Building on the Wicker

[dunsbyowl1867]

Done well to escape the bulldozer - any information on its past?

[SteveHB]

For over ten years I worked a couple of doors from that building,

I also worked in the Wicker area for a total of thirty years.

So it would be expected of me to know some history of the above building,

but sadly I don't!

In fact it's the first time I've noticed the heads that are set on the stonework,

I even went inside the Sadacca building for a drink,

by invitation from the owner/manager.

The bar was upstairs,

so it would be interesting for me to know some history about the place.

[dunsbyowl1867]

For over ten years I worked a couple of doors from that building,

I also worked in the Wicker area for a total of thirty years.

So it would be expected of me to know some history of the above building,

but sadly I don't!

In fact it's the first time I've noticed the heads that are set on the stonework,

I even went inside the Sadacca building for a drink,

by invitation from the owner/manager.

The bar was upstairs,

so it would be interesting for me to know some history about the place.

That's interesting Steve, I thinks I've seen the heads in some sort of photographic quiz ? I didn't notice them at the time. I was too busy trying to conceal my camera from some scary looking people. Some seem to think you are a bit strange taking photos of old buildings!

For refernce for others it is on the left heading toward Lady's Bridge.

[syrup]

Done well to escape the bulldozer - any information on its past?

There's some really interesting stone work check out the roof area.

[RichardB]

How is a building like that allowed to survive, knock it down immediately, we need more student/young professional flats and car parks ... disgraceful in this day and age ...

[SteveHB]

How is a building like that allowed to survive, knock it down immediately, we need more student/young professional flats and car parks ... disgraceful in this day and age ...

Something to do with 'The Ethnic Society'

perhaps

[Guest tsavo]

It seems that everyone knows what SADACCA stands for, except me that is. Anyone assist?

[syrup]

It seems that everyone knows what SADACCA stands for, except me that is. Anyone assist?

Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA)

[RichardB]

Something to do with 'The Ethnic Society'

perhaps

But, if they knocked it down, they could have a new building instead, only cost a fortune and disrupt their function for, say, two years.

[Guest tsavo]

Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA)

Thanks, I try and learn something new every day.

[Guest janice844]

Is this not Samuel Osbourne's? My Dad used to say the clock from the front had disappeared, if you look you can see the bracket where I presume it used to be. I will ask my Dad when I see him, he knows all about the Wicker, he used to mention places like the Wilberforce Cafe and all the goods yards and how busy it used to be.

[dunsbyowl1867]

Is this not Samuel Osbourne's? My Dad used to say the clock from the front had disappeared, if you look you can see the bracket where I presume it used to be. I will ask my Dad when I see him, he knows all about the Wicker, he used to mention places like the Wilberforce Cafe and all the goods yards and how busy it used to be.

Janice

Wasn't Samuel Osbourne's directly on the corner of Blonk Street & the Wicker ?

[Guest janice844]

Now I'm not sure, but my Dad will definitely know, I'm sure he bought one of the director's cars when it shut down, it was a cortina which I learnt to drive in, that was about 1974 when the car must have been a couple of years old.

Dad mentions his friends from the Wicker - Ronnie Wood's clock shop which was opposite the building in question, (my sister used to be able to tell all the different times on the clocks when she was only 2, that's how they knew how intelligent she was!) Also he mentions Friedrick's the butchers and the Aunties, who I think were German, they apparently took a bit of a shine to my Mum but she was rather glamorous! My Grandma worked as a pianist in the working mens club which was down Stanley St, I think Dad says that under the club, a man made wooden bowling balls. His other friends were Basil Walker who was a mark maker somewhere round the back, Ivan the cobbler who worked at Timpsons and Caplans who had the clothing wholesalers on Stanley St. If you want to know anything else about the Wicker, Dad will know, I just need to ask him!

Isn't it a shame, the Wicker is absolutely vile now.

[dr stanley]

I read somewhere that the building was originally built for Shortbridge and Howell (Steel manufacturers).

Link here to their flood claim: http://www2.shu.ac.uk/sfca/claimDetails.cfm?claim=1-245

The building was later taken over by Samuel Osborn for his Clyde Steel Works which as Dunsbyowl says was on the corner of Blonk Street and stretched as far as the bridge over the Don.

As an aside I used to go to the opticians "Chadburns" next to the Osborn office block (Blonk Street), they also had a shop on Attercliffe Common just below the swimming baths.

[Guest Gramps]

How is a building like that allowed to survive, knock it down immediately, we need more student/young professional flats and car parks ... disgraceful in this day and age ...

If someone in SCC planning dept. sees this thread that building will be gone in six months.... ;-)

[Guest skeets]

How is a building like that allowed to survive, knock it down immediately, we need more student/young professional flats and car parks ... disgraceful in this day and age ...

shush Richard they might hear you it will happen soon enough Skeets.

