REM IN I S C EN CE S

O L D S H E F F I E L D,

ITS STREET S AND ITS PEOPLE .

Edz’

led 6}

ROBERT BADON LEADER, B A .

SHEFFIELD

LEADER AND SONS,INDEPENDENT OFFICE.

1 875 .

PREFA CE.

THIS book does not claim to be anything so dignified as history .

It is only a gathering together of the various threads out of which

history is woven—threads which , if not seized and put into tan

gible shape , quickly escape altogether . Our local annals affordmany illustrations of the loss that has been sustained through

want of persons who would take the trouble carefully to chronicle

small details , and no one can be fully conscious of that misfortuneuntil he rises from the compilation of such a work as this . If

each past generation for (say) a hundred and fifty years , had po ssessed its Cap ’n Cuttle, who would not only have made a note of

what he found, but have left that note where others could find it ,my labours would have been greatly lightened.

I used the word “ compilation advisedly just now ,for this

book is nothing more ambitious . It had its origin in a very

widely expressed wish that a number of articles and letters

which appeared in The Shefiield and Ro therham Independent in

1872 and 1873 , should, as contributions to our local folk-lore,

be reproduced in a form more readily accessible , than scattered

through the files of a newspaper.

My duty has thus been the modest one of collating, arranging , and (wherever that was po ssible) of verifying what more

competent hands had written . To them , in the first instance,belongs any merit the book may possess . If I have thrown too

flimsy a veil over the individuality of anymember of this amicable

confraternity, I must trust that the exigencies of editorship will

form a sufficient excuse .

But Hallamshire men will feel that an additional value has

been given to this gossip by the fact that most of the proof

"d

Pd

’d

’d

’d

p .

sheets have had the advantage of careful revision by the late

Mr. William Swift, the one man best fitted to enrich by the

suggestions , and to test by the resources , of his accurate mind .

To his memory I venture to dedicate a volume , in whose progress

he took a very lively interest .

I am quite conscious that not unfrequently events are men

t ioned in these pages which can hardly be considered properly t o

belong to Old”Sheffield . Some of them have occurred within

the memory of those amongst us who have not yet reached middle

age . I have thought it better to err on this side rather than on

the oth er ; not to draw a line too hard and fast between the

Sheffield of our own day and the Sheffield of our ancestors , con

scious that each succeeding year will further remove any reproach

that can be urged on this score .

R. E . LEADER.

E R R A T A .

27.

—Isaac Barnes l ived in t he house at the corner of Campo lane and Haw leyCro ft

,n ot of Lee Cro ft .

31 .

—16 l ines from bottom : dele the commaafter bu ilder,

”and read “ Joseph

Oakes,the bu i lder of Washington W orks .

31 .—10 l ines from bo ttom : f or ass iz e

,read assay.”

44.

—3 l ines from bottom f or Sutcl iffe,read Sutliffe.

46 .

— line 22 : f or Silvester,read Sylvester .

71 .—14 lines from bottom : f orYounge and Rimingt on’

s,read B im ingt ons and

Younges’.

87.- l ine 31 : f or George Smith

,read George G lanv il le Sm ith .

98 .

— l ine 7 f or Peach,readPeech .

103 .

—line 26 : for Laing,read Lang .

1 10 .—l ine 12 : for Rawmarsh

,read Bram ley.

111 .

—l ine 6 : the name of Mr . Hun tsman,as a steel converter

,is omi tted .

p . 192 .—line 7 f or comparing , read conf us ing .

P202.- bot tom line but one : for Riley

,Carr 8: Co .

,read Riley Carr 85 Co .

REMINISCENOES OF OLD SHEFFIELD.

CHAPTER I .

PARADISE SQUARE , CAMPO LANE , HARTSHEAD , AND WATSON’

s

WALK .

Dru /na i ls Pw sonaz— Mr . WILLIA M IVRAGG ,

Mr . GEORGE LE IGHTON ,

Mr . SAMUEL EVERARD ,

Mr . F . Tw I s s ,

Mr . RICHARD LEONARD ,

Pc / ZUd— A.D . 1872 -3 .

Scene— A room in Leonard’s house .

LEIGHTON : So the old steps in Paradise square havegone at last . Have you secured the top stone for your

collection , Mr . TwissTWI s s : No , it would have been rather too large ; but I

wish it cou ld be preserved somewhere ; otherwise , like somany other things that disappear , it will be consigned tooblivion .

EVERARD What eloquence has rung from that stoneLEONARD And what nonsen seEVERARD : Brougham , Morpeth , Bethel , Milton , E lliott ,

Dunn,Roebuck , and Mundella have thence charmed thou

sands of eager listeners .

LEONARD : And others have thence uttered rant enoughto cau se the very stones to cry out .LEIGHTON There were few finer sights in Sheffield than

a. great meeting in t’ Pot square ,” when the people were

really in earnest and the speaker a man of power .LEONARD : The finest sight of all was when Mr . Henry

Hoole,

flourishing his arms in a burst of exuberant elo

quence , brought down hi s fis t on Mr . Leader’s hat and

B

Anew / ( t C zlzz ens ofSheffield.

The An t igan i g .

"a Jf odern Ct t iz en of

Slaeflield.

2 PARADISE SQUARE .

knocked it over his eyes . That was a notable time , too ,when Roebuck

,sitting in his carriage at the bottom of the

steps , listened to Campbell Foster’

s fulminati ons agaln s t

him.There has seldom been so much use made of a t te

wais tcoa t and a loud voice . But this is not O ld Sheffield .

”

WRAGG : The eloquence from the steps has often beenexceeded by the wit from the crowd , which always displayeda keen sense of the humorous and a quick perception of

humbug .

‘ LEONARD : Does anyone know when meetlngs were first,held in the Square

Twrss : The firs t on record that I have found was in1779 , July 15 , when Wesley preached

“ to the largest con

gregat ion he ever saw on a week-day . Then , in 1798 ,

Rowland Hill came down and preached there one Sundayevening , after an afternoon service in Queen Street Chapel .He had an immense congregation , and confusion was causedtowards the end by some fellow drawing his sword upon thepeople . Before that , out-door meetings were held on theCastle hill , or at the Church gates before the old TownHall ; sometimes on Crookes moor , or pieces of waste landanywhere handy .

LEONARD : Pray spare us the old story about somebodywho knew somebody else who remembered the Square as

a corn-field.

WRAGG Why should we There are people still living ,or were not long ago , who remembered it a field of oats ,entered from the top by Hicks ’ stile . An elderly lady, whodied not many years ago , had gone with the maid to milkher father’s cows , which were pastured there . There seemsalways to have been a footpath acros s , which was , indeed , theonly thoroughfare from that side of the town . Pedestriansgoing up Silver street head (busier then , I believe , thanHigh street) had to cross to Wheat

’s passage by Mr . Ryalls’

ofii ce if they were going to the Market ; or if to the oldTown Hall, they went over Hicks

’ stile , up St . James’s

row (or West row, or Virgin’s row

,for it has borne all three

names )— there were steps at the bottom the whole width ofthe row— and then acros s the Churchyard .

EVERARD : The lamp in the centre of the Square hastaken the place of the old cross shaft

,removed there from

Sn ig hill head ; but the step s up to it are , I should think ,un changed . The stocks were removed there from the Churchgates .

THE STOCKS— THOMAS BROADBENT . 3

WRAGG : And drunken men were placed in them onSundays for punishment . The practice had to be droppedbecaus e of the disturbances it caused . The last instanceof a drunken man being placed in the s tocks was fortythree or forty-four years ago .

LE IGHTON : What became of the stocks in the Square "WRAGG : When they got out of order , the two pieces

of wood that confined the delinquents ’ feet became loose , andthe late Mr . W . H . Clayton , the broker under the stepsin the Square , removed them into his back yard for safety .

There they remained for years , and no one ever inquired forthem .

EVERARD : There were stocks also at B ridgehouses , oppos ite the end o f the iron bridge ; at At terclifi

’

e ; near E cclesallChapel and near the old Sugar House , Sheffield moor .WRAGG : Paradise square was the res idence of notable

men . I believe it was the first suburban place to whichtradesmen retired away from their works .LEONARD : Do you think so There were surely sub

urban residences before that , and further out than that . Ihave been told by a gentleman still living , whose fatherresided there when he was a boy , that the Square hasscarcely changed at all in appearance s ince very early inthe century . It was then built all round as it i s now , and

with the same buildings , except a few which have beenmodernised on the east s ide .

WRAGG : Well , at any rate , many of the first familiesin the town lived there .LEONARD Dr . Gatty , in a note at p . 177 of his Edition

of Hunter , says that“ Thomas Broadbent took a leas e of

the field in 1776 , and built the houses on the east side .

Now,I happen to know that the lease to Thomas Broad

bent— so far at least as concerns the land at the top of thatside of the Square— i s dated 1736 . He had five daughters ,and he built the five houses at the top afterwards Bramley and Gainsford’

s offices and the adj oining ones— for them .

On his death , they came into their possession . The date1776 must be a clerical or a printer

’s error .EVERARD But that date suits better the corn -field recol

lections of the old inhabitants who have now passed away ;unless , indeed , the Square remained a field after the houseson the east side were built . And this is very possible .WRAGG : I have been told by a man who was in the

service of her father,whose bus iness was in Hollis croft ,

4 PARADISE SQUARE .

that Miss Harrison was born in one of the'

houses at the top

side of the Square

.Then Chantrey set up here , in what was

then No. 14 , as an artist , and advertised that he took por

traits in crayons . That was in 1802 . Two years later hemade a step nearer his proper vocation , for he had com

menced taking models from life .

EVERARD It would be interesting to know if many of hiscrayon portraits are extant .LEONARD : Yes , numbers . You will find a long list of

them in Mr . John Holland’s Memorials of Chantrey . The

whereabouts of most of them was known when that was published, in 18 5 0 .

EVERARD You may see in the O ld Church his first pieceof sculpture

,the monum ent to Justice Wilkinson , which the

I r is , shrewd enough to predict the future celebrity of“ the

young artist ,” praised as a “ faithful and affecting resem

blance .” The bust of Dr . Browne , in the board-room ofthe Infirmary , i s also by Chantrey , executed in 1 8 10— fouryears after the Wilkinson monument .LEIGHTON : Another worthy who lived in the Square up

to the time of his death , in 18 17 , was the Rev . GeorgeSmith

,curate of E cclesall , and as sistant-minister at the

Parish Church— the father of Mr . Albert Smith . He livednear the bottom on the east side .LEONARD I see a window has been in serted in place of the

old door at the top of the steps , but the pillas ters remainto show where the door entered Mr . Hebblethwaite

’

s school .WRAGG : That room was originally built as a Freem asons ’

lodge . It was afterwards put to various uses —a dancingschool and a preaching-room . I remember hearing the noterions Robert Owen lecture there . At one time a con s iderable congregation of Independents assembled there

,under

the ministry of the Rev . Mr . Parish . They contemplatedbuilding a chapel , but they let the opportunity slip , andmuch they regretted it afterwards . The last three survivorso f that congregation were Mr . Spear , of the firm of Spearand Jackson ; Mr . Peter Spurr , tobacconist , father of Mr .Spurr , chem ist and druggist ; and the late Mr . Joseph Brit

tlebank , scale- cutter . The leases have n ow fallen in

,or are

falli ng in , so that poss ibly it may not remain long in itsold state .

Twrs s : Yes ; the lease of art fell in two cars ao f the other part , for it is bI ilt on two legses ) , affd

)

thgishows that it is just over a century old

,as the lease would

THE BLIND FIDDLERS .

no doubt be a ninety-nine years ’ one . The room was built byMr . Nowill, who had a shop in High street , opposite Georgestreet .

EVERARD : The pot market that was held in the Squareon market days has quite disappeared , or i s only representedby the crockery shop s on the north S ide .

TWI s s : There was a sort of pot market formerly by theChurch gates .

VVRAGG : The Square has been the scene of degradingtransactions , as w ell as of honourable ones . Some bruteonce , for a wager , ate a live eat on the s teps . I knew aperson who bought his wife in the Square

,whither she had

been led in a halter .LEIGHTON :

“

Q in the Corn er was an old public -hous emuch frequented by fiddlers , s in ce it was kept by Sam Goodlad , first fiddler on all important occas ion s .

VVRAGG : The blind fiddlers were quite an ins titution .

At one time there were s ix of them , s everal of whom wereexcellen t performers on the violin . Their nam es w ere Jam esKnight , Samuel Hawke , Thomas Booth , Alexander Clayton

(brother of the late \V . H . Clayton , broker) , W illiam Brumby ,

and Jo seph W'

ard . They had their circuits , chiefly on

the outskirts of the town,to which they went in pairs , play

ing firsts and seconds , and they kept to their own districts .

At Christmas they went round a Chris tmas -boxing ,” drop

ping into public -houses , and being liberallv rewarded for thetunes they played .

LEONARD : There is a good s tory of a blind fiddler inJohn Wilson ’

s edition of Mather ’

s Songs , p . 5 5 . This wasBlind Stephen .

”who was , I imag ine , o f earlier date than

those you have m entioned .

Es RARD The house at the top corn er of Paradise squareand Campo lane

,now a dram Shop , was , s ixty veai s ago , a

respectable orrocer’

s shop , kept by Mr . Newton (who was suc

ceeded by M I . Benj amin E llis ) , and at that tim e was muchcelebrated amongst the grinders , bo th in town and country ,for the quality of the articles of em ery , crocus , and glue .

VVRAGG : Yes , that shop had almo st the m onopo ly o f thetrade .

TWI s s : More recen tly the shop,was occupied by Mr .

Cros s land , noted for h is regular and punctual attendance toit the whole day long . His only recreation was a walk upGlo ssop road after his shop was closed at night .

EVERARD : Then came , as n ow ,the barber ’s shop , at that

6 CAMPO LANE .

time occupied by the father and predeces sor of the Mr . Copley who was recently burn t to death in a shocking manner byan explosion of gunpowder . The “ Ball Inn , next door ,then the Golden Ball ,

”was kept in my you thful days by

Antipas Stevens,a very intelligent and respectable man , who

kept his house in proper order . I believe he took to it at thetime Mr . Crich removed to the Black Swan , Sn ighill.

Mr . Steven s was by trade a Silversmith ; and I have an impression that he had been apprenticed to Ash forth , E llis , andCo . ,

or,at least , had worked for them . The Braziers

’

SickClub met at his house , and the inn was , moreover , at thattime

,much frequented by country people on the market days ,

and more especially by the grinders from the n eighbourhoodsof Wadsley , Loxley , andRivelin . After refreshing themselvesthere with the good home -brewed ,

” they wou ld call at theadjoin ing shop of Mr . E llis for their weekly supply of emery ,and crocus

,and groceries . In the watchmaker ’s shop a little

further on ,long occupied by Mr . David John son , and now by

his son,was Mr . Z accheus Dyson , whose active figure , dressed

in a brown coat , drab small clothes , and broad -brimmed hatfor he belonged to the Society of Friends— still lives in the respect ful remembrance ofmany of our town sm en . Mr . Dyson , itis related , once received a letter from a Quaker correspondentaddressed “ For Z accheus Dyson , clock and watchmaker ,Sheffield , near to a great heap of stones called a church .

”

TWIss : Mr . Dyson retired to Handsworth Woodhouse,

and died there 4th June , 1 8 61 .

WRAGG : Narrow as Campo lane is , it was once still narrower , a slice having been taken from the Churchyard towiden it .LEONARD : On the s ite of the offices of B urbeary and

Smith , at the corner of North Church street , a worthy ladynamed Ward kept a school . She was much respected byher pupils and her friends , and she now enjoys a quiet oldage in the Shrewsbury Hospital .

[Mrs . Ward died after this conversation took place , onthe 31 st December , 1872 , aged 8 6 . It i s recorded that sheenjoyed almost un interrupted good health up to the hour ofher death .)

EVERARD The first shop past that was long occupied bythe late Mr . John Innocent , bookseller . Before that it hadbeen the lawyer’s office of Mr . B rookfield, uncle of the late Mr .Charles B rookfield ; and in 1 839 Mr . Innocent there foundthe legal documents which were issued for the first proseou

MONTGOMERY’S PROSECUTIONS— THE SCANTLEBURYS .

tion of Montgomery in 1795 . Mr . Innocent placed in Mont

gomery’

s hands the papers he found , and from them he firs tlearnt , and possessed certain proof, that he had been thevictim of a state prosecution . These documents stated ,amongst other things , that

“ briefs were to be given toCounsel with the Attorney -General ’s complim ents ;

”and

that this pro secution is carried on chiefly with a vi ew toput a stop t o the as sociated clubs in Sheffield ; and it i s tobe hoped , if we are fortunate enough to su cceed in convicting the prison er , it will go a great way towards curbing thein solence they have uniform ly m an ifested .

” The papers ,which were shown at an exhibition at the Music Hall , in1848 , were given to Mr . Innocent by Mrs . B rookfield, and

he gave them to Mon tgom ery , refus ing all paymen t , althoughthe poet offered any m on ey for them .

LEONARD I have heard that a third and still more bitterprosecution of Mr . Montgomery was threatened .

EVERARD This was in 1 806 . Mon tgom ery actuallyreceived the legal notices for a pro secution , based on hi s

strictures on the campaign in Germ any , when General Mackand Austrians laid down their arms . He him self s aid ,I never knew how the blow mis sed me , for it was aimed witha cordiality that m ean t no repetition of the stroke . The deathof Nelson probably saved me , for in the next I r is I spoke ofthat even t in a strain of such patriotism that my former disloyalty was perhaps overlooked .

”

TwI s s A fortunate es cape.

EVERARD : A few doors further on the lane were the Scantleburys , worthy Quakers , who dealt in looking - glas ses . Therewas old Thomas Scantlebury , of The Hills ; and he had threesons , John Barlow Scantlebury , Joseph Scantlebury , and

Samuel Scantlebury . Thomas Scan tlebury and h is eldestson , John Barlow , were very prom inent opponents of Churchrates . Meetings used to be held in the Churchyard adjoining , and the speakers stood on the tombstone s . Some of thefamily emigrated to Am erica .

LEONARD : Yes ; the two younger son s , Jos eph and Samuel .The latter is s till living in Chicago , and retain s h is connection with the Society o f Friends ; as I see from a letter to theIndependen t respecting the oppos ition to the church rates .

Thomas Scantlebury , he says , was the adviser , chiefly ;while his son , John Barlow Scantlebury , took the m ore prominent par t . I well remember that , on one occasion , theopponents of the church rates would have fatally committed

8 CAMPO LANE .

themselves but for my father . The momentous question hadbeen put and seconded in his absence , but the people refusedto vote on it until they had heard his views . When he camein

,he very briefly stated his opposition to the motion , show

ing that it w ould form a very dangerous precedent . Themotion was then withdrawn . The people said that the Vicarand his set could get on the blind s ide of everybody but oldThomas Scan tlebury . I rem ember old Thomas Rawson wasat that meeting , as active as ever . I believe I never saw himafterwards . ’

TwIss : Mr . Thomas Scantlebury died at“ The Hills ,

on the Grimesthorpe road,August 14 , 1 821 his son , John

Barlow Scantlebury, died April 28 , 1837 . O ld Mrs . Scantlebury was the daughter of John Barlow , the last of the familythat had carried on the old busines s of manufacturers of penand pocket cutlery on the premises in Campo lane , ju st beyond Mr . Scantlebury

’

s , the east front of which looks downthe Hartshead . They had been there as owners and occu

piers of the property ever since the year 1679 ,“and I can

not tell how long previous ,” says Mr . Samuel Scantlebury

in the letter Mr . Leonard has just quoted . It was Obadiah Barlow

,the great-great-grandfather of Samuel Scantle

bury,who had the prem ises in 1 679 . Whether the Barlow

of Neepsend , who died in 1740 , was of the same fam ily ornot is doubtful . John Barlow died in 1798 , and one of thebest bus inesses in Sheffield died with him . The trade markwas the simple nam e thusLEONARD : I have spoken of old Mrs . Ward . Before her

time there was another lady of the same name , some Six oreight doors from the Barlow property . She had been housekeeper to the John Barlow who has been mentioned , and heset her up in the grocery bus ines s . Her shop looked morelike a greenhouse than a grocer’s shop . She always had herwindow and every bit of spare room filled with some beautifulflower or plant . Mr . Samuel Scantlebury writes , If I re

member right she had a geran ium that used nearly to fill herfront windows . It was there I first saw the hydrangea .

There cannot be many who remember her ; she must havebeen dead more than 6 5 years . The dear old woman remembered me in her will . She left me a guinea for pocket-moneyWRAGG : Well , this brings us in our journey along the

lane to the Hartshead , and to the Broadbents’ house fronting

York street , a few years ago occupied by Messrs . Pye -Smithand Wightman , and now by Messrs . J . and G . Webster .

THE BROADBENT S . <3

EVERARD : Before you tell us the history of that house ,let me just say that in the w orkshops at the back of Mr .Scantlebury

’

s premises yet an other member of the Society ofFriends , Mr . William Chapman , carried on for many yearsthe bus ines s of an engraver .

TwI ss I well remember his burial (one of the last interments in the graveyard of the Friends ’ Meeting -house) , andthe solitary sentence uttered by Friend E . Baines Afterdeath the judgment .

EVERARD : He was a very am iable and in telligent man ,highly esteemed in his denomination , and at one time hewas actively engaged in promoting the welfare of its m embersby visiting the country districts . H is grave and Christiandeportment , combined with h is kindly dispos ition and courteens manne'rs , secured the confidence and respect of thosewho had any intercourse with him .

TWIS S We shall still keep among the Friends , for Jo sephBroadbent , who died in 1 684 , was one of the first generationof the Society in the town . I believe it was his son Nicholaswho built the hous e in the Hartshead . He died in 1 736 , andwas father of Joseph Broadben t , m erchant , said to have beenthe first banker in Sheffield , who died in 176 1 .

LEONARD Is it worth while to go in to m atters that maybe found by any of u s in Gatty

’

s HunterTWIS S : No but the point I wan t to get at is , were the

Broadbents the firs t bankers in the town ‘2 'I have been toldthat the first person who practised this profes s ion in Sheffield was one o f the fraternity of pawnbrokers . In the “ Hallam shire ,

” it is said ,“ In 1778 , Mes srs . J . and T . Broadbent

opened a bank in Hartshead , on the failure of Mr . Roebuck ’

s

bank,which was the first kn own in Sheffield , and onlv lasted

eight years and in 1780 the Broadbents failed .

”

LEONARD If Jo seph Broadben t died in 176 1 , how cou ldhe be a banker in 1778 2 Your information and Hunter ’sdo not seem to agree .

TWISS : They were the sons of Jo seph— Joseph and

Thomas,who were the bankers of 1778 ; but had their father

been a banker before them ‘

2 I saw the other day an earlySheffield bank n ote , of which I took a copy :

No . R t 0 6

S heffield 0 1d B ank , J anuary 24 ,1 78 3 .

We p ronase to pay the bea rer on demand If'

w e Guineas A t S heffield, value r eeew ed.

I' IAN . HASLE II URST and Se x

£ 5 . 5 s R t O fl

1 0 THE HARTSHEAD .

Haslehurst and Son , it seems , became unfortunate for thenote was endorsed with an exhibit under a commis sion inbankruptcy , 23rd Jun e , 178 5 . But in the fact that it i scalled the Sheffield Old Bank, I am led to inquire D id thebank , afterwards carried on by Mes srs . Parker, Shore andCo . ,

arise from the ashes of this one , for it bore the samenameWRAGG : Whether Mr . Joseph Broadben t was the first

banker or not , he was , at any rate , the first merchant whotraded with America . There is a good story told of one ofthe Broadbents , at the time of the suspen s ion of the bank .

That suspen s ion took place on a Monday morn ing . On thepreceding Sunday , some Derbyshire man came knocking atthe bank door . A voice from Within asked what he wanted .

The countryman replied , I have come to the bank .

” Wedo not transact bu s iness on Sundays ,

” was the answer . Thenthe countryman said ,

“ I have no t come for money , but Ihave brought some .” The other replied , That i s quite adifferent thing .

” So the door was opened , and the Derbyshire man left his money .

LEONARD : That would be called by a hard name now-a

days .WRAGG : The Messrs . Binney Were afterwards in the

Hartshead premises .Twi s s Yes , but the first successor of the Broadbents was

Mr . John Turner , a merchant , who died in 1796 . He wasuncle to Henry Longden and to Mrs . Binney ; and thus wesee how the premises came into the occupation of the B inneys .

WRAGG : I have been told that the Binneys had at onetime the best country trade in the town as merchants , andthe largest steel furnaces (they have j ust been pulled down ,and the bricks are in heaps in the yard) . I believe theywere the first steel manufacturers who had a tilt . One oftheir best travellers was the father of Mr . Joseph Haywood .

I had the impression that the father of the late Mr . G . W .

Hinchliffe , of Eyre street , was also a traveller for the Binneys , but that , I find , was a mistake .LEONARD : So long ago as 1825 , the building had been

turned into lawyers ’ offices . In that year it was occupied : byMr . Copeland , solicitor .WRAGG : While we are among the Friends , and so near

their Meeting-house , permit me to say , one of them told methat , in his recollection , he can count more than a score whohave left Sheffield and gone to America and become mini s

THE DOVE AND RAINBOW. 1 1

ters,who

,had they remained in the town , would never have

been able to open their mouths .LEONARD I thought there were no ministers among the

Quakers .LE IGHTON : You must forgive the abrupt trans ition when

I say— Now,hail to thee , old Dove and Rainbow "

”

Sixty years ago , the drum and fife were scarcely ever absentfrom thy door

,when Sergeant Kenyon and Sergeant Barber

were on the look-out for recruits . Well do I remember seeing one of them com e forth with his corporal , two or threerank and file

,with drum and fife , and march boldly to Water

lane,and there draw up his detachment in line . Then did

the sergean t , with s treamers flying in the air , sheathe hissword

, and he and h is men marched boldly into the publichouse

,and

,like a gallant warrior as he was , called for his

tankard of foaming ale . The sergean t had ready for eachrecruit a spade - ace gu inea , with his Majesty

’

s portrait impressed upon it , pigtail and all . The warlike song was

Ro l l up, so merrily , march awaySo ld ier’s glory lives in s tory

H i s laurel s are green when h i s locks are grey ,And i t

’

s heigh for the h ie o f a so ldi er .

In my youth , I and others of my own age were in the habitof singing songs about “ Lord Wellington in Spain , and

Campo lane sen t out its quota both for the navy and thearmy . I could mention names , were it neces sary— JohnDawson , himself the son of a soldier who died fighting inIndia , and Artilleryman D ixon , and others .

WRAGG I have heard very old people say that the Doveand Rainbow was once on fire . The landlady had m ade herescape from the flames , but she turned back to rescue a cons iderable sum of money , and perished .

TWI SS : That , I im agine , wou ld be in 1782 . The landlord ’s name was Thomas Oate s , and a servant girl perishedas well as his wife .

WRAGG : The old I r is office was at one tim e the largestshop in the town , and had the two largest windows— roundedso as to form the arc of a circle , like a few that are still to beseen , with small panes , un supplanted as yet by big squaresof plate glas s .

EVERARD Montgomery’s last apprentice , Mr . RobertLeader , has spoken feelingly of the shutters which hehad to put up and take down . They were very many , veryheavy , and had to be carried a considerable distance . When

12 THE HARTSHEAD .

work in the office closed, at or 7 p.m . , the unfortunateapprentice had to return to the place at 8 or 9 , to put up theshutters .”

Twrss : Apprentices in n ewspaper offices have not to submit to such tasks now .

WRAGG : Before Mr . Gales’

s time this house was theresidence of Dr . Buchan , who wrote there hi s celebrated work ,D omes tic M edicine . At one time the book was in the handsof almost every one on both s ides of the Atlantic , whereverthe English language is spoken .

TWISS : Another of Montgomery’s apprentices , years earlier , was the eldest son of the Rev . George Smith . He wasnamed Mat thewman , after h is maternal grandfather , and hebecam e a partner of Montgom ery’s . He afterwards en teredthe East India Company’s army and died in India .

LEONARD I have heard Mr . Mon tgomery’s san ctum described as an upper room behind the shop , over the offi cecoal-place . It had a m ost depres s ing out- look upon backpremises and dingy walls and roofs . The editor -poet had astanding o ffice -desk in the room , but his favourite writingplace was a round table which stood n ear the fire . At thetime my informan t best remembers the room , Mon tgomerywas compiling his collection of hymns , and the table wascovered with the books that he used in his work .

LEIGHTON It has often been told how the poet sometimess erved customers , but it was s imply an accidental or except ional thing . My feeling towards him when I was sen t tomake a purchase was one of fear— he was so curt . Then

,

of course , I was on ly young , and so great a man cou ld not

be expected to be civil to a boyLEONARD : Numbers of incidents connected with Mont

gomery’

s life might be mentioned , bu t most of them wouldbe such as have already been published ; and I take it thegreat object of our conversation s is to gather together uhwritten folk- lore .WRAGG I suppose there’s no great harm if one does tell

a story twice overEVERARD : At any rate , the subsequent history of the

Gales family , which is second on ly in interest to that ofMontgomery himself, has not often been told , and I shouldsuggest that Mr . Leonard read it to us .

