no road any higher than the passage from top of this
Allen Lane into Scotland Street on the left hand; going up on the
right hand was this walk over-shadowed by these fine trees I have
just mentioned. Our servant girl used to fetch water from the Burnt
Tree from Lambert Croft. In Summer time there was branches of
water, only one in some streets, and a person (they used~ to call him
Water John) used to come twice a week and blow a Horn at the
lop of Lambert Street as there was one [branch] fixed there and you
used to take your Kit or Flasket. He would have filled it twice for
a penny. But then in Summer this water used to run short and you
was compell'd to fetch it where it was most to be had. This Burnt
Tree water was plentiful. I ha~,-e gone with the servant girls on a
Summers evening and I believe you would have met above 20 upon
the same errand. The lasses used to be very fond of going there
for water.

FROM THE OLD CHURCH TO CROOKES MOOR.

I have mentioned what an old, low, dirty Street Church Lane
was. Proceeding up, there was Brinsworth Orchards {15} on your left
(this Street was not all built at that time). On your right is now
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1~ Mr. William Hoyle, attorney and Clerk to the Cutlers' Company from 1777
to 1792, married a daughter of John Redfearn whose wife was a Fretwell of
Hooton Levett‹whence the later Fretwell Hoyles. Hoyle succeeded to Redfearn's
practice and house, which latter is sometimes described as at Portmahon, at
others as Netherthorpe. Portmahon has fallen into disuse, surviving in little
more than the name of a Baptist Chapel. The position of Netherthorpe, the
antithesis to Upperthorpe, is indicated by Netherthorpe Place. The house
stood at the present corner of Hoyle Street and Meadow Street, the entrance
to its grounds being in Burnt Tree Lane, which curved round them. The
lane still exists between Meadow Street and Doncaster Street, but it has been
straightened. Meadow Street is a comparatively modern improvement.

15 Brinsworth's (or more probably Brelsforth's, for the name is found in all
manner of spellings Orchards became Orchard Street



14

Vicar Lane but there was no St. James Street, no Vicar Lane, no
St. James Church. These places was the Vicarage Crofts. The next
Street up Church Lane was Solomon's Row (now Smith Street). This
Street used to be called Bloody Row. The following circumstance
gave it that name. One Solomon Smith and his son going to
Chesterfield Races, a Gentleman's carriage happened to be coming
from Chesterfield to the Race Common, a little on this side of Stone
Gravels (my Father has shewn me the place very often). The son,
then a boy, threw a Stone and frightened the Gentleman's horses.
The Gentleman ordered his Footman to horsewhip the boy for so
doing. The boy got over a wall and run across the fields, the Footman
in pursuit after him. There happened to be in one of the fields some
old Coal Pits. The Footman overtaking him began of horsewhipping
him and drove him into one of these old Coal pits, so that the boy
was killed upon the place. The Father had the case investigated into;
The Footman was committed to prison to take his trial. The Gentle-
man bargained with this Solomon Smith for so much money not to
appear against the man at the Assizes, so by that means the man
was acquitted.

With this money he (Solomon Smith) sold his son's life, for he
built Solomon 's Row or Bloody Row, as it was once called (it is
now Smith Street). {16} When I was a Boy it was reported that this
Street was haunted. My aunt used to live in it for a number of
years, and I have heard her and the rest of the family say that they
have heard dreadfull noises in the Street at midnight many a time.
Past this street you proceeded (inclining rather to your right) on
Pinfold Street (now Bow Street),{17} Pinfold Lane, very old low houses;
the Pinfold same as now. On your left was Blind Lane, a very narrow
old Street; the houses was unregular built, no West Street. All at
the back of Blind Lane on your right hand was fields and Gardens.
This Blind Lane continued a very narrow .street untill it came to the
top of Coal Pitt Lane. The Balm Green, on your left hand; this Balm
green was composed of very old houses, but no regular Street. At
the entrance of Blind Lane on your right hand was a foot road (in

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 Smith Street has been swallowed up in Leopold Street. t his story of Miser
Smith is one of many. It has been told before but not so fully as here. Local
gossip fixed the sum left by Smith at his death at £60,000. He was reputed
to have justified the omission of any provision for his housekeeper from his will
by the remark: "Why should I :J She has had an easy place, she has earned
a good deal of money by sewing at nights, and I found her a candle."

