Grandma's Scrapbook

November 11, 2022

Grandma's Scrapbook.

Grandma was an avid "Scrapbooker" combining family items with newspaper cuttings. "Thoughts for the day" sometimes were placed appropriately with a family item. Taking cuttings of what ever took her fancy sometimes overlapping, sometimes covering another item. She was interested in all sorts of subjects, and tended to place them in what seems a muddled way but as I've looked at it over the years I've learnt more of her character, passion and the way she draws me in, finding items to intrigue, question, smile and also shed a tear.

Allow me to introduce my Grandma and Grandad.

This is Mary (nee Badger) and her new husband Joseph Alfred Short, married 13th June 1905 at St Bartholomews, Carbrook. She was born 11th Feb 1884 in Masbrough, her father George Badger for 20 years a Gunner in the Royal Artillary (descended from Edward Badger, The Master Cutler 1683), returned to the area not too far from Brinsworth the place of his birth in 1842, he died in 1889 from injuries received by an accidental fall downstairs while sleep walking. The early years of her life weren't easy she gave as good as she got on the markets where she worked for a time, then went into service in Bury before securing a position in Chapeltown as a maid to Miss Habershon. When she married that was the end of her job, it was her own home to look after now, she preferred to be gardening. A new housing estate was being built up High Wincobank and being a determined lady, they applied and were successful in renting one of the new properties with a garden.

Girls Friendly Society Certificate

Always speaking her mind with strong views she supported the suffragette movement on marches, brought up her family, gardened and enjoyed whist drives. In 1955, Mary and Joe celebrated their Golden Wedding. This photograph taken in her son Bob's garden, you perhaps will have noticed her footwear in the photo, not many ladies wore "sneekers" we'd call them trainers today, they were for comfort.

Before she died 6th December 1959, had labelled certain possessions and items of furniture with the name of the person she wanted it to go to. She wrote inside the Scrapbook "For Bob Love from Mam" After being in a cupboard for years it passed to me, I've looked at it from time to time and returned to a cupboard. Now I think it's time in this digital age to share it with a wider audience. I'm sure she won't mind.

Hats off to spinsters... Well what did you expect in the first posting.

You'll see Thoughts of the Day and items of Sheffield interest along with a photograph of Mr. M.H Habershon, Greenhead Cottage, Chapeltown.... yes the steelman..in whose house she'd worked before marriage.

Photograph of Mr. Arthur Hardy of Shiregreen died. (no date)

An Epitaph left by a washer woman named Alsop who'd committed suicide 7th August 1905. It seemed she'd had enough of washing and housework. Grandma didn't like it either and paid an old lady named "Granny Boucher" (no relation) to do it for her. Dad always said he didn't like Granny Boucher as she was always telling him off.

The right hand corner an article about Martin Flemming, his wife was her friend from Skinnerthorpe Road and moved together to the Flower Estate. The young lady in the centre was their granddaughter, Margaret Joyce Lawrence soon to be Day. At the top is the card from Miss Habershon that accompanied their wedding gift of a canteen of cutlery with an S monogram.

Tennis court charge and raquet hire tickets.

Exhibition Houses, High Wincobank, Gold Medal class C winner.

Sheffield Telegraph rail trip to Southampton and the Isle of Wight with a conducted tour of the "Queen Mary." Saturday 18th July 1938.

The page is self explanitary, the item bottom left for a flight with Sir Alan Cobham during his Tour of Great Britain, was taken by her son Bob. Boys and Girls School Captains (they'd be called Head Boys and Girls today) were selected from schools to promote airflight. Happening between May and October 1929. My dad's sense of adventure was called into question when the aircraft hit an airpocket and plunged like a fairground ride as my dad recounted frequently. It was said at the time Sheffield would never have an airport because of the air turbulence... Well, technology improved and Sheffield did get an airport although briefly, but that's another story. Did Bob fly again? 1966 we went to Guernsey on holiday and flew in a 6/8 seater plane. It's the only time I ever saw my dad in a panic, it wasn't helped by a chap in a white boilersuit and beret, wearing glasses like thick jam jar bottoms pulling back the curtain as he exited the cockpit. With a look of terror on his face dad asked, "He's not the pilot, is he?" No he was the mechanic. Take off, dad gripped the seat arm, his knuckles going white he was gripping so hard. The memory of a young lad's experience must have come flooding back. Sorry dad it had to be said, we didn't have any air turbulance and dad had a smile on his face when we landed.