LEONARD : I’ve no obj ection whatever . This is itWhen ~Mr . Joseph Gales , printer , bookseller , auctioneer ,and editor of the then popular Shefiield Regi s ter , left the

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14 THE HART SHEAD .

that had been established in Washington , in 1800 , by theSamuel H .

Smith previous ly mention ed , with the obj ect ofmaintain ing a newspaper in the capital , Republican In pohtics

,which should yield to the Administration a vrgorous

support . In 1809 Gales was made a partner , and In 18 10

he becam e sole proprietor of this j ournal . It lived unti l theyear 18 69 , when the New York Evening Pos t , n otici ng Its

death,said — ‘Mr . William W . Seaton , a brother-in - law of

Mr.Gales

,and previous ly editor of the Petersburg Republican

and North Carolina Regi s ter , became associated with him inthe enterprise in 18 12 . The In telligencer was a vigoroussupporter of the war with Great Britain , and enj oyed a highreputation as a public j ournal . Messrs . Gales and Seatonused to do their own reporting of debates in Congress , onealways sitting in the Senate and the other in the House ofRepresentatives

,during the sessions . Their Register of De

bates is regarded as a standard source of American history .

The tone of the paper under their management was firm ,

moderate,and cautious . With a rearrangemen t of parties ,

the National In telligencer adhered to Mr . Clay , and was aConservative-Whig journal so long as the Whig party had anexistence . The proprietors stood high in public confidence ,and in 1 840Mr . Seaton was elected m ayor of Washington , andheld the office for twelve consecutive years . Mr . Gales diedin 18 60 . The style of the In telligencer

’

s editorial management deserves a mention . There used to be often a sparseness of leading articles , succeeded at Intervals by the production of a paper covering a page or more , always written withforce and ability , but at the same time rather too solid forthe general reader . ’ Into the cause of the death of the Intelligencer we need not here inquire . It was prosperousunder the son of our old townsman , Mr . Gales , who , in thefree atmosphere of the New World

,followed o ut the career

his father had begun here . After he ceased his labours andwent to his rest , the paper grew more and more out of harmony with the spirit of the times , and paid the penalty thatall newspapers so managed must pay— death . In the autumnof 18 68 an old con tributor to the In telligencer vis ited Sheffield , and being curiou s— as so many Americans are— to seethe place from which his former employer went forth

,visited

the antique shop in the Hartshead where Gales commencedand Montgomery continued the then dangerous trade of editorand publisher . The poetic nine have long deserted the narrow alley . Where flowers of Parnassus once bloomed , the

THE GALE S FAMILY . 1 5

vo taries of Bacchus then revelled . In short , the buildinghad been turn ed into a beershOp. Joiners were removing thequain tly - carved door -case w ith the an cient fan - light , to replacethem with som e more conven ient structure in plain and vul ~gar deal . The stranger was horrified at the de secration , and,inquiring

,found that the old w ood was being removed , with

some lumber , for lighting fires . H is plea for mercy was admit ted ; triumphant , he carried off the old door - case , and ou tof it had constructed a number of boxes , one of which is placedin the National Museum at W

'

ashing ton , suitably in scribed ,and bearing a photograph of the premises rendered sacred bythe memory of Gales and Montgomery .

Twrs s It should be added that Montgomery’s Hartsheadshop is , at the presen t time , not a beershop, but a grocer

’

s .

The Gales family lived at E ckington for m any years ; thefirs t of the name of whom there is record , Timothy , was appointed parish clerk in 1707 . His son Timothy marriedSarah Clay , of E ckington , in 1 73 5 , and their eldest son ,

Thomas , was the father of Joseph Gales , of the Hartshead ,the proprietor of the Shefii eld Reg is ter . He was born February 4 , 1761 . I have here a copy of the inscription on thetombstone of the fam i ly in E ckington churchyard

Under th is S toneLi e th e Remains o f three Daughters o f

THOMAS and SARAH GALE S , o f Eckington ,

and s isters o f JOSEPH GAL ES , who died at Raleigh ,North Caro lina, U .S . , Augus t 24 , 1841 , aged 80 years .

ELI Z ABETH GALES ,Departed th i s l i fe , February 1 6 , 1821 ,

Aged 49 years .

Farewel l , be loved, w e m eet again .

ANNE GALES ,Died January 17 , 1838 , aged 70 years .

Jesus saith un to h er , I am the Resurrection and the Li fe .

SARAH GALEs ,

Died February 18 , 18 5 7 , aged 84 years .

With these s isters , together and s everal ly , l ived fo r more than s ixtyyears (dyin g in th e presence o f th e las t -nam ed , at Shefli eld, Apri l 30 ,

JAME S MONTGOMERY,

Th e Christian Po et , Patrio t , andPhrlan thropis t .

Requ iescat in pace .

WRAGG : It was in the Hartshead and Watson’s walk (so

called from Mes srs . VVat son’

s silversmiths ’ factory) that thefirst eating -houses were established now there is not one left .LEONARD : Yes , I understand the name of the proprietor

of one of the cook - shops there was Thornhill . He lived ata house down Harvest lane , popularly called T ’ hen hole ,

”

16 THE HARTSHEAD .

because there was a tradition that poultry felon ious ly obtainedw as pushed through a hole into his cellar at n ight .LEIGHTON : A l ittle below , too , in Har tshead , Matthias

D'

Amour kept a rook - shop —the first , I believe , in thetown .

LEONARD : D’

Am our’

s“ Autobiography was written for

him by the late Mr . Paul Rodgers , if you will excuse thebull

. which is not mine , but theirs . It i s an interesting storyof h is adventures as a kind of confidential servan t to variousgentlemen , and as valet to the Duches s of Gordon but thestrangest part of all is that he should settle down at last inthe Hartshead . in Sheffield , as the keeper of an eatinghouse and poulterer

’

s shop .

LE IGHTON : That i s accounted for by hi s w ife , who hadalso been in the service of the Duches s of Gordon , havingonnection s in the neighbourhood .

LEONARD In the course of the book we are not once toldwhat was her maiden name . but her mother lived at IVoodhall . some eleven miles from Sheffield , and She had a brotherin Cheney row , whose nam e also is omitted . At first .D

’

Amour set up a canal boat , and conveyed coal from Whittingtou and Norwood collieries to Retford ; but j ealou siesarising . he sold his boat . He cam e to Sheffield on the verylast day of the eighteenth century , began his eating -hous e at4, Market street , did well there , and in four years removed tothe Hartshead . where he rem ained until 1 826 . when .

“ tradebeing much depres sed after the pan ic o f 1 825 . he and hi s

wife w illingly ret ired from all kin d Of bu sines s . In pointof fact . they seem to have lo st their mon ey . D

'

Am our wasa nat ive of Antwerp . and was eighty- six years of age whenhis life was published . He lived to the great age of n inetythree . not dying until 1 842 .

LEIoHTON : In the Hartshead , som e s ixt v vears ago , the

late Mr . Thomas Pearson carried on bu s iness as a win e m er

chant . and there realised a large fortune .

\YBAGG Z It is said that on hi s late premises there are

two cellars cut out of the solid rock . one underneath theo ther . They are now occupied by Mes s rs . J . S . and T .

Birks . grocers and wine dealers .

LEIGHTON Then there was T'

oil I t’

Vv'

all (The Hole inthe “RID and the house now occupied by Mr . Allcroft . wi then t rances both from Hartshead andWat son

'

s walk, w as keptbv Mr . Sam Turner Gin Sam . as he w as called , to di strngu ish him from Flannel Sam , the diaper . “ Gin Sam "

18 A CURIOU S CONFIRMATION STORY .

a distance they had come in consequence of having heardof his fondnes s for boxing , and buoyed by the fond hopethat he would not disdain , as a particular favour , to givethem a display of his skill . Nothing could please the oldJustice better . With great urban ity he at once as sented , thegloves were procured

, and were used with a science thatconvinced the visitors they had not taken their j ourneyfruitlessly ; and in the end they left well pleased with thesuccess of their mission .

EVERARD : A good story , which I will cap with another ,also appropriate to the locality , and also with a clerical flavour .About the middle of the last century there lived at MalinBridge a working man , in humble circumstances , but whobore a good character amongst his neighbours for integrityand moral worth

,and who was , moreover , a strict Church

man . He had a son named William , who had attained to anage suitable to receive the rite of confirmation , according tothe ritual of the Church of England , and his father becamevery solicitous that this matter should be attended to withoutany unnecessary delay . On a certain day the Archbishop ofYork held a Confirmation service in the Parish Church , andthis worthy man accompanied his son to Sheffield for the purpose of attending it . From some misunderstanding as to thetime , it so happened that on their arrival at the O ld Church ,the Confirmation service was over , and the Archbishop ,clergy, and congregation were dispersed . What was to bedone A man of ordinary character would just have returnedhome . But , instead of doing so , he ascertained that the Archbishop had gone down to the house Mr . Leighton has spoken of,inWatson ’s walk, and thither the father and son followed him .

The servants refused them access to the Archbishop,as he

was just s itting down to dinner ; but , happen ing to overhearthe altercation , his lordship came to the top of the stairs andasked what was the matter . The father explained the circumstan ces , and the Archbishop , after asking some question s ,and hearing young William repeat the Lord’s Prayer and theCreed , confirmed him on the stairhead of the public -house "The father and the boy, we may well suppose , trudged homehighly gratified with the enj oyment of so Special a privilege .The son was afterwards the grandfather of a highly esteemedmagistrate recently deceased .

LEONARD : I do not see why you should hesitate to addthat the boy so confirmed was the grandfather of the lateMr . Thomas Dunn . He who had shown so much determina

THE YOUNG PRETENDER . 19

tion to get the rite administered to his son was the first ofthe Dunn s— the first also of the Thomas Dunns— res ident inthis neighbourhood . He had come from Boston about theyear 1730 , to be apprenticed to an ancestor of the late Col .Fenton . H is Malin Bridge house was a neat , substantialcottage , with a pointed gable , covered with a fruit -tree . Itwas swept away , along with adjacent buildings , by the greatflood of 18 64 . The son , William Dunn , the hero of theconfirmation story , was , as that sufficien tly shows , broughtup a Churchman ; bu t , as he subsequen tly married a strictD is senter , his son Thomas , father of the late Mr . Dunn , waseducated as a holder of Non conformist tenets , and , with hisfamily , he attended Queen Street Chapel for many years . Hewas a self-taught man , of much n atural ability , and his tastesare indicated by the fact that he was the first person who lectured in Sheffield on electricity . His wife was a Holland

,the

daughter of a residen t at Shiregreen . She was eight monthsold in 1745 , when the Young Pretender and his followerswere marching south ; and, as it was confidently affirmed andimplicitly believed that the rebels wou ld impale every baby ontheir swords

, she was hidden in a holly bush . The rebelsare said to have been within a mile of her father’s house atthat tim e , and every man in the hamlet had gone out to fight .LE IGHTON The fighting may be problematical .LEONARD : Yes ; it i s pos sible that curio s ity , rather than

valour, had taken the men away , for we know, as a matter ofhistory , what an unopposed march the rebels had . Thisstory , however , reminds one of the tradition that

,on his

return northwards , Prince Charle s Edward vi sited Sheffield ,and was a guest of the Heatons , in the Pickle . I went intothat question on ce (as Mr . Brooke , in Middlemarch

,

” wouldsay) , and I came to the conclusion that the evidence in support of the story was very feeble . It consisted chiefly of dimremembrances of mysterious transaction s , handed down byold Mrs . Heaton , who was a little girl in 1745 , to her deseendants , and the cherished belief of the family that a harpsichord , a sword , a wine -glass , and other articles were presentsfrom the

‘Prince . On the other hand , the known facts of theYoung Pretender’s progress and retreat lend no countenancewhatever to the legend .

EVERARD : Mr . Leighton has mentioned the Mechanics’

Library , and I think perhaps you may be interested in bearing some account of an institution very popular and useful inits day, that has been drawn up by one who was intimately

20 THE MEGHANICS’

LIBRARY.

associated with its management . Do you care to hear it "

ALL : Much .

EVERARD (reads) : Half a century has nearly elapsedsince the Mechanics’ Library was first established , by resolutions passed at a public m eeting , held in the Town Hall , onDecember 27th , 1823 . Most of the individuals who took aprominent part in that meeting have passed away , includingMontgomery , the Rev . Dr . Sutton , Sir Arnold Knight , Mr .Edward Smith , Mr . Asline Ward , the Rev . Thos . Smith , andothers .

From a small beginning the institution went steadilyforward, advancing year by year in public esteem , and strictlyadhering to its original inten tion of the purchase and circulation of books , without allowing its funds to be diverted to anyother object . In the cour se of thirty years it had accumu

lated volumes , enrolled s ix hundred members , and hada weekly issue of six hundred books . Of the gen eral character of these works Mr . Montgomery, who was from the firstthe president , on a certain occasion bore this testimonyI offer it as my deliberate Opinion that there does not existin this kingdom a public library of miscellaneous literature inwhich will be found a smaller proportion of Objectionablevolumes than in this of the Sheffield Mechanics . Withoutmean ing the smallest disparagement to what is called theGentlemen’s L ibrary here , the proportion of books not calculated to be particu larly profitable to the reader

,or perma

nen tly enhancing the value of the property itself, i s far

greater and which difference he attributed to the large admis s ion of novels , romances , and plays .

“ By a certain clause in the 24th rule of the Mechanics ’

Library, novels and plays were excluded . After things hadgone on quietly for some years , at length the abrogation ofthis law became the subj ect of animated and even stormy debates at the annual meetings . On the one Side the Re

pealers’

asserted that to exclude so large a portion of thecurrent and popular literature of the day was incons isten twith the library being regarded as a public in stitution

,and

also with the fact of the actual adm is sion of works of fictionat all ; and that it was unfair towards those members whoposses sed the taste for that kind of reading

, and was opposedto the entire spirit , freedom , and liberality of the age . TO

all this , 0 11 the other hand , the Constitutionalists ’

stoutlymaintained that the clause in question was a fundam entalprinciple of the institution , and could not be repealed without

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22 ITS SECRETARY .

meeting in the old Town Hall , on Saturday morning inChristmas week . It was an inauspicious tim e , but yet theroom was crowded to excess . I have now before me thenames of those who addressed the meeting . I was then astripling , but I was intensely interested in the proceedings .I stood for three hours— for I could not get a seat— to hearthe addresses

,and none made a greater impression upon me

than a speech of the late Rev . T . Smith , who was then at hisbest . It had a great influence on me at the time . He beaut ifully depicted the benefits such an institution might conferon the working men of Sheffield , and he mentioned the caseof a working man of his acquaintance who , though spendingforty years of his life in a cotton manufactory , had masteredLatin , Greek, and Hebrew ,

was well versed in mathematics ,and had considerable knowledge of medicine . This man hadhad a wife and seven children to maintain by his own labour ,but no family in the town was more respectable , no childrenwere better fed

,clothed

,and educated , and several of them

were reading Latin,Greek

,and Hebrew with their father .

This account of what a working man had done stimulated meto desire to do likewise , and renewed my ardour in the studiesin which I was engaged . Thus the in stitution has imparteda bias to my life and character

,and no doubt it has done the

sam e thing for many others . It was no s light privilege assecretary of this institution to enjoy intercourse with its latepresident , Mr .

‘Montgom ery . I frequently saw him , and

received from him such kindness as was m ost important to ayoung man in the position I was called to . The benefits thathave resulted from this library

,directly and indirectly

,have

been great . It has been the pioneer of some other institutions that have since flourished .

’

“ The office of secretary,to which Mr . Hebblethwaite

was appointed and which he so long satisfactorily filled,was

not one of honorary distin ction , but required much time ,thought, and work . These duties he discharged with a punetuality that seldom failed , and w ith un iform courtesy . Oneof his chief qualities was that of aptitude in matters of business . In fact , he may justly be said to have been a model ’

secretary . All that he advised and did bore a certain impressof clear- sightedness , promptitude , and despatch . At the comm i t tee meetings (at which Montgomery, as long as he could,attended)

.

there was scarcely ever a document wanting , anaccount Incompleted , or minutes unentered , or any specialbusrness that he had engaged to do unattended to . All the

ITS LIBRARIAN . 23

matters to be considered and determined were clearly and orderly arranged . The discharge of these duties involved an

amount of time and labour , cheerfully devoted to them ,of

which few can form any adequate conception . There can beno question that the institution was greatly indebted to hissteady atten tions and personal influence for the extent of itsusefulness and the estimation in which it was held by thepublic . Besides his connection with the library , Mr . Hebble

thwaite , for not les s than thirty years , was the teacher of alarge and efficient day school , and also , for more than thesame period , the superintendent of a Sunday s chool so thatit may be safely affirmed that few men— perhap s no manever exerted a greater or more beneficial influen ce on theminds of the youth in this town . Highly and generallyesteemed by the members , as well as by the rest of the commun ity , after a long course of honorary service , Mr . Hebble

thwaite retired a short time before the institution was mergedinto the Free L ibrary .

On the formation of the Free Library it became quiteevident that an in stitution supported by a public rate leviedon all householders must serious ly injure , and even tually destroy , one sustained by voluntary subscription . Such was theresult . The Mechan ics ’ L ibrary became absorbed into theFree L ibrary , and now on ly exis ts as a pleasant memory ofthe past .

But as naturally identified and long connected with thatinstitution ,

we now proceed to notice the librarian . Mr .Alfred Smith was as much a Sheffield notability , and in certain respects of a s im ilar old - fashioned type , as the late Mr .John Holland . His father was a currier , for some time livingin Queen street , but afterwards he removed to Fig Tree lane .Mr . Smith brought up his two sons , Alfred and Frederick , tothe bus ines s ; and I have myself often seen Alfred with hisapron on and shirt sleeves turned up above the elbows , standing at the shop -door . That shop was a stone building , apparen tly two centuries old , with small leaded window -panes ,a little above Mr . Haxworth

’

s surgery , in Fig Tree lane .

Alfred’s father was a respectable and shrewd man , pos ses sing more than an ordinary Share of information , and wellknown to the public m en of that day . He greatly adm ired ,and was intimately acquainted w ith , Montgomery , and s toodby the poet on one of the occasions when he was examinedand committed to prison by the m agistrates , and went tofetch the persons who became his suretie s .

24 THE MECHANICS’ LIBRARY .

Mr . Smith , the father , was a stan ch Liberal in politics ,and the old ‘ currier shop ’was a kind of meeting -place , wherethe most active local politicians of the time used frequentlyto resort for the purpose of learning the news and discu ss ingpublic affairs . To that spot the late vicar , Dr . Sutton , usedto repair to obtain information as to any event that was exci ting public interest . It must be remembered that at thattim e there were no daily penny newspapers , or railway conveyance

,or tran smission of commun ications by telegraph . Young

Alfred, as he listened to these discussions w ith attentive earsand eager interest , imbibed those political views and principles which , in a modified form , he ever afterwards held andbelieved in . He became in early life well known to Montgomery , and ever entertained for the poet a profound respect .He often spoke. of Mr . Montgomery in such terms of higheulogy as seemed almost to am ount to a kind of idolatry .

For some time after the Mechanics’ Library was firstestablished , the work of librarian was done by voluntaryservices . Afterwards , Mr . Clegg was appointed to that Office ,and , on his resignation , Mr . Alfred Sm ith . On the occas ionof the election Montgomery spoke of him in very kindly andfavourable terms . On being duly in stalled in to the office , hismanners of old -fashioned politeness and efforts to oblige soonwon the good-will and esteem of the generality of the m em

bers . With kindly feelings will many of them recall t o m e

mory his personal appearance . There was certain ly something striking about it , including the bald head , high forehead ,and long , pale , and unwhiskered face . His countenance , itwill be remembered , was naturally grave , and on certain special occasion s it was apt to assum e that stronger expres sion ofgravity that approached very nearly to the stolid and impassive .

But , un like this outward appearance , he was of a verycheerful , kind-hearted , and gen ial disposition . He had anextensive knowledge of books of a certain kind

, and his ordinary conversation was rendered in teresting by curious scrapsand quaint conceits . His memory was very extraordinary

,

and, indeed , was the chief faculty of his mental con stitution .

He knew the greater part of Hudibras by heart, and could

grve citations to any length . Montgomery,of course

,was a

very favourite author ; and he often repeated pas sages bothfrom his published poems and also from some others

,which

I suspect have escaped even the keen scrutinising search of thelate Mr . Holland . In his younger days he had himself composed a considerable amount of poetry

,which he could repeat

ITS LIBRARIAN . 25

to any extent . But it was in the doggerel style and Hudibrastic vein ; and it i s very doubtfu l whether he pos ses sedthe requis ite literary taste and ability to have w ritten anythingthat would at all have stood the critical ordeal if printed in avolum e .

“ Notwithstanding some man ifest imperfections , he yetsucceeded to a considerable extent in giving satisfaction andit may be question ed whether a more clever bu s ines s manwou ld , on the whole , have served the interests of the librarybetter than the good-tempered , humorous , gos s iping , and

somewhat eccen tric ‘ librarian .

’ He certain ly had often tom anifest a great deal of patien ce but , on the other han d, iti s only fair to say he frequen tly requ ired a large exercise ofthat said excellent quality towards him self. On certain occasion s , whilst he was reciting poetry or telling som e queerstory, might be seen more than half-a-dozen youngsters waiting for an exchange of books , who , with eager looks werelistening with delight to what he was saying ; whilst amongstthem might be a m an who thought his time of some value ,who would , with s ign s of anger and impatience , remon strateagain st such delay . Instantly the tale wou ld be cut short ,and the applicant’s wishes attended to , with many apologiesand efforts to conciliate and oblige .

On the occas ion of Montgomery ’s funeral , with a largescarf around h i s hat , Alfred Smith was m oun ted on the boxbeside the driver of the carriage in which were the secretary ,vice -president , and other Officers of the Mechan ics ’ L ibraryleading up the proces s ion . All along the road lined withspectators he was quietly recognised

,and thus , by m ere acci

dent , occupied a prominent pos ition in paying h is tribute ofrespect to the ven erated poet . Soon after this event h is healthbegan visibly to fail , and he gradually sank into a debilitatedcondition ; but still , n otwithstanding all persuas ion s to thecontrary , he resolutely attended , to almost the last day ofhis life , at the library , thus fin ishing his twenty -five years offaithful and con scientiou s service . During that period it wasthe writer ’s privilege to enj oy very frequent and pleasan t intercourse , and also at the end to follow him to hi s grave , andsee his mortal remain s interred in the Pi t sm oor Churchyard .

With his nam e the remembrance of the Sheffield Mechan ics ’L ibrary wi ll ever remain closely as sociated

—an in stitutien which m ay fairly claim to have fulfilled it s originaldesign for abou t forty years , by furnishing the mean s , at littlecost , of reading valuable works on arts , science , literature ,

26 CAMPo LANE .

and religion,which were adapted to improve the intellect and

to form and establish the moral and religiou s character .”

WRAGG : Thank you . Our friend Leighton has , I see ,fallen asleep

,which is a reminder that we ought to be going

home . [Exenn tj

CHAPTER II .

CAMPO LANE , THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL , THE TOWNHEAD .

Scene—The same .

Period—Two days later .

Present—EVERARD ,WRAGG , LEIGHTON , Twrs s , and LEONARD .

LEIGHTON : When last we met we mentally repeopledCampo lane with its old inhabitants , from the top of

Paradise square to the bottom of the Hartshead and Watson’

swalk . Suppose we now go in the opposite direction , takingthe Lane from Virgin ’s row to the Townhead.

WRAGG : Yes , that part is full of interest , though youmodern s , Mr . Leonard, will scarcely credit it .LEONARD Well , it is difficult to find much romance there

now, amid its dingy second -hand clothes shops and its squalidtenements . The only thing of interest about it I rememberis a ghost story connected with the dreadfu l row of sheps wecome to first, going from St . James

’

s row ,on the left , that

look as if they had started life with great pretens ion s . bu t theforce of adverse circumstances has brought them to a worseplight than that of their older neighbours . The latter , ifpoor , have an air of decent poverty about them ; but thesehave nothing but a seedy look of decayed snobbishnes s .

TWISS : Wh at you refer to was not really a ghost story ,

put only a great hoax, perpetrated by the aid of a magicantern .

LEONARD : At any rate , a lot of people were well frightened , and one woman lo st her life .

EVERARD : At the corner of St . James ’s row and Campolane was a publ ic -hou se . That part of the building whichcame to the front , forming a lin e with the Girls

’ CharitySchool, was , I believe , a comparatively modern proj ection ,

CAMPO LANE . 27

built of brick , and joined to the gable end of the old originalhouse , which fronted Campo lane . The lower room of thisnew part was used as a dram- shop ,

” or kind of “ bar , andthe room over it was occupied as a store - room . The publichouse proper was , I think , bu ilt Of stone , or , if not , at allevents wi th very old - looking bricks , and had small windows .The chief entrance then was in the very narrow part ofCampo lane . I recollect that

,when a youth , I went once or

twice into this public -house , and noticed that the room inwhich we sat was very clean

,the floor well rubbed and sanded ,

the ceiling low,and the window small . I do not remember

what the S ign was , or whether the old part of the house was“ thatched . But it might have been so , and certainly wasold enough to have been so at some previous period of itsexisten ce .LEIGHTON : Let us get on . Among the low and dilapi

dated premises Opposite i s the cooper’s shop where Mr . JohnHall carried on the business of cooper , which Mr . EdwardHall has continued for so many years . At the corner of Leecroft , on the east side , now a broker

’s shop , is a fine oldbuilding with it s grand staircase . It was , s ixty years since ,occupied by a retired merchant , a most respectable manMr . Parkin . On the oppos ite s ide of the lan e , at the cornerof St . James ’s hill

, was his garden . I rem ember seeinggooseberry bushes in it . Now it is occupied as a sort of shed ,used for storing horn s , or something of the kind . I shou ldlike to kn ow who changed St . James ’s hill into Vicar lane ,and Virgin’s walk into St . Jame s ’s row . Whoever he was ,he ought to have been whipped out of the town .

WRAGG The house you speak of was afterwards the factory of Mr . Thomas Harrison , who had previous ly been burn tout of premises on the s ite of a portion of the Gas Works .At that time he was , I believe , a dealer in horns and hardwoods but in Campo lane , where he was , I dare say, twentyyears , he got up table kn ives . He removed into Holly street .He was a worthy and honourable man in all his dealings , but,I am sorry to add

,he never recovered from the sad disaster

connected with his fire .

Twrs s The house at the corner of Campo lane and Leecroft , now the Cup Inn , is an interesting old place .

WRAGG Over the door it bears the date , 1726 , andthe initials , J

TB or perhaps I

T

E

LE IGHTON : That was the res idence of Mr . Isaac Barnes ,one of the old school of manufacturers . His workshops were

28 THE WARM HEARTHSTONE .

just above . He was universally respected as an uprighttradesman and an honest man .

LEONARD : The house was subsequently the res idence ofhis son , Mr . George Barnes , who carried on this , one of theoldest cutlery trades in the town . Ultimately, however , thebu siness was allowed to expire . Mr . George Barnes builthimself a residence at Ranmoor , and the Campo lane housethen reverted to what it is suspected to have been at firsta beershOp.

LE IGHTON : Methinks I see old Isaac Barnes now , walking up to his old friend to sm oke his pipe and enj oyhis pint of strong ale at the Warm Hearthstone ,

” still , asof old , looking down the lane . Its then occupier and own er ,Whittington Souter , bore a name renowned in the local annals . He was a good and charitable man

,and highly respected

by all .EVERARD : When his customers called upon him for his

song , he used to give these two linesThere was a bee , and it lived in a wal l ,I t jus t said hum ,

”and that’s all.

LE IGHTON : Every Sunday forenoon he had a large pieceof beef or mutton roasting , and his near custom ers were encouraged to bring their quarters of oatcake or slice of breadto dip in the capacious dripping-pan . He brewed the bestale in the county , a relative of mine being his maltster . Theyboth get rich , and well they deserved it .WRAGG : You only do justice to Mr . Souter’s character .

He was not only an upright,honourable man

,but a sincere

Christian . He attended Garden street Chapel,under the

ministry of the Rev . Mark Decker, and when he died was itsmortgagee . I believe he had purchased it from the Methodist s when they removed to Carver street . He and his familyare buried in the graveyard of Howard street Chapel .LE IGHTON : He had a room in which tradesmen met for

friendly chat , and they were served in silver pints .WRAGG Behind the public-house is a large door

,and the

yard is higher than the street . Mr . Souter had a carter,who

had backed his cart towards this door,and was standing be

tween the cart and the wall below the door,lifting something

erther into or out of the cart ; the horse moved backwards ,and so the carter was killed

,from the cart pres sing again st

hrm . Some time after, the horse , being taken to Mr . Souter

’

s field, near Mushroom Hall,fell into an Old quarry

and was killed . Mr . Souter was a kind and conside

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30 THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL .

thirty years when he died , in 1809 . Mr . Chadwick was alsovicar of Tins ley and it i s he who is said to have gi ven themagis trates so deserved a rebuke when , com ing out from theirduties in the old Cutlers

’Hall one day, they were struck withthe horse on which he was ju st passing . Here

’

s Mr . Chadwick

,

” said one , riding a fine blood horse , while his Masterwas contented with an ass . Your worship , said the riderto the speaker

,forgets that asses are scarcer now .