17 Bow Street was never Pinfold Lane or Pinfold Street. It was made in
connection with Glossop Road in 1821, through old tenements and cutting
across a narrow "jennel" called Sands Paviours, which ran from Orchard Lane
to Pinfold Lane between Smith Street and Blind lane (Holly Street)

15

being now) at the back of the Brown Cow. {18} This footpath led into
the fields to go to Broom Hall and Broomhall Spring and Crookes
Moor that way. No Carver Street, where Carver Street Chapel now
Stands was fields. I have exercised with the Regiment of Loyal
Independent Sheffield Volunteers under Colonel Athorpe, in which
Regiment I served for 6 years, upon the same place where the Chapel
now Stands, very often.{19} From this Chapel to Sheffield Moor was
all Fields. Proceeding on Trippett Lane, this was a narrow Street,
nearly same as now. Bailey Field (now Street) was not complete.
This was the last street on the right hand. Going forward, on your
left hand was, (and is yet) a narrow passage which used to lead from
Trippett Lane into the Fields, and a foot path leading from here
over the fields into Back Fields, From the bottom of this narrow
passage was a lane leading into the fields out of Trippet Lane to go
to Broomhall Spring.{20} Forward on, Trippett Lane was a very deep
narrow lane and rose up to a high hill at Portobello. No Bailey Lane;
from where Bailey Lane now is to Crookes Moor, was all Fields and
Gardens. Where St. George's Church now stands was a particular
high hill, it was Gardens and supposed to be the pleasantest Gardens
about Sheffield. Turning down Broad Lane on your right hand was
all Cornfields as far as Bailey Field; on your left hand was houses
but unregular built. No Red Hill Street.
Proceeding down Broad Lane at the bottom on the left hand is
Garden Street, this was not a Street at that time but partly Gardens,
no road through into Red hill.{21} Going up Townhead Street this
was once the principal head of the Town. The Town at one time
ranged very little higher than this Street. It was a deal more hilly
than at present and a considerable deal narrower. There was formerly
some very good public wells in this Street. On the left is Rotten
Row. I believe this Street retains more of its ancientness than any
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 'The writer, after a divergence along Blind Lane to Balm Green, here returns
to the junction of Pinfold Lane with Trippett Lane. The footpath he speaks
of still exists and is known as West Bank Lane. It emerges in West Street
opposite to Carver Street, and has (or had) a branch to Rockingham Street.

19 The Loyal Independent Volunteers were in being from 179~ to 1802. Carver
Street Chapel was built in 1805.

20 'This description of the footpath is not clear. No doubt there were several up
the slope of the hill, leading towards the lane which became Broomhall Street
and, on the right, towards Convent Walk. Back Fields, or Back Lands, often
written Black Lands, was the whole region extending north to south from West
Street to Sheffield Moor, east to west from Coal Pit Lane to Broomhall Street
and Fitzwilliam Street. Coal Pit Lane marks the division between the Town-
ships of Sheffield and Ecclesall, and along the Back Lands Division Street was
run, across it Carver Street, Rockingham Street and Eldon Street. The
populace converted Back Lands Lane (Broomhall Street) into Black Lambs
Lane.

21 Garden Street Chapel was built in 1780, and there were not A few residents in
Garden Walk, as it was usually called, by 1787- Although there was no street
at Red Hill there was access over its Waste to the Brocco




16

other Street in Sheffield. The water course still continues to run in
the middle of the Street, as most streets did 50 years ago. This was
once a very populace street leading to the Town Head Cross, etc., it
is not a very popular street at this time.{22}
At the top of Town Head Street stood the old Grammar School,
the road in front of this School was raised so as to be even with
the roof. A little below in the yard was the old Writing School,
John Eadon, Master.{23} I learnt at this school under Mr. John Eadon.
The Grammar School is now removed into Charlotte Street at the
top of Broad Lane. The first public Brewery was first estabished at
the top of Townhead Street, the proprietor was Mr [John Taylor 1756].{24}
Going along Campo Lane is Holy Croft, {25} there is very little alterations
in this Street except at the bottom which used to be very narrow and
a good Stone house built in this Street. This large house (it was
all in one) was untenanted a many years when I was a boy because
say'd report in those days it was haunted and no one durst live in it
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 The popular name for Rotten, or Ratten Row, indicated the sordid neglect
befalling a thoroughfare whose proper designation was Radford Row, so called
from Thomas Radford, Redford, Radforth or Redforth, the principal owner
who lived and had his works hard by. He was Master Cutler in 1725, the
year of the rebuilding of the Cutlers' Hall, when he made a curious claim
for compensation for the loss of certain perquisites his predecessors had enjoyed.
His house was in recent times a well-known fishing tackle shop at the bottom
of Broad Lane End. Like Red Croft, in Trippett Lane, the houses of Radford
Row made an island, their backs to Broad Lane End, and ran from the bottom
of Townhead Street (which Gosling marks as Well Street) to Tenter Street.
T he Town Trustees tinkered at this squalid purlieu in 1831; later, as one of
the most noisome haunts of iniquity in the town. it was wholly swept away
and its site makes the eastern side of the space at the bottom of the new
Hawley Street.

23 John Eadon was Master of the Free Writing School from 1760 to his death in
1810. For many years he was also writing master at the Grammar School.
Mr. Woolhouse's caligraphy is one of many proofs that penmanship was not
the neglected art it seems to be in the schools of to-day, but Mr. Eadon does
not appear to have had a great success in teaching him grammar. Eadon's
Arithmetical and Mathematical Repository survives as testimony to the
author's skill in figures. Like many other schoolmasters of his period he did
some land-surveying. Sims Croft, now abolished, was made through land on
which the two schools had stood.

