Fir Croft House, Shiregreen Lane/Bellhouse Road

[Ponytail]

My first thought Fir Croft House was connected to farming, but it appears not; unless anyone knows different.

 

https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00719&pos=1&action=zoom&id=42527

Bryan Woodriff in his book, "Shire Green, Wincobank and Ecclesfield, writes,

"It is said that Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer, lived here for a while when he left Masboro (Masbrough, Rotherham) He wrote some wonderful verses about Wincobank Hill." 

A statue of Elliott (1781-1849) was first erected in Market Place, Sheffield but later removed to Weston Park 1875. 

t03901  Photographer: Michael Beach. 

 

Situated at the S.E. corner of Bellhouse Road and Shiregreen Lane, Fir Croft House was not too far from Wincobank Hill. Shown on the OS Map of 1850 marked Fir Croft Cottage but not identified in the 1856 or 1862 Directories.

 

Whites 1879 Directory records Thomas Tweedale, colliery proprietor, Brightside and Grimesthorpe, living at Fir Croft House.

By the Directories of 1901, 1905 & 1911, Luther Heaton Drabble (b.1857), dental surgeon is resident at Fir Croft. 

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1911 identifies Fir Croft, Shiregreen Lane, Shiregreen and Luther Heaton, Drabble has a dental surgery, 69 Wicker, Sheffield. 

OS Map CCLXXXVIII  1924. Marked Fir Croft House. 

Bryan Woodriff recounts Drabble was the last owner of Fir Croft House. 

 

Later demolished, the Graves Trust Houses were built on the site.

 

Shiregreen Lane looking towards Bellhouse Road, showing clear vista into Concord Park after removal of privet hedges with the Graves Trust Houses visible on the left. 9th September 1954.

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A Dentist Surgery was in operation from one of the houses further back down Shiregreen Lane. Although a patient in the 1960's my memory fails me as to the name of the dentist. 

On the former House site at the junction of Bellhouse Road /Shiregreen Lane there used to be a big tree, fenced off shrubbery and a well used telephone box (at least up until the late 1960's early 70's) with Hoskins chip shop and Slaters grocery shop, (later incorporated the P. O.) Bellhouse Road, below the Trust Houses. 

Google

 

It's probably my memory playing tricks with me but these aren't the Graves Trust Houses I remember; perhaps  they were demolished? 

I'd like to discover when and who built Fir Croft House and any information connected with the property or the residents, especially the possible Ebenezer Elliott connection. 

Some years ago I researched Thomas Badger, solictors Bill Books and found his accounts related to various business he carried out over a number of years for Elliott in both Rotherham area and Sheffield but I don't remember coming across a reference to Fir Croft. 

 

[Ponytail]

The lower hedges around the Graves Trust Houses and the change of landscape in the front of them probably gives a new perspective and is the same property. 

I believe Fir Croft House was demolished early 1930's.

[Lysanderix]

I was born in the early 1940s….and a trip to Concord Park with Mum was an early memory….I do not recall ever seeing Fir Croft House.