“ Howso asked the magistrate . Government gets all it can tomake justices of,

” retorted Mr . Chadwick ; and no doubt herode on his way with the complacen cy of a man who has hadhis revenge . The story is told in Wilson

’s edition of Mather .LEONARD : The Grammar School was a low building , with

high pitched roof,lead-framed windows , and a porch . Its shape

was a capital L ,the main part running from east to west , fac

ing nearly southward , but being much below the s treet . Thispart was occupied by the classes under the first and secondmasters . The minor part of the bu ilding ran from the westend northward , and was large enough for one long table , atwhich perhaps twenty boys could sit on each s ide , under thecare of the writing master . The floor was of stone . Thefurniture of the school cons isted of low oak benches , threeto each class , forming three s ides of a square , with a steel

for the praepositus .

Twrss Before that , the boys’ seats were more like stalls ,

or the seats in cathedral choirs and against the walls was ahigh wainscoting of dark oak , panelled . There was a secondrow of stalls , w ith narrow desks before them , and in front abroad way up the centre of the school from end to end. Thehead master’s seat , placed in the centre of the east end, wascomposed of two mass ive oak sides , upwards of seven feethigh , and at least six inches thick , and terminating inFleurs -de- lys cut out of the solid . The boys’ stalls ranup to this seat on either hand . At the other end, the secondmaster

’

s desk , among the junior boys , was the exact counterpart of this ; and on the left of the junior school was theproj ecting space towards the croft , where were the writingdesks over which O ld Jacky — as the venerable mathema

t ician , John Eadon , was disrespectfully called— presidedevery morning from eight o ’clock to nine

,before the classical

work of the day began . The front door,leading out into the

yard , was in the centre of one of the sides of the building .

LEONARD : The school was indifferently lighted,and owed

It s warming to one large fire -place in the main building,

THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL . 3 1

and another in the writing master’s domain . The headmaster’s house was at the west end of the building

,facing

the street . It was roomy , but dilapidated ; and in the lateryears of the o ld school was un occupied . The school buildingstood as much below the level of the street on one s ide as theBaptist Chapel stands above it on the other

,the builders of

the s chool having apparently dug its site out of the naturallysteep hill-side at the head of the School croft

,which sloped

down the hill behind it to Tenter street .Twrs s : Among the boys who attended the school from

1 808 to 18 12 were the following , who have passed awayJohn Staniforth , solicitor , and clerk to the Town Trustees ;Frank Fenton , solicitor , London , (he obtained a celebrity indefending John Thurtell, who was executed for the murderof Weare , near St . Alban s ) Luke Palfreyman , solicitor , ofcons iderable practice , and for many years of great influenceFrancis Hoole , solicitor , Mayor 1 8 5 3 , Town Trustee ; E . B .

Tattershall , solicitor , London ; John D ixon , solicitor , Sheffield Broomhead Ward , M .A . , beneficed clergyman inWiltshire ; Charles B rownill, J .P. West Riding

,merchant

,

L iverpool ; Samuel Mitchell , m erchant , Sheffield , a distin

guished antiquarian ; Robert Naylor , accidentally killed atRoche Abbey , merchant ; John Fenton , captain East IndiaServi ce , brother to F . Fenton , and son of Colonel Fenton ;Richard Ogle , nephew to R . Blakelock , E sq . ,

died at Demerara ; John Harwood , M .D died in Shefli eld ; John Sterndale , M .D . , died in E ast India Service ; Samuel Staniforth ,brother of John Staniforth , died in Paris John Ward , merchant , Sheffield ; Jo seph Oakes , builder , of WashingtonWorks , Sheffield . There are living at the present timeAlbert Smith , solicitor , and magistrates

’ clerk SamuelRoberts , J .P. West Riding , Town Trustee ; Charles Atkinson , J .P. West Riding , Mayor 18 5 8 , Master Cutler 1 8 64 ;James Tillotson , J .P. West Riding Thomas James Parker

,

solicitor , Sheffield ; Lewis O . Sayles , late Assize Master ,Leam ington ; Robert Younge , Church Burgess , wine merchant ; Benj amin Vickers , merchan t , Shefli eld ; Charles Radford , M .A late Fellow of B raz ennose College

,now living at

Bath ; William Vickers , merchant , first chairman and principal promoter of Sheffield and Rotherham Railway . Oneof these survivors has said how well he remembers the tallfigure of the Rev . Charles Chadwi ck, who held sway up tohis death in the year 1 809 , entering the school from thecentre door , with his clerical three -cornered cocked hat , and

32 THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL .

walking with stately step to the cushioned throne whence , Inall the majesty of might and right , he looked around withscrutinis ing eye for some delinquent ,

At Chadw ick’s frown all tremblingly al ive ,

on whom he contemplated bestowing his favourite custard ,that lay on the broad table before him , with these memorablewords deeply cut in the wood ,

“ I forgot it ,” so frequently

impressed with biting effect on the open hand of many anun lucky offender . Over his chair were the emblems of scholastic pun ishmen t— the rod , the cane , the ferrule with custard at the end— most artistically painted , with some memorable Latin lines .

The second master , the same O ld Boy goes on tosay

,was named Wheatcroft we generally called him

L ittle Widdy,” a man of very small s tature but of great

conceit . During the tim e that intervened between the deathof Mr . Chadwick and the appointment of the Rev . JosephWilson , he transferred the school to the house occupied bythe late master . The school had got very small , and underhis management it grew beautifully less . We had scarcelytwenty boys when the Rev . J . Wilson came into res idence .Mr . Wilson was a man of strong mind and determin ed character , being an excellent classical scholar , who had taken ahigh degree at his college . Under his system and methodof teaching the school soon recovered the ground it had lost

,

and, ere twelve months had pas sed , had in creased to morethan eighty boys— a sufficient number to claim and maintainthe supremacy over every other school in the town

,both

mentally and physically , to which the numerous battles wefought during the snowballing season can testify . It was thepractice in those days to settle the disputes as to supremacyin that practical manner .

Mr . W . Wright was about that time appointed ourwriting master , after the decease of Mr . Eadon ,

whose pupiland ass istant he had been . Between him and Mr . Wilsona very friendly feeling arose , which matured to the very serviceable but unu sual extent of the head m aster giving Mr .Wright in struction in classical knowledge

,which enabled him

to fill , to the satisfaction of all parties , the appoin tment ofsecond classical master , which he afterwards obtained on thenext vacancy in 1821 or 1822 . Mr . Wilson

,although a man

above the ordinary stature , and firm in manner, was not

really so powerful as he looked, s in ce he was incapacitated

THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL . 33

from taking active exercise by having , either from accidentor some other cause , had his left leg taken off below theknee , and a cork liinb substituted . I believe he was the lastperson in Sheffield who used a sedan chair in visiting hisfriends . This was Obtained from the O ld As sembly Rooms ,and had formerly been used by ladies only . At that periodno hackney coach or cab was in existence . Among the fewcarriages kept in the town and immediate neighbourhood wasone at Goddard Hall , by Philip Smilter, E sq . , an old Catholic gentleman , who vis ited the town occas ionally in a quaintold chaise , drawn by two light -brown , heavy , Flemish -bredhorses with long manes and tails . Their speed was betweena j og -trot and a walk . His postilion , in red , with bell-button ,buckskins , and top boots , black velvet cap , and long straightwhip the harnes s with breast collar and large square platedbuckles , completed this unique set-out . The venerable manwas a picture of the old squire in the costume of the earlyperiod of George III . , so graphically delineated by Hogarthand other painters of his day . Poor Mr . Wilson had a sadend. One morning in - 18 18 Mr . Wright was hastily sum

mened from the school to the head master’s house , and , onentering the library , found the unfortunate gentleman lyingface downward on his secretaire , grasping a pistol just discharged . That terminated his life and pos ition as headmaster of the Sheffield Grammar School . The Rev . W.

White succeeded him .

”

LEONARD : At this point it is better that another formerGrammar School boy , of somewhat later date than he whomyou have been quoting , should take up the narrative

In 1821 , the Rev . William White , who had beenelected in 18 18 , was head master , the Rev . G . Harrisonsecond master , and Mr . William Wright writing master ;but he succeeded Mr . Harrison in 1822 , and was himself succeeded in the writing departmen t by Mr . WilliamKirk . This school , as it was at that day , is e specially int eres ting now, from the well -known men of later days whowere then among the s cholars . Indisputably , the first boyin the first or highest class was Thomas Goodison , who became an attorney

,and practised in a very quiet way in George

street . His signal abilities as a boy never developed themselves in his after career . Among his class -fellows was thelate Wilson Overend, a fine youth , of great abilities andhigh spirit , but som ewhat volatile , who became eminent as asurgeon , and was an important public man in the town .

13

34 THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL .

Wm.Pashley Milner

,now of Meersbrook , was another of this

class ; as was also Robert C . Mather , who has passed manyyears of his life as a missionary in India . In the secondclass

,at the same time , was William Overend, now Q .C . , who

at over sixty years of age retains much of the countenance ofhis boyhood . In the same class was Kay Fenton , youngestson of Colonel Fenton , of Woodhill , on the Grimesthorperead, our first superintendent of police under the Act of18 18 .

The Colonel held office till his death , when he wassucceeded by Mr . Thomas Raynor , who was our first chiefconstable

,and the immediate predecessor of Mr . John Jack

son . Urban Smith,the youngest brother of Mr . Albert

Smith,and now the vicar of Stoney Middleton , where he has

passed a quiet life in the discharge of the unostentatiousduties of a country clergyman , was in the second class . Soalso were Astley Foulds , son of Mr . Samuel Foulds , surgeon ,Change alley

,and himself the father of another generation of

surgeons Nathaniel R . Philipps , of Broomhall , now recorderof Pontefract ; and Edward Hoyland , the elder son of a notable Quaker chemist , whose Shop was next the Cutlers

’ Hall .William Bell Mackenzie , lately deceased , for many years ahighly-popular clergyman at Holloway, London , was a Grammar School boy with some of the above , but had left theschool shortly before the period we speak of. The first andsecond classes were under the especial charge of the headmaster ; but in his division of the school was also a juniorclass , over which the boys of the first and second classes wereset as praeposit i (Angli ce, monitors) . Here were SamuelEaden , now Dr . Eadon , the great -nephew of the fine old mathematician who , two generations before , was master of theFree Writing School , and teacher of writing , arithmetic , &c . ,

in the Grammar School . Among his class -mates were JohnCrosland Milner , now of Thurlstone , J .P brother of Mr .W . P . Milner before mentioned ; Robert Leader , who hasbeen connected with Sheffield j ournalism for nearly fifty years ;Thomas Hewitt , who achieved an unhappy notoriety and diedin his prime Robert Stepford Taylor, surgeon , recently deceased . These names will show that the Grammar Schoolof those days contained a group of boys destined to be wellknown in their manhood . Mr . White

, the head master , isworth preserving in one’s memory . He was a little

,lightly

made , brisk man , quick and energetic in all his movements,

with a stern face , pitted by the small-pox, and with a sonorous and awful voice , never so terrible as in his sarcastic

THE OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL . 3 5

moods . The exactest punctuality was his rule . In the firstportion of his mastership , Mr . White had acquired a namefor great severity in his punishments ; but on one occasion heso much overstepped the mark that there was a row, and theresult was that , at the time we speak of, his cane was almostdisused , though he was none the les s formidable on thataccount . Four or five boys who came from At terclifi

’

e , and

generally arrived in a group , had fallen into the habit at onetime of being rather late . Here come the Attercliffians ,

’ wastheir sarcastic greeting from the head master one morning

,

and the delinquents were cured . We never knew him to giveto any one the s lightest mark of familiarity but , severe andunbending as he was , the boys had a sort of love for him ,

aswas shown by the familiar name they had given to himDaddy White . ’ Now and then he would summon a jun iorclas s before him for a sharp v iva voce examination , and theseoccasion s were very pleasant to boys who had done their workwell . The riddling of the brains of a class by the Daddywas a capital test of quality and it was fun to see how a bighulking fellow , who ordinarily kept an unfairly high place ,would go tumbling down in stupid amazement , while otherswent above him . And here it may be worth while to place onrecord the sort of education given in the school . It was narrow ,

but thorough . Excepting an hour a day under the writing master

,the clas ses going to him by turns , Latin and

Greek absorbed all the tim e of the higher clas ses , and Latinonly that of the lower . E ach lesson was repeated and writtenon slates in class . Inces sant repetition was the order of theday

,till a boy kn ew all the declension s and conjugations

,

regular and irregular , and all the rules of syntax with theirexamples

,as perfectly as his A B C . It was terrible drudgery

for a time but many a young mind which had revolted at it,

asking why he was to Spend all his days over a dead language ,at last learned to like the sense of power and mastery it gavehim

,when he looked on a page and there was not a word he

did not know in all its parts , all i t s relations , and its shadesof meaning . This system did not give boys much knowledge

,but it gave mental tools , and taught a style of us ing

them for which many an one has honoured the memory of hisold m aster and his old school . In these days , when so muchi s said of the imperative necess ity of leavening all teachingwith religion , we may recall what was then the practice in aschool of which the vicar and the church burgesses are thegovernors

,and a clergyman was the head master . The only

86 THE FREE WRITING SCHOOL .

religious book in the school was a Prayer-book, which lay onthe head master’s desk . From it he read three or four briefprayers at the opening of school in the morning , and then thereligious teaching of the day was done . Mr . Wrrght , whomwe knew both as writing and second master , was a remarkableself-made man . He had been brought up in humble circumstances to one of the Sheffield trades ; but , by indomitablestudy he attained to proficiency in mathem atics , and veryrespectable class ical learn ing . About 1823 he gave up hisoffice in the Grammar School , and opened a school on hisown account in a yard in Bank street, where the office of Mr .Smilter , high bailiff of the County Court , now is . A fewyears later he built Howard Hill (afterwards purchased for theRoman Catholic Reformatory for Girls) , and there he conducted a successful school to the end of his life . He wasa rather heavy

,ungainly man , with a hot temper and weighty

arm,but of genial disposition and kindly heart . Many Shef

field men have an honourable niche for the memory of William Wright . I like that it shows your head is at work ;

’

this is a sample of the encouraging remarks he would addressto a boy who showed an inclination to understand the reasonof things .

”

EVERARD : The Free Writing School down School croftonly takes us a little out of our way, and should be mentionedhere , not only as a kindred subj ect , but because he who wasi ts head master for so many years— Mr . John Eadon—alsotaught writing daily in the Grammar School . The art ofwriting was in those days an accomplishment , and not theevery-day commodity of the present time .

Twrss I possess , and prize very highly, an old excroise-book written by Grammar School boys of the earlierhalf of the last century . We sometimes hear writing described as being like copper-plate , but it i s literally true ofthis beautiful caligraphy . The exercises consist of Latinverses , and are headed Mu sae Sheffieldien ses , 1737 . Thenames of the writers may be interesting to you . First comesGeo . Steer ,

” afterwards a mercer in the town,who is buried

in St . Paul’s Church , near the communion rails . ThomasYounge ,

”or as he various ly spells his name , Young

,

” wasin the school 1737-39 . He was born in 1721 , and , after leavng the Grammar School , took his M .A. at Cambridge

,and

then went to study medicine at Edinburgh,where he took

his medical degree in 175 2 . He returned to Sheffield,where

he practised as a physician until his sudden death,in 1784.

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38 THE FREE WRITING SCHOOL .

John Eadon ,who lived and died on his own freehold, at

Boston , in Lincolnshire .In those days the road from Sheffield to Ecclesfield was

infested by thieves . Every night robberies were committed ,and on that part called Sheffield lane ,

’

after a certai n hour ,no person escaped scot free . Strange to say , none of thesebrothers were ever stopped . This Matthias courted attacks ,for he came home at all hours of the night for the very purpose but in vain . This was to him a mystery , as people wererobbed half-an -hour before and an hour after he had passedalong .

Having,however , a law- suit at York , the riddle was

solved .He there was told by one of the robbers , who had been

taken,that they dare not attack him , and they used to say ,

Here comes Matt Ayton ; we must let him pass , or he willthrash us all together . ’ Being tall and powerful , and withthe spirit of a lion

,these m en acted wisely in making dis

cretion the better part of valour .’

These five brothers , it seems , followed the occupationmentioned for some years , till circumstances broke in uponthe even tenor of their way . Being an out -door employment , the weather would often interfere and prevent themfrom going on with their work . On one occasion the rain wasso heavy that

,there being no likelihood of its abating that

day , the father and son s took shelter in a neighbouring inn ;others had done the same , and the room was fu ll . Whilstdrinking the nut -brown ale ,

’ many were the topics of conversation . Som e talked about themselves , others about theirchildren— how clever Susan was , and what a sharp chapTommy was ; and as for Bill , the vi llage schoolmaster hadnever had his like . Every man appeared to have a clever ladin some way or other ; but old Ayton (Eden , now Eadon )heard all this with a sorrowful heart , and at length , breakings ilence , he said , See ,

’ pointing his finger,

‘ there is a thickhead that lad of min e is nin eteen years of age , and he doesno t know A from B .

’ This was enough . The shame ofbeing exposed in a public company , and by his father

,too

,

raised the pride and kindled a spark in that young man ’sbreast Which never went out till the spirit left the body .

Whilst he sat in that room abashed amid his compeers,he

determined that he would know not only A from B,but some

thing m ore . He began next day,bought a penny primer

,

found out an old woman who knew the letters— these he soonmastered— made out little words , and soon he laid the foundation of all knowledge —the acquirement of the art o f read

THE RADON FAMILY . 39

ing . He found some one to assist him in writing and arithmetic ; and in this way his leisure time was spent, till hebegan to think he knew m ore than most people about him .

At this j un cture the mastership of the Free WritingSchool became vacant . He offered himself and was elected

,

and held the po st till his death . From the time of his publishing the Arithm etician

’s Guide ,’ in 1 7 5 6 , to his death in

1 8 10 , would make his tutorship of that school fifty years , atleast .

It i s evident from that there must have been naturalquicknes s of intellect and g reat aptitude in John Eadon

,in

learning whatever came before him . It is said that when hewent to learn writing he imitated the copies so well that themaster said he must have come to m ake fun of him

,as he

could copy them better than he cou ld himself.Another story recorded of him i s that , on one occasion ,

when he was attending at the Grammar School in performance of his dutie s as writing master

,a boy was brought up

for pun ishment before the rev . prin cipal (Mr . Chadwick) forhaving broken a pane . Well , s ir ,

’ said the m aster ,‘ I un

derstand you have broken a pane .

’ ‘ No , I have not s ir ; Ionly cracked it . ’ ‘Well ,

’ roared out the reverend divine ,what’s the diff erence between cracking a commandment andbreaking it Go to your seat , sir , and n either crack a pan enor a commandment . ’ The time , the place , the tone , themanner , and the s ilen ce Of all presen t made such an impression on the mind of old John Eadon that , for a quarter of acentury , he was in the habit of telling the story of the ladand the pane with great glee and gusto .

He married Hannah Sm ith , of Tankers ley , and had byher three children , two son s and a daughter . H is daughterMary married Mr . Jo seph Bailey , one of the first merchantsin Sheffield who traded with America , and the late SamuelBailey was their youngest child . H is son s were John and

George . John was a partner in the firm of Bailey and

Eadon ,and became the father of Mr . Thom as Brown ell

Eadon ,of Western Bank . George died unmarried in the

house at the corner of Norfolk street and Charles s treet , nowused as a Turk ish bath .

Bes ides the two brothers , John and Matthias , of whomwe have spoken ,

there were Moses and William . From William spring the E aden s of Attercliffe , and the late Mr . GeorgeEadon ,

the carver and gilder,and his sons , the auction eers .

The spelling of the name was altered from Eden into E aden

40 THE FREE WRITING SCHOOL .

about one hundred years ago , by John Eadon , the mathemat ician .

”

WRAGG : A most Interesti ng account of a remarkableman

. Ecclesfield was also the birthplace of Joseph Hunter ,the historian of Hallamshire and Grenos ide , in the sam eparish , was the birth -place of the Walkers , of Rotherham .

In fact,many distinguished men have com e from out -of- the

way places— as Chant rey from Norton , and George Wilson ,of the Anti -Corn -Law League , from Hathersage . Somepeople would not think such villages likely to foster genius .

TWISS : John Eadon’

s brother William lived at Attercliffe , and was a j oiner and lath -river . A very Old gentlemanis still living who remembers him , and who has said , Heand my father were very friendly , and had many an argum ent ,for they were both fond of it , and were what was then con si

dered scholars . William E aden worked for my father , and

often came to our house in Derbyshire lane . Smithy Woodwas near , and while the work of enlarging Mr . WilliamShore’s hou se at Tapton Grove was going on— it had beenerected by a person named Badger as a speculation , andwhen Mr . Shore bought it he made considerable additions ;Mr . Edward Vickers afterwards rebuilt the house— sometrees were felled in that wood . My father was anxious to buyone particularly fine oak , for the laundry over the stable atTapton had to be laid with a plaster floor , and he wantedsome good oak laths to lay it on . There were several peopleafter this tree , and to decide the rivalry it was arranged thatthe one who could get first to the tree from a particular partof the wood should be the purchaser . My father knew theground well , and laid hi s plan s . When the signal to be offwas given , his competitors plunged into the brushwood ,while he slipped over a wall into a field , ran quickly downOppos ite to where the tree stood , and was back in the wood ,standing by the trunk

,while his rivals were struggling and

scratching themselves among the brambles . He got thetree , and William Eadon rove it into laths , and those lathswere laid down under the laundry floor at Tapton .

LEIGHTON : The site of the old Free Writing School isnow occupied by a modern and substantially-built succes sor ,erected in 1827 , the old building , which had stood for 106years , having fallen into decay . Mr . Worth was the architect . The yard or play-ground is

,however

,the same

,though

of les s size than formerly . There used to be— for we arespeaking of the time when the street called School croft was

TRIPPET LANE AND RED CROFT . 41

really a green field— a communication between the yards ofthe two schools . Job Cawood was the master in the dayswhen I attended the Free Writing School . I think he musthave been Mr . John Eadon ’

s successor .LEONARD : The late Mr . Samuel Bailey was a pupil at

this school . It is said that , even in those days , there wereobservable in him all the elements of the after-man— reserve ,reticence , and pride . He was not like any other boy . Thepranks of lads had no charm for him . What would excitethe merry giggle in others was looked down upon with silentindifference by him . He used to amuse himself in theplay hours in riding on the back of a s choolfellow calledW ilgous , who was always ready to play the horse for the boyphilosopher .WRAGG : Several very old houses formerly stood about

here , some on the site of the Baptist Chapel , and others werepulled down a year or two before the Temperance Hall wasbuilt . One of them bore a date early in the last century , andhad a projecting window , with a second window at the s idesomewhat les s than the former . A person looking throughthe latter could see the step s below , in Townhead street . IShould not be surprised to learn that this was the first shopin the town having two windows . At the corner of Blindlane and Trippet lane was the shop of Mr . Brady , a respectable draper , whose daughters , members of the Society ofFriends , will be remembered by you all . Trippet lane , asits width indicates , i s greatly altered from the old days .Facing you , above the end of Blind lane , used to be Redcroft , a cul de se e, with dwellings all round it . TheBrown Cow ,

” and all the other houses on the left , up toMr . Reynolds’ mortar m ill , were in Red croft .LEONARD : In Gos ling’s plan , Red croft stands between

a lane running on either side— the one following the courseof the present street (then called Red lane) , the other apparen tly being that narrow but ancient twi tchell ,

” West Banklane , by which you can get up into We st street .

EVERARD The street , from the top of Bailey field nearlyto the end of Blind lane , was so narrow that two carts couldnot pass but

,like a s ingle - line railway , one of them had to

wait until the other had com e through . Hen ce this part o fthe way commonly went by the name of the Narrow lane .”

LE IGHTON : In Pinfold street there are yet remaining afew of the old cottage houses . Of such , I suppose , the streetsused mainly to consist .

42 THE TOWNHEAD.

LEONARD : Yes ; when one looks at them it is impossibleto help feeling that

,interesting as are the remi ni scences In

which we are indulging , and tempted as we sometimes feelto long for power to sweep away innovations , it is j ust as wellthat we can’t

.Such houses Show us to be far better off as

we are .Twrss The original water -house of the Water Company

is still standing,at the sharp angle between Pinfold street

and Campo lane . It has just com e into the possess ion ofthe Town Trustees

,and will doubtless soon be sacrificed on

the altar of street improvements . A comparison of thiswith the present handsome premises of the Company , inBarker Pool

,exhibits very strikingly the contrast between

the old order of things and the new .

LE IGHTON In the angular space at the tOp of Townheadstreet

,formed by the meeting of Church street , Bow street ,

Pinfold street,and Townhead street , stood formerly the

Townhead cross . None of u s can remember it— I doubtwhether any of us know when it disappeared , or whither itwent but that is no reason for passing it by without notice .

TWISS : The premises at the top of Townhead street nowoccupied by Mr . Jackson ,

pork-butcher , have a history . Hereresided

,more than a century ago , Mr . Matthewman , who was

one of the originators of the Water Company . In 1744, heand Mr . Battie succeeded to the powers granted in 1713 toMessrs . Goodwin and L ittlewood by the Lord of the Manor

,

and constructed the first works at Crookes moor . He wasthe maternal grandfather of Mr . Albert Smith .

EVERARD : This house was occupied for some years byMr . Moorhouse

,surgeon , who got killed by a fall from his

horse . On his decease , Mr . Jam es Ray, who had served histime with him , purchased the business of the widow ; and ,after living and carrying on his profession on the premise sfor a cons iderable period

,he bu ilt and removed to the house

in Victoria street , Glossop road . At the time it was generally thought he was going too far out into the country . Mr .Ray was a tall and noble - looking man

,more especially when

on horseback .

WRAGG Then Mr . John Turton practised here as a surgeon , and his son George also . The latter died in “thishouse . They had both been cutlers in the employment ofthe Spurrs , in the neighbouring factory in Church street ,the house which looks up Pinfold street . In Surrey streetChapel is a mural tablet to the memory of the late Mr .

THE MITCHELLS AND BRIGHTMORES . 43

George Turton . In the house looking up Bow street wasMr . James Wild . He was a presser . A more feeling

,

honourable , and upright man there never was ; but I amsorry to say he was not so successful in business as some ofhis neighbours . Later in life he was a dealer in horns inWhite croft . Near here , too , was Mr . Robert B rightmore ,

the maternal uncle of the late Mr . Samuel Mitchell . Hehad a large cutlery busin ess , and was a merchant in thecountry trade . A portion of his business premises was cutthrough to make Bow street , when Glos sop road was constructed . He built the large brick house on Brookhill, nowsurrounded by houses , part of which was the residen ce of thelateAlderman Saunders . The father ofMr . S . Mitchellmarriedthe sister of Mr . Robert B rightmore ; and there was to havebeen a double marriage of Mr . B rightmore to Miss Mitchell ,but it never came Off . Mr . Mitchell lived in the old hous esome of you may remember , just above Mr . B rightmore

’

s , onBrookhill , where B rightmore street now is , then a garden walk .

There was a large weeping willow in front of the house , witha watch-box underneath , where watchmen retired for shelteron stormy n ights .LEONARD : Most of the streets that have been made

around are called by the names of the Mitchell and Brightmore families— Mitchell street , B rightmore street , Robertstreet , Sarah street , Bolsover street , and so on .

EVERARD : The house , the garden , with the beautifulwillow tree at the corner , and the entran ce gate , were objectswith which I was familiar from childhood , and will ever liveas an interesting picture in my memory . The personalappearance and deportm ent of Mrs . Mitchell always struckme as affording the best idea of a lady of quality ” of thelast century of any person I remember to have seen . Sheusually wore a black silk or satin gown , a white stomacherwith an abundan ce of frills , and a remarkable turban cap orhead-dres s , which seemed to indicate somewhat of an Orientaltaste . On a hot summer’s day she might often be seen sitting in a latticed alcove partly screen ed by climbing plantsand flowers

,kn itting or reading . This was the grandmother

of the present Mr . Mitchell-Withers . His grandfather wasa stout

,good - looking man ; and hi s father , Mr . B righ tmore

Mitchell , was a schoolfellow of mine . Grosvenor terracenow fills the site then occupied by the Old house and garden .

LEIGHTON (rising)And so , w ithout m ore circum stance at all,

I ho ld it fit that we shake hands and part . [Exeun t .