24 The statement that John Taylor established in 1756 the first public brewery
in the town, where afterwards was The Warm Hearthstone, is manifestly
culled from 7 he Sheffield Local Register. But there was an earlier one
in Scargill Croft, for in the Leeds Mercury for May 17th, 174g, Thomas
Elliott vaunted the products of the "Sheffield Brew-house" there situate.

25 Sheffield could never make up its mind whether to call this Holy Croft, or
Hawley Croft‹whioh is not, perhaps, surprising, since the earlier generations
of the Holys wrote themselves Awley and Hawley. The old house referred
to is apparently one described in Sheffield in the Eighteenth Century, p.
176, as bearing the date 1721, though there was another in the same street
dated 1729. The former is believed to have been the residence of John Smith,
Master Cutler in 1722. After that it became the Ball Inn, kept by Jonathan
Beardshaw, following whom was Thomas, or as he was usually called, Squire,
Bright. As he was one of the twelve persons designated in the directory of
1787 as "Gentleman," it is possible that he was a descendant of one of the
Bright families of Whirlow, etc., although here he was a rate-collector. The
initials on the 172g house were those of Jonathan Moor, Master Cutler in 1723.



17

(what a dark age). Proceeding on Campo Lane there is a few old
houses pulled down and new ones built, but it is yet a very narrow
Street. There is a remnant of a part of an ancient wall still standing
on your right hand. I have no doubt but ere long this street will be
made considerable wider to the top of Paradise Square. This square
in my Parent's time was a Cornfield called Hicks Stile field. My
mother has seen Corn grow in this Square. I will relate one Circum-
stances to show what the 17 Century was. My GrandFather as I have
said in the former part of this work, lived at Green Lane and kept
a public house. He likewise carried on the Trade of Pocket Knives.
One of his men was lame and compell 'd to have Crutches to assist
him to travel for a number of Years. His residence was in Gregory
Row. My mother has mentioned his name often. This person was
out late one evening and had to come on Campo Lane, he saw (or fancied
he saw) the Bargast (as it has been frequent]y called) Coming towards
him on Campo Lane.{26} At that time the Paradise Square was a field
and a Stile at the top to go over. When he first saw this goblin
he thought within himself " If I can but get over this stile into the
field I can go down the hill merrily. " Gregory Row was a very
narrow Row or Street at the bottom of Paradise Square. This was
a very high hill at that time. ~I he bottom of the present Street has
been raised 3 or 4 feet in my time. He managed over this Stile, but
the fiend gained ground of him. Faster he went and faster it followed,
he ran with his Crutches till his fears came thicker and faster, and
this demon still getting nearer, when, being about the middle of
this field (the Square) seeing this goblin close at his heels, he there
dropt his Crutches and away went he without them, and never stopt
or look'd behind him until he got home (he lived in Gregory Row, a
very narrow thoroughfare out of West Bar Green and came out at
the bottom of Silver Street at the back of the now Sign of the Little
Tankard). The wife had the door made, but him being in such a
fright had not patience to wait until she opened the door but burst it
open. He told the wife what was at the door, ~but she was the worse
frightened at him coming without his Crutches than at the Bargast.
However they were a little reconciled and went to bed. He could not
rest from fright etc., got up at daylight the next morning to go in
quest of his Crutches; he found them in exactly the same place where
he dropt them. He went to his work the next morning and his Shopmen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 Hunter (Glossary) says the Barghasts were peculiar to towns or places of
public concourse, not to the country, the features by which they were distin-
guished being long teeth and saucer eyes. This is borne out by the examples
of the use of the word in the English Dialect Dictionary. It quotes Grose's
remark that the Barghast was a ghost "commonly appearing near gates and
stiles"; and a Cumberland definition, "a boggle that haunts burial places"‹
both of which characteristics are appropriate to the .story above.


18

was nearly as frightened to see him come trotting to the shop without
his crutches as he was when he saw the Bargast. However he was
so overjoyed that he gave his Shopmen a treat of s~ome ale, and they
spent the day Cheerfully; and he for his own part never used Crutches
again while he lived, and he lived a many years after this. So much
for this Bargast.

This Street, Campo Lane, is supposed to take its name from a
camp being there in the time of the Romans. At the end of this
Street once stood the old Boys' Charity School, an Ancient looking
building. The back yard went into York Street.{27} This street (York
Street) is much as when I first knew it. At the end of Campo Lane
on your left is Figtree Lane, a very ancient Street; also New Street,
this was a very narrow, hilly Street and a public well at the bottom.
It is supposed that the Vicarage was once in Figtree Lane; the
dwelling is now a Currier's Shop. {28} The narrow passage from the end of
Campo Lane into New Sreet (called Figtree Lane) all around here
was orchards only a little before my time. Where Queen Street Chapel
is built was figtree Orchard or Wade's Orchard.

FROM SNIG HILL. TO THE LADIES BRIDGE.

