Jump to content

Walter Ellis, Publican - killed by a tram


EllisSearcher

Recommended Posts

Morning

I've known for some years that my great-grandfather, Walter Ellis, as well as being an Edge Tool Grinder, ran a pub called the Dolphin on Edward Street in Netherthorpe area.  I’ve seen a mention of the pub in a book, but can’t remember the name of the book and wondered if anyone had any other background information or knows the slim volume I refer to?

Sadly, Walter died tragically after being run over by a tram in Winster Road, Owlerton.  As I’ve only been researching my family tree for 3 weeks, I’ve yet to investigate archive materials of this.  If anyone knows of any reports of this I’d really appreciate any pointers in the right direction.  The Ellis family lived in several houses on Summer Street from the late 1800’s. Walter was a friend of William Broadhead and used to drink with him in the Red House on Solly Street. 

I know there are other Ellis family historians out there and it seems to be a common trait. I just don’t know may of them as it is such a big family.  Finally, I wondered if anyone knows if our family name is connected to Ellis Street, off Meadow Street at Netherthorpe 

Thanks in anticipation 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks.  I know I need to spend a day or two looking things up.  I’m making a list of lines of investigation for various family members

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, EllisSearcher said:

I've known for some years that my great-grandfather, Walter Ellis, as well as being an Edge Tool Grinder, ran a pub called the Dolphin on Edward Street in Netherthorpe area.

Are you sure it was the Dolphin on Edward Street that he ran, his home address seems to suggest it could have been the Dolphin Hotel, Summer Street, which was a beer house and closed 31st December 1923. The Edward Street one is in our pubs list and the Summer Street one is mentioned on a PDF at this link       ---------      http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiJnfbdiqzdAhVrI8AKHb7gCQAQFjAAegQICBAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbroomhall.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F12%2FOB_PDF001_OB_List-of-Licensed-Beerhouses-in-Broomhall-c.1870-c.1935-MC.7.1.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2928JaV6CLcbhFAKOX23Kf

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, Edmund said:

Some newspaper cuttings giving details of Walter's accident, though seems not to have been at Owlerton

757978189_WalterEllisTramaccident1909.png.1813d2748d1b941f2d2eadea95cc5fda.png

1477595624_WalterEllisTramaccident1909_1.png.de7b3efad8ba90953d73db1a2507484a.png

1700296529_WalterEllisTramaccident1909_2.png.e07a351a9e9f01aa472e54e0511bf5c9.png

He didn't leave a will:

339935435_WalterEllisProbate.png.74c302f6c7c3024128065ad8a287548d.png

Thanks so much for these clippings.  It brings his character to life and confirms some of the few details we as a family know about him.  My father wasn’t born until 1928 so didn’t know him at all and lost his own father in 1944. The Ellis family occupied a good number of houses on Summer Street, so no doubt running a beer house on the street was a popular idea,    As you will no doubt know, the more information we have, the more we want to know.  Thanks again for this post.  I really appreciate it. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To Boginspro

I'm very new to this kind of research and am trying to piece the scant information I have to try to understand my family's life on Summmer Street before they scattered  to the hills of Sheffield and beyond.  I think it is more likely that the Dolphin was the beerhouse on Summer Street.  My Dad used to tell me tales of his aunts and uncles helping themselves to drinks on the cellar steps.  They seemed a lively bunch.  Great Grandad Walter is described as a jovial character, a trait that has passed down through the generations.  Thanks for your help with this.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Ellis Family, circa 1903.  The photograph was taken because the last of the Elliott family sisters was leaving Sheffield for Philadelphia.  I know there are a number of copies of this picture in circulation and hope to find the owner of the original version at some point.

FEB7C55F-02EA-4A12-AE48-6BAC17C25596.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The licence for the Dolphin beerhouse, Summer street changed hands in 1915 (see 2/3 of way down on the attached) Charles Brearley to Arthur Ellis.

505104296_Licencetransfer1915.png.69994b9f0660182117ad98274ad888e1.png

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Edmund said:

The licence for the Dolphin beerhouse, Summer street changed hands in 1915 (see 2/3 of way down on the attached) Charles Brearley to Arthur Ellis.

505104296_Licencetransfer1915.png.69994b9f0660182117ad98274ad888e1.png

Thanks again Edmund for your input.  However, I wonder if this went to one of my great uncles as my grandfather died in 1909?

I think I need to find a book on drinking habits and places of the time.  Could you recommend anything?  