CHAPTER III .

CHURCH STREET AND THE OLD CHURCH ,—ST. JAMES

’

s STREET,

THE OLD CUTLERs’

HALL .

Scene and Time—After supper at Mr . EVERARD’

S .

Present—WRAGG, Tw Iss , LE IGHTON ,EVERARD , and LEONARD .

RAGG : Suppose from this hospitable board we getback to Church street "

LEONARDChurch lane , that poor narrow place ,

With wood buildings pro j ecting ; ’twas quite a disgraceTh e roo fs n early meet ing , a dark dreary street ,Might justly be styled th e robbers’ retreat ,”Where shops were so darkened for wan t o f true light ,Appeared quite at noontrde as though it were n ight .

LEIGHTON : Ah , you have got hold of James W ills’

s

doggrel ; you should go on to quote his description of thestreet’s improvement into fine shops for each tradesman ,

”

and the “ beautiful road into Bow street ,” where coaches

come down with the Manchester trade .”

EVERARD That widening took place in 178 5 , and was tothe extent of about three yards .TWIS S : And it was still further widened in 18 66 -7 by

another slice from the churchyard .

LEONARD : As we go down the street , we meet withvarious sites of much interest . There is , for instance , whatwas once the residence of Mr . Hall Overend, one of the mostcelebrated medical men of Sheffield in the early part of thiscentury ; afterwards of his son , Mr . Wilson Overend ; andnow the boot shop of Mr . Brown . Mr . Hall Overend diedin May, 1 831 , at the age of fifty-nine . His medical knowledge had been acquired under the great disadvan tages in cident to that period . He served an apprenticeship to a noteddruggist and apothecary, named Sutclifi

'

e , who dispensedmedicine and advice largely at a shop near the Bay Horse

,

on Sheffield Moor . Hall Overend was a diligent student,

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46 CHURCH STREET .

to enjoy the life of a country gentleman . Mr . Hall Overendwas a Quaker— not very observant , however , of the rules ofthe Socie ty,

” though Mrs . Overend and her daughters werethe Quaker dress of the time and attended meeting .

” Thebrother of Mr . Hall Overend was the founder of the greatdiscount house in London , which acquired a degree of creditsecond only to the Bank of England . It was familiarlyknown in the City as the Corner House . When , manyyears after the death of its founder , its management hadpassed into less honest and prudent hands , it s failure shookthe commercial world

,and the day Of its steppage was called

“ Black Friday .

” Mr . Hall Overend’

s children acquired aconsiderable accession of fortune on the death of the widowof their uncle .

Twrss A very few yards further down the street , on theother side— that is

,at the corner of Vicar lane , where i s now

Mr . Thomas , surgeon , Mr . Jonathan Barber , the father ofthe present Mr . Jonathan Barber , surgeon , and of Mr .James Henry Barber , banker , learnt pharmacy with thesame Mr . Richard Sutliffe whom Mr . Leonard has ment ioned. Mr . Barber and Mr . Hall Overend married s isters .At this corner he and Mr . Silvester frequently met to carry ontheir scientific experiments , in the early days of the discoveryof electricity , and they are even said to have invented anelectric battery . Afterwards Mr . Barber commenced practicein Scarborough ; then ce he removed to London , and subsequently he went to Montreal . Mr . Baiber, in addition tohis scientific attainments , was a man of great elocutionarypower ; and a speech he made at Scarborough , in 1 8 13 , onbehalf of the Bible Society , attracted so much attention thatit was printed as a pamphlet . While in London , he wassecretary to the Royal Humane Society , and distinguishedhimself by his eloquence at its annual banquets .LEIGHTON : We must not linger round the most promi

nent obj ect in the street , the O ld Church and the churchyard ,for Hunter , as to the former , and Mr . Holland

’s pamphlet,

as to the latter, give us all information .

LEONARD : Yet I do not see in either of them a statement of the curious fact that when , in 1800 , the Church wasbeing repaired and altered , it was found that the east endstood on a vast bed of bones . This has been taken by someas a confirmation of the tradition that the Rom ans had a

camp here— hence Campa or Campo lane ; but these philological guesses are very hazardous .

THE OLD CHURCH . 47

WRAGG : I fancy Campo lane means the lane leading tothe country .

LEONARD It is no use theoris ing about etymologies letus rather record that we do know . Mr . Samuel Roberts ’sAutobiography has fortunately perpetuated for us a graphicaccount of the Church before the improvements made at thebeginning of this century . He wrote : The Church itselfwas one of the most gloomy , irregularly -

pewed places in thekingdom . It seemed as if, after the work of pewing hadbegun , every person who chose had formed a pew for himselfin his own way , to his own s ize , height , and shape . Therewere several galleries , but all formed , as it seemed , in thesame way as the pews— some of them on pillars

,and some

hung in chains . The Lord ’s closet was a gloomy structure .

High under the lofty centre arch spanned from side to sidethe massive rood loft, behind which , filling up the apex ofthe arch , were the king

’s arms , pain ted m o st gloriously, andmagnificently large . Under the clock , in a large glass case ,yet scarcely perceptible in the gloom , was the pendulum ,

blazoned with an enormous staring gilt sun , solemnly andmysterious ly moving from side to s ide with a loud , headpiercing tick or tack at each vibration .

t if Glad indeed was I always when the service was over when pattensbegan to clatter , and Johnny Lee , the clerk, was called to onall s ides for a light to the lanterns .

EVERARD One of the pews which Mr . Roberts speaks ofas being “ hung in chains ” was fixed in the north gallery ,

over the stair head , and at the time went by the nickname ofeither the “ coal cart , or the coal barge

,I forget which .

Into this place my father , with other youngsters , used toclimb and when perched up there , they could do very muchas they pleased whilst looking down on the congregationbelow .

Twrss : You make no mention of the thirty fire -bucketswhich hung in the chancel ready (in the then primitive absence of engines) for use in the even t of a fire breaking outin the town . The buckets and the b ooks to hang them onwere , as the inscription in the quire to his memory used totell, given by Robert Rollinson , mercer , the maker of Barkerpool . Perhaps you do not remember them or their successors (for Mr . Rollinson died in but they must havebeen there in the time spoken of by the late Mr . Roberts .WRAGG : Mr . Robert s ’s mention of the great pendulum

reminds me of a singular use to which it was once put .

48 THE CHIME S .

Martha Wright,who afterwards became the wife of William

Cutler Nadin,was a singer at the Parish Church , and on one

occas ion she fell asleep there during service . When she

awoke, she found everybody gone , the church locked up and

deserted . She tried in vain to make herself heard , when avery clever idea , suggested by the pendulum , struck her .She arrested its swing , and stopped the clock . The absenceof the usual indications of the flight of time attracted theattention of the clerk . He went to ascertain the cause , andthe girl obtained her liberation .

LEONARD : The present bells were put up in 1798 , andthe new clock

,with its chimes , was erected in 1867 . Sixty

years hence our descendants will perhaps thank us for putting on record that the tunes played are : Sunday ,

“ EasterHymn Monday

,

“ Home , sweet hom e ; Tuesday,“ Blue

bells of Scotland ;” Wednesday , The heavens are telling ;

”

Thursday , L ife let us cherish ;” Friday, The 104th

Psalm ; Saturday , Caller Herring . You have no ideahow difli cult u indeed, impos sible— I have found it to Obtaina complete list of the old chim es . All I can get togetherare these : Sunday , lo4th Psalm ; Monday , Blue bells ofScotland Wednesday , See the conquering here com esSaturday ,

“ Happy clown , from Allan Ramsay’s Gentle

Shepherd , a tune that was popularly known as TangEnds .”

EVERARD : One of the tunes played was There’s naeluck about the house .LEIGHTON : If old ’Siah Carr had been alive he could

have told you not only the tunes of the late chimes , but oftheir predeces sors , whose beauty he never ceased to lament .He was a great worshipper of them , and would s it on thealablaster stone listening to the airs most devoutly .

TWISS : Let us not forget to mention that the old clockturret in front of the steeple was removed when the newclock was erected , that being set into the steeple itself. Indoing this a stone was found

,which had evidently formed a

portion of an arch in the Norman church . The patternupon the stone fixes the date of the church as in the 12thcentury , and proves that this is not the original Normantower .

EVERARD : I am sorry to see that our favourite Hallamshire legend about the origin of the Tuesday even ing’s pealthat it was established in gratitude by a wanderer who

,

belated on the moors beyond Ringinglow , was saved by hear

THE CHURCH BELLS . 49

ing their sound wafted to him through the still night air— i sbelieved to be mythical .

Twrs s Yes , it i s a beautiful story, but there is nothingto show that any legacy was ever left to defray the cost ofringing the bells on Tuesday evenings at least , neither theTown Trustees who pay for the ringing , nor the ringers whoreceive the payment , know anythi ng of such a bequest .LEONARD : I fear this is another of your etym ologies ,

Mr . Wragg . The story must have been concocted to fit thename of Ringinglow , which we know to have existed at leastas long ago as 1 5 74 , when it was a great heap of stonescalled Ringinglawe .

” At any rate , the legend only showsthat the bells were rung on Tuesday evenings before thelegacy— if there was one .

EVERARD : This Tuesday ringing is only in the wintermonths . It begins on the Tuesday after Doncaster racesrather a curious calendar for church bells— and continues untilShrove Tuesday . It is no doubt an immemorial custom , connected pos sibly with the market day . The bells , by the way,are not now rung with the regularity or frequency that was formerly observed . We used always to have a bell at six in themorn ing , at noon , and at eight o

’clock in the even ing , onweek-days ; and there was an early Sunday morning bell atseven o ’clock, which was also the time on saints’ days butthese are dropped now . We only have the peals on Queen ’sdays ” and special occasions— the three days follow ing Christmas , the last day in the old year , and New Year

’s Day .

LE IGHTON It is a pity they should be discontinued butI think I remember business men complaining of the twelveo ’clock peal as interrupting .

WRAGG : Money-grubbers "LEONARD : I have been told by the ringers that the dis

continuance of the bells arose thus : Wh en Mrs . Sutton , thewife of the late vicar , was ill , they disturbed her, livin g asshe did in the old Vicarage , so the Doctor ordered them tostop ; and as no one ever commanded them to be resumed ,the custom fell into disuse . But I believe the eight o ’clockcurfew bell had been discontinued before that .TWIS S : Here is a contribution to our ringing recollec

tions : “ May 2 , 1809 , di ed , a few days ago , Mr . RichardOwen

,much lamented

,particularly by the Society of Change

Ringers , to whom he had belonged nearly sixty years . They

Hunter’s Hallamshire ,” new edi tion , p . 18 .

5 0 THE CHURCH STEEPLE .

will always bear in mind how cheerfully he led off the firstpeal that was ever rung of ten new bells , on the 29th April ,1799 . He was interred at St . Peter

’s Church on the 29thApril

, 1809 , being exactly ten years after the bells were firstrunLEIGHTON : An interesting chapter might be written on

the O ld Church steeple . Here is a j otting for it , extractedfrom Mr . Gales ’s Shefi

‘ield Register , of July 18 , 1789 : Ithas been judged expedient , from its being in a decayed state ,to take down a few yards of the st eeple of our parish church .

The person employed for this purpose has fixed ladders toeffect it, and on Thursday he took down the weathercock ,amidst the acclamation s of an immense concourse of spectators , who had assembled on the occasion . In the evening ,after this had been effected , a Slater , in a state of intoxication , ascended the ladders , to the terror of the spectators ,who every moment expected he would be dashed to atoms .When he was within a few yards of the top , their fears wereheightened by his hat blowing off he , however , reached thesummit , and came down again remarkably swift and perfectlysafe , to the relief of those who witnessed the foolhardyattempt .

”

WRAGG : It is said that Mr . William Battie , who lived inTownhead street , in the house now occupied by Mr . Parkin ,tailor , the James Wills who has been quoted lived , a dooror two below, who once played a similar mad freak .

LEONARD Yes the story is that in his younger days he,

for a wager , climbed up to the top of the old s teeple by theprojection s , took hold of the weathercock, waved his hat ,came down again by the same way, and reached the bottomin safety . Billy Battie was quite a character . ”

EVERARD I have sufficient evidence for believing it wasnot Mr . William Battie who did that piece of folly

,but

another man, who was , at the time he undertook it , half

drunk . What Mr . Battie did was this : On the occasionwhen a certain portion of ‘ the church steeple was taken downand rebuilt (possibly the time referred to in that extract fromthe Regi s ter) , several persons climbed up before the ladderswere removed , as a sort of Opening ceremony . Among themwas Mr . Battie . As previously arranged

,he stood upright

upon the base , where the weathercock had to be fixed, withnothing to hold by, and played the National Anthem on

‘hisFren ch horn . My father was present

,and saw him thus

standing , and heard this musical performance .

CLIMBING THE STEEPLE . 5 1

TwIs s I have heard Mr . Battie tell the story himself.WRAGG : That better accords with the character and posi

tion of Mr . Battie than the other story . He was a TownTrustee , and a person of cons iderable influence in that body .

It was he who caused the opening to be made at the bottomof Broad lane and Townhead street, by the destruction ofRadford row. In his younger days he was a Cooper , butafterwards he was a succes sful ivory merchant .

EVERARD : I have forgotten the name of the man whoactually accomplished the feat attributed to Mr . Battie

,but

he was a table -blade forger , and at the time was workingfor Messrs . Broomhead Ward and Thomas Asline Ward ,brothers , who carried on business in Howard street , thelatter living in the house adjoining , the whole new forming part of the premises of Mes srs . IValker and Hall .This man (who , if I remember right , had been a sailor)was one evening drinking with his mates at a publichouse , when the question of the possibility of climbingup to the top of the O ld Church s teeple by the projectings tones outs ide was mooted , discussed , and disputed . Hethereupon laid a wager that he cou ld do it , and started ofi,

accompanied by some of his com rades . He succes sfullyaccomplished the feat but he told my mother

,who knew the

man and had the relation from his own lip s , that though hedid not experience much difficulty in getting to the top , yet ,having arrived there , the extreme peril of his pos ition so

struck his mind as completely to sober him . When hereached the ground , without speaking to any one , he ranhome half frightened out of his wits .LEONARD I have always understood that the man’s name

was Thomas South . He was well kn own in the town . Onevers ion of the story says he turned the weathercock round .

LEIGHTON Let us take a glance into St . James’s street ,once the Vicarage croft ,

“ a small field amidst gardens,

” withan old dry draw-well in it . You all remember the yellowVicarage

,now supplanted by the auction -room of Messrs .

W . H . and J . A . Eadon , and the adjoining buildings .LEONARD : Yes , even I remember that unartistic build

ing,with its plain rounded windows . I used to have a feel

ing of something like awe for the mysteries of the yard ,entered from St . James’s street by double doors , and towonder how the space between the Vicarage itself and thehigh wall abutting on St . James’s row was occupied .

TWISS : I have a rough drawing of the old place as it

5 2 ST. JAMEs’

s STREET .

appeared in process of demolition , in 18 5 4 . There was noupper story over the centre part— the oldest porti on of thebu ilding— though it was long ago that the two ends had beenadded . Its combinations of lath , beams , plaster , and rubblewere very antique . There i s one relic of it still to be seen ,but in an altered form and serving a new purpose . Thelarge stone of the step leading into Messrs . Eadon ’

s auctionroom by the door in St: James ’s street is the identical stonethat served as mantel shelf in the oldest part of the Vicarage .

WRAGG : The street was long famous in another wayas the chosen home of the Scotch drapery business . Here ,fifty years ago , Mr . John Brown , who subsequently builtColumbia Works , first introduced that trade .LEONARD : For good or for evil— a point on which Opinions

greatly vary .

LE IGHTON It was here that the militia of the town usedto be drilled and paraded . A soldierly-looking body of menthey were , and they extended five or ten deep the wholelength of the street .

EVERARD In St . James’s street was the house where Mr .Robert Hadfield lived , the warehouse being at the back . He

had a family of four sons and two daughters : Robert, theyoungest , died many years ago ; Joseph and Samuel werepartners with the father ; Mr . George Hadfield, the presentvenerable M .P. for Sheffield , in early life removed to Manchester , where for many years he practised as an attorney .

He , I am told , still signs cheques in the names of RobertHadfield and Sons .” Mr . Robert Hadfield built the houseat Crookes moor side

‘

for a country residence . Mr . Ray ,surgeon , married one of the daughters , and the other diedunmarried . Mr . Robert Hadfield

’

s tombstone may be seenby passers -by in the yard of Howard street Chapel .TWISS : There is an interesting point in connection with

St . James’s street . It is— from footpath to footpa th , I believe— an exact proportion of a mile , and may thus be considered our Hallamshire standard of long measure .

r LEONARD : Do you know anything, Mr . Twiss , of thehistory of the corner house to which inquirers after Sheffieldfolk-lore do much resort for interviews with that devoted andaccurate antiquary , Mr . William Swift "

TWISS : Now the Stamp office , you mean It was builtby Mr . Stacey , who supplied the woodwork for the renovated Parish Church and for St . James’s Church ; and iti s fitted in a style similar to the latter . Mr . T . N . Bardwell,

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5 4 DANIEL WHEELER .

Wheeler in some place is certain , but whether in Churchstreet is uncertain . For my part , I do not believe he was .WRAGG At any rate

,they were in partnership . I want ,

however,to mention Daniel Wheeler , not as Mr . Aldam

’

s

partner, but as the celebrated Quaker miss ionary, noticedby the poet Whittier . Just before the Russian war manypeople were quite astounded that “ the three Quakers

”Should

have had the presumption to visit the Emperor of Russia toendeavour to prevail on him not to go to war but had theyknown the close and intimate relations that had existed between the late Daniel Wheeler and the Czar N icholas , andalso the previous Emperor , they would not have been surprised at the vis it of Messrs . Sturge , Peace , and Carleton .

Mr . Wheeler went about doing good .

EVERARD Mr . Wheeler originally went out to Russia tomanage a model farm for the Emperor Alexander , who , aboutthe year 1824 or 1825 had visited England . He was a little ,broad-built man , and he wore a grey Quakers’ suit andbroad-brimmed hat . He was away from England about tenyears . Soon after his return , the Society sent him ,

with oneor two others , to visit the mission stations in the South Seas ,New Z ealand , and other places . The journal he kept wasnot published , but it was handed round among the Friendsfor private perusal .LEIGHTON The site on which Mr . Aldam built the pre

sent w ine and Spirit establishment was previous ly a publichouse , with the sign of the Grapes .” It was a respectableplace of the kind , and was kept by a person of the name ofHall . The house front proj ected halfway across the causeway , beyond the line of the other buildings . It had threew indows in the front , and also a window in each of the gableends , one of them facing up the street and the other down .

The Sheffield local band used to assemble here for practice .

It included William Taylor , the French“ horn player

,and h i s

son John , the celebrated bugler ; together with the Cleggs ,father and son , the trumpeters .

EVERARD The Sheffield and Hallamshire Bank wasbuilt on the site of the house below the Grapes .” Thatwas a well-built and respectable - looking house

,with palisades

in front .TWISS : It was a house with a fine old staircase

,and was

at one time the property of the Fisher family,by whom it

was sold to the Staceys , who , in turn , sold it for the purpo se sof the Bank .

THE OLD CUTLERS’ HALL . 5 5

LEONARD : The grandfather of the present Mr . WilliamFisher lived there . The house was an extremely good one .

Behind it was a productive garden , in which , in addition tothe commoner fruits , grapes were grown upon the walls .

Then behind the garden were the horn -pressing works of Mr .Fisher— works still occupied by his descendants , though thetrade has changed it s character —in Orchard place . By thegates was , as I have been told , a very fine pear tree . After Mr .John Fisher , who died in 1820 , his son s , Robert and William(the latter a fine old politician and reformer , remembered byall of us) , occupied the house ; and then , as Mr . Twiss hassaid , it passed into other hands , although the works rem ained ,and do still remain , the property of the Fisher family .

Twrs s There is a curious story about an old barber whohad a shop about here . He was tall and spindle - shanked .

His door was divided in the middle into two halves , and atnight his window was lighted by a tallow candle s tuck in apin t bottle . A number of mischievous youths— one of whomwhen an Old man told me the story— fastened the lower halfof the door on the outside , and then , through the upper half,threw in a number of lighted jumping crackers . They couldsee the poor barber sitting alone , and they watched the alarmand dismay with which he found himself sudden ly in themidst of a fusillade . The an tics of the tall and ungainbarber , as he skipped about to avoid the crackers , and h isfutile attempts to Open the door and so escape , amused histormentors greatly .

LEIGHTON : Now we com e to the old Cutlers’Hall , erectedin 1726 , demolished 1832 , its predecessor dating as far backas 1 638 , when the Company built it on the s ite of some oldburbage houses . The second was a very unpreten tiousbuilding compared with that which has now taken its place .

It was a structure of three stories , with finished s tone corn ersand a broad stone border round the windows , of which therewere only two on the ground fl oor— between two doors , eachof which was surmounted by a pedimen t . The two groundfloor windows were protected by a low circular railing adornedwith the cros s -daggers ; while above , in the cen tre , betweentwo upper rows of windows

,four in number , was the coat of

arms of the Company .

Twrss Wh ich still may be seen preserved in the wall atthe back of the present edifice .

EVERARD Adjoining the Hall was the Bird in the

Hand,

” kept by old Tommy Rose,the chief resort of the

5 6 THE OLD CUTLERS’

HALL .

chaps who visited the town for trading purposes withtheir pack-horses .

TWIS S : The ground floor of the old hall was used as ajustice -room

,and there for many years the magistrates sat .

Some odd doings were enacted there in the days of JusticeWilkinson .

EVERARD : In that lower room one good thing , at anyrate

,was done

,in the establishment of the Sheffield and

Hallamshire Savings ’ Bank , in 18 19 . On that occas ion I wasa depositor of a small sum on the first day, and , I believe ,the first hour of its opening . I have very distinctly beforemy mind’s eye the countenances and figures of those whosat at the table covered with green baize , including the Rev .

Thomas Sutton , Mr . Montgomery, Mr . George Bennet , Mr .Thomas Rawson , the Rev . Mark Decker, and others .LEONARD : I have read in an old number of the Couran t

that there was a curious scene in 1795 , when so muchtrouble occurred about the high price of flour . A relief committee had been formed to supply the poor with cheap flour,and they sold at so low a price that there were public

'

rejoicings . A number of women with ribbons and cockades en

tered the room at the Cutlers’ Hall , in which the gentlemenof the Corn Committee had assembled . After thanking themthey marched in a body up to the head of the table , and

told Dr . Browne , the chairman , that they had brought achaise to the door , and begged leave to draw him through theprin cipal streets of the town . The Doctor escaped by pleading that this wou ld be inverting the order of things , andwould be ungallant and as he would not allow himself tobe importuned into it , the women at length retired .

TWIS S : That would be soon after the time when Dr .Browne wrote to Wilberforce the letter that appears in theLife of the latter , dated July, 1795 : There was anumerous meeting at the Cutlers’ Hall yesterday

,when I

opened busines s by reading your letters . They were so struckby the propriety of your recommendation

,that they agreed

to sign a resolution pledging themselves to the greatest.economy in the use of flour . I was particularly desired bythe whole meeting to reiterate their warmest thanks to youfor your uniform attention to their interests . Price of wheatat Nottingham , 12s . per barrel .”

LE IGHTON : A story has been told of a workman whocould never agree with his strikers . He summoned hismasters before the magistrates because they would find him

CUTLERs’ FEASTS . 5 7

neither single -hand work nor a strik er . The man said themasters always found strikers ; on the other s ide , evidencewas given showing that they never found strikers ; and Dr .Corbett , who heard the case (it was in the old justice -room ofthe Cutlers’ Hall) , said ,

“ If men don ’t find strikers , andmasters don ’t find strikers , who the devil does find strikers "

EVERARD : A curious chapter might be written on thechanges that have taken place in the Cutlers’ feasts , as wellas in the rooms in which those feasts have been held . Thehistorian would find ample scope in tracing the gradual increase in sumptuousness from the days of good old GeorgeSmith , who was Master Cutler in 1749 , when the total costof the feast was £2 . 2s . 9d. ,

to the present day, when Ishould be afraid to say how much the feasts cost .LEONARD : Even then the drink formed a very large pro

portion of the expense , though they were conten t with aleand punch , instead of the champagne and book of their degenerate descendants . Of the £2 . 2s . 9d. , almost one half,or 20s . 7d. , went in ale and punch .

TwIss How much one would like to know who were theguests there , and to have a description of the proceedingsfrom our own reporter .”

LEONARD : We know that even then , or at any rate notlong after , the feast was a great occas ion , for in 1771 , whenMr . Wm . Trickett was Master

,there was a better Show of

dukes and earls and lords than can ever be attracted now .

And in the town itself the occas ion was a sort of fair ; forwe read in the Couran t that “ The Cutlers ’ feast was ob

served as a great holiday ; the bells were kept constantlyringing during the three days it lasted , booths were erectedin the Churchyard

,High street

,and Church street , for the

sale of fruit,spices

, &c . ,and all busines s was gen erally sus

pendedf’

EVERARD : At the feast this year Mr . WilliamOverend complained that ladies were excluded from thetables . Why do they not in revenge revive the festival of theMistress Cutler , which used to be held on the day following "LEONARD What to eat up the broken victualsEVERARD : NO, you cynic ; I am sure the ladies

’ feastwould be much more entertaining than the gentlemen

’

s .There would be no un seem ly manifestations of political feeling . If I were the Mistress Cutler , I would exclude reportersand every male person

,and the revenge would be complete .

The gentlemen would be racked with envy .

5 8 CHURCH STREET .

LEONARD Pray when were these interesting ceremonialsobserved

EVERARD Oh,in 1791 and other years .

Tw Is s The good old timesEVERAR D In 1807 , Mrs . Brownell , the Mistress Cutler ,gave an elegant dinner to the ladies ; and in the evening ,an assembly at the rooms in Norfolk street . Mrs . EbenezerRhodes did the same in the following year ; but the yearfollowing that

,Mr . Robert B rightmore being Master , times

had become so bad that the Corporation announced that ,“ in

consequence of the state of their finances , they suspend theannual feast and dine by tickets , 1 5 s . each . Even earlierthan that , in 1798 , the feast had been paid for by t ickets ,10s . 6d. each for another reason ,

“ the mon ey u sually appliedto defray the expen ses of the feast having by vote been appropriated t o the subscription in aid of the exigencies of theGovernment .LEONARD : We get a glimpse at the j olly doings at the

Old Cutlers ’ feasts from Mr . Holland’s Mem orials of Chantrey .

” Speaking Of Mr . Nicholas Jackson , the filemaker , ofShemeld croft, with one of whose daughters Chan trey had alove affair , he says ,

“ Ancient guests at the Cutlers ’ feastwill remember how his loyal songs formerly divided withthose of another local worthy , Billy Battie (of whom wehave just been speaking) ,

“ the applause of the Corporation ,when sung in the old Hall , in Church street . Fancy themanufacturers singing songs now-a-days on that grand occasion "WRAGG : The handsome building of the Sheffield and

Rotherham Bank, erected in 1 866 in place of the plain brickstructure , occupies the site Of the prem ises on ce the residenceand factory of the Roebucks . The history of Dr . Roebuck ,the most distinguished member of the family

,you all know .

TWI S S : His brothers first opened correspondences withthe Continent , and one of them was pos s ibly the first Sheffield banker on whose failure , eight years afterwards ,the Broadbents ’ bank was established .

LEONARD When the Roebucks died , they had not a longjourney to take . A tomb opposite the Sheffield and Rotherham Bank , dated 17 5 2 , bears the names of Roebuck andFenton ; and Mr . Holland tells us that “

in the month ofMay , 178 5 , Church lan e was made wider by taking into itabout three yards of the churchyard and removing a certainnumber of coffins , bodies , and gravestones , the last mostly

THE ROEBUCKS . 5 9

bearing the name of Roebuck , and forming at present (1869)part of the floors in the cellars and kitchens of the housesopposite .

Twrss : In making that sweeping observation Mr . Holland did not di splay the accuracy that is desirable in suchmatters . The fact is , he has multiplied one single gravestone into a wholesale collection . The only basis for hi sstatement i s the following : When the Sheffield and Rotherham Bank made certain alterations in their premises , som eyears before the rebuilding , it was found neces sary to removethe flooring in a cottage at the back , in which the bank messenger resided , and among the pavers so taken up was one

which had been a graveston e , of which this is a copy :“ Here

was interred the Body of Rogger Robu ck , late of Sheffield ,j oiner : he departed this life the 25 th day of October , AnnoDom . 1 6 and in the 70th year of his age . The date isimperfect , only a portion of the third figure , which may be0 or 6 or 9 , remain ing . The full date may be 1 600 , or anyyear between that and 1 609 inclusive or it may be 1 660 , orany year between that and 1 669 or it may be 1 690 , or anyyear between that and 1 699 . I have made a careful searchin the parish register , but cannot find any entry of the burialof such a person . It probably belongs to the period between1 660 and 1669 , if the following extract from

“ Depos ition sfrom York Castle , published by the Surtees Society , relatesto the same person : A true bill against Henry Bright ,of Wharlow (Whirlow) , gen . ,

Stephen Bright , of the same ,yeo . , Roger Robuck , of the same , j oiner , and CorneliusClerk , of Cathorpe (Cut thorpe) , co . Derby , gen . , for breakinginto the forest of Thom as Earle of Arundell , called RivelingForrest , on 21 July , 1 6 5 9 , and killing a stag .