There appears nothing new in Hollis Street only when the river
rose to an uncommon height. Mr. Jonan. Green who is still alive
has told me that he has seen the water from the Millsands rise as high
as the Steps leading into the Sign of the Three I ravellers, at the
top of the Street.{29}

Bridge Street used to be called Under water on account of it
being so low as it was under the level of the river. Then they
ascended into by 3 steps from the Isle. To go over the Ladies Bridge
you had to ascend a flight of Steps, and Wagons carts etc used to go
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
27 The "Ancient-looking" Boys Charity School was erected 1710, with its front
to the Hartshead. When rebuilt in 1825, East Parade had been made, and
thereafter the School looked to the west instead of the north.

28 The delusion, shared by many, that the Vicarage was once in Figtree Lane, is
a misunderstanding of the fact that here were the houses of two of the Assistant
Ministers, bequeathed by Robert Rollinson. The Vicarage was always where
Messrs. Eadon's Auction Mart stands, at the corner of St. James Street and
St. James Row. For an account of the Currier s Shop of Joseph Smith, and
his sons, afterwards librarians at the Mechanics' Library, see Reminiscences
of Old Sheffield, p. 23. "The shop was a stone building, apparently two
centuries old, with small leaded window panes. " As Mr. Woolhouse says
nothing of the large figtree or figtrees, which once grew here, and gave the
street its name, I suppose they had vanished when he wrote.

29 By Hollis Street is meant the street in front of Hollis's Hospital. That
institution was removed to Whirlow in 1903, just two hundred years after its
foundation. I put in this note to prevent confusion with Hollis Croft, which
was made on land called "Brocho Hill" purchased by Thomas Hollis in 1727,
and vested by him in the Trustees of the Hospital. The Three Travellers, a
noted carrier's inn, stood in the now open space at thce bottom of Snig Hill


19


thro' the river. {30} The House (now next to Mr. Rawson's Brewery
gate is now a Cooper's Shop) had 4 or 5 Steps to go into the House,
the Chamber of which is now the Cooper's Shop. The Water Lane
was a very hilly street leading into Millsands. Very few houses in
Millsands. The Town Mill for grinding the Town's Corn, as was
the ancient custom, was here. I judge the same Mill occupied by Mr.
Vickers, as he has upon his Cart Tickets "Town Mill. " There was
formerly from the top of Millsands Stones set up in the river for people
to pass over to Bridge Houses. My father has seen them and gone
over them.{31}

FROM THE CHURCH (THE PARISH CHURCH) TO
THE LADIES BRIDGE.
The High Street I have mentioned, when you arrive at Change
Alley no alteration here only old houses (new fronted). Passing these
on t!he right hand was [on the top] some low old houses which they
pulled down to make the new Market. There was no Market Street.
A little below the (now) Market Street was a low public house Sign
of the Star, where Mr. Roger a publican now dwells, a very noted
public house, (one Mr. Littlewood kept it; he is now living). Where
the Commercial Inn now stands was a Hair dresser's-Shop and house,
one of the first in the Town, as it was a very good and genteel trade
at that time. T his hair dresser the Landlord wanted from off the Pre-
mises, to pull them down to make the Commercial Inn, so they unroofed
the house before they could compell the tenant (the Hair dresser) to
leave. This house fronted Jehu Lane as well as down the Bull Stake. {32}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 We may safely reject this statement of a carriage bridge being obstructed by
a flight of steps. Sheffield gossip had probably, in the course of passing down
from generation to generation, confused the talk of the elders about steps
having once led from the lower level of "T'Under Watter" up to the Dam
Gate End of the bridge, and taken it to mean steps on the bridge itself.
Here, of course, Mr. Woolhouse is speaking of what he had heard, not what
he had seen. I also venture to question the statement that there was once
a ford here.

31 See Note 42.

32 The above passage needs some elucidation to make it intelligible to the modern
reader, especially now that the fussy meddlesomeness of our municipal ~vise-
acres has flouted immemorial usage by merging what was the Fruit Market
in High Street. If, in the year 1784, you had stood near the bottom of Pudding
Lane (King Street) with your back to the Bull Stake (Old Haymarket), .and
had looked southwards, you would have seen on your left, on the line of the
properties on the lower side of Fitzalan Square, the narrow Jehu Lane, leading
to Baker's Hill; at its western corner the barber's shop of Peter Jeeves or
Jervis. To its right, other tenements and then, projecting somewhat, the
house spoken of above as, later, the Star Inn. Beside and behind this were the(-
Slaughter-houses, and facing it, an open space used as a Swine Market.
Before 1797, Swine Market and Slaughter-houses had both been removed, the
New Markets supplanting the former and Market Street being run through
the site of the latter. And in a few more years, the order was (left to right)
Jehu Lane, the Commercial Inn, Theaker's Coffee-house, the Star Inn,
Market Street.

