Ellesmere Temperance Hall

[ceegee]

Has anyone got any information at all on the Ellesmere Temperance Hall. I am assuming that it was somewhere in the Pitsmoor/Burngreave area of Sheffield and was demolished many years ago. I am not all that clued up on the Temperance movement in C19th Sheffield. Any general observations there would be helpful.

[dunsbyowl1867]

I think a good candidate for the site would be the hall across the road from the Methodist Chapel and School on Ellesmere Road on this map from 1905.

I think local temperance halls tended to be built by local members often by subscription. With the methodist chapels on Ellesmere and Petre Street there would have been a large potential non conformist membership.

The Cleggs of Sheffield William & Charles were staunch temperance campaigners. There were national organisations with branches in Sheffield such as the Bank of Hope and the United Kingdom Allaince aswell as organisations such as the Sheffield Temperance Society and British National Temperance League (which still has it's HQ in Sheffield today).

A Sheffield Temperance Hall became the Sheffield playhouse and stood on the site where the Crucible is today.

[ceegee]

Thanks for your trouble Dunsbyowl - the reason for the question was an article that appeared in The Times dated 8th December 1884 under the heading

DISTURBANCES AT SHEFFIELD

"A serious anti-Mormon riot took place yesterday at Ellesmere Temperance-hall, Sheffield. For some time Mr.N V. Jarman, who styles himself an ex-Mormon priest, has been addressing meetings in Sheffield, giving his experiences of life in Utah, and making grave charges against tho Mormons. A local committee has been assisting him in his crusade. Yesterday a conference of Latter Day Saints was announced to be addressed by Elder John Henry Smith, described as one of the twelve apostles, and president of the European mission,and other elders from Utah. Mr. Jarman, accompanied by nearly 500 sympathisers, marched to the hall, where they at once took possession. Elder Smith rising to speak,Jarman shouted opprobrious epithets at him, the crowd hooted, and a sturdy attempt was made to carry the platform.

Two policemen made a plucky stand against the rioters, and shortly afterwards Inspector Smith and a strong force of constabulary arrived. Meanwhile, the Mormon elders, who were all muscular men of unusual height and strength, were making a stubborn resistance and the uproar was terrific. Ultimately the police ejected Jarman and several others by the front door and, taking possession of the platform, began to clear the hall. Jarman and his friends, however, re-entered by a sido door, fought their way to the back of the platform, and made a determined effort to sweep off both th elders and police. Ultimately, after a series of severe struggles, the Jarman party were ousted from the ball. One man had his head cut open, another is stated to have received an ugly wound in the forehead, one of the elders was injured, and a policeman had a nasty kick on the kneecap. The Jarman party held several outdoor gatherings amid much excitement, and shortly before 6 in the evening, when a second conference was to be held, they again returned to the attack, this time in larger numbers, and so threateningly that the Mormon elders decided to abandon the conference altogether."

So much for temperance!

If anyone else can supply any additional information on the incident or the events surrounding it please do. Mr Jarman seems a determined chap

[dunsbyowl1867]

Excellent! One thing that strikes you about that particular movement was that there were so many different societies & organisations and that the history is characterised by schism & disagreement. It reminds me of t Life of Brian and the Peoples Front of Judea or was it the Judean People's Front or...

[ceegee]

Yes they could certainly have done with some cheesemakers sorry peacemakers there!

[dunsbyowl1867]

Hello Ceegee - this has been bothering me for the past 3 years - hope this of interest!

[syrup]

Thanks for your trouble Dunsbyowl - the reason for the question was an article that appeared in The Times dated 8th December 1884 under the heading DISTURBANCES AT SHEFFIELD "A serious anti-Mormon riot took place yesterday at Ellesmere Temperance-hall, Sheffield. For some time Mr.N V. Jarman, who styles himself an ex-Mormon priest, has been addressing meetings in Sheffield, giving his experiences of life in Utah, and making grave charges against tho Mormons. A local committee has been assisting him in his crusade. Yesterday a conference of Latter Day Saints was announced to be addressed by Elder John Henry Smith, described as one of the twelve apostles, and president of the European mission,and other elders from Utah. Mr. Jarman, accompanied by nearly 500 sympathisers, marched to the hall, where they at once took possession. Elder Smith rising to speak,Jarman shouted opprobrious epithets at him, the crowd hooted, and a sturdy attempt was made to carry the platform. Two policemen made a plucky stand against the rioters, and shortly afterwards Inspector Smith and a strong force of constabulary arrived. Meanwhile, the Mormon elders, who were all muscular men of unusual height and strength, were making a stubborn resistance and the uproar was terrific. Ultimately the police ejected Jarman and several others by the front door and, taking possession of the platform, began to clear the hall. Jarman and his friends, however, re-entered by a sido door, fought their way to the back of the platform, and made a determined effort to sweep off both th elders and police. Ultimately, after a series of severe struggles, the Jarman party were ousted from the ball. One man had his head cut open, another is stated to have received an ugly wound in the forehead, one of the elders was injured, and a policeman had a nasty kick on the kneecap. The Jarman party held several outdoor gatherings amid much excitement, and shortly before 6 in the evening, when a second conference was to be held, they again returned to the attack, this time in larger numbers, and so threateningly that the Mormon elders decided to abandon the conference altogether." So much for temperance! If anyone else can supply any additional information on the incident or the events surrounding it please do. Mr Jarman seems a determined chap

So much for temperance!

The Illustrated Police News etc (London, England), Saturday, October 9, 1880;

DISTURBANCES AT MANCHESTER.