” I think itnot impossible that the stone may have com e from NetherChapel , rather than from the Parish Churchyard .

LE IGHTON : Mr .Webb , a well -known Sheffield surg eon , livedfrom about 18 13 to 18 18 , in a house on a part of the site nowoccupied by the Sheffield and Rotherham Bank . He was astout -built , dapper little man , fond of dress , and he rode agood horse . He had rem oved to Church street from Norfolkstreet , and thence he went to Market street but he was notin the latter place long

,for he died at Broomhall Mill , where

he had gone for the benefit of his health , about 1820 .

TWIS S : I believe at one time he lived in Fargate , bythe Lord’s house .”

LEONARD Mr . Webb was one of the first surgeons to the

60 CHURCH STREET .

Infirmary, and an amus ing story has been told me of aquarrel he had with the Rev . Alex . Mackenzie , of St . Paul

’s .It was the custom in those days for the medical staff of theInfirmary to assemble for prayers before commencing theirduties ; and Mr . Webb being invariably late , kept his colleagues waiting . At length this became so intolerable thatMr . Mackenzie took him to task , which the Doctor resentedso warmly as to threaten to horse -whip “ the black-coatedscoundrel for having the impudence to dict ate to him . A

few days afterwards , when about to mount his horse at hisown door , Mr . Webb , seeing Mr . Mackenzie coming up thestreet

,made a rush , and began to carry his threat into execu

tion . The curate of St . Paul’s ran for protection into thebank and sped upstairs , pursued by the irate doctor, both beingfollowed by a number of clerks and others , astonished bythis strange incursion . To appreciate fully the ridicu louss ight , you must remember that Mr . Mackenzie was an execssively tall man— over s ix feet— and that his assailant wasconsiderably under middle height . Mr . Mackenzie did notlive long after that . He went up to London to undergo anoperation for the stone , and he died there —in 18 16 . Mr .Webb had a garden at Harvest Grove , the end of Harvestlane , where Mr . Waterhouse afterwards built a house . Hehad a farm at Park Wood Springs , on land belonging to Parson Bland , of B olsterstone , which was afterwards sold to thebu ilding society . Mr . Webb was accustomed to give lectureson surgery to medical students ; and a list of his pupils wouldinclude such names as Wilson Overend, Jackson , France .But meetings of another kind were held at his house . Dr .Younge , Dr . E rnest, James Montgomery, Robert Hadfield,and others used to meet there to discuss politics . TheGovernment of that day was very j ealous of such meetings

,

and Mr . Webb’s servants had in structions to represent to anycallers at such times that he was engaged in lecturing uponsurgery . Mr. Webb had himself been a pupil of his un cle ,Mr . Charles Hawksley, whose surgery was in High street ,near where Messrs . Foster , the tailors , are now and he wassucceeded in practice by Mr . Nelson .

LEIGHTON : Mr . Webb has been credited with being thehero of a curious adventure among the colliers .LEONARD : Yes ; but the assertion that the adventure

happened to him is denied with much emphasis and someindignation by one who knew him well , and who asserts thathe was not at all addicted to intemperance . I am told that

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CHAPTER IV .

THE OLD TOWN HALL , HIGH STREET .

Scene—The Beehive . Ho st , Mr. LEIGHTON .

Present—LEIGHTON , Twrss , LEONARD , EVERARD and WRAGG .

LEONARD : A very old gentleman of my acquaintance

,

aged 91 , has given me an interesting account of theOld Town Hall , at the Church gates . I remember it

,he

said , very well . It was not a large building . On theground floor was the ‘ lobby ,

’ or gaol , called Sam Hall’s

parlour . There culprits used to be confined,and you could

go and talk to them through a round hole in the door,such

as you may now see in the doors of country pinfolds . SamHall was the gaoler , and he also sold pots and such like tomake out his living . Above the lobby was the hall itself

,

approached by an external flight of steps facing down Highstreet . I remember Wilberforce coming to addres s theelectors of Yorkshire from those steps . A silly man

,named

Josiah , or‘ Jesse ,

’ from Grenoside , was among the crowd ,and somebody put him on a great wig . This made a lot offun , and caused some confusion ; and Tom Smith , the constable , who kept the Blue Boar ,

’ down Westbar,nobbled

the disorderly ones to keep them quiet .”

TWISS : I have no doubt that speech of Wilberforce’swas the one delivered on the 9 th of May, 1807 , when he wasaccompan ied by Mr . Lascelles .

EVERARD Jesse ,” to whom Leonard refers , was a well

known and popular character in Sheffield in those days . Hisproper name was “ Josiah ,

” but he generally went by thesoubriquet of Jesse and , from some of his unreasonabledoings , the remark is still current and applicable to a personwho has done any foolish thing , What a Jesse he must

JE SSE .

”

needs be "” He was a tall , well-built , and powerful man ,living at Grenoside , near Greno wood . His vi sits to Sheffieldwere very frequent . At that time the coaches to Hudders

field and Halifax ran that way ; and Jesse , on an evening ,when tired with his day’s rambles in the town , decidedlypreferred riding home on the coach to walking . But then ,there was the “ fare ,

”which he neither could nor would pay ;

so the coachman,until he learnt better , left him behind burn

ing wi th indignation and threatening revenge . After suchaltercation , it was not unfrequently found that in the nighttime large stones had been placed on the road in the mostawkward places , with the evident des ign of upsetting thecoach . The act could never be traced to the perpetrator ,but so shrewd a suspicion was entertained , that it wasdeemed a prudent thing to let Jesse ride home ; and aslong as this was done , no large stones were found onthe road , and the passengers were amused by his talk .

One of his peculiarities was that he always carried alengthy walking staff of some kind ; but he more especiallypreferred a long broom—handle . On coming to Sheffieldwithout a staff, he would walk into some house , look out thesweeping-brush , and in an instant would be seen striding offat great pace with the brush - steale ,

” a number of womenand children raising the hue and cry at his heels . Anotherof his eccentricities was his attendance on all the funerals heheard of. He was very impartial in paying this mark ofrespect , whether he happened to know the family or not .The attraction was the custom of giving to those invitedto the funeral a “ burial cake ,

” being a large plum cake,

before biscuits came into general use . This privilege of a “ mourner was always accorded to Jesse . Oneday

,after attending a funeral in the neighbourhood of

Broad lane , having one of these large cakes in each ofhis coat pockets , he asked a carter , who had just been delivering a load of coals , to allow him to ride in the cart .Jesse got in , and as he sat on the edge of the door , the manslyly unco ttered it , so that he had not ridden far before thedoor came down , and Jesse fell on his back ; and whilst hewas gathering up his cakes the man drove off. This littleincident was related to me by one who witnessed it . Anotherof Jesse’s peculiarities was his extreme fondness for S ingingand music . At that time the “ oratorios were often heldin the Parish Church ,

’

on which occasions he was sure to putin an appearance and attempt to get into the place— of course

64 THE OLD TOWN HALL .

without payment . On being repulsed by the doorkeepers , hewould walk about in front of the church , and when the pformance was fairly begun , with his very powerful voice hestruck up at the church doors the chorus , L ift up yourheads

, 0 ye gates ; and be ye lift up , ye everlas ting doors ;and the King of Glory Shall come in . Who is this King ofGlory " The Lord of Hosts ; He is the King of Glory .

”

This had the effect of disturbing the audience and embarrassing the performers , so that the doorkeepers soon receivedorders to let poor “ Jesse come in 0 11 which he at oncebecame silent and absorbed , and seemed to enjoy the musicaltreat with great satisfaction . But I ought to apologise

,my

friends,for taking up so much of your time .

LE IGHTON : That old Town Hall was built in 1700 , andwas pulled down in 1808 . It stood slightly within the churchyard , and proj ected right out into the middle of the way ,where the open Space at the entrance to East Parade now is .LEONARD Before it was Sam Hall’s parlour

,

” it wasSam W ibberley

’

s .

” We get some idea of its limited dimen

sions from Nield’

s“ Remarks on the prisons of Yorkshire ”

(Gentleman’

s M ag . lxxv . which say The lobbiesunder the Town Hall are three dark cells , which Open into anarrow passage , the largest eight feet square by six feet high .

Each door has an aperture of six inches diameter . There isan offensive sewer in the corner of each cell . ” Since Nieldadds that , although it was daylight when he went in , heneeded a lighted candle , we may conclude that these were notvery pleasant places in which to be confined .

LE IGHTON Adjoining the Town Hall, facing down Highstreet, were the stocks , afterwards removed to Paradise square ;and the pillory .

TWISS : There was a curious illustration of the use. ofthe stocks in 1790 , when nine men were put into them fortippling in a public-house during church time and two boyswere made to do penance in the church for playing at ‘ tripduring divine service , by standing in the midst of the churchwi th their ‘ trip sticks erect .”

LEONARD Well , we punish the former off ence now , butin a different way . I’m not quite sure that we are wise inwinking at the playing that goes off .

TWISS : There is another good story of the stocks , inconnection with old Justice Wilkinson . A little girl in thestreet was incited by some mischievous fellow to go up to agentleman walking along, and to say

THE FIRING OF BROOMHALL .

They burnt h is books ,And scar

’d h is rooks ,And set h is s tacks on fire

the well-known doggrel relating to the rioters’ attack onBroomhall . The child innocently went in front of the gentleman and , bobbing a curtsey , lisped out the lines . What ,my dear "” asked the Vicar —for it was non e other . Thechild repeated it . Yes , my dear , said he ,

“ come alongwith me ;

” and leading her by the hand,took her to the

stocks , to her great distres s .LEIGHTON : Justice Wilki nson had a patriotic sympathy

with the fathers and mothers of illegitimate children,from an

idea that , considering the drain of the war , it was a publicbenefit to add to the population . Som e sayings of h is , alittle too bread for reproduction in print

,are yet told by the

choicest of our old story -tellers .LEONARD It was in 1 791 that that attack on Broomhall

was made . The ringleader , one Bennett , was executed for itat York .

EVERARD : I have always understood that the individualexecuted was a poor , half-witted young man , whom the mobpurposely incited and pushed forward through the librarywindow , to comm it the incendiary act of setting the booksand papers on fire . Had the event taken place now , the unfortunate lad , instead o f being hanged , would in all probability have been sent to an asylum during her Maj esty’spleasure . This case , I have been t old , produced at the timesuch an impres sion on the public mind as led to the doingaway with the law , or custom , of giving blood-money .

” Isay law or custom , because I have heard it denied that anysuch law was ever enacted by the British Parliam ent . As

matter of fact , however, it must have pos ses sed s ome shadowof legal authority , as it was a thing practis ed in two ins tan ces , at least , in O ld Shefli eld and after the Broomhall riot the practice ceased to exist . My father was one ofthose who , out of curios ity , went as an on - looker to thatscen e of outrage , but , believing that the military would soonput in an appearance , he began to make his way homewards .

In Black Lamb lane (now Broomhall street , but then a narrow country road) , his retreat was , however , intercepted bythe approach , at full speed , w ith noise of j ingling scabbards , mingled with oaths and curses , of a detachment ofcavalry . He jumped over the field wall and lay hidden untilthey had passed . Then

,concluding that there would certainly

F

66 JU STICE WILKINSON .

be another troop soon following , he decided to go down thelane (now Hanover street) towards Sheffield moor , and bythat roundabou t way get home . He had not , however , gonefar in that direction

,before another party of soldiers made

their appearance,headed by the colonel and Justice Wilkin

son himself. He had then with agility again to perform theclimbing and hiding feat , and thus managed to escape thedangers of his nocturnal ramble on that clear moonlightn i ht .g

LEONARD : It appears from the Shefii eld Register’

s ao

coun t of the affair that the cavalry in question consisted of adetachment of Light Dragoons , sent over from Nottingham‘ in consequence of an application to Government for themand it seems very probable that if the unwonted arrival of thesoldiery had not suggested rioting to the m ob , none wouldhave taken place . At the Cutlers’ Feast that year the guestswere almo st frantic in their expres sions of approbation

Of Mr . Wilkin son ’s conduct and the Mistress Cutler’

sparty on the following day

,with that rapturous j oy which

females only elate in a cau se worthy of their sex can express ,not only drank his health but nothing les s thanacclamations of applause would satisfy their ardour and zeal .”

TWIS S There are other anecdotes about Justice Wilkinson ’s doings as a magistrate which may as well be m entionedin connection with the old Town Hall . Being called uponon one occasion to arbitrate between a quarrelsome husbandand wife , he ordered that they should be locked up togetheruntil they could agree . The discipline proved efficacious ,for , after a Show of obstinacy, the refractory couple came toterm s , and announced their contrition by knocking upon thewalls , as had been arranged . Another is this : A lady ,having quarrelled with her servant , was required to appearbefore the Ju stice . She refused to go before O ld NiddletyNod (a nickname given owing to a peculiar shaking of thehead cau sed by paralys is ) , and had to be fetched by a con

stable . So you refused to com e before O ld Niddlety Nod ,’

did you You are here now , however , and O ld NiddletyNod orders you to pay the servant her wages and the costsof the court .LEONARD That nickname reminds me of the description

of Mr . Wilkinson given by one living who remembers him .

“ He was ,” said he ,

“ a fine , venerable-looking old man verystately, but rather palsied when I saw him . His head shooka little . He drove about in a large old family carriage with

THE CHURCH GATE S . 67

a pair of horses , and Joshua Gregory , his clerk , used to standbehind like a footman . I was at school at Chesterfield whenthe rioters went to Broomhall and ‘ burnt his books , and

scared his rock s , and set hi s stacks on fire .

’ My father sentme word what mischief had been don e at the Hall . AfterJustice Wilkinson died , Joshua Gregory went into a tableknife concern . The firm was Wostenholm and Gregory , butit did not continue long .

”

LEIGHTON : At the top of High street (now Paw son andB railsford

’

s , stationers) was the confectionery shop of Mr .Benj amin Walker , who was universally respected .

TWIS S : You might go further back and speak of thatcorner when it was in the occupation of the Heatons . Theinscription on their gravestone— which is the t op s lab of atombstone— may s till be read , near to the Vicarage . Themost prominent member of the family mentioned upon it i s“ Thomas Heaton , late of this town , ironmonger , who diedDec . 19 , 1734, in the 48 th year of his age . He was easyand agreeable in every path of private life , and useful to thepublick as a member of the three governing bodyes of theTown , the Church , and the Free School , and died generallylamented .

” Then follow the names of his wife and Of anumber of their daughters , ending in Hellen , the last survivor of this truly Respectable Family , who departed thislife , the 18 th June , There were form erly , in front ofthe premises of which we are speaking , posts and chain s ,extending from below the church gates to the corner of Yorkstreet .LE IGHTON : There is a tragic history connected with the

daughter of Benjamin Walker , of whom he was exceedinglyfond . She was adm ired by all who knew her . It was theold

,old story ” she loved not wisely but too well . At

the time when the South Devon Militia was quartered inthe town the officers frequented the father ’s Shop , and abroken heart was the end . On the premises n ext below,

where Mr . Robinson and his father have been established aswatch and clock makers for many years , was the post-o ffice ,Nathaniel L ister being Post Master . I cannot fix the datenearer than this— that it would be after 1 8 10 and before1 8 1 5 . At that time London letters were brought by horsemail round by Worksop

,and the rider fired his pistol at the

Market -place to notify his arrival . There was then only oneletter-carrier for the whole town— a female who lived in Leecroft, and she carried the letters in a small hand basket ,covered with a white napkin .

68 HIGH STREET .

WRAGG : I think her name was Taylor . We must notconsider her duties to have been light simply from the smallness of the town . It was the price of the pos tage that was

the cause .

LEONARD : I find recorded , on the 17th December , 1 8 19 ,the death of Thos . Taylor , of Lee croft , aged 74 . He hadbeen for upwards of thirty years the principal letter-carrierin this town and the obituary notice bestows on him_ awarm eulogy . I presume your female letter- carrier would behis daughter .

Twrs s Taylor was the publisher of the Antiquities ofSheffield ,

”an early attempt at topography, to which is added

an account of the cerem ony of laying the foundation stone ofthe Infirmary . The imprin t i s , Sheffield , printed for andsold by T . Taylor , No . 7 , Lee Croft , and may be had at thePost Office ; A . and E . Gales , in the Hart

’

s -head ; Slater ,Bacon and Co . ,

Snig Hill . It has no date , but it must havebeen published about the end of the last century . Taylorwas accustomed to go into the country with a newsman’s horn ,selling newspapers .WRAGG : At that tim e a letter to or from London cost

tenpence . Suppos ing the postage was to be raised to“

thissum now ,

we should no t see the presen t number of lettercarriers . In travelling now , a person can go to London , oranywhere else , whenever he thinks proper , by railway ; no t

SO in coaching days . Then he would go to the coach -Office afew days or a week beforehand to bespeak a seat, and deposita part or the whole of the fare . When he went to London ,som e person or persons invariably turn ed up to ask him , as a

particu lar favour , to take a letter to drop in the pos t -o ffice atthe place of his destination . Many people discovered friendsthey did not know of but for this . One manufacturer hadletters enclo sed in his to other manu facturers , to save thecos t of postage . About a century back— nay , even les s time—it was con s idered more dangerous to reach London thannow Au stralia . At that time , a young man just out of histim e who bought a top coat would wear it as long as helived , and then one of his sons would wear it for years .

There was then no Old cloth worked up into new— the stuffwas strong and durable .

EVERARD Yes , things are greatly changed .

WRAGG The other part of Mr . Robinson’s shop was Mr .Saunders ’ auction mart , before he removed into the premisesin East Parade now occupied by Mr . Bush . Mr . Saunders

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70 HIGH STREET .

now Hutton ’s yard . Later he had a room at a High streetconfectioner’s

,nam ed Botham .

WRAGG : And about here , too , earlier , was the shop ofNathan Andrews , the watchmaker , murdered by Frank Fearnin 1782 . But I shall have more to say of this murdererwhen we get to another part of the town . There i s som equestion ,

however, as to whether his victim

’s shop was inHigh s treet or in Church street .

EVERARD I had the impression that it was at the top ofthe O ld Haymarket

,about the middle of the street by the

new Post - o ffice , running down to Sheaf street .TWISS : And I have the belief that it was in Fargat e ,

oppo site' the O ld Red Hous e .

LEIGHTON : Another High street worthy , who had hisshop here

,close to the thoroughfare into Hartshead , still

called Hawk sworth’

s yard , was Mr . George Hawksworth ,quite a gentlem an in pos ition and manners . He was accust om ed t o lend his fam ily plate for the adornment of the Cutlers ’ feasts of those days . He was one of the founders , andfor many years one of the prin cipal directors of the original

gas company . The un lucky scheme for erecting the Commercial Buildings (now Mes srs . Levy

’s) for a post-Office ,newsroom , and offices was of his origination . The buildingwas sold by the mortgagee , and the shareholders got about1 s . 6d. for each £25 share . Mr . Hawksworth had “ TheHills on the Grimesthorpe road for h is country house

,and

was distinguished for his succes sful gardening .

TWIS S : Gos ling’s plan , 1736 , i s the chief authority forsaying that High street was form erly called Prior gate andit i s probable that hereabouts was the Priory . It was said in1 8 00 , There are no remains of the Priory , and its existencecan on ly be known from old deeds , and the right Side ofHigh s treet , com ing from the market , still retain ing amongthe Oldest inhabitan ts the name of Prior row .

”

LEONARD Pretty nearly every yard branching out of Highstreet has a history of it s own and there are

,or have been ,

quaint old places in them l ittle heeded by the pas ser-by.

There is the Old Grey Horse ,” for in stance

,which one of

our local traditions represents as having been the restingplace o f King John when once he passed through Sheffield .

TWISS It is s imply a tradition . The house was,perhaps

is now , the property of the family of the Girdler’s .LEIGHTON In Wilson ’

s tobacco shop was the circulatingli brary kept by Mr . Woollen— low and gloomy—which gave

HIGH STREET . 71

Young Shefli eld of those days the opportunity of reading theO ld English Baron ,

” the “ Mysteries of Udolpho ,” and

the Castle of Otranto , for free libraries were not .TWIS S : I have an idea that Hawksworth

’

s yard was oncecalled Trippet’s yard . James Woollen , the stationer , whodied in 18 14, married Ann Trippet . His daughter , Mrs .Wade , afterwards had a circulating library in West s treet .LE IGHTON Next door lived Mr . Candow , the last leather

breeches maker . Then there was Mr . Colquhoun , tinner andbrazier , who afterwards became engineer to the new GasCompany form ed in 1 834 . Adj oining his workshops was themalthouse of Mr . Thomas Wreaks , whose s ister kept a toyshop in front , which was then 3 5 , High street . Oppos ite theend of George street was Mr . Nowill’S , on ce Kippax andNow ill. He was the merchan t and manufacturer who builtthe Freemasons ’ Hall in Paradise square ; and he erected forhimself a house at East Bank

,and planted the line of tall

poplar trees on each s ide the road still to be seen there . Hewas succeeded in his Shop by Mr . James Crawshaw , father ofMr . Crawshaw, n ow registrar for the Sheffield West district .LEIGHTON The Blue Bell ” Shou ld not be passed with

out mention ing it as one of the old public houses o f the town .

WRAGG : In the shop of Mis s Fishbourne was Mr . Owen ,the draper , a leading Wes leyan during many years . Adaughter of his married the Rev . J . Rattenbury , afterwardsPres ident of the Wes leyan Conference . One of his sons wasthe first to attempt to trade as a merchant to Australia .

EVERARD : The j eweller’s shop of Mr . Charles Youngewas that above the “ Star Inn gateway . It has been invarious hands lately, but it s present occupant i s Mr . Hyam ,

tailor . On the other Side of the gateway was Younge andRim ington

’

s bank . Then came the draper ’s Shop of Cowenand D ixon .

WRAGG : Mr . Thos . Cowen was one of the early teachersOf the Wicker Sunday School

,afterwards in Andrew street ;

and Mr . D ixon married , firstly, one of the s isters of the lateMr . Robert Waterhouse

,and secondly

,Anne , daughter of

Mr . Joseph Cowley,an eminent Wesleyan , who was a manu

facturer in Pins tone street . Mr. Cowley’s daughters Anne ,E lizabeth and Sarah

,are immortalised in many of the writ

ings of Mr . John Holland , baChelor poet , recently deceased(December,LEONARD : Next below, now part of Mr . Wheelan

’

s clothshop (No . were the premises to which the I r is office was

72 HIGH STREET .

removed , in 1 825 , by Mr . Blackwell , after he had purchasedthat paper from Mr . Montgom ery . In 1832 , the late Mr . Robt .Leader succeeded Mr . Blackwell in the occupation , removingthither the office of the Independen t. from 30 , Angel street .The printing-office was afterwards in Mulberry street , in thebuilding that— originally a factor’s warehou se—became thepreaching-room of the early Methodists , after their chapel inPin stone lane had been destroyed and their place of worshipin Union street abandon ed .

EVERARD Mr . Everitt , in his history of Methodism inSheffield ,

” gives an account of the persis tent and ruffianlypersecution to wh ich the persons who attended that chapelwere subjected. But that was a hundred years ago .

WRAGG : At the bottom of the street was Mr . RobertCarver , woollen draper , one of the s ix tall men of the town .

LEIGHTON : Without touching the Market place for thepresent , we n ow cros s the street , and take the places of bus iness on the left -hand s ide , going towards the Parish Church .

There we strike another pest-o ffice site , little changed Sincethe days when Mr . William Todd , the founder o f the h ighTory S hefiieldM erc zn g , presided over the arrival and despatchof mails .

LEONARD He had removed from Market s treet (where hehad begun the M ercury in 1 807) in 18 1 1 and he was appointed Po st-m aster , May , 18 1 5 .

LEIGHTON : In the passage between Mes srs . Cutts , Suttonand Son ’

s shop and that until lately Jackson ’s toy shop,we

used t o wait for letters . Mr . To dd was a gentleman ly-lookingman , were breeches and black silk stockings ; but he gotdeeply into the books of Parker , Shore and Company

’

s Bank,

and disappeared . Mr . George Ridge succeeded him in theownership of the M creary, (1826 ) and rem oved it to his shopin King street , then the third from the Angel street corner ,and Mr . Wreaks was at the same time appointed to the postmastership , and the Post-Office was removed to the lowercorner of Norfo lk street and Arundel street , now a tinner andbrazier’s shop but thence it was in 1835 brought back intoHigh street , to the Commercial Buildings already mentioned .

The shop of Mr . Cooper , con fectioner , was the next aboveTodd ’s , a curious old gabled place , built with beams andbaulks , the upper story proj ecting right over the causeway .

I have seen the tim e when a load of hay has stuck fast andbeen unable to pass the proj ecting gable . Mr . Cliff had a

rope and twine shop above COOper’

s .

THE STORY OF THE ALABASTER TOMB . 73

TWISS : His rope-walk was up West street , by the Hallam shire Hotel public house , and on the po st of the yardadj oining that hous e might very recently be read the wordsCliff ’

s Rope Walk .

”His daughter married Mr .Wm . Ou t

ram , cabinet maker , also of High street ; and their daughters married into several well -known Sheffield families .LE IGHTON : The present glas s -fron ted “ Clarence ” Hotel

and Turnell’s spirit stores have supplanted (for the worse ,pictori ally) the antique prem ises so long occupied as a dramshop , up to 1839 by Ward and Bawer , and then for manyyears by George Bawer alone . The enhanced rent requiredof Mr . Bawer was too much for his resources , and he endedhis long tenancy unfortunately . It i s a thou sand pities thatthe frontage was not set back to the level of the StoneHouse ,

” in this , the narrowest part of the High street . Itwas not for want of efforts on the part of the Town Trusteesthat this was not don e .

TWISS : When we were talking about the O ld Churchyard , mention was m ade of the

“ alabaster stone , oras it used to be called , and this part of High street remindsme of its history . There was , hereabouts , an inn , to whichone night an unknown traveller cam e . The bedroom allottedto him had , bes ides the door communicating with the landing ,an unused door which had formerly opened upon the yardbehind , but at a con siderable elevation above it . The traveller aro se during the nigh t and sought to leave his room , buthe got to the wrong door , forced it open , stepped out , andfalling to the ground was killed . All attempts to ascertainhis name or to commun icate with hi s friends failed ; but hehad a considerable sum of money in h is pos ses s ion , so ahandsome tombstone was erected over his nam eles s gravewhich unwritten tombstone you may see to this day near thechancel door . The top marble slab has , as you all know,been broken . It is a part of my story to add that the fracture was done in an attempt to rifle the tomb of the treasuresthat were popularly believed to have been buried with theunknown stranger .WRAGG : The old Stone House , now occupied by Mes srs .

Prest , wine merchants , and as offices , must have a history .

I should like to know it .TWIS S : It has a history , but who shall tell it " I , for

one , have been unable to recover the clue . On the hopperof the spout at the back of the house are the initials and

E

date I

1'7 2T7

/I What do these signify, and how are they to

74 HIGH STREET .

be read " E lmsall " Marriott " I cannot tell . f The housewas at one time in the possess ion of the Greaves family (ofPage Hall) . To them it came through the Clays , who mayhave got it from the Elmsalls . Or one may speculate on it sbeing a Marriott , through a connection between them andthe Greaves fam ily . Its builder must , however , rem ain amystery until som e further light is thrown upon the subject .In later , but still distant years , it was in the posses sion of

the Watson family , who also had a public ~house in Watson ’swalk . They put into it the grandfather and grandmother ofMr . Stirling Howard , one of whom had , I think , been intheir service .

EVERARD : This brings the Stone House within reach ofmy personal memory . When I was a little boy it was keptas a very respectable wine and Spirit merchant’s store , with alarge country trade , by Mrs . Howard , her husband havingdied in 178 5 . Her son , the late Mr . Thomas Howard , succeeded his mother on her death in 1822 . The other son ,

the late Mr . William Howard , was brought up to theS ilver-plating busines s , and his son , Mr . Stirling Howard ,in due time joined him , until they retired from business .Mr . Thomas Howard will be remembered by you all in hislater days , living in the little cottage near The Hills , andfinishing his career in the Stamp O ffice . After him Mr . JohnPorter (father to Mr . John Taylor Porter , surgeon ) took tothe business in the old Stone House . Mr . Pres t j oined himas partner , succeeded to the bus ines s , and tran sferred it tohis son , by whom it is now carried on .