Enough of me telling tales. Let's get on with the scrapbook.

November 11, 2022

The St. Tundo, I think this must have been the ship they sailed on from Southampton to the Isle of Wight.

Bobby Brown of Leeds, part of the Marsden Senior School Brass Band who played on board

Mr. T Nicholson, the first in Sheffield to drive a railway lorry bearing the British Railways Logo.

Pullet of Mr. Stanley Batty of 138 Cross Lane laid unusual eggs.

Top right 82 year old Mrs Elizabeth Ludlam of 5 Ct. 1 Rhodes Street retiring from being a knocker-up.

Lord Jellico.

November 11, 2022

This page brings a tear, remember me mentioning Whist Drives in the introduction well Grandma was a bit good at them, a game of cards to the uninitiated. She wasn't frightened of exposing anyone who was cheating either. She'd won through to the Final and her love of gardening was her undoing, she'd managed to get a wound infected and was quite ill and hadn't recovered sufficiently, couldn't hold her cards not able to go. You'll see the thought verse at the bottom of the letter how she dealt with the disappointment.

Grandma stuck this little handwritten verse in upside down, Makes me smile, you can have your own thoughts as to why it's upside down or maybe you think she just made a mistake.

November 11, 2022

Cheated a bit on this cutting, it was in another scrap book and I thought it was appropriate to include it here. We salute "The Shiny Sheff" H.M.S Sheffield.

November 11, 2022

Sheffield Coat of Arms, Sheffield Market Cross and the King's Head Hotel & Lepping Stones

First Jewish Cemetery, Bowdon Street.

Coronation Exhibition of Inventions Exhibition, Edmund Drill Hall.

Lord Mayor Councillor Mrs. A E Longden.

Death of Mr. G. H Barker former Depty Chief Constable of Sheffield.

Christ Church, Attercliffe; High Street.

Traffic problem on High Street in the late 1880's

William Kirk of Chapeltown climbed 120ft pylon for a bet & Sir William Clegg photograph.

Birdman, Harry Ward in special flying costume making a flight at Coal Aston. Sheffield Cathedral engraving about 1820.

Timothy Bright born at Carbrook did he invent shorthand? "Buffer Girls" painting by Sir William Rothenstein presented by Sir Robert Hadfield to the Graves Art Gallery.

Slippery Stones and Packhorse Bridge under threat of submersion under the waters of new Ashopton reservoir. Little John's grave at Hathersage.

November 11, 2022

Sheffield Cathedral, Chaucer Window by Christopher Wells. The altar in the Chapel of St. George. Dr. Burrows (clergyman)

Frechville Community Centre opened.

Pigeon hatched on top of a huge crane at Vickers Works. The renowned rat-catching cat in another department gave birth to kittens and Mr. Lawrence displaying a trout he rescued and revived from the river near the Works.

Dr. E. Fretson Skinner of Glossop Road and the boat he built.

Flora Statue at Stoke Hall. Crimean Memorial at Moorhead.

Old stocks at Fulwood Old Chapel formerly stood at Birks Green now known as Whiteley Lane.

Grainfoot Farm, Derwent; Toll bar House, Ashopton.

Cob Castle, Smalldale, Bradwell.

Demolition of the bridge at Malin Bridge which was erected to replace the one washed away in the 1864 Flood.

The Major Oak at Edwinstowe.

Rivelin Valley open air swimming pool proposed closure because of cost of reconditioning.

Hollow Coin found by Frank Haywood of Oughtibridge a ten centime piece of Napoleon III

Shirecliffe House, Shirecliffe Lane proposed as Remand Home.

Old Pitsmoor Pinfold (Pound), Sketch of Pitsmoor Toll Bar.

English Delft-ware acquired by City Musem, Weston Park.

November 11, 2022

No, Grandma and Mum I haven't forgotten to point out dad worked on the shafts for HMS Illustrious, Can see Mum's had her ballpoint pen out to make sure.

Top left: Opening of a tomb of a mummy at the Nursery Tavern, Ecclesall Road bought by Mrs. Elizabeth Hurst.