20

Jehu Lane was always a very narrow, dirty street. The reason as I have
read of the name of Jehu being given to this lane was when Mary
Queen of Scots (who was a prisoner nearly 16 years at the Castle and
Manor House in the Park under the guardianship of the Earl of
Shrewsbury) was going from the Castle to the Manor House through
this lane was then the road. The Coachman in driving thro' this lane
used to make use of this expression to his horses "Jehu," which from
that circumstance derived the name of Jehu Lane, and continues so
to be called to this Day.{33} From here going down Bull Stake on the
right hand was all very low ancient houses with most of them courts
before them and steps to descend from the Street into them, as far
as Dixon Lane. Lower down stood the Castle Laiths. These they
pull'd down to build the Tontine Inn. I can only just remember these.{34}
Where the Town Hall stands was some old Houses, built with
no regularity, from this corner to the corner of Castle Green. Castle
Street was called True Love Gutter, but from what I can't tell.{35}
Down Wain gate was a very hilly Street and a many old houses
irregularly built, no Killing Shambles, we cross over the Bridge
into the Wicker. There was very few houses on the left hand side
from the Bridge to Bridgehouses; on the right hand was all Gardens.
The houses on the right hand going down the Wicker was in no
form; an old house or two stood in the middle of the now Turnpike
road, the Sign of the Cock, which was a calling-house for all the
Grimesthorpe people. It was then a very narrow road to Handly Hill.
Handley Hill was a deal higher than now-.{36}
The Turnpike road went under this hill and came with a bow to
the Sign of the 12 o'Clock. The road came in just at this side of the
12 o'Clock. The present Turnpike road was all Gardens and the foot
road was close by the houses, on the right hand going on this road
was called the Pickle. {37} the Turnpike road from top of Handley Hill
to Grimesthorpe was a very narrow deep lane and the foot road was
along the fields on the right hand side until you came to the narrow
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
33 This wild guess as to the origin of the name, Jehu Lane, and its wide
acceptance, does more credit to the imagination and credulity of Sheffield than
to its erudition. It is enough to say that the obvious way from the Castle
to the Manor was down Dixon Lane and over Sheaf Bridge. To thread the
narrow Jehu Lane and crooked Shude Hill was a roundabout way of seeking
unnecessary trouble.

34 As the Tontine was opened in 1785, we get here a guide to the limit of Mr.
Woolhouse's personal reminiscences and thus distinguish them from hearsay.

35 Truelove's Gutter took its name from a resident family named Truelove.

36 By Handley Hill, Spital Hill is meant. The house of the Handley family,
Hall Carr, was near where the Victoria Corn Mills now stand in Carlisle
Street.

37 The Twelve o'clock Public House and tollgate stood where Savile Street and
the Attercliffe Road diverge. The Pickle was on the right hand side of the
latter.

21

lane going down to Hall Car Wood, then you cross'd the turnpike
and the road went along the fields on that side and thro' that little
wood nearly at Grimesthorpe. The Lane was so deep that I have seen
a Cart laden with hay in the turnpike and I could have strode on the
top of it from the field. {38}
We will now return to the Bottom of Snig Hill to go to Bridge
Houses.
The Street called Goulston Street going past the sign of the Punch
Bowl, leaving Spring Croft on your left. Spring Croft from here was
partly field on the right hand side and when you was going along
this Street, on your right you could see across the fields into the
Bridgehouses. At the far end of this .street turning up Bower Spring
was a large Garden belonging to the Workhouse. At the bottom,
on your right hand Corner going up, a little above, is yet Bower
Spring, a running water which has supplied this end of the Town
with good water before I was born. I have fetch'd many a hundred
Gallons from it myself, to the top of Lambert Street. It was dry
in the year 18‹, but Mr. Benj, Beet, a particular friend of mine, lived
at Sign of the Shakespear and many of the water troughs is in his
backyard under ground. He applied to the Town Trustees concerning
this and they order'd him to make such search for this water as in
his Judgment was best. After much labour and expense they found
it again to the joy of the whole neighbourhood. It was above 3 months
quite dry (this he told me himself) and it now runs as plentiful as
ever. It was never known to fail before that time. {39}
Now return to the Sign of the Punch Bowl Corner of Spring
Street for the Bridgehouses.
Proceeding down this narrow Street towards the Bridge Houses
there was no street on your right hand leading to Ladies Bridge.{40}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 What used to be known as Occupation Road is meant. As that name implies,
it was not a turnpike road, hut a semi-private country lane for the accommodation
of the farms to which it led. It is now one long monotonous town street, and
it goes by the name of Grimesthorpe Road.
39 The reference here to Bower Spring throws light on certain minutes in
Records of the Burgesses. The first (p. 440), 6th Oct. 1824, directs the
Clerk "to enquire into the title of the Town Trustees to sower Spring and
the ground immediately around it; and to ascertain by what authority the
same has been lately obstructed and encroached upon; and to take such measure
for the removal of the present obstructions and encroachments, and for returning
the premises to their former state, as may be found advisable.~ Then five
years later, 11th November, 1829 (p. 452), " Mr. Ellison undertook that the
premises at sower Spring, held of the Duke of Norfolk by one Beet a publican,
shall be restored to their former state, and thrown open to the public as
heretofore. " Next, 7th Sept. 1835, inquiry is again to be made into the right
of the Trustees to Bower Spring, and how far they can comply with Messrs.
Warburton & Co.'s (brewers) application lo take in and enclose the same.
40 There was a thoroughfare for foot passengers long before, known as "Under
the Water,~ and it had been made available for vehicles under the name of
Bridge Street, earlier than 1808. But in this, and what follows, the writer is
speaking of the state of things in his early life, or even before his own
recollections. Compare my account of Coulson Crofts in the H.A.S. Trans-
actions, i. pp. 365~.