LEONARD : Between Mulberry street and George street,

but entered by a pas sage from High street , i s the Victoria”

inn , formerly the“ Bay Childers ,

” which was kept by Thom asAmory , who died in 1772 , and by his wife after him . Theremay be no better opportunity than this of noticing the recentstoppage of the Old thoroughfare acros s the yard at the backof the Victoria , leading from Mulberry street into Georgestreet . NO doubt the name of the inn was changed about thetime of Her Majesty’s accession . There was a Bay Childersin Bridge street also , which disappeared about the same time .

TWISS : '

I am not sure that you are correct in saying thatMr . Amory kept the Bay Childers I have always understoodthat it was the Blue Bell . However , in front of what i s nowthe Victoria , where are the shops of Mr . Gray , saddler , andMr . Travell, clothier , there was in the last cen tury a saddlernamed Heald . His daughter married in 1776 a workman of

HIGH STREET . 5

her father’s , Joseph Cecil , who afterwards , through some property left to him , became Lord of the Manor of Dronfield.

WRAGG : The shop at the lower corner of George street wasoccupied in 1797 by Mr . Caesar Jones , druggist , a well knowncitizen of his day . Two doors above George street , ThomasHardcastle published the Shefiield Chron icle in 1 837-8 . Thatshop was afterwards occupied by the late Alderman Saunderswhen he dealt in m us ic and mus ical in struments , and it i snow absorbed in the china shop of Mes srs . Parkin , formerlyfor many years kept Mr . Riley , who had before that been agrocer at the corner of Meadow street and Allen street .

TWISS Behind that was an old building where , in 1797 ,lived William Lee , a cordwainer . The yard was in those dayscalled Truelove’s yard ,

” no doubt from the fact of the Trueloves keeping a locksm ith ’s shop there up to at least 18 17 ,Maria Truelove being the last . Mr . Lee was a frequen tvisitor at the “ Bay Childers public hou se , and was muchgiven to betting —so inveterate indeed was the habit thatwhen

,on his way to Don caster races , he saw a vehicle in

front,in which were his wife and only son , swaying violently ,

he called out Five ‘

t o four that our Jim ’s killed .

” Thelate Mr . William Ibbit t made a sketch of a very old fire -placein one of the bu ildings here— whether that in which Mr . Leelived or not I cannot say

— but doubtles s it was one of the OldHigh street houses , erected before uniformity of frontage wascared for . It is a large Open brick fire -place , with largecarved stone front , supported by pillars for jambs . I believethat in the Old days there was , behind this place , a croft , extending to what is now Norfolk s treet , and that i t belonged tothe Waterhouses , who are buried in the Parish Church

(Gat ty’

s“ Hunter , p . Mis s Ann Waterhouse , who died

in 1787 was the last lady in the town who wore the oncefashionable hoops . Her capacious skirts cou ld not be steeredinto church without some difficu lty , and the hoops whichexpanded them were destined to be the bender of the kiteof Thomas Howard , then a boy . Her brother , the Rev .

Robert Waterhouse , who died in 1778 , left a small legacy toMarmaduke Wreaks , peruke maker, High street , and be

queathed some money in trust for Barbara Wreaks , themother of Mrs . Hofland. The father of the Ann and RobertWaterhouse mentioned was Henry Waterhouse , a solicitor inextens ive practice in the town , who died in 1719 .

LE IGHTON : A celebrated firm was that of Green and

Pickslay, on the site referred to just now as subsequently the

76 HIGH STREET.

Post-office, and more recently Levy’

Sx They were , perhaps ,the first and most exten sive ironmongers in Yorkshire , andwere noted for a peculiarly excellent cast steel , which theycalled “ Peruvian . Mr . Green was a gentleman fond offield sports , and having the en tree of very good houses .

But he had to give his great friends long credit , and was

no t the man to ask for payment , so that the inevitable endresulted

,and Mr . Green came to poverty . He was a fine

looking man, and wore a wig . I remember him saying to

me , If ever you should become bald , Mr . Leighton , neverwear a wig ; I have regretted it ever s in ce I began one .

”

And well he might ; for when he took off his wig I neversaw a more splendid head than he displayed . The busin es swas afterwards (in 1828 ) carried on by Pickslay, Appleby andBertram . On the lower side of the en tran ce to Mr . Nicholson’s (once Bardwell

’

s ) auction room , is the shop of Mr .Harrison , hosier . It was , in recent days , Mr . Jo sephPearce’s , bookseller , and there he started the Sheffield Da

i lyTelegraph, in 18 5 5 , afterwards removing to the other S ide ofthe street , where Lit tlewood

’

s stay shop formerly was , andwhere the paper is still published .

TWIS S Hereabouts , at the close of the last cen tury , wasMr . Geo . Brown , druggist , who was the owner of the prem ises in the Hartshead occupied by Montgomery and theMisses Gales .LEONARD : We learn from one of Montgomery’s letters

,

written from York Castle , that the annual rent of the premises was £27 . 3s . and in another letter (May 9 , thepoet suggests that Mr . Brown should be asked to fu lfil a promise to paint the front of the shop and house before SheffieldFair ; adding ,

“ I think if Miss Bes sy [Gales] would call uponBrown , she could wheedle him

” into it .TWISS : Mr . Brown was the great-grandson of the Rev .

Cuthbert Browne , curate of Attercliffe and assistant-ministerat the Parish Church from 1662 to 1 673 . Mention is madeof him by Hunter (Gat ty

’

s edition , p . 413 ) as having come togreat poverty . The family i s related to that of Revel, and itspresent representatives are claiming the Revel estates .LEIGHTON : Above Bardwell ’s passage was Sn idall, the

watch-maker , well known not only in the town , but on thetrout streams of Derbyshire . Then came Thos . Cooper , grocer,a Quaker , and the father of Mr . Cooper , of Neepsend , tanner .WRAGG : He was specially celebrated for making the best

candles in the town .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

78 HIGH STREET .

with the elbow bent , and I thought he seemed very long inmeasuring it . A person on the other side of the street , atYork street corner , was watching the operation , and , seeinghim laughing

,I looked round , and found that t he old man

had fallen fast as leep .

EVERARD : I , too , have seen Mr . Foster , who was a verystout man ,

fall asleep whilst seated on the hampers of SOIdiers ’ clothes . They stood on the edge of the pavement , andthere Mr . Foster sold their contents , so long as he could

'

keep awake .WRAGG : There are various points about High street that

need elucidating , if only some one could do it . Where , forinstance , was the Crooked Billet yard , said to have beenthe residence of Thos . Wild , who was credited with havingmade the knife which stabbed the Duke of Buckingham "(Gat ty

’

s Hunter’s Hallamshire , p .

TWIS S : There can , I believe , be no doubt that the yardso called was that at the top of High street , running betweenMes srs . Cubley and Preston’s druggist’s Shop and theThatched House Tavern .

” It is now called Foster’s Court .LEONARD : And where was the Sign of the Cook , opposite

which was the prin ting Ofii ce of Revil Homfray, publisher ofthat early Sheffield newspaper , H omf rag

’

s Shefi eld WeeklyJ ournal"

” Fran cis L ister , who began the Shefiield I/VeeklgJ ournal, April 28 , 175 4 , described his office as near theShambles ,

” and opposite the Cross Daggers , and we knowthat the Cros s Daggers was on the site of or behind Mr .Colley’s shop , in the Market place . In August , 17 5 5 , RevilHomfray, who in the previous year had circulated in Sheffielda newspaper printed in Doncaster and called the ShefiieldWeekly Regi s ter , o r D oncas ter F lying Pos t , advertised thathe had bought the J ournal of L ister’s widow and he cont inued to is sue it from “ his printing office opposite to theCook in the High street . Where was this

TWIS S : I do not know where the Cock was , but Ithink I can throw some light on the Mr . Simmons , bookseller ,one of the persons of whom it is announced the J ournal can bebought but that must be when we speak of the Market place .

EVERARD Which let us postpone until our next meeting .

CHAPTER V .

THE MARKET PLACE , KING STREET , ANGEL STREET .

Scene—Messrs . Twrss , LEIGHTON and EVERARD are discovered as

the g uests of Mr . WRAGG . To them enters Mr . LEONARD,

introducing a new member of the fellowship , Mr . JOHNSON ,a townsman of middle age .

Period—AD . 1873 .

RAGG Now for our old Market Place and first as tothe shops facing the Shambles , from the bottom of

High street to the Hartshead passage .TWIS S : I will attempt now to fulfil the promise I gave

when last we met . The property on the site now occupied byMessrs . Richards and Son , t ailors , was formerly— 1 607 - 1 621—in the hands of the Blythes , who were yeomen at NortonLees . Johan Blythe married Tho s . Bright , yeoman , of Bradway , and surviving her hu sband , transferred this property toher third son James , a mercer in Sheffield . (See Gat ty

’

s

Hunter , pp . 417 and 414 , note . ) Now , Thomas Bretland wasa grocer occupying a part of this property , and Nevill Simmons , or Symmonds , stationer and bookseller , was also atenant , and married B retland

’

s daughter . He has beencalled “ the father of Sheffield bibliography . The namewhich he bore appears on publications in such different partsof the country that it is impo s sible to avoid some confusion .

(See“ Notes and Queries ,

”3rd S . Vol . iii . p . But it

seems probable that he was a native of Sheffield , since he wasmarried here and buried in the Parish Church (died 17thJuly , But either he , or another man of the samename , was a bookseller in London . One of his daughters

,

Mary,married the Rev . Timothy JOllie , of the Upper Chapel

(1 68 1 and he had sons Nevill and Samuel . The former died before his father , but the latter was also a booksellerin Sheffield , and possibly succeeded his father in the Marketplace . I strongly believe that he was postmaster, and mostlikely he was the Mr . Simmons , bookseller , in Sheffield ,

”

one of the persons appointed to receive subscriptions andadvertisements for Homfray

’

s newspaper .

80 THE MARKET PLACE .

LEONARD : And I have always understood that his wasthe bus iness to which Mr . John Smith , bookseller, of Angelstreet , succeeded .

TWISS : At the same time that the Blythes held the property of which I have been speaking , the Rollinson s belongedto that next below it , where Mr . Jones i s now . Robert Rollinson

,he who improved Barker’s Pool and who died in 1631 ,

had his shop here ; his son Thomas Rollinson succeeded him ,

and the family continued in possession of the property throughout the greater part of the last century .

LE IGHTON : Seventy years ago andmore Mr . Richards’ Shopwas kept by a hatter , Samuel Daniels . James Daniels , hisnephew , succeeded him , but he did not prosper in bus ines s .There was a well-known discounter here— Francis WrightEveritt . At that time the shop of Mr . Brook es , hosier , wasa circulating library , kept by Thomas Cockburn . First abovethe Hart shead entrance were Thomas and John Willey,drapers (afterwards Willey and Judd) .WRAGG : In the shop of Mr . Jones , who removed there

from King street , was another draper , named Cooper . I amsorry to say he failed in bus iness ; and it was not a caseof mere plastering and whitewashing , as bankruptcies are atpresent , for he was necess itated to enter the workhouse . Herose to be the governor , and was a kind and con siderateman— not like many who , having had to endure adversity ,try how harshly and cruelly they can treat others . Therewere a few old shops here that would perhaps resemble thosestill remaining at the top of High street , now occupied byMessrs . Foster , Cooper and Shilcock .

LE IGHTON The George ” Inn i s unchanged ; it i s nowjust as it was fifty or sixty years ago , when kept by Mr . andMrs . Lawton , whose property it was . They did well at it .At that time , too , the shOp below , Mather

’s , was , as now , ahatter’s , one of the very few hat shops in the town -Whiteley’s . The druggist’s shop below, new kept by Mr . Radley , i sunchanged too . It was a druggist’s then , kept by Mr . Gillat t .At the corner of Change Alley was Mr . Robert Wiley , fatherof the late proprietor of O ld No . 12 . He died in 1825 .

WRAGG : He was a draper . The son Thomas was , forsome cause , discarded by the family ; but subsequently , afterpassing through many vicis situdes , he became a wealthy man ,and a helper of those who had once despised him .

JOHNSON What an institution Wiley’s windowmeaning O ld No . 12 —was " It was almost a substitute

CHANGE ALLEY. 8 1

for the daily papers o f the present time . All , or nearly all ,the events of the day were chronicled there— the deaths fromcholera , the debates in Parliament , the election s fi anythingout of the ordinary course . I remember going down daily ,during the debates on the first Reform Bill, to get the namesof the speakers for my father .LE IGHTON : Mr .W ileydisplayed great enterprise , and made

wonderful exertions to get his news .J OHNSON Yes, when Earl Grey resigned , Mr . Wiley

showed his public spirit by having the Sun newspaper expresssent to him . The news travelled from London to Sheffieldin 1435“ hours— a great advance on 1806 , when the news of thedeath of Mr . Pitt took three days to reach Sheffield . Mr .Wiley died October 14th , 18 5 1 .

TWIS S Change Alley , I believe , was formerly the s ite of ,

a bowling green ; and I somehow associate the name with theLondon Royal Exchange . The Webster’s , who had a housethere and in the Park (with which they became connectedthrough the marriage of Leonard Webster , cutler , with thewidow of one of the Wrights of the Park) , had relatives inLondon ; and possibly in this may be found a glimmering ofthe origin of the name . The summer -house formerly standing on the ridge of the Park , was built by Leonard Websteras a study for his son , afterw ard s the Rev . John Webster ,who was senior wrangler and sen ior chancellor’s medalist in175 6 .

LEIGHTON Let us j ust take a peep in to Change Alley inthe lively days when coaches were coming to and going fromthe “ King’s Head ,

” then kept by Billy Wright . He wasone of the old school of landlords , and had universally agood name . Mr . Wright drove the first coach from Sheffieldto Glossop and I had the honour of sitting behind him . Itwas entering a country which had hitherto been scaled to allbut a few Sportsmen . The first view of Win Hill and the fivemiles of the Woodlands from Ashopton to the

“ Snake isone of the most beautiful drives in England , and can neverbe forgotten . On that day , the sun shining brightly , thej ovial coachman , the splendid greys , the cheery notes of thebugle

,heard for the first time in those solitudes , caused the

blood to dance merrily through the veins of all that goodlycompany, and was a portion of the sunshine of life .

How sw eet in th e woodlan ds , w ith fleet hound and horn ,

To waken dul l echo and taste the fresh morn .

”

82 THE KING’S HEAD .

Another of my coaching experiences from the “ King’s Headwas taking my seat , more than fifty years ago , for Londonand for years afterwards I could remember all the differenttown s on the route . But I will not dilate now on the pleasures of travelling by coach .

WRAGG : Your friend Mr . Wright was not such a modelcharacter as you think . About half a century ago , the coachwas about to start , but was overloaded , and Wright orderedtwo additional horses to be put to , telling one of his men toget ready to ride postilion . When he was ready , Mr . Wrightcomplained how long he had been , when the man replied hehad been as qu ick as he could . The master , without moreado , began to horsewhip him . The passengers and lookerson cried shame , and after more delay, another man was sentinstead .

TWISS We can trace back the occupiers of the King’sHead ” for a long series of years . Samuel Tompson

,who

died in 1716 , had held it . He , I think , had married thewidow of Mr . D ickenson , a previous occupier , and father ofthe Rev . John D ickenson , an ass istant minister at the ParishChurch and curate of E cclesall from 175 2 to 1766 . Mrs .Tompson took a third husband , Mr . Richard Yeoman s , fromBuxton , who , when he brought Derbyshire produce to market ,had been accu stom ed to put up at the King’s Head . Hedied in 1729 and the house in 1773 i s described as occupiedby Henry Hancocks . The next year we find it tenanted byJames Kay, or Key , and he kept it for nearly the remainderof the century . After him came Billy Wright

,

” whoretired from the management in 1824 , and was succeededby Mr . Wm . Woodhead , a name which brings us to moderntimes . He married the daughter of Mr . Wright .

EVERARD The Shep at the lower corner of Change Alley,until just now occupied by Mr . Stables , is , perhaps , the oldestin the town , and the only one now remaining with a proj ecting gabled front . When I was a boy , it was kept by Mr .Newton , brother to the Mr . Newton of the firm of Porterand Newton , in King street . On a certain occasion thisbuilding and it s residents had a narrow escape from destruction . Mr . Newton had lately got a fresh apprentice out ofthe country, and one even ing at dusk, the boy went to fetchsome goods out of the storeroom , which was the garret ,taking , instead of a lantern , a lighted candle in his hand .

Observing that he returned without a light,Mr . Newton

ascertain ed that not only had he committed this indiscretion,

THE OLD MARKET PLACE . 83

but that , to make the'mat ter worse , having no candlestick ,

he had stuck the candle in what he called a barrel of rapeseed .

” Rape seed, exclaimed Mr . Newt on , why thereis none there .” It then , in a moment , struck him thatit must have been left burning in a barrel of gunpowder "AS life or death and destruction hung on every moment ’sdelay

,Mr . Newton , w ith that prompt and decisive courage

with which some men are inspired on perilous occasions,

immediately, without saying another word, went up thestairs , and , on arriving in the garret , there saw the lightedcandle stuck in a barrel of gunpowder containing sufficient inquantity to have blown down the house , and perhaps the adj oining property . Treading as softly on the floor as possible ,in order to avoid any shake which might send a spark fromthe wick , he then very carefully got the candle between thesecond and third fingers of the one hand , and , placing theother hand beneath to catch any falling sparks , he slowlydrew it out of the powder and carried it down - stairs . Thishazardous feat was accomplished before the inmates belowwere aware of the extrem e peri l in which they had beenplaced . The courage , coolness , and presence Of mind whichhad hitherto possessed him then gave way under a sen se

'

of

the frightful danger that had been incurred and provi dent ially escaped . NO wonder that he swooned away . Thisaccount Mr . Newton gave to my grandfather with his own lips .LE IGHTON We must not forget to conjure up once more

the different scene presented aforetime , when this now decorous triangle was really the Market Place , fenced round withposts and chains . The corn market was still held here upto 1830 , when the present Corn Exchange was Opened . Allthe vegetables were thrown in the middle of the street byloads . The corn market was held first— till twelve O ’clock , Ithink ; then the market keeper rang a bell , and the vegetablemarket began . The Barkers— there were three of them ,

little men in top boots— and other shoemakers were accustomed to bring wooden sheps and fix them up ; and otherpeople used to have baskets of different things . Bes idesthat , it was a regular market for fish and everything else .

O ld Mr . Cade , quite a celebrated man , kept a book stall bvthe right -hand gateway .

WRAGG Yes James Cade was well known . He residedin the “ King and Miller ” yard

,Norfolk street . In his

lifetime he was always considered to be a man of somewealth , but it was not so ; he was one of those very good

84 THE MARKET STALLS .

men that we hear of now and then in whom every personfeels sure he could place implicit confidence , but on whosedeath the public and their friends find to their sorrow thatthey have been deceived . Not only did Cade not die a ri chman ,

but he was worth “ les s than nothing ,” for his debts

and liabilities were greater than his effects . I am sorry tosay that his character for honesty was sadly impeached , as hemistook a S ick club’s money for his own . He died , I believe , about 1829 .

LEONARD (reads) : At the bottom of High street youm ight have been accomm odated w ith a pair of ‘ leatherdicks ’

(breeches ) , either for yourself or’prentice lad , at

Davenport’s or have gon e for them to E llis Grant’s stall , atthe top of the Market , within the chains . You wou ld havefound O ld Milly Lowther’s fish stall at the top of Kings treet (Pudding lane) , and Molly Rawson

’s fish stall facingChange Alley end ; and Billy Wright , mending old bucklesor matching an odd one , facing Hartshead . Then there werethe old women with their meal tubs , with their: great coatsand leather pockets , selling meal by the peck and now and

then a lad saying ,‘Dame

,will yo gie me a bit 0 ’meal , if you

please ‘Aye , lad , tak thee a bit .’ New shoe stalls were

plentifully arranged , facing the front shops at the top of theShambles , the dealers crying , Naa , can Oi suit yo w i ’ apair they’re hoam -made un s— cum ,

try - these on , oi thinkthey’ll abaat fit yo they looken yore soize . ’

LEONARD : James Wills describes a Similar scene , andcontrasts the Old Shambles , which formerly were near thes ilk -draper’s shop , n ow the Fruit Market , and which

,most

dism al , were then made of wood ,The sheds o f the s tal ls almos t clos ing amain ,

Formed an archway for custom ers ou t of the rain ,

with the time when’Ti s commodious , and form s a good square ,

With abundan ce of fruit and po tatoes so ld there .

”

He addsNo t fifty years s ince , at the Market Place head ,Were the broad shallow tubs t o sel l oatmeal for breadAnd near them the s laughter-house stood in disgrace ,Bein g a nu isance t o all who pas sed by th e place .

a:

B ut now , who of shambles can make equal boast

LEIGHTON : The shambles which excited his admiration(opened in 178 6) were re - fronted , re-roofed

,and altogether

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8 6 POST MASTERS AND POST OFFICES .

we can . It is not an easy task to get it complete , as anyonewho tries will find.

George Carr,postmaster , as his gravestone in the Parish

Churchyard tells us , departed this life April ye 20th ,1701 , in y

‘

e 68 th yeare of his age .The same stone (which would seem to indicate relationship)records the death of his successor , Jonathan Turner , postmaster , who died 12th January , 1713 , aged 36 years .

Samuel Simmons was postmaster in 1 742 . His shop , as wehave seen , was most probably in the Market Place , oppositethe head of the Shambles . He had a salary of £43 perannum . He died at Pit smoor , April 18 , 1790 , aged 87 .

Francis Lister is the next name we find, and the dates renderit quite pos sible that he was the

_

sam e man who printedthe Shefl ield IVeeklg J ournal (see ante p . He diedin 175 5 .

In 1787 Miss L i ster was postmistres s , and at that time theoffice was in a Similar position to that which I suppose itto have occupied under Samuel Simmons— in the MarketPlace , opposite where is now E lliott

’s monument . In1782 , the salary of the postmaster had been raised to £ 5 0per annum , and the Single letter carrier had £ 12 a yearas wages .

In 1791 , Rice James was postmaster . The office was removedto Castle street , near the end of Castle green . James diedMay 3rd, 1 800 . He is buried in St . James ’s churchyard .

The period which follows is vague . A person named Hall,

who died March 5 th , 18 13 , was postmaster, I am told, atthe Church Gates .

Nathaniel Lister, as I have good oral authority for saying ,had the post office at the Church Gates

,but I cannot give

you the dates .Richard Griffiths followed him , the Office being in Churchstreet , in the premises now occupied by the ReligiousTract Society . Grifli ths left to become agent for theGovernment packets at Holyhead, and was succeeded by

William Todd, May 6 , 18 1 5 . The next week the Post-officewas removed to Mr . Todd’s premises in the Market Place

,

and there it remained until 1828 . It i s stated in the introduct ion to White’s Sheffield Directory for 1833 , thatthe office was , in Mr . Todd

’s time,worth £ 5 00 a year .

Mr . Todd having left the town,

Mr . Joseph Wreaks was appointed Nov . 25 th , 1 826 . He remained in the Market Place until Feb . 4th , 1828 , when

THE SHAMBLE S’ HEAD . 87

he removed to the lower corner of Arundel street andNorfolk street , Oppos ite the As sembly Rooms . In 1 8 33 ,the premises ofPickslayand Co . , in High street , were purchased for the erection of a Post-office , news room , &c .

,

and thither Mr . Wreaks went in 183 5 . He died O ctober25 th , 1 843 , and was succeeded by

E llen Wreaks , his daughter . In 1 845 , the Office was removedto the bottom of Angel street

,and from thence in 1 8 5 0 to

the Market Place , the head of the Shamble s . There itremained un til March 19 , 187 1 , when it was rem oved tothe top of the O ld Haymarket , and in July , 1 872 , MissWreaks resigned , and was succeeded by Mr . T . Mawson ,the present postmaster .LE IGHTON : Below Justice , at the top of the Shambles ,

were four sheps , two in the m iddle , under that figure,and

two at the corners . In one of the m iddle shops Messrs .

Thompson , of W estbar , sold books . One B urden had theother as a toy Shop ; and when he left it he wen t into theshop which i s now Mr . Roberts ’ carpet warehouse . He afterwards went to America .

EVERARD : Mr . B urden was succeeded in the lattershop by the Rev . James Everitt , at that tim e , on accountof his health

,a supernumerary Methodist preacher . He

dealt more especially in old and curious books . He re

moved from Shefli eld to Manches ter , and kept a s im ilarshop there . On recovering his health . he resumed hisplace in the Wesleyan body , and being eventually expelled ,was one of the chief instrumen ts in establishing the“ Methodist Free Church .

” Below that Shop , at thecorner of Market street , was a very respectable draperyestablishment

,kept by Mr . George Smith , who , on account of

his diminutive stature,commonly went by the nam e of

L ittle Smith . He often , in the summer time , w ere nankeen trou sers

,white or light - coloured figured vest , and dis

played a full rufiled shirt fron t as he very cour teous ly showedthe ladies into the shop

,he usually standing near the door .

At one time he had a partn er , of the name of Mr . JosephCarr (brother to the late Mr . Riley Carr , of the Glo ssoproad) , who in height was as much above the ordinary Size asMr . Smith was below it . Afterwards , Mr . Ridal (who hadbeen his apprentice) became his partner ; and for many yearsthe bus iness was carried on under the firm of Smith andRidal.

” They afterwards removed to the shop at the lowercorner of Market street

,and the business is now carried on

by Messrs . Arnison and Co .

8 8 THE SHAMBLES .

TWIS S : There is a tradition that Mr . Smith was onceactually apprehended , beingmistaken forNapoleon Buonaparte .He died unmarried in 1846 , aged 77 . His grandfather , GeorgeSmith , died ten months after his marriage with Mary Greave s ,and his grandmother was married for the second time , toSamuel Glanville , of whom we shall hear in connection withAngel street . But we are digressing .

JOHNSON : At the King street corner, on the site nowoccupied by Alderman Michael Beal , j eweller , was the flaxshop of Mr . Wm . Cockayne , the grandfather of the presentdrapers in Angel street . Mr . Cockayne had a number ofknowing friends who met to talk over monetary affairs

,and

chatted so much of the concerns of their neighbours , that hisshop was called the “ weigh -house . A cheesefactor, namedStoakes , occupied the premises after Mr . Cockayne

’s removalto a shop in Angel street , which was his own property . It isnow occupied by Mr . Watson , druggist . At the Marketstreet corner of the Shambles ’ head , was a butcher

’s shop .

Much later , these two corners were occupied by Fisher ,Holmes and Co . , and Fisher Godwin , as seed shops .LEONARD Ins ide the Shambles the butchers were then

as now,in possession ; but outside there were fruiterers

stalls running down the exterior , were there notLEIGHTON : Yes . Inside the Shambles , at the bottom ,

used to be the butter , egg and poultry market . There was abuilding above , at the back of Mr . Younge

’

s Spirit vaults,

supported by pillars . Up the middle of the Shambles weretwo rows of wooden shops . In these the inferior kinds ofmeat were sold , and on both sides were other butchers

’ shops,

as now . At the right—hand corner was a very respectableman , named Middleton .

WRAGG : Sixty years ago , there were butchers in theShambles who could Open their shops first thing on Saturday morning , and not have a bit of meat left by dinner time ,when they would close their shops and go home . Then theirshops were worth £ 100 goodwill ; now the goodwill has quitevanished .

LEONARD : This description of the Shambles , as theyexisted from 178 6 to 1 8 5 5 , gives as good an idea of them ,

both outside and in , as we could wish The Shambles areextens ive and convenient , being 100 yards in length and 40in breadth , and having covered walks in front of the variousrows of butchers’ stalls ; at the lower end a commodiousmarket for butter, eggs and poultry ; and round its exterior

THE FRUIT AND VEGETAB LE MARKETS . 89

shops for the sale of fruit , vegetables , &c. It is approachedby several gateways , one of which opens into the market forshoes , t inware , &c . , and another into the vegetable and fruitmarket on the opposite side of King street .” Wh en the lastalterations were made , the whole interior area was cleared forthe poultry

,butter , and game dealers , the butchers

’

Shopsrunning all round .

LEIGHTON : The arrangement outside the Shambles wasvery different from now . Down Market place , or the fruitmarket, from the top to the bottom , outside , were sold fruitand such things . This lasted until the opening of the MarketHall on Christmas -eve , 1 8 5 1 , when the sheps were closed .

They were afterwards removed to widen the streets .TWIS S : A colonnade ran all round , the pillars supporting

a proj ecting upper room , which at the same time affordedprotection to the sellers and purchasers below .

LE IGHTON Mr . Nicholson , market gardener , had thecentre shop in the Fruit market ; it corresponded wi th themarket -keeper’s house on the King street side ; the otherswere little fruit shops . Opposite Nicholson ’s was the oldestablished “ Cross Daggers . It is now converted into Mr .Colley’s leather shop , new fronted , but with the old rooms behind still . The stabling was up the yard , with an exit intoNorfolk street . Down King street were the market gardeners ’

and vegetable shops . At the bottom of the Shambles , inthe Bull Stake , was Mr . Gregory , cheesemonger , father , Ithink , of the late Mr . James Gregory , surgeon , Eyre street .JOHNSON In the lower part of King street, where i s now

Mr . Hunt’s flour shop , was formerly the father of Mr . JohnJones , before he removed into the premises still occupied byhis son in the Market PlaceLEONARD I remember the square just above there , now

represented by Gars ide and Shaw’s timber yard and Castle

court , where fruit and fish dealers congregated . It wascalled The Green Market

,

” and was disused after December,18 5 1 .