Top right: Report of first electric light installed at Davy Brothers and first electric used for shop illumination by Mr. Hovey 1881.

Bottom left: Walker family of Rotherham artefact found at demolishing of cottages in Masbrough Street, Rotherham.

Decorated Float "Long Live the Queen."

Bronze age spearhead and axehead finds at Stannington and Wybourne Estate displayed at City Museum.

Half a Stamp posted in Sheffield by a solicitor selling at auction for record sum.

Decorated Tramcar for Coronation of George V.

Joint of meat paid for and not collected hung for 90 years at the Market Stall.

Photographs of Alderman Asbury & Mr. F Marshall.

Bishops throne arriving at Sheffield Cathedral to be dedicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Rail Excursion to the Coronation of George VI, 11th May 1937 Announcement at LMS Station (Midland Station) handiwork of ticket collector A. W. Pain.

Derwent Parish church last church service.

Sheffield Tramways Company horse drawn tram part of Municiple Transport Department Jublilee celebrations 11th July 1946.

Duke and Duchess of Norfolk return to Arundel Castle after honeymoon.

First Mayor of Sheffield Major William Jeffcock.

Queen Victoria coronation medal in possession of John Wood of Malin Bridge.

Cawood Castle near Selby.

November 11, 2022

1947 Snow.

Postmaster of Sheffield Mr. H. J. E. Still proud of postman J. S. Powell took the mail by train to Calver in the snow.

Postman Frank Roberts waded through waist deep snow to take the mail to Derwent.

Motor boat and tractor to the rescue with food through the snow.

Doctors and nurses at the Royal Hospital treat boy blinded by a gadfly.

Jubilee of Town Hall.

Helicopter answer to Sheffield air problems.

James Montgomery.

Coningsby Church largest single handed clock in the world.

Fire at the Sheffield Corn Exchange.

Baby girl rescued from the Sheffield Flood of 1864 became Mrs G. Elliston celebrating Diamond Wedding Anniversary with husband George.

Firemen of Erskine Road Fire Station Rotherham, restored fire engine of Wroot Fire Brigade 110 years old.

Photograph of Mr. Harry Bearley.

Steeplejacks, E. Crapper and W. Briggs inspecting All Saints Church, Ellesmere Road.

German prisoner at Norton Educational Camp, near Cuckney, Mansfield, Wolfgang Kaftan giving a puppet show Frecheville Community Centre.

Fire at Corn Exchange

Woodthorpe Colliery, City Road slag heap.

Eye of the Needle, Wentworth.

Christ Church, Attercliffe blitzed December 1940, to be demolished and a garden created.

Anderson Steel Shelter return check list for 169 Foxglove Road.

Wednesday May 25th 1949, reported Power Station Chimneys to be demolished.

Rajah the tiger tears arm off clown Albert Horton, who is treated at Royal Hospital and later joking with the nurses as he sits up in bed. The tiger later went on stage at the Empire Theatre during the act for Chipperfield Circus.

November 11, 2022

Ending this section at the Castle, and if you don't mind Grandma I'd like to add my photograph of the gun that did the damage to the Castle. Housed in Dover Castle and I quote from the Guide book, "It's one of the most famous artillery pieces in the country. This great bronze gun, popularly known as Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol, was cast at Utrecht in 1544 and presented by the emperor Charles V to Henry VIII. It is a 12 pounder brass basilisk, notable for the rich renaissance ornament along its barrel. Towards the breech are two shields, one bearing the English Royal Arms, the other, nearer the breech, showing the arms of the Count of Buren. The gun could fire accurately for up to a mile and a half. It has very probably been at Dover almost continuously since 1545, although it saw service elsewhere in England with both sides during the Civil War in the 17th century. The elabororate cast iron carriage dates from 1827." It was in Cromwells Parliamentary Army hands when it fired on our Castle.

To be continued

November 11, 2022

Here we go again.

No date for this first page it was separated from other various years weather cuttings in later pages, Many snowy winters during the period of the scrapbook.

Snow clearing at Lodge Moor.

Story of the Titanic Disaster.

Cleaning of liner "Queen Mary."

The "Flying" Duchess of Bedford dies, "spent a fortune on poor, sick and aged."

Poppy Day, it's origins and it's work. First nationwide sale of Haig Fund Poppies 11th November 1921. Poems and Earl Haig memorial in Vernon's Bulletin November 12th 1938.