22

There is now a Malt Kiln at the bottom of this Street on your left hand.
From here to the Bridgehouses was all fields and a very large Orchard.
[on] The Orchard and fields from here to Bower Spring nothing was
built. The road from this Malt Kiln I have before described was very
narrow and the fields on your left hand was called Norris Fields,
belonging to Mr. Norris in West Barr, a very opulent Razor Manu-
facturer, who lived in West Barr (once Master Cutler), but the French
War so reduced his circumstances that he was an inmate at the Duke
of Norfolk's Hospital and Died there. Proceeding past these fields was
a large Orchard belonging to Mr. Burgin, Gardener, West Barr Green.
This road continued till you came to a Small wooden bridge [over
the goyt]. On the right side of this lane, for Street it was not then,
lived one William Potts, [who; kept a public house (now Mr.
Smith's). {41} He was Drum Major in the Loyal Independent Sheffield
Volunteers, this was a low old house. When the river Dunn use~
to swell I have seen it rise 3 Feet high in this house, there was a small
Garden before the house. Proceeding forwards was a high wall. To
the far end of the lane (now Street) only a few Garden Houses and
2 or 3 small Baths was built and young men and young women used
to frequent them very much in Summer time to bathe. When you
got to this Small bridge you continued on your left hand, same as
now, only where the houses now is was a Orchard which you went
round. The Kelham Wheel, on your right hand same as now to Bower
Spring it was a small wheel at that time and called Kelham Wheel.
This small bridge at the end of Bridge Street is now made of bricks
and one arch leading to the Bridge Houses. There was 2 large
fields between this small river and the River Dunn, but nothing built
upon them (the cast metal bridge not built). Before this cast metal
bridge was a wooden one over the same p]ace and before this wooden
one was Stones set up about 21 a yard higher than the water for people
to pass over. My Father has passed over these stones many a time
in coming that way from Grimesthorpe and he lived there with his
Parents until he was at age. Then he came and resided in Sheffield. {42}

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
41 William Potts is described in the 1787 Directory as Victualler, Colston Croft,
and in 1797, as of 20 Bridge Street. Under James Smith the house was known
as The Punch Bowl‹as it still is. It is close to the narrow walk leading to
the Town Mill and must not be confused with the more notorious Punch Bowl
near by at the corner of Spring Street and Coulston Street once kept by Alfred
(better known as Spotty) Milner.

42 As the wooden bridge was erected about 1726, it is evident from this that the
stepping stones remained and were even used, at least by boys, after the
bridge was built The iron bridge replaced wood in 1795. It is interesting
to note that the writer's father, h1 coming from Grimesthorpe to Sheffield,
chose the way of Tom Cross Lane and Bridgehouses, thus unconsciously adhering
to ancient tradition by taking what, in a recent lecture, I maintained to be
the line by which the Romans reached Sheffield.


23

One of these Baths I have been speaking of was kept by a person
of the name of Brocksop. He was a tall man and he and Mr. John
Crome, printer, was the only 2 persons in Sheffield who wore Cock'd
Hats as these hats was going out of Fashion when I was a boy. These
2 persons wore them some years after I was a man, say till I was
upwards of Forty.


FROM THE CHURCH TO BOTTOM OF SHEFFIELD MOOR
OR (NOW) SOUTH STREET
In going up Fargate there was houses built on both sides. The
Lords House stood a little on the North side of the present Norfolk
Row. A very elegant old House, it was inclosed by a Wall in a half
Circle and Palisaded. The present Duke of Norfolk was born in this
house. This I expect is the reason why it was called the Lord's
house, he being I.of of the Manor.
Where Norfolk Row is was a narrow foot passage into Norfolk
St. From the Lord's house backwards was a large yard from the
house to Norfolk Street called Stewards Croft where the Regiment
of Loyal Independent Sheffield Volunteers used to parade. I belonged
to this Regiment myself and has paraded in this Croft for a number
of years. Above the present Norfolk Row on your left is Peper Alley
leading to the Unitarian Chapel. This Chapel I believe to be the
oldest Chapel in the T own built in the year 1700. The first brick house
built in Sheffield was built in Pepper Alley and pulled down in 1837.
Some thousands of persons went to view it. It was supposed to be built
of such perishable material that it would soon yield to destruction,
but it is yet standing and is likely to continue so to do. On your
left is Pinstone Lane. No alteration much in this Street. The former
name was Pinching Croft from, it is believed, this reason. In
former times it was the sport of Shrove Tuesday to throw at Cocks
in this Croft in this manner. A person, a man, would introduce a
Cock alive and any person who would pay a penny or twopence for
each throw with a Stick at Certain paces from the Cock, if he knoct
the Cock down with the Stick, the Cock was his. Persons who had
Cocks used to get a good deal of money out of apprentice boys etc.
every Shrove Tuesday in this manner.{43} On your right hand is Brins-
worth's Orchards (now Orchard Street~ These before my time was
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43 A nobody of light is thrown on this strained derivation by Hunter's Glossary,
where we read "Pinch"; a game which consists in pitching half-pence at a
mark. " A form more usual than Pinching Croft, was Pincher Croft, and
sometimes Pinson, but these, as well as Pinston (like The Pickle, the Wicker,
Campo Lane, Jehu Lane and others), have never been satisfactorily elucidated.
The most reasonable suggestion, though mere conjecture, is that as, dialectally,
to pinch is to be niggardly, or to stint, the Croft was mean in size and con-
tracted in shape as if nipped by pinchers‹as pincers are usually called (Mr.
Addy says pinsors~.