EVERARD : Ah , that market was formed on the site of theold debtors’ gaol

,taken down in 18 18 . A curious place ,

indeed , according to our notions . It was a stone building ,not very large , the gaoler being Godfrey Fox . People wereincarcerated there for ridiculously small debts , and often foralehouse scores . The prisoners used to work at their trades ,and you might hear cutlers and file-cutters hammering awayas if they had been in their shops . Friends brought the work

90 THE OLD DEBTORS’ GAOL .

and took it back again,and also supplied the prisoners with

food .

LEONARD : The debtors then made themselves tolerablycomfortable

EVERARD : Oh dear yes . It was a queer kind of imprisonment . The gaol was often thronged with visitors un tiln ine o’clock . There was a prisoner in each room , above andbelow

,who solicited the pas sers-by to

“ remember the poorprisoners .” The one above had a tin box suspended by astring ; and the other, in the lower room , with his handthrough the window, held a similar box .

TWISS : In 1791 , at the same : time that Broomhall wasattacked , the mob destroyed the doors and windows of thegaol and the house of Godfrey Fox , and liberated the pris oners . It was the prison for the liberty of Hallam shire ,and the property of the Duke of Norfolk .

EVERARD : There were two clas ses of prison ers , the feesin what was called the “ High Court ” being 25 S . ; in theLow Court ,

” on ly 6d. There was , in addition ,“ garn ish ,

”

2S . 6d. for the High Court , and 1 s . 2d. for the Low, withwhich coals , candles and soap were bought for th e commonbenefit of the prisoners . Nield , in his

“ Remarks on thePrisons of Yorkshire ,

” describes his visits to the place in1802 . There was , he reported , no chaplain , nor any religiousattention paid to the prisoners . Mr . Moorhouse , thesurgeon to the overseers of the poor , attended to the s ick .

The High Court prisoners had a room about five yardssquare , which had two windows looking into the street .Up

-stairs there were four rooms , two for men to sleep in , andone for women , the fourth being used as a workshop . Thekeeper furnished beds at l 0%d. per week, two sleeping in abed . The Low Court prisoners , or those detained for debtsunder 40s . (three months

’ imprisonment being held to releasethem from their debt and costs ) , had two rooms , about fiveyards by four , with a fire -place , and iron -grated windowslooking into the court . In these they worked and Slept ,which made them filthy beyond description . Four roomshad lately been added at the top of the house , one of whichwas used for the women at night .

TWIS S : When Howard , the prison philanthropist , visitedthe place some time before , it would seem that these upperrooms were not in existence

,for he r eported that there were

only two rooms , which were also used as night rooms fordebtors of both sexes .

KING STREET . 91

LEONARD : Nield adds that the Low Court prisonersfound their own straw and firing . The courtyard had a dampearthen floor

,and was about ten yards by six . Both sexes

associated together in it ; and at his visit on Sunday, the1 5 th August , 1802 , the Low Court prisoners were busy sifting Cinders in it , the ashes of which they sold for threeshillings a load .

EVERARD After Godfrey Fox, Thomas Smith , constable ,was gaoler , and at the same time kept the Royal Oak

,

”

which was next to the gaol . On the gaol being pulled down ,

he and the prisoners removed to the premises in Scotlandstreet, formerly a merchant

’s warehouse , with the houseadj oining as his residence . Mr . Jo seph Kirk succeeded him .

WRAGG : Thirty years ago , in one of the little marketshop s that then stood on the site of the Old gaol , wasMrs . Horsfield, the mother of two Unitarian ministers , theRev . T . W . Horsfield, the historian of Lewes , and the Rev .

Frederick Horsfield.

LE IGHTON : Above this was the grocers’ shop of Messrs .Porter and Newton , now carried on by the sons of the former,who have since removed one door lower down . Their assistants are credited with the perpetration of a practical j oke

,

which became famous in local annals through a popular songwith a j ingling chorus being composed upon it . OppositeMr . Porter’s shop (about where is now the King street entrance to the Shambles ) was the house of Joseph Eyre , constable and market-keeper , popularly known as Buggy,

” orFussy. The lively young grocers contrived to tie a ropeto the market bell , and one night when— the place being shutup— all was quiet , and Fussy ” was placidly enj oying the

repose to which so great a dignitary was well entitled , he wasstartled and horrified to hear his bell his own particularbell—begin ringing . With his dog Turk ,

” he went roundthe Shambles , breathing vengeance against the disturbers ofhis peace and when this was fruitless , he took up his stationby the gate , assured that the ringers must be in , and mustcome out that way, so as to give him a chance of revenge .But he waited in vain . The bell went on tolling, to thegreat entertainment of the crowd that had by this timecollected , until the string (which was stretched across thestreet) at length breaking , it fell among the bystanders , andthey kept up the fun . Eyre at length discovered the trick,and breaking the cord short, stopped the game .

“ Hey,Turk,

” became a bye-word . It was written up in large letters

92 HEY, TURK .

”

everywhere , and then the following song was heard in themouths of all the street boys at every corner

One n ight o f late , at t en o’clock , as I was sat reflecting

On th e sacks o f wheat and bags o f flour that I had been co llecting ,To l l goes the market bell , jus t as I was a-thinkingI ’d smoke my pipe and merry be , and end the n ight in drinking .

Hey, my dog Turk , go thee and lurkHe howl’d w ith joy t o hear m e

For in such awe I have h im now ,

That b e both loves and fears m e .

I’ll fetch t he lan tern and candle out , and search where I su spect ’

em ,

Amongst the stalls and on th e walls , for there Turk may detect’em

I cried Hal lo , ’ you’re there I know , canno t I hear you prat rng

‘

2

I’ll lock you up unt Il the m orn

, for I am tired o f waitin g .Hey, my dog Turk , go thee and lurk "For thou art very cunn ing ;

I’ll s top at t he gates and break their patesAs fast as they come runn ing .

S ince Buggy go t m e this place , each n ight I do undres s me,So fat I

’m grown , I can

’t bend down , my flesh does so Oppres s m e .

One n ight , when they’d put me t o bed, aro se a m ighty squabbleThey cal led m e up again w ith speed to go and quel l the rabble .

I cal led for Turk and b id h im lurk ,He how led w ith joy to hear me

For in such aw e I have him n ow ,

That b e both loves and fears m e .

I’ve beat thee , love , says B et to Joe , and won thy guinea fairly ,Thou at e t oo much pudding in thy youth , or th ou’dhave run m o s t rarely .A barre l o f porter w e wrll have , and drink it at our leis ureFat Joe replies , Some ducks and peas , ’ as I was just a-thinking ,Then we

’ll agree andm erry be , and end the n ight in drinking .I called for Turk and bid h im lurk ,He how led w ith joy t o hear m e

For in such awe I have him now,

That h e both loves and fears m e .

LEONARD I fail to find much sense in the last two verses,

and the lines limp so that there must be something wrong inthem . Another version runs

One n ight o f late , at t en o’clock ,

As I was sat in spectingThe bags o f wheat and peak s o f m ealThat I had been collecting ,To l l goes the market bel l just then ,

And I was sore as tounded ,I puff ed and blew , but no one knewThat , I was so confounded .

I caught a Turk , and bid h im lurk ,For he i s very cunn ing ,

And I’d s top at the gates , and break their pates ,

As soon as they came runn ing .”

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94 MARKET STREET .

TWISS : Mr . Ralph Hodgkinson’s father was , I imagine ,

the first Sheffield druggist . He was accustomed to go aboutfrom town to town on market days , selling his drugs , and hewas in King street in 1775 -1792 , when he gave up business ,and was succeeded by his son . The old man lived until 1 8 10 ,in which year he died at E ckington .

LE IGHTON : At the corner , now Mr . Muddiman’

s boot shop ,was Mr . Gillott , the hatter , who has already been mentioned .

TWIS S : But before this time , certainly in 1774, and evenfor some years earlier than that , Mr . Jonathan Whithamoccupied that site with his watchmaker’s shop , his wife alsocarrying on a millinery business there . Mr . Whitham diedabout the year 1808 .

JOHNSON : Leaving King street we have now to crossthe Shambles to Market street . It was here that Northall’sCouran t , that thorn in Montgomery

’s flesh , had its birth ,June 10 , 1793 , but it was removed to King street , March1 , 1794, and expired there August 1 , 1797 . The M ercuryanother great trouble to the editor-poet , was also started inthis street , in May, 1 807 , by Mr . Wm . Todd , afterwardspost -master in the Market Place, who had his shop here .His wife was a s ister of the late Mr . Scholefield, M .P. forBirmingham ; and Mr . Holland m ention s that Chantrey exeouted his bust of the Rev . Jas, Wilkinson , now in the ParishChurch , under Mr . Todd

’s roof,“ the curiosity , the expec

tat ion , and the wonder of the public being largely excitedduring the important process ofLEONARD In Market street was the manufactory of

Messrs . Proctor and B eilby, opticians , of whom I have compiled the following account from one of the late Mr . JohnHolland’s numerous anonymous papers . The firm hadbeen in Milk street, on the s ite of part of Messrs . Rodgersand Sons’ premises now ; but when the old butchers

’ shepswere removed from Market street , the firm established themselves there , on the west side , with workrooms and dwellinghouse in front , and workshops behind . The Cup inn i sthere still , unchanged ; but everything else is altered .

The principals in the firm were Luke and Charles Proctor ,natives of the town , and originally makers , if not actuallygrinders , of lancets . B eilby was a Birmingham man , andwas a teacher of drawing in Sheffield . Luke Proctor wasan agreeable man of fashion , an accomplished violinist , and

Memorial o f Chantrey , p . 203 .

PROCTOR AND BE ILEY . 95

he soon fiddled himself out of the firm . Charles , a loverof music too , was a quiet , assiduous and successful man ofbusines s , writes Mr . Holland ,

“ and I remember how I usedto look for his white wig opposite one of the windows in theold Cutlers’ Hall , at the

‘ Feast ,’ where he sat ‘ above the

salt . ’ He was a widower when first I knew him . Hisfam ily consisted of himself, his three sons— Luke , Georgeand William— his daughter , Deborah , and last , but notleast, in those days , his s ister , Miss Nancy —a Sharp littleconsequential woman , who did a great part of the familiarbook-keeping of the concern , including especially the entering of the men

’s work and wages . Of the children,Luke

died young George went to Birmingham , where he marriedand died ; Willi am , of whom more hereafter , married MissDeakin , a s ister of the founder of the Deakin In stitution ;Deborah married Thomas , a son of the original B eilby. Heultimately went to Birmingham , entered into the stationerybusiness , and became the leading partner in the well -knownfirm of B eilby and Knott , publishers of Ari s

’

s Gaz ette .

Charles Proctor, the head of the firm , died July 4th , 1808 ,and was carried by six faithfu l workmen to his grave in St .Paul’s Church , where his wife was also buried . He leftbehind him , according to the

‘ Gos s ip s Gazette ,’ property

to the amoun t of The concern in Market streethad now reached its cu lminating period of prosperity ;thenceforth its fortunes were downward . This was apparentlydue to several cau ses . At length the late Mr . Hollandalone was left on the premises to make , as far as the brasswork was concerned

,whatever might be wanted in the entire

range of the pattern book . And although , says he ,“ it

i s long since I laid down , and shall never again take up , thetools of the optical in strument maker , I would not willingly lose the consciou snes s that I could still alternate thecutting of a fine screw with the using of a bad pen .

” Mr .Holland once gave an account of the more prominent workmen in this establishment . There were his father, also JohnHolland

,and his un cle Amos , who made accurate imitations

of the Dolland telescopes . Both lived in the country, andwere not only bird fanciers , but bee farmers . The sycamoreand mahogany outsides of the telescopes were made at awheel on the Rivelin by William Chadburn , grandfather ofChadburn Brothers , the well -known Opticians , of Nurserystreet , and it seems probable that his father had been therebefore him . Besides optical instruments , there were made

96 OPTICIANS’ WORKMEN .

tinder-boxes and inkpots in large quantities . “ Excisemen’

s”

inkbot tles were made of brass , and were polished by oldDaniel Vaughan , a Chelsea pens ioner , who , after doing dutyas a recruiting sergeant in Sheffield , went abroad and foughtbeside General Wolfe , at Quebec .

“ His extra-workboardforte was telling stories of soldier life , and especially a rehearsal of the loyal Speech he used to make in our MarketPlace , while a handful of spade-ace guineas was kept dancing on the drum -head for the too successfu l temptation ofmany a mother’s son . Then there was Ben Wright , anotherpensioner , who

“ treddled his lathe with a wooden leg ;and George Hadfield, not less remarkable as a toper than asa turner ; old B illy Egginton , somewhat of a birdcatcher ,who

,living on the banks of the Don , had secured a crested

grebe John Taylor, a m ember of an old Sheffield musicalfamily

,his instrument being the French horn little Jemmy

Johnson , who beat the big drum in the Volunteer band .

Then there was D icky Hobson , a Birmingham man , in someway related to Mrs . Sally Booth , the actres s , who used tovis it Sheffield with Macready , and whose graceful performancewith the skipping rope was so much admired. Anothermember of the Volunteer band was Johnny Coe , a littleknock-kneed man , whose military status was to march beforethe leader with an open music sheet pinned on his back . Hehad been w ith the Proctors from the first , and was early employed by them in making ring dials , which some [thoughnot Dr . Gatty— see his “ Lecture to the L iterary and Ph ilosophical Society ,

” Dec . , 1 872] think to have been Touchstone’s dial . From Coe

’

S account , t hese must have beencommon and cheap enough during the earlier half of thelast century . They cons isted of a brass ring , four inches indiameter . On being suspended from the hand by a string ,the sun shone through a small hole in the rim , and indicatedthe time by a dot of light falling on the hour figure and itsfractions in side . Two of the workmen , Clarke and Hancock

,were members of the Volunteer force . William Padley

was the brass caster , and Thomas Stovin the glass caster .Stovin

’

s hobby was to keep cows , and he did it profitably .

The chief of the spectacle makers was Thomas Bird , a brother of the well-known Bristol artist of that name . Thebead-roll would be incomplete without the names of BenSayles and Grayson .

“ I regret ,” said Mr . Holland , whose

words I have,for the most part , been adopting ,

“ to beunable to recollect that religion was ever the subj ect of work

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98 LIGHTING BY GAS .

LE IGHTON : Down Angel street, where is now Mr . Carter’s

,

shoemaker , there was an obstruction in the road . It wasat the bottom of the “ Angel ” yard , and Mr . Wormall

’

s

shop is part of it . It form ed the Volunteer rendezvous , orguard-room , and I have seen the men stand there to receivetheir leaves . It made a regular corner , or bend , in thestreet . After Mr . Peach , of the Mr . Walker ,tinm an , altered it in to it s present form . He rebuilt , or newfron ted , the

“ Angel ” inn .

WRAGG : Mr . Walker occupied the Shop that was latelyMes srs . Wilson and Son s , and is now a part of Mr . Hovey

’sdrapery establishment . I think he was the first man who madecoal gas , and it was to be seen in his Shop

— of course , very differen t in quality from what we see now , for it made great cloudsof smoke . He had the con tract for lighting the town with oil .JOHNSON : Forty years ago gas had become common in

saleshops , though there were many to be seen without it ;but i t was very rare in houses , and rarer still in workshops .We managed t o see to read and write with only one candle ,but how I cannot imagin e , after being accustomed to gas .WRAGG I am speaking of longer ago than that , though

it i s on ly about that length of tim e sin ce the old oil lamps ,which used to make darknes s visible ” in our miserably -pavedstreets , disappeared . The last , I believe , were in Hanovers treet and B room spring lane . One night they were allsm ashed ; their fragments mu st have been trampled upon ,as there was not a piece left on the ground the size of a sixpence so they were replaced with gas .

TWIS S : I have met with a record that the first gas lamplighted In Sheffield was at the corner of Benjam in Walker

’sshop , Church Gates , on September 19th , 1 8 19 . The sameauthority gives Howard Street Chapel credit for having beenthe first public place of worship lighted by gas in Sheffield .

That took place on the 13 th December , 18 19 . Queen StreetChapel was partly lighted on the same evening .

LEONARD : I recently spent some weeks in a small out-ofthe -way German town , amu singly quain t and prim itive insome of its habits . There was no gas , and the Oil lampshung from a cord swung acros s the narrow streets , and cou ldbe lowered by a pulley to be lighted . That experien ce en

ables m e to imagine pretty clearly the state in which ourEnglish towns mu st have been before gas was invented .

EVERARD : Yes ; one must go abroad to appreciate someof the inconveniences of the old days . The open gutter

THE ANGEL INN. 99

down the middle of the street , for both rain and sewage,can

still be seen on the Continent ; and the projecting spoutswhich , having no fall -pipes , discharged douches 0 11 the headsof pas sers -by, are on ly to be found in hidden nooks .

JOHNSON : As Wills singsYou remember th e s inks in th e m idst o f the streets ,When the rain poured in torren ts each pas sen ger greetsHi s fellow w ith What a w ide channel i s here ,We all shall be drowned , I ’m greatly in fear .

’

t a: i t

Yet , w ith all their good sen se , stil l did n on e o f them kn owHow t o light street s w ith gas lamps as w e have them now

Wh ile that ign i s f atuus that hung in our s treetWould scarcely discover t he wretch w e m ight meet .

LEONARD : And here i s another quotation ,as a con tribu

tion on the same poin t The town was then in a very rudestate in every respect , it being on ly partially flagged

,with

many of the s tones loose ; there were very few lamps , and

those feeble and far apart— often not lighted , or blown out .There were also proj ecting spouts from between the guttersof the roofs , from which , during rain , the water flowed instreams . Lantern s were dim ly seen in the streets , like fireflies , flitting about . Umbrellas were then unknown . Afarthing candle was stuck in some of the shop windows , justserving to make darknes s m ore dark .

JOHNSON : Horace Walpole , in a letter dated 1760 , Speaksof Sheffield

,through which he had pas sed , as one of the

foulest towns in England , in the mo st charm ing situation .

LEIGHTON : The mention of old Sam Peceh , of theAngel ,

” reminds us again , like the King’s Head ,” how

with the past coaching days has disappeared the lustre fromthese houses . Still , at the

“ Angel , the coaching department was carried on with great spirit by Mr . Wm . Bradley

(of the Soho Brewery , lately deceased) , up to the tim e thatrailways destroyed coaching . The arrival and departure ofcoaches runn ing between Leeds and London , and on variousother roads , made the neighbourhood of the Angel ” verylively .

WRAGG : Mr . Peceh kept the “ Angel for about thirtyyears . In running Opposition to other coach proprietors , hewas known not only to take person s to London for nothing ,but to give a bottle of wine into the bargain . He died in1809 . It was hi s predeces sor , Mr . Samuel Glanville , who setup the first stage to London ,

in 1760 , when pack-horses were

“ Autobiography o f the late Samuel Roberts .

100 SAMUEL GLANVILLE ’S COACHE S .

superseded . The following announcement , relating to Mr .Glanville ’s coaches , appeared in the S hefi eldPubli c Advert i ser, of November 4 th , 1760 , and it may in terest you :

“ Nov . 2 : Notice is hereby given , that the London , Leeds ,Wakefield , Chesterfield , Mansfield and Nottingham m achineson s teel springs , in four days , sets Off from the ‘ Swan withTwo Necks ,

’

inn,in Lad lane , London ,

and from the O ldKing’s Arms inn , in Leeds , every Monday and Wednesdaymorning , at five o

’clock ; breakfasts at the‘ Angel ’ inn , in

St . Alban ’s ; dines at the White Horse’

inn ,in Hockley ;

and lies at the Red L ion ,

’ at Northampton , the first night ;breakfasts at the Three Crown s ,

’

in Market Harboroughdines at the ‘ Bull’s Head ,

’

in Loughborough ; and lies atthe Crown ’

inn , in the Long Row, Nottingham , the secondnight ; breakfasts at the Swan ,

’ in Mansfield ; dines at theFalcon ,

’ in Chesterfield and lies at the Angel,’ in Shef

field , the third n ight ; breakfasts at the ‘White Bear ,’ in

Barns ley ; dines at the Coach and Horses ,’ in Wakefield ,

and lies at Leeds the fourth n ight . And from Leeds toLondon : Breakfasts at the Coach and Horses ,

’Wakefielddin es at the ‘White Bear ,

’ in Barns ley and lies in Sheffieldthe first night breakfasts at the Falcon ,

’ in Chesterfield ;dines at the Swan ,

’ in Mansfield and lies at the B lacka

moor’s Head ,’

in Nottingham , the second n ight ; breakfastsat the Bull ’s Head ,

’ in Loughborough ; dines at the ThreeCrown s ,

’

in Market Harborough and lies at the ‘Red L ion ,

’

in Northampton , the third n ight ; breakfasts at the‘ Sara

cen ’

s Head ,’ in Newport ; dines at the

‘ Angel ,’ in St . Al

ban s and lies in London the fourth n ight . Passengers andparcels are taken in at the above places . Two places reservedin each coach for Nottingham . Performed , if God permit , byJohn Handforth , Samuel Glanville , and Wm . Richardson .

TWISS Mr . Glanville died in 1803 , in the Duke of Norfolk’s Almshouse , at the age of 8 3 .

EVERARD : There is a very interesting memorial of himone of the few heirlooms Sheffield pos ses ses — in the Mayor’sParlour , at the Coun cil Hall . This i s his portrait, in crayon ,presen ted to the Mechan ics ’ L ibrary by Mr . B . Sayle , ofBrightside and ben eath it his history is thus givenSamuel Glanville , born at Exeter about the year 1720 ;

entered early into the army, and was present as a drumm erin the battle of Dettingen . He afterwards came with arecruiting party to Sheffield , and was billeted at the house ofMrs . Smith , in Church street ; married her, and afterwards

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02 ANGEL STREET .

for thirty years . He had been succeeded by William Peceh ,in the previou s year . Samuel Peceh i s credited with beingthe author of a large fund of shrewd sayings , and is the heroof many quaint anecdotes . Reproached once with havingbeen originally only a stable -boy , he m ade the scathingretort , If thou hadst been a stable -boy, thou

’

d be a stableboy still .JOHNSON : The last Sheffield mail coach

,the “ Halifax

Mail,

” performed the j ourney from London to Sheffield insixteen hours , arriving here at noon . After this was takenoff , a coach called the

“ Brillian t ” started about 5 a.m . ,

meeting the railroad at som e point , and reaching London in ,I believe , about twelve hours .

LEONARD : The s culptor , Ros s i , when a youth , lived withhis father , opposite the Angel ” inn . He executed thatAngel ,

”in terra cotta , which has been blowing so persi st

ently on her brazen trumpet all these years , without producing a sound .

Twi ss : In Angel street , too , was the druggist’

s shop ofMrs . Mary Handley , one of whose daughters became the wife ofMr . John Sterndale , surgeon ,who lived in Norfolk street , in thehouse n ow occupied by Miss Barry , dres sm aker . Mrs . Handley lived , before the Sorbys

’ tim e , in the old house on Spitalhill

,just beyond what was afterwards the Wicker Station

,

called in the m aps Hallcar . Mrs . Handley was succeeded inthe druggist’s shop in Angel street by Benj am in Ro se .

EVERARD : Amongst the earliest of the silver -plate manufacturers in the town , was the firm of Mes srs . Ashforth ,

E lli sand Co . , who se works were in Angel street , up the pas sageadjoining the shop now occupied by Mr . John Tasker , theworkshops extending so far back that some of the windowsoverlooked what was , at a subsequent time , the fish andvegetable market , situate between King street and Castlestreet . This company carried on an exten sive trade in variou sparts of the kingdom . They had an establishment in Paris ,in common with the celebrated Wedgwoods , of Staffordshire ,their s ilver-plated goods being exhibited in one window , and

the china and porcelain in the other . At the first FrenchRevolution

,the m ob broke into the shop , and des troyed or

stole what was valuable , from which they su stained a heavyle s s . About the beginn ing of the presen t. century, the premises in Angel street being found to be too small, the firmbuilt works at the top of Red hill .

THE SOUTH DEVON 3

WRAGG : Your mention of Mr . Tasker reminds me thatwe are indebted to the South Devon Militia for the presenceof his family amongst us . Mr . Leighton m en tioned the otherday one of the bitter rem embrances the Militia left behindthem ; suppo se we m ention some o f the sweet on es Theywere con s idered a very respectable clas s of men , no t like thegenerality of militia regim ents . They conducted themselveswith propriety , and made themselves generally useful wherethey were billeted . One of the officers , Captain Toll , married the daughter o f the Rev . Alex . Macken zie , of St . Paul

’s,

and so becam e pos s ess ed of the property at Sharrow-head ,which he held un til his death , when it was sold . His wife ,on her death-bed , advised him to m arry a friend of hers , andrecommended her friend to marry him . Many of the menfollowed his example by marrying Sheffield wom en ; andwhen the regiment was broken up, not a few returned and

settled in the town . The father Of Mr . John Tasker wasone ; and hi s brother , the father of Alderm an Tasker , wasanother . William Melluish , who was also one of them , i sthe only survivor . He worked for George Addy and Son , inPea croft , until their un fortunate failure .

LE IGHTON : The South Devon Militia came from thatbeautiful county , where all the men are brave , and all thewomen fair ,

” which produced the gallant sea kings , Drake ,Raleigh , Gilbert , Frobisher , Winter , and a host of othersrenowned in history . The commander , Colonel Laing , wasnot a popular man . He pronounced the word march asmairch ,

”and was so often reminded of it that , on one occa

sion , he sen t a file of his m en into the gallery of the theatreto bring one or two of the cu lprits out . This resulted in theregiment being ordered elsewhere .

TWISS : Speaking of the Rev . Mr . Macken zie , he hadhimself come into pos ses s ion of the Sharrow-head estatethrough marriage with the niece of Mr . Batty , the form erowner . You will rem ember that the narrow country lanesurrounded by garden s , now supplanted by the Cemeteryroad , was called Mackenzie Walk .

LEIGHTON : Mr . Macken zie was one of the six men in thetown , fifty years ago , who were above s ix feet high . Mr .Carver , who lived at the bottom of High street , was another .WRAGG : Mr . Hutchin son , the coachm aker , of Ladies

’

Walk (Porter street) , would , I believe , be a third . He wasso tall~ that he had a coach bu ilt expres s ly , with a recess forhis legs . Wat erfall , con stable , would , I think , be the fourth .

104 JOHN PYE-SMITH .

He had the largest foot of any man in Sheffield . I knew aperson who once put his own foo t , shoe and all , inside theconstable ’s shoe , and he could move it freely about ins ide . Icannot remember who the o ther two wou ld be .

EVERARD Mr . Holland , brother to the Doctor , certainlyone of the best -proportioned men in Sheffield, was of laterdate . He kept the Castle ” inn , at the top of Snig hilland Water lane .LEIGHTON : Bes ides being tall , Mr . Mackenzie was also

very strong . It is said that , on one occas ion , when paintingat hi s hou se , the workmen went away to seek as s istance inraising a ladder . When they got back, they found that Mr .Mackenzie had reared it him self.LEONARD In Angel street (now No . nearly opposite

the Angel ” inn , was the shop of John Smith , bookseller .He was a great dealer in old books but hi s misfortune as atradesman was , that he loved his books too well to sell them .

He was the father of Dr . John Pye -Smith , the celebratedNoncon form ist scholar and divine , who was brought up in hisfather’s place as a bookseller and bookbinder , but had such agreed for learning that , at an early age , he completed hiseducation at Rotherham College , under Dr . Williams , andthen becam e class ical and mathem atical tutor of HomertonCollege

,where he spen t m ore than fifty years of his life .

John Pye - Smith was one of the young friends of JamesMontgomery

, and edited the I r is for him when Mr . Mon tgomery was twice in prison for what were then called seditiou s libels . John Sm ith (de scribed by a gentleman stillliving , of the sam e surname— who sees a resemblance to himin one of his great -grandsons— as a tall , thin , grave man ,

wearing spectacles with a round horn rim) died in 1 8 10 , andwas succeeded in the busines s by his son - in - law, RobertLeader , who in 18 30 became proprietor and publisher of theIndependent . After occupying the shop in Angel street for22 years , Mr . Leader rem oved to High s treet to the shop nowNo . 41 .

TWIS S : John Pye -Sm ith , so called in m emory of hisgreat-un cle , the Rev . John Pye , m in ister of Nether Chapelfrom 1748 to 1773 , was born lower down , in Snig hill , on

premises we Shall come to presently , adjoining the Old BlackLion .