Abraham Lincoln.

Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem Inn, oldest Inn in England.

Native American, Grey Owl dies.

Horshoe Forge at Carlton on Trent.

Church less steeple in Sir John Fuller, Dallington, Sussex.

Story about the Hymn "Rock of Ages."

Early Steam Engines.

Wordsworth Ark.

The King's stone, Kingstone on Thames.

Ann Irr-egg-ular egg story concerning Mrs S. Alvey of Misterton near Doncaster.

The Blarney Stone.

Underground travellers control an invisible eye.

Teapot Hall near HORNCASTLE, Lincolnshire.

The Pack of Cards Inn, Combe Martin, North Devon.

Sign Language.

November 11, 2022

The Sheffield Blitz.

Mr. & Mrs. Jones of 240 Bellhouse Road received the news their son, Charles T Jones, earned the D.S.M. at Dunkirk.

George VI & Queen Elizabeth visit the Town Hall., Lord Mayor, Councillor Luther F. Milner.

November 11, 2022

Weather, Snow and Floods

1947 Snow.

1947 Snow. Rescuing sheep.

1947 Snow.

Rescues in the snow.

1947 Snow.

William Marsden of Walker Edge Farm, High Bradfield found dead in the snow.

November 11, 2022

Carved elephant tusk presented to Weston Park Museum by Mr. J.H. Sampson of 397 Fulwood Road.

Arnold Webster of Smithy-wood Colliery, Sheffield; Douglas Martin from Rossington Main Colliery near Doncaster and Arthur Clark from Bull Croft Main Colliery near Doncaster been convalescing at Yorkshire Miners Convalescent Home at Rhyl.

History of Barkers Pool; mentions of the Ducking Stool at Lady's Bridge; Spencer Broughton; Blind Jonathan lived in Figtree Lane.

Think this is a bit of a spoof: Missing from home since Christmas Eve, Egbert Percy Weevil, 13 Back Boodle Street, Bog Patch, Lancs. Answers to "Snotty". Relatives request if anyone has any information to his whereabouts to keep it to themselves as its been more like a home since he left.

Nicknames they have in the Navy.

November 11, 2022

More Weather, Wintry Gales.

3,000 BC Sumerian Carving of a Duck donated by Baron von der Hydt to Graves Art Gallery.

Floods in Gainsborough.

River Trent in Flood.

Scarborough Pier. Flooding in Derbyshire. Tower of Derwent Church blown up.

November 11, 2022

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to visit, Niagra Falls. Provincial Parliament Building, Edmonton, Alberta.

Tower of London, Westminster Abbey.

Butlins Holiday Camp, Filey.

Wedding attended by Grandma's friends, Mr. & Mrs Lawrence who'd emigrated to USA... (see earlier in the Scrapbook)

November 12, 2022

Mainly Sport

First two pages should have featured earlier but I thought it more appropriate to include them here.

Shiregreen School, School Report of Robert Joseph Short. 1927.

November 12, 2022

Metro Vickers Ladies Hockey team feature with Betty Smith, back row extreme right because Bob and Betty were "courting" 8 and half years before they married in 1942

November 12, 2022

November 12, 2022

Let me clear something up, Dad wasn't an Owl supporter. His football career had finished when he had to have his cartledge out aged 19. No rehabilitation for sportsmen back then. Finding himself in the winter not playing football, he and his pals used to go to both United and Wednesday matches whoever was playing at home. He never would admit who he supported, just liked watching football.

The small cutting mentioning Brian Parker, he was her eldest grandson.

November 12, 2022

Slipped in loose in the 1960's by mum.

Hatfield House Lane School Sports Day.

Ladybower Reservoir and Hatfield House Lane Methodist Church, Queen Primrose. Cushion bearer can't remember her name. Train bearers Mary Short and Margaret Bucklow 1954

ESC Forman"s Trip to Bochum

ESC Foreman's trip to Bochum. Bob Short just visible at the back at the bottom of the coach steps. At least 2 trips were made over the years to Bochum. They were given a "Gentleman and a Lady penknife" rather a strange gift for their Sheffield visitors. Not sure if it was this trip, on the way back to the ferry they visited Keukenoff Gardens and Delft Pottery.