.

24 ~.
Orchards belonging to a person of the name of John Brinsworth
This street was only partly built in my time. At that end next Far
Gate used to be a large sewer discharging itself just at the end of
this Orchard Street. It was then called Sow Mouth. Proceeding
forward was a many very low old houses on both sides the street
At nearly the top on the right hand stood Barker Pool a large square
of water enclosed by a stone wall. I have seen it full of water many
a time. It was built in the year l~ and destroyed in the year
17‹{44}. This Pool was made by one Mr. Barker living at Balm House,
a large Farm house supposed to be situated in Coal Pitt Lane, as
there was Orchards etc. where now Back Fields is, and went in a range
to Balm Green. T~his Pool continued until it became a public nuisance
as Dogs, Cats etc. used to be drowned in it. This Pool was first made
to be used in Case of Fire in the Town. The Town at that time was
so small that when they discharged this water out from this Pool, it
run down every street in the Town. From this Pool to the top of
Coal Pitt Lane was very narrow. Two carts was scarcely able to pass
in this Street. T,he water road (or sink) used to run down the
middle of nearly every Street in the Town. I think the only one is
Ratten Row at present which runs in this way. When they pulled
the old houses down from this Pool to the top of Coal Pitt Lane they
found an excellent well in one of the Kitchens belonging to these old
houses and has now erected a very elegant Town Pump upon the
same place. The Houses where the Well Run Dimple Public House
now stands is upon the exact piece of ground where Barker Pool
formerly stood.
Going down Coal Pitt Lane, this street used to be a very narrow
low lane. There has been buried many a Hundred good Self-Tip handles
and good bone nogs in this Street. I lived in this Street 26 years
and it has been twice dug up and set again while I lived in it. At
each of these times I have seen the men dig up barrows full of good
Self Tip handles, when they was thrown away they no doubt did not
know the way to straighten them as they appear'd all to be Crook'd,
and I have seen the men dig up many a wheelbarrow full of bone nogs,
but not fit for use, but they have sold them to Mr. Saml. Pass who
lived opposite the Well Yard and used to buy bone dust. He told
me himself that: he has paid the men 2 Pounds in one week for these
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44 Mr. Woolhouse was judicious in leaving the date of the building of Barker Pool
blank. For it is unknown. l once wrote: "The tradition is that one Barker
of Balm Green took steps to make some sort of reservoir.... and it puts
the date as 1434. All we know certainly is that in the year named there was
a 'Barker of Balm' and that there had been a William Barker in 1379." The
earliest definite mention of the Pool is in 1567. A plan of it, and its
surroundings in 1793, the date of its abolition, will be found in Sheffield in
the Eighteenth Century, p. 153. "Well Run Dimple" was the sign of a
public house on, or about, the site of Mr. Cadman's book shop.
~ ~

25

nogs as bone dust. The men had this for their allowance for Drink.
Nearly at the top of the street is a large dwelling (now turned into two)
house which has a Court before it. Mr. Linley, Shear Smith, lives in
part of it now. This is said was once the old Cutlers' Hall.{45} A
little below on the right hand upon the hill is a range of houses above
the Chapel. These was once all in one and is supposed was Balm
House, as there used to be a large open yard and a deal of Stabling
in my time, and behind this house was Orchards, gardens, etc. up to
Balm Green. This Balm Green was the green belonging to this Balm
Hall. Next to these houses is a Chapel built in the year [1774]. It has
belonged to a many different Sects to my remembrance.{46} They are
at present Methodists. A little below this used to be a Green and
a number of good wells and troughs for water. There was one good
well in my time as I lived upon the Well Yard; I have seen and got
water from it hundreds of times. I saw this well made up as it had
become a public nuisance for they used to drown dogs etc. in it
I remember a Certain time when a person who lived a little above
this well at the house where the Pallisades is and a drain came from
out of his Celler into this well. The person had a Rum Cask burst
in his Cellar and the Contents drained into this well. The first person
who came to the well for water in the morning was very much
surprised at the singular taste and Colour of the water. The news
soon spread in the street and a merry Jovial day it was to many, for
it was many a time emptied of its Contents that Day. This Street
has been considerably raised at the bottom and settled at the top
end. The last time it was repaired they took some (I believe many
hundreds) loads of earth etc from this street, and raised Sheffield
Moor (now South Street). I have no doubt but Sheffield Moor was
raised 4 feet in the middle from rubbish from Coal Pitt Lane. At
the bottom of this street stood a sugar manufactory pulled down in
1834 or 5.