WRAGG : He was the m ost scholarly man Sheffield hasproduced . The preface to his Latin Grammar , published in18 14 , is a most masterly production .

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106 ANGEL STREET .

sister , are all interred at Hill top , Attercliffe . John , theeldest son of William Cawthorn , and uncle to the poet , wasthe first tenant of a farm in Shefli eld Park, where he planteda row of crab trees , and sold the verj uice to the medical menof Sheffield . There may perhap s be still som e old men

living who remember filling their pockets with the crabs .The last tree was taken down about fifty years ago .

TWISS : The Rev . James Cawthorn does not appear tohave held any living here . He is spoken of as a personwhose acquired knowledge is allowed to have been considerable but hi s literary talents , it is said , bore but an ins ign ifican t proportion to his moral excellence .WRAGG : I think we have almo st exhausted the interest

of Angel street— un les s we recall the more modern nam e ofMaugham , and are thereby rem inded of a shocking accidentwhich excited much comm iseration . Mr . Maugham , draper ,who occupied shop s here , one of which is now D ick

’

s shoeshop

,was driving into town one morning with hi s wife , from

Wads ley Park , when their horse took fright , and they wereboth thrown from the carriage and killed . This was on the10th of May , 1 848 .

TWISS : Although we have previously (p . 87) Spoken ofthe Post Office occupying , from 1845 to 18 5 0 , the s ite belowthat— in front of the O ld Bank— w e shou ld not omit to mention it here . The one - storied shops which now stand there ,occupy that Po st Office s it e , and before the Post Office thetriangu lar area was a vacant piece of ground , in front Of theBank

,fenced off by an iron railing .

NOTE . Mr . C . Ridal, m en tioned at pp . 87 and 101 , died at Liverpoo lon the 10th February , 1874, aged 80 .

CHAPTER VI .

SNIG HILL AND WESTBAR .

Present—Messrs TW I s s,LEIGHTON

,EV ERARD ,WRAGG

, LEONARDand JOHNSON .

Period— A .D. 1873 .

EONARD : In the space where Angel street , Snig hill ,Castle street , Bank street , and Water lan e converge ,

stood previously the Irish Cros s . We have Spoken of it before as having been removed—at least the shaft of it— intoParadise square .TWISS I have reason to believe that the Irish Cross stood

rather within , or at any rate on the confines of the triangulararea we mention ed when last together— in fact j ust where Mr .Dixon ’s shop now is

,at the corner of Angel street and Bank

street .LEONARD : Bank street was

,of course , unmade at that

time .

TWISS This locality posses ses a very interesting as sociation , as the s ite of one of Sheffield

’

s earliest printing offices .I prize highly a series of ballads

,or as they are called on

one of the title-pages ,“ all sort s of new songs and penny

histories ;” “ Printed by John Garnet

,at the Castle green

head , near the Irish Cross . They are not dated , but weknow from other sources that Garnet was there at any ratebetween the years 1736 , when he printed Cawthorn

’

s Perju red Lover

,

” mentioned before,and 1745 , when he printed a

Covenant agreed on by Nether Chapel .” He also is suedA new Historical Catechism

,by W . L . ,

S .P. , Theseballads of mine answer somewhat to our present street songs ,though more elaborate . They have such titles as theseThe Golden Bu ll, or the Crafty Princes s , in four parts ;The Irish Stroller’s Garland The Petticoat loose Garland “ The Extravagant Youth’s Garland .

” Others arereligious publications . The dates I have given , 1736 - 1745 ,are , you will remember , a few years earlier than the time(175 4) when Francis L ister had his printing office near theShambles or 175 5 , when Revel Hom fray had his Opposite to the Cook in the High street .”

See ante p . 78 .

108 WATER LANE HEAD.

LEIGHTON : On the Castle street side of Water lane , inpremises now destroyed for the erection of a new building , livedthe Stan iforths— father , son , and grandson . Both the latterwere distinguished surgeon s . Chantrey

,who was a great

friend of Mr . William Staniforth , of the middle generation ,had to adopt a ruse in order to obtain a portrait for the familyof the old gentleman ,

Mr . Samuel Staniforth . However , heproduced an excellen t likenes sfi"

WRAGG Mr . William Stan ifort h was considered the bestoperative surgeon and oculist in the town . Staniforth

’

s eyeointment” was very celebrated . Mr . Cheney, Mr . C . H .

Webb , and Mr . William Staniforth , senr . , were the firstInfirm ary surgeons , and Mr . William Staniforth , j unr . , became a colleagu e of his father in that official capacity, on Mr .Chen ey’s retirement in 1 812 . William Staniforth , the elder ,retired in 18 19 , and died , August 21 st , 1 833 , aged 83 years .There is amarble medallion of him in the Board-room of theInfirmary .

EVE RARD : He had a brother named Samuel , a linendraper , In Castle street— in the shop , I believe , afterwardslong occupied by Mr . Roebu ck , currier . He lived in thehous e adjoining the shop ; his brother , the surgeon , livingn ext door to him , nearer Water lane . When I rememberhim after hi s retirem ent from bus ines s , he was a tall, thin ,

and sedate old gentleman , wearing a white cravat , full-ruffledShirt fron t , and a tail . In the drapery bus in ess he would becoeval with Mr . V ennor , of High street . He spent a largeportion of h is time in cultivating the flowers and fruit s of hisgarden , which was a large piece of ground en closed withhigh brick walls , oppos ite Mr . Bailey

’s gates at Burn Greave ,in what was form erly Grimesthorpe road . He might often bemet in the summ er time in the Wicker

,walking home , s low

and stately , with a large bouquet of flowers,or a small

basket of fru it , in hi s hand .

LEIGHTON The Castle Inn still occupies it s old pos itionat the other corn er o f Water lane . O

’

B rien , the Irish Giant ,had rooms there and received Vis itors . He used to lighthis pipe in the streets by taking off the top of the lamps .Jo esy Eyre , the con stable , ins isted on en tering O’

B rien’

s

room without payment , by virtu e of his office , but when hewished to retire , O

’

B rien refused to allow him to do so ,un les s he paid , the alternative offered to him being an exitthrough the window . Fussy chose the more ignominious

3“ Hol land’s Memorials of Chantrey , p . 168 .

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110 SNIG HILL .

but at that time he was a partner in the firm of Bower andBacon , type-founders , in the Nursery, j ust by Messrs . Chadburn’s wheel , in what is now Nursery street . They were thefirst type -founders in Sheffield , and one of the earliest firms inthe provinces— at any rate , there was non e other at that timenearer than London . Mr . H . A . Bacon married the niece ofNeddy Furnis s ,

” the shoemaker in Westbar green , and

with her obtain ed a comfortable fortun e . Mrs . Bacon survived him , changed her name a second time to that of Briggs ,and is still living . One of her daughters married Mr . Atkinson ,

formerly a draper at the bottom of Angel street (nowMr . Hovey’s) , and the other Mr . Barlow, of Rawmarsh .

TWISS : We have now traced this newspaper to all it slocations —Snig hill , Angel street , High street (with Mulberry street) , corner of Bank street and Snig hill , and , lastly ,Bank street . SO that it has not wandered many hundredyards .

LEONARD : The premises standing near the bottom ofSnig hill, on the right , j u st before the street makes thegradual bend towards Newhall street , shame their neighboursby their antiquity . There we see again the gables , the smallwindows and inconvenient low rooms that used to be thecharacteristic s of Shefii eld architecture .

TWISS : You mean the house now divided in occupationbetween Mr . Jones , butcher, and Mr . Samuel Parker Hall ,cutlerLEONARD : Yes , and the narrow gable above which is a

fruiterer’s , between them being the lower premises of a hairdresser .

TWISS The house I Speak of is the last before the streetbends , and it must have a curious history , but I have notbeen able to get at it . There is a fine broad staircase goingright up to the top . There i s a tradition that it was once aninn— the Snigh or Snig , and hence the name . But you willsay— what is a Snigh or Sn ig " It is an old Saxon name forthe eel , and daring philologist s connect this with the waterat the bottom of Newhall street . Another derivation , youknow, attempts to connect the name with the steepness ofthe declivity , which necess itated the application of a snag orbrake to wheeled vehicles descending it .LE IGHTON : At the bottom of Snig hill , the uncle of

Jonathan Marshall used to keep an iron and steel shop . Heleft his nephew a good sum of money , with which he set upthe steel converting busines s in Millsands , and died enor

THE BROWN HOSPITAL . 1 1 1

mously rich . He and Benj amin Rose , the druggist , of Angelstreet

,were great compan ion s . They both had plenty of

money,but they walked to Doncaster races rather than hire

a horse . Marshall had frequen t los ses , for hardly anybodyever failed but he was a creditor . It didn ’t matter , however ,for he and the Walkers of Masbro

’ were the only people inthe steel trade , so they had it and all it s great profits tothemselves .

EVERARD : It was in the service of Jonathan Marshallthat the progenitor of the great firm of Thomas Firth and

Sons acquired that practical skill as a steel converter whichhe handed down to his son , and which was the chief cause ofthe first succes s of the firm . Hi s son bes ides being withMr . Marshall was , before he started in bus in es s for him self,with the Sanderson s .

LE IGHTON : Standing with its s ide to Newhall street andfacing Millsands is Hollis

’

s Ho spital , or , as it used common lyto be called , Brown Hospital , built on the Site of the firstDis senters ’ chapel in the town . It s history i s to be found inHunter’s Hallam shire ; but the inscription on the Newhallstreet- s ide , over a blocked up doorway , may be recorded here ,for although there seems to be no present pro spect of itsobliteration , when such things do disappear there i s no re

coveri ng themThis Hospital,

For s ixteen poor aged Inhabitan ts o f

Sheffield or w ithin two Miles round it ,And Schoo l for fifty children , w ere founded byThomas Ho llis , of Lon don , Cutler ,

1703 ,And further endow ed by h is Sons ,

Thomas Ho ll is , 1724 , and John Ho llis , 1726 ,And rebuilt more commodious ly by the Trustees ,

177

EVERARD : While almost everyt hing else round here haschanged , this building remains the same , clo s e to busythoroughfares , and yet , as it were , removed from them .

Stepping down here . on ly a few yards from the noisy street s,

has to some extent the effect of getting into a Cathedralclo se .

LEONARD At the bottom of Newhall street , are the office serected some years ago by Naylor , Vickers Co . They occupy the s ite of the Old horse dyke ,

” in which lads used tobathe and paddle , and where the street watering carts werefilled .

112 TOMMY HOTBREAD.

WRAGG : This part of Bridge street was called “ Underthe water” or T ’under watter ,

” and The Isle” was whereTennant’s brewery now stands . In Water lane , were sometroughs

,or rather a well—hence the 'name .

LEONARD : Was it not hereabouts that the celebrated adventure Of Tommy Hotbread took placeWRAGG Yes . Tommy Hotbread, took his name

from calling hot cakes , halfpenny rolls , on a morning.At that time

,sixty years ago , all the Spring-knife cutlers were

knock-kneed from being underfed , and had long arms from thepeculiar manner in which they worked ; but Tommy was worstof all

,and since he was a little feeble old man besides , it

was as .much as he could do to walk, let alone taking any oneinto custody .

’

Besides , he had an impediment in his speech .

One night he was fast asleep in his box , near Newhall street ,when some fellows leaving a public-house , carried it andTommy into the goit in Millsands . On Tommy awaking andobserving the water in it , he said , Be me thoul there’s athorm .

” He then cried out to his j okers , who were waitingto see the result , Athihtance , gentlemen ,

”and on discover

ing his true position he threatened , it is said , that if they didnot get him out he would take them into cuthdody.

LEONARD The story is told in several different forms andwith sundry variations . One account makes Tommy’s watchbox to have been n ear the Castle Inn , facing up Angel street .According to this version , the watchman did not wait to be inthe water before he awoke , but as he was being carried downSnig hill

,box and all , he roared out vigorously ,

“ If yo doan ’

t

thet me doan , o’le tak yo all up .

” The grinders , however,went straight a-head and placed the box in the middle of thehorse dyke , not the goit as Mr . Wragg said .

TWISS The version given in a note in Mr . John Wilson ’sedition of Mather is , that the j okers were a party of scissorgrinders who had been at a trade meeting at Mr . Hinchliffe’s ,the Greyhound , Gibraltar , and they, on peeping into the box ,

at the bottom of Sn ig hill , found Tommy asleep . One of themwent to borrow” a clothes line which some good womanhad left out at night , and with this cord they tied the watchman in his box and bore him off notwithstanding his shouts .This account agrees with Mr . Wragg in makin g the goit thescen e of the immersion . Mr .Wilson tells another practical j okethat was played onHotbreadby the workmen ofHoly,W ilkin sonand Co . , when he was selling fruit in Mulberry street . Theycalled to him out of the window for some apples , and made

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114 WESTBAR.

Queen street chapel school-room ; and subsequently in Queenstreet , oppo site the chapel .

EVERARD : It I s a little curious and very creditable thatsons of both Wild and Waterfall becam e bank managers .WRAGG : Tom Smith , whom I have nam ed, subsequently

kept the Blue B ear , in W estbar , and afterwards the RoyalOak

,King street . He accumu lated cons iderable wealth

,but

Hinchliffe , his s enior , a fellow constable and fellow publican

,the father of “ Jemmy Queer ,

”was not so su cces s

ful . He ended his days in the Shrewsbury Hospital . Hisfamily appears to have been in the scis sor trade for morethan a century , on e of them , Mr . Robert Hinchliffe , havingproduced the first pair of hand polished Scissors in 1761 .

L EONARD The story is that he was induced to attempt tomaktr them in order to ingratiate him self in the aff ection s ofthe fterwards became his wife .

mith and Hinchliffe were the proprietors ofthe en further on , from which the present streettakes it s name .LEIGHTON The Blue Boar had been Mr . Hagger’s house ,

with a coat of arm s over it , and Sm ith new -fronted it . Onthe s ide n earest Sn ig hill— now the three Shops betweenWoollen ’s and Raby’s , was a grand house , belonging to Mr .Norris— Sammy Norris he was called . There were stepsleading up to it , and the workshops of Norris , who was arazor maker , were up the yard behind . He was MasterCutler in 1777 . Norris had two son s and one daughter ,Catherine

,who married Richard Ince , a solicitor at W irk s

worth, of whom came the late Mr . T . N . In ce , of Wakefield .

The elder son of Mr . Norris married the daughter of theRev . James D ixon , vicar of Ecclesfield. The younger son ,

Thomas,became a clergym an , and was for some time chaplain

to the Forces , and died at Chelsea in 1816 .

WRAGG The case of old Mr . Norris was a very sad one .He traded to Germany , and one year , by great exertions , tookan unusually large stock of razors to Leips ic fair , expecting toreap the due reward of his efforts . Instead of customers tothe fair came the French invading army

,the city was fired ,

andMr .Norris , it was said , had to secrete him self In a pig stye .The disa ster ruin ed him , for notwithstanding the commiseration of his creditors and the public

,he never recovered his

former position . He died an inmate of the Shrewsbury Hospital , July l6th , 18 17 .

EARLY TRADE ADVENTURERS . 115

LEONARD : I have j ust a Shade of doubt whether it wasthe old gentleman or the son Thomas who went to Leip s ic ,for although afterwards a clergyman , the latter was at onetime in his father’s bus ines s . It is certain , however , that itwas the old man who died in the Shrewsbury Hospital .LEIGHTON : On the opposite side of W estbar , up a pas

sage,the father of the late Peter Frith began bus in es s as an

Optician, 70 years ago . He prospered , devoting himself more

to the fancy branches than his competitors , and saved a largesum of money . The father of old Mr . Oakes , the tobacconist , still living in W estbar three doors from the corner ofColson street , had a meal and flour shop on the same (south)S ide of the street , belonging to the late Benj . Withers

’

father . The rent was £9 per annum ; it has s ince been refronted and is now occupied by Mr . Barlow, saddler , and atobacconist , at a very much higher rental . At the corn er ofColson style was Mr . Den ton , grocer , of Fox hill . He wasbrother to the late William Denton , of Pit smoor .

LEONARD O ld Mr . Oakes , who has been mentioned , i s 86years ’ old , yet he relates that Westbar has not greatlyaltered in his lifetime . In the part of it nearest to Sn ig hill,the buildings are much the same , though most of the Shopshave been refronted .

LEONARD Westbar had the honour of producing the firstSheffield manufacturer who ventured to open direct busin es scommunication with London . The story is thus toldAbout the middle of the last century , Mr . Fox , ofWestbar

he who built the lofty houses near West court , in one ofwhich he afterwards lived , and Mr . Samuel Fowler in theother— was the first person to undertake a journ ey to London for the purpose of selling his wares . It was necessaryto go on foot , and before starting he made his will and gavea large farewell party to his friends . Nothing that his wifeor friends cou ld say to him could dissuade him from encoun

tering all the fatigue , hazard, and difficulty of the j ourney .

He started on foot , carrying his treasure on his back . Thefirst day he walked as far as Mansfield , where he rested forthe night . The next day he had to wait until a sufli cient

number of travellers met together to Venture acros s Nottingham forest , on account of the numerous robberies that werecommitted on travellers there , and also because of the intricacies of the road . He reached Nottingham in safety , andultimately he reached London , sold his goods to his sat isfaction , and obtained plenty of orders for more . His example

11 6 SPENCE BROUGHToN.

was soon followed by others , who went upon similar business ,but this is believed to have been the first instance of personalintercourse with the metropolis .

EVERARD : Business journeys must have been made toLondon earlier than that , though doubtless they would begreat and rare occasion s . An ancestor of my own , in thecutlery trade

,went up , I believe in the reign of Queen Anne ,

and I have a copper-plate , engraved by my great -grandfather,to perpetuate the memory of that event .WRAGG : In New street , lived Spence Broughton , who

was hung and gibbeted on Attercliffe Common in 1792 , forrobbing the mail-cart there . “ He was ,

” says Mr . Oakes ,who remembers , as a boy six years old, seeing the gibbet-postbeing made by a man named Gregory , in the Nursery , afine fellow, standing six feet high . The Sunday after hewas gibbeted , the road through Attercliff e was one mass ofpeople going to see the wretched spectacle . It seemed as ifeverybody from Sheffield and Rotherham and all around hadgone to Visit the scene .LEONARD There is none of the uncertainty which attaches

to Frank Fearn’s gibbet post in connection with the ultimatedestination of Spen ce Broughton ’s . A few years ago— inMay , 1867 , large crowds were attracted to the Yellow Lion ,in Clifton street , Attercliffe Common , to see an upright pieceo f solid black oak , 4ft . 6in . long and 18in . square , fixed inand pass ing through a massive framework , l0ft . long and 1ft .deep , firmly imbedded in the ground . The post was boltedto this latter . This relic was found by a person n amed Holroyd , while making excavation s for cellars Opposite the YellowL ion , and I suppose there can be no doubt that they were thesocket and lower part Of the gibbet -post put up in 1792 , theupper part having been cut away and removed some yearsbefore . I am not aware what became of them .

JOHNSON : The fragment of the post is still kept at theYellow L ion .

TWISS : It was Mr . Henry Sorby , of Woodburn , whotook down the gibbet when the land on which it was erectedbecame his property . His chief motive was to put a stop tothe injury done by trespassers visiting this relic of a barbarous custom . I suppose he must have cut it off instead oftaking it up out of the ground . The gibbet was depositedin his coach-house

,where I saw it . I am not clear what

afterwards became of the post,but I am under the impression

that it was used for a beam in a cottage , and that it was re

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118 WESTBAR.

dis sipation , through Vice and infamy , on thy part unchanged .

Ah , feel that I was to think friendship could exist but withvirtue .

Had I listened to the advice thou hast so often givenme , we had been a family respectable and respected , but it ispast . That advice hath been s lighted . I am doomed to anignominious death , and thou and my children ,

horrid thought "to infamy . To thee alone I trust the education of those illfated creatures

,whom I n ow more than ever love and weep

for . Warn them to avoid gaming of every description , thatbaneful Vice which has caused their father to be su spended, along and lasting spectacle to feed the eye of curios ity . Teachthem the ways of religion in their early years . Cause themto learn som e trade

,that bus in ess and tim e may occupy the

mind and leave no room for diss ipation . When seated roundyour winter’s fire , when the little innocent s inqu ire aftertheir unfortunate father

,tell them gaming was his ruin he

neglected all religious duties ; he never conversed with hisheart in solitude ; he stilled the upbraidings of conscience inthe company of the lewd and profl igat e , and i s hung on high ,a sad and dismal warn ing to after times . I see thee employed, while tears trickle down that face which I have so illdeserved .

“ Adieu , my E liza , adieu for ever , the morning appearsfor the last tim e to these sad eyes . Pleasan t would death beon a sick bed after my soul had made her peace with God .

With God I hope her peace is made . He is not a God of allterror , but a God of m ercy . On that mercy I rely , and onthe interpos ition of a Saviour . May my tears , my penitence ,and deep con trition be acceptable to that Almighty Being before whom I am Shortly to appear .

Adieu , my E liza , adieu , farewell the pen fall s from myhand and slumber overtakes me

,the next will be the Sleep of

death . Farew ell .Yours in love . SPENCE BROUGHTON .

TWISS : It is a touching letter and I see no reason todoubt it s authenticity .

WRAGG : There used to be some little shop s at the bottom of New street, which have been rebuilt . A greatguinea buyer lived at the bottom of that street . He let inWalker’s bank for a large amount , and as that was followedby the burn ing down of the cotton mill it was a bad year forthem . At the top of Hicks ’ lane was Wilkinson , a toothdrawer . A miser named Smith lived near, the beginning of

DR. GEORGE CALVERT HOLLAND . 1 19

whose wealth was receiving compensation for a boy who waskilled in a coalpit . In North street was , 70 years ago ,Daniel Hemming , who worked for Spurrs the cutlers . Hewas the first man who invented oval Shields for pen -knifehandles .JOHNSON : New street boasted the possession of one of

the town pumps it still stands in the bend , up the street .WRAGG On a part of the site of the Surrey Music Hall

(still standing in the ru in caused by the fire in 186 5 ) wasthe uncle of the late Dr . G . C . Holland . To his trade theDoctor was at first brought up

,and as a youth he might be

seen there making wigs .

EVERARD : George Calvert Holland was too remarkablea man to be passed over with a mere mention o f that kind .

The perseverance which enabled him to triumph over thedisadvantages of a lowly origin , the scholarship which hesnatched by his own hard industry , the romantic thoughpainful vicissitudes of his life , and his gen ial personalpresence alike poin t to him as an illustrious figure in thehistory of Shefli eld during the earlier half of the presentcentury . I do not know that his physical bearing can bebetter hit off than in the appreciative biographical sketchwhich appeared in the Independen t at the tim e of his deathMarch , 1 865 . I should just like to read these sentencesfrom among others :

The graceful courtesy of the man , the courtly kindliness of his greeting , and his n ever- failing refinement ofthought , expression , and bearing marked him wherever hewas as one who

,despite his humble lin eage , had received from

Nature herself, and under her own hand and seal, the patent

of a gentleman . His great acquirem ents as a scholar wereborne without any of the scholar

’s pedantry . His arduouslabours as an author , whose works are characterized by rareoriginality of thought

,did not import into his manners any

tain t of the literary churl . Reverses of fortune that wouldhave crushed a man of les s powerful and les s active intellecthad no power either to crush or to sour him . His philosophio spirit stood by him through his declin ing health andruined fortunes . The sentient marble of which he wasmoulded was of all too fine a grain to receive any stain fromextrinsic surroundings

,and when his duties as a public man

called him to sit in an assembly notorious for the irri tatingacrimony and offensive coarseness in which some of its members indulged

, his unruffiedurbanity and unaffected elegance

120 DR. HOLLAND .

never failed to exhibit him in admirable relief as one whocould better brook insult than brook the idea that any wordor action of his should be unworthy of a gentleman and ascholar . When circumstances were against him he ro sesuperior to circumstances . Those even whose acquaintancewith him was of the slightest

,will think of him with most

respectful regret . His full grey eye , and thin intellectualface that spoke , before his tongue could speak it , a cordialgreeting , will live in the memory of hundreds who wereprivileged with hi s acquain tance , and who felt in his societythat when a man is moulded and tempered and endowed likehim , the advantages of worldly circumstances are but as thetin selled rags which the super

‘Stitiou s hang upon the imagesof the saints in a misjudged at tempt to do them honour .”

LE IGHTON That i s an admirable description of the man .

I should like much to have my remembrance of the otherparts of that notice revived .

EVERARD Mr . Leonard showed it to me and I doubt nothe will read it to us .LEONARD I will chiefly give you those parts which

sketch Dr . Holland’s personal history Holland was bornat Pit smoor Sixty—four years ago (this , you will remember ,was written in when Pit smoor was an outlyinghamlet , and salmon were speared in the then clear watersof the Don . His father, a sawmaker, working with Kenyonand Co . , gave the boy a fair education . The lad was not precociou s . He was , happily for hi s future distinction , a childdelighting in boyish sports , and manifesting no Special aptitude either for learning or books . Nobody suspected him ofsuperior ability , nor did he suspect it himself. At an earlyage he was apprenticed to an uncle , whose humble but honestbusiness we need not indicate ; suffice it to mention that itwas a business of small profits and quick returns , and onewhich gave young Holland a fine opportunity for the study ofphysiognomy and for observing the remarkable variety whichexists in the s ize and formation of human heads . In theolden times the perruquier was often a little of the surgeon—in modern times even he sometimes lapses into the ancienttrade— and the boy who was to become an accomplishedphysician , made his first approach to the profession throughthe antique gateway . At Sixteen an accident led him to testhis mental powers . One Sunday morning he was taking awalk wi th a companion , who told him he had composed ahymn , and who read the verses to him for the purpose of oh

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122 WESTBAR .

pare him self for taking his degree as Doctor of Medicine , andto Edinburgh he went . He spent three years in that city ,making great progress in his studies , and becoming ao

quain t ed with and esteem ed by the most rising men of theUn iversity . From the modern Athens he removed to Paris ,where he diligen tly pursued his studies in anatomy , physiology , and pathology . Sen s ible of his vantage as a man ofletters

,he presen ted him s elf in Paris before the exam iners

for the degree of Bachelor of Letters , and was personally exam ined by the em inen t Guizot , who bestowed on him Specialpraise for his intimate acqu aintan ce with the clas sics . Afterspending a year in Paris he returned to Edinburgh , where hecompleted his studies , and Obtained his diplom a as M .D .

with great e’clat . He then commenced practice in Man chester ,became an active member of the learn ed bodies in that city ,and made many friend s am ong men of scientific and literaryemin ence . We have thu s traced the sawmaker

’

s son fromthe school to the shop— from the Shop to the study— andfrom the study to the exam ination in which he earn ed the applau s e of the gifted profes sors Of the Sorbonne , and we mustnow briefly sketch his profes sional life .

“ Young G . C .Holland, now M .D . and Bachelor of Letters ,did not remain long in Manchester . His youthful suscept ibility was wounded by a malignant allus ion in one of thelocal papers to hi s humble antecedents , and he moved for awhile to Edinburgh , where he pursued his experim ents and

researches for his first physiological work ,‘An Experimental

Inquiry into the Laws of L ife .

’ After comm itting this importan t work to the pres s , he cam e to Sheffield , and com

menced practising in his native town . The flattering reception h is book met with in the medical reviews and the publicpres s raised him in the estimation of his town sm en

,and in

the course of a few years his practice brought him in about£ 1400 a year . During this tim e he was elected one of thephys icians to the Infirmary

— often lectured before the members of the Mechan ics ’ In stitution—was an active member ofthe Philo sophical Society , and becam e its president . At thefirst borough election he was chairman for Mr . T . A . Wardand at the second borough election he appeared on the hustings for Mr . S . Bailey , that gentleman having personallydeclin ed to contest the borough again . On all these occasion s Dr . Holland displayed great activity of mind and oftenro se to a pitch of eloquence which surprised his contemporaries , and threw their oratorical efforts into the Shade .

DR. G . C . HOLLAND . 3

During the agitation for the repeal of the Corn Laws theDoctor made the s erious mistake of j oining the Protectionists .He became one of the lecturers , and had a discussion withMr . Ackland, in the Theatre of this town . He had also adiscussion with the veteran Free -trader , Mr . William Ibbotson , in the same place . This erratic course alienated theDoctor from many of his old friends , but the farmers aroundDon caster acknowledged hi s brillian t servi ces by presentinghim with a purse contain ing 5 00 guineas .

When the railway specu lation comm en ced in 1843 theDoctor went into it with all the spirit of hi s sanguine nature ,and with cons iderable su ccess . He was chairm an of s everalcompan ie s , and a director of many more . He was also adirector in the Sheffield and Retford Bank , and of another atLeeds . Unlike some other Speculators , he held h is stock toolong . The crash came , and with it a writ from the Londonand Westm inster Bank for He had then given uphi s practice , and was living at Wadsley Hall in the style of acountry gen tlem an . He was driven into bankruptcy , andretired to a small cottage n ear Worksop un til hi s affairs weresettled . There