[Guest skeets]

But, if they knocked it down, they could have a new building instead, only cost a fortune and disrupt their function for, say, two years.

be patient it has'nt been cleaned and restored yet Skeets

[Guest skeets]

Now I'm not sure, but my Dad will definitely know, I'm sure he bought one of the director's cars when it shut down, it was a cortina which I learnt to drive in, that was about 1974 when the car must have been a couple of years old.

Dad mentions his friends from the Wicker - Ronnie Wood's clock shop which was opposite the building in question, (my sister used to be able to tell all the different times on the clocks when she was only 2, that's how they knew how intelligent she was!) Also he mentions Friedrick's the butchers and the Aunties, who I think were German, they apparently took a bit of a shine to my Mum but she was rather glamorous! My Grandma worked as a pianist in the working mens club which was down Stanley St, I think Dad says that under the club, a man made wooden bowling balls. His other friends were Basil Walker who was a mark maker somewhere round the back, Ivan the cobbler who worked at Timpsons and Caplans who had the clothing wholesalers on Stanley St. If you want to know anything else about the Wicker, Dad will know, I just need to ask him!

Isn't it a shame, the Wicker is absolutely vile now.

HI Janice844 You're right on all counts , l can remember all these things and places you ,speak of, l used to sit and watch the bowl turner for hrs; i had to take special pieces to be turned, from where l worked 1937/8 , his premises was nearer to the Wicker in those days , l agree the powers that be have ruined the Wicker, they think only the arches made it, but it was all the shops traders and firms that brought the atmosphere that one felt there skeets.

[Guest skeets]

HI dr stanley l'de forgot Chadburns. there was a high class saddlers just there too, Skeets

[huthwaite]

HI dr stanley l'de forgot Chadburns. there was a high class saddlers just there too, Skeets

From A.R. Fearnley's "Goodbye The Wicker":

"This still noble looking building was built in 1853 by John Shortbridge of Chipping House Grange. He was a very prominent Victorian Architect who was involved with the construction of the Wicker Viaduct.

After completion the address of the site was:

John Shortbridge and Company

Hartford Steel Works

Wicker

Sheffield

All the advertising at the time stated that the company specialised in the manufacture of every kind of steel for Engineering and Coal Mining."

Hope this helps, many thanks to A.R. Fearnley

[Stuart0742]

Done well to escape the bulldozer - any information on its past?

Here is an earlier photo, do not know the date, though I believe Osborns left this site in 1973

[dunsbyowl1867]

Here is an earlier photo, do not know the date, though I believe Osborns left this site in 1973

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=4604&pid=26907&st=0&#

Complete Edit

Thanks Stuart - great photo. Janice was right ! By a twist the last firm my dad worked for in Sheffield was Osbornes!

[SteveHB]

From A.R. Fearnley's "Goodbye The Wicker":

"This still noble looking building was built in 1853 by John Shortbridge of Chipping House Grange. He was a very prominent Victorian Architect who was involved with the construction of the Wicker Viaduct.

After completion the address of the site was:

John Shortbridge and Company

Hartford Steel Works

Wicker

Sheffield

All the advertising at the time stated that the company specialised in the manufacture of every kind of steel for Engineering and Coal Mining."

Hope this helps, many thanks to A.R. Fearnley

Hi huthwaite,

I presume we are talking about the same person?

Wasn't his name John Shortridge, without a 'b'

John Shortridge was also the founder of the Heeley Omnibus,

he was killed on May 7th 1869 as the result of a carriage accident whilst driving in Heeley.

An over active horse was blamed for the accident.

His grave in Heeley churchyard has an obelisk resting upon a square block of granite

which was so heavy that it took 10 pairs of horses to haul it up Sheaf Street (now Gleadless Road)

[mickjj]

I believe that is the same building about centre of the picture on the right??

[Guest snodgrass]

From A.R. Fearnley's "Goodbye The Wicker":

"This still noble looking building was built in 1853 by John Shortbridge of Chipping House Grange. He was a very prominent Victorian Architect who was involved with the construction of the Wicker Viaduct.

Some of you may be amused by this differing opinion. The following text is taken from Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1879 (published by Bough, London):

'Once, some years ago, while waiting for a train outside the M. S. and L. railway station, and above the broad street called the Wicker, a fellow-passenger remarked, as he gazed down upon the street, "That would be a fine street if there were any fine buildings in it" -an odd though true remark'

Albeit a fine building by modern standards, I guess it just didn't cut the ice 130 years ago.

Original text can be viewed here:

http://www.crosspool.co.uk/snod/Hardwicke.jpg

all the best