My wife's Father (Abraham Moore) went to London for the model
and he built it. It is now in a very ruined state (as the proprietors
has built another near the Wicker) and is expected to be soon pulled

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

45 It was an old popular delusion that this, and other houses on which some
Master Cutler, in his pride of office, displayed the Cutlers' Arms, had been the
Cutlers' Hall. It is hardly necessary to say that all the Cutlers' Halls, in
succession, have been on the present site.

g6 The first Chapel in Coal Pit Lane was built by Edward Bennet, an Independent,
who himself discharged the functions of Minister. In 1790 Howard Street
Chapel was founded, largely through a bequest he left for the purpose. It was
his father who, earlier, had been mainly instrumental in providing the early
Methodists with their first two Meeting~houses. The Coal Pit Lane Chapel
gave place in 1835 to one erected for the Primitive Methodists.

26

down.{47} What is now South Street was then Sheffield Moor. There
was only a few straggling houses from the Sign of the Parrot, bottom
of Coal Pitt Lane to the bridge at the bottom of the Moor. I have
called this a bridge, but it does not deserve that name, as it was only
a single plank or two laid to cross the river. ~arts etc. used to go
through the river. From the bottom of Coal Pitt Lane to the bottom
of the Moor, Cows, Horses, Asses, etc. used to be grazing all the
day through. I have seen numbers of the.m in the daytime. Mr. Holy'.s
house and the Workshops (then a Button Manufactory) now Mr.
Abraham's School. I his house etc. stood by itself, and the footroad
used to go close by it. Mr. Kirkby's house a little above this last-
mentioned place was then a pleasant Country house. It is yet
standing.{48} I here was a few other odd houses here and there.
The Ladies' Walk was where now Porter Street is. I his was a
most pleasant rural walk from the top to the bottom of the Moor
to the bridge. l his bridge was rather better than the last I have
described, but this was made of wood flat and only one person at a
time could pass over. I have waited many a time for my turn to
go over. l he Cart.s and Horses etc used to go through the river.
l his walk was shaded from top to bottom with elegant trees.and ma(le
entire by wooden railing. This used to be a particular walk for the
Females on a summer's evening. From the Top of the Moor (now
Porter Street), coming down Norfolk Street there was no house on
your right hand until you came to the Assemby Room, all was fields
down to Pond Lane, called Al.sop Fields. There was a narrow walk
from (now about Surrey Street) used to go direct into Pond Lane.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

47 The sugar refinery was established by the above Edward Bennet who, in London
had picked up a wife and some knowledge of "sugar baking." The Abraham
Moore referred to is described in the 1797 Directory as a bricklayer, in Carver
Street. At the time when Mr. Woolhouse wrote, the sugar refinery was in the
hands of Samuel Revell, who, in 1836, pulled it down and removed to Nursery
Street.

98 Mr. Holy's House, afterwards J. H. Abraham's (or rather, Miss Abraham's,
for he taught chiefly in Milk Street) School, faced South Street at the southern
corner of Eldon Street. I think it is now occupied by a club, and stands behind
a line of shops. Kirkby's house was in Button Lane, where Eldon Street
crosses it.

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A find of remarkable quality, nice work.

Thank you.

The links are to an archaeological dig at Dun Street / Green Lane / Cornish Street. Probably useful read in conjunction with page 11 of the above

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Guest TheBotanical

Challenge for you all...

Tell me something about Sheffield City centre that I don't' know

Something about a place, building or street in the centre of Sheffield that we are familiar with, but with a fact that we don't know

Surprise me...

Sheffield's very own Upsy Daisy. Upsy's real name was Herbert Moss, who was a street vendor in the 1870's at a time where extreme poverty was still rife in Sheffield. He chiefly sold shoe laces, garters, brushes and Almanacs. Whenever he saw sa child trying to cross the road he would hurry over to them and carry them across.. In Victorian time parents would call their precious children Daisy, meaning they were delicate or small. When the children fell down, the parents would pick them up saying "Up, my daisy". When Herbert picked the children up to carry them across a busy road he would say "Upsy Daisy". Herbert soon acquired the nickname Upsy Daisy. This phrase soon became common for a parent to say to console a small child who had fallen. Upsy left a legacy for one of the most common known phrases still used today. Though little was known about his death, he had left £300 upon his death.

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Was this Building ever Built ?

PROJECTED PUBLIC BUILDING, (BANK STREET FRONT) .

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, March 06, 1847

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