EllisSearcher Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 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 More sharing options...
johnm Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 The Local Studies library has old Sheffield newspapers which may have something in about his accident see https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/libraries-archives/access-archives-local-studies-library.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 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 More sharing options...
Edmund Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Some newspaper cuttings giving details of Walter's accident, though seems not to have been at Owlerton He didn't leave a will: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boginspro Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 23 hours ago, Edmund said: Some newspaper cuttings giving details of Walter's accident, though seems not to have been at Owlerton He didn't leave a will: 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 More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 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. 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 More sharing options...
Edmund Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 A map (early 1950's) showing where the Dolphin beerhouse was (corner of Summer street and Mushroom Lane) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 36 minutes ago, Edmund said: A map (early 1950's) showing where the Dolphin beerhouse was (corner of Summer street and Mushroom Lane) 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 More sharing options...
boginspro Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 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 More sharing options...
Edmund Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterinfrance Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 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 More sharing options...
Michael68 Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 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 More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 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 More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 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 More sharing options...
Michael68 Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 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 More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 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 More sharing options...
EllisSearcher Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 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. 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 More sharing options...
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