I spent the afternoon going round the Portland Works open day  in Sheffield.  Fascinating place with some local history experts to chat to as well.  I am well and truly hooked

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, Edmund said:

A map (early 1950's) showing where the Dolphin beerhouse was (corner of Summer street and Mushroom Lane)

1936116246_SummerStreet1950s.png.d6a32e4e81d24f550cad36dca8e2edf8.png

Wow! Again, many thanks.  This is perfect.  From this I can track the different houses where the family lived over the years. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Edmund said:

A map (early 1950's) showing where the Dolphin beerhouse was (corner of Summer street and Mushroom Lane) 

I had looked at that map earlier Edmund  and wondered about the mention of number 78 Summer Street, was it incorporated into 76 or was there an error in the earlier reports?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, boginspro said:

I had looked at that map earlier Edmund  and wondered about the mention of number 78 Summer Street, was it incorporated into 76 or was there an error in the earlier reports?

My presumption is that by the 1950's there was little point in referring to a single premises as "76 and 78" as it was by then unlikely that they would be separated into two again.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi EllisSearcher

I have an Arthur Ellis in my Family Tree. He was born in Sheffield 5th October 1880 so he would have been about 35 at the time of the

Dolphin beerhouse changing hands. But I do not know if it is him.

I also have a Walter Ellis born in Sheffield May 12 1876. but he is much younger than your Walter.

Incidentally my surname is Bownes there are a lot of Bownes in Sheffield and going back they seem to come along with Bown from

the Eckington area

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, peterinfrance said:

Hi EllisSearcher

I have an Arthur Ellis in my Family Tree. He was born in Sheffield 5th October 1880 so he would have been about 35 at the time of the

Dolphin beerhouse changing hands. But I do not know if it is him.

I also have a Walter Ellis born in Sheffield May 12 1876. but he is much younger than your Walter.

Incidentally my surname is Bownes there are a lot of Bownes in Sheffield and going back they seem to come along with Bown from

the Eckington area

I also have a Walter Ellis in my family tree. He was married to Harriot Elliot.

They had a son (and maybe more children, but I don't have details) called Francis George Pearce Walter Ellis who married Mary Ellen Moore. Their ages were respectively 22 and 19, and the marriage was on 14th April 1903. 

FGPWE and Mary Ellen had a daughter called Norah, who was my grandmother. (again, not sure of any other children)

FGPWE (what Mary used to call him when she was  annoyed with him so I'm told) is on the back row of the picture, 3rd from the right.

FGPWE, who was a grinder, of 64 Summer Street, died aged 63 and was buried at Crookes on 2 Dec 1944. Mary Ellen died aged 65 and was buried on 26th August 1948.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Michael68 said:

I also have a Walter Ellis in my family tree. He was married to Harriot Elliot.

They had a son (and maybe more children, but I don't have details) called Francis George Pearce Walter Ellis who married Mary Ellen Moore. Their ages were respectively 22 and 19, and the marriage was on 14th April 1903. 

FGPWE and Mary Ellen had a daughter called Norah, who was my grandmother. (again, not sure of any other children)

FGPWE (what Mary used to call him when she was  annoyed with him so I'm told) is on the back row of the picture, 3rd from the right.

FGPWE, who was a grinder, of 64 Summer Street, died aged 63 and was buried at Crookes on 2 Dec 1944. Mary Ellen died aged 65 and was buried on 26th August 1948.

 

Hi Michael

i believe we are cousins.  I met Aunty Norah only once when I was a child. I was with my Dad, her youngest brother Leslie, in the old Rag and Tag market.  They rarely saw each other but I remember how happy they both were to bump into each other.  I’m currently researching the Ellis family history which is full of characters! Frank and Mary Ellen had 13 children in total, starting in 1903 with my Uncle Ray. There were 8 boys and 5 girls.  Two of the girls and one boy died in childhood.  They ,mostly lived on Summer Street.  I look like my grandmother or at least I did at a similar age and also like my Aunty Mary.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/09/2018 at 18:52, peterinfrance said:

Hi EllisSearcher

I have an Arthur Ellis in my Family Tree. He was born in Sheffield 5th October 1880 so he would have been about 35 at the time of the

Dolphin beerhouse changing hands. But I do not know if it is him.

I also have a Walter Ellis born in Sheffield May 12 1876. but he is much younger than your Walter.

Incidentally my surname is Bownes there are a lot of Bownes in Sheffield and going back they seem to come along with Bown from

the Eckington area

Hi Peter

i believe, Arthur was Walter's nephew or maybe his brother.  I’ve only been researching for 3 weeks and am somewhat overwhelmed by the number of Ellis's with similar names.  They were a close knit family I think and all lived near each other. I’m guessing they all looked pretty similar like my father and his brothers.  I know there are family characteristics I have inherited - both good and bad!   I could check out Eckington churchyard for you as I live not too far from there

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, EllisSearcher said:

Hi Michael

i believe we are cousins.  I met Aunty Norah only once when I was a child. I was with my Dad, her youngest brother Leslie, in the old Rag and Tag market.  They rarely saw each other but I remember how happy they both were to bump into each other.  I’m currently researching the Ellis family history which is full of characters! Frank and Mary Ellen had 13 children in total, starting in 1903 with my Uncle Ray. There were 8 boys and 5 girls.  Two of the girls and one boy died in childhood.  They ,mostly lived on Summer Street.  I look like my grandmother or at least I did at a similar age and also like my Aunty Mary.

 

 

Hello again,

Depending on the year , I may have been there in the Rag and Tag. it was the Saturday morning outing, me and my Mum and Norah going to the markets and Woolworths, seeing "potty" Edwards throwing dinner services around, and the big weighing machine.

I didn't know they had so many children. My dad, Norah's son, (still with us, aged 91) remembers uncle  Les.

I've got an old wedding photo with Frank, his son Frank, and Thomas along with his bride (don't know her name), Nancy, Mary Eĺlen and presumably the bride's parents. I'll copy it and send it via a message on here if you like. Also pics of Norah.

If Frank was your grandfather, and my great grandfather, I think that makes us first cousins once removed?

I got what knowledge I have of the Ellis family on a free weekend on Ancestry but never followed it up. Perhaps I should do it now.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Michael68 said:

Hello again,

Depending on the year , I may have been there in the Rag and Tag. it was the Saturday morning outing, me and my Mum and Norah going to the markets and Woolworths, seeing "potty" Edwards throwing dinner services around, and the big weighing machine.

I didn't know they had so many children. My dad, Norah's son, (still with us, aged 91) remembers uncle  Les.

I've got an old wedding photo with Frank, his son Frank, and Thomas along with his bride (don't know her name), Nancy, Mary Eĺlen and presumably the bride's parents. I'll copy it and send it via a message on here if you like. Also pics of Norah.

If Frank was your grandfather, and my great grandfather, I think that makes us first cousins once removed?

I got what knowledge I have of the Ellis family on a free weekend on Ancestry but never followed it up. Perhaps I should do it now.

 

Hi

I've also sent a private message.  I used to love the Rag and Tag especially the weighing machine and Pot man. I think it would have been in the late 60’s or early 70's.  I seem to remember Dad saying Norah was around 66 which seemed so old at the time, but not so much now I’m older!  I guess that makes it around 1971.   

 I don’t work on Fridays so will start searching out other photos to share.  I have a great one of four of the brothers - Walter, Frank, Albert and my dad, Leslie.

Enjoy your evening cousin Michael 

love Sharon

 

CE56835A-49C5-439A-8F90-86DE4817B896.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/09/2018 at 18:52, peterinfrance said:

Hi EllisSearcher

I have an Arthur Ellis in my Family Tree. He was born in Sheffield 5th October 1880 so he would have been about 35 at the time of the

Dolphin beerhouse changing hands. But I do not know if it is him.

I also have a Walter Ellis born in Sheffield May 12 1876. but he is much younger than your Walter.

Incidentally my surname is Bownes there are a lot of Bownes in Sheffield and going back they seem to come along with Bown from

the Eckington area

Hi Peter

Ive been looking at Arthur Ellis in my tree, born in 1888 and the connection to the Dolphin.

i have no evidence of this as yet, but I think Walter Ellis and his wife Harriet, would have known Charley Brearley who was a local grocer. I think he might have taken on the Dolphin after Walter died and 5 years later it passed to cousin Arthur.  He went on to become a wines and spirits merchant and lived to 1963 in the SW of the city.  

Not sure if this links to your family though 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 09/09/2018 at 10:16, EllisSearcher said:

The Ellis Family, circa 1903.  The photograph was taken because the last of the Elliott family sisters was leaving Sheffield for Philadelphia.  I know there are a number of copies of this picture in circulation and hope to find the owner of the original version at some point.

FEB7C55F-02EA-4A12-AE48-6BAC17C25596.jpeg

PS - one of the little boys on the front row grew up to be Jackie Bestall, who played professional football for Grimsby Town.  Some great stories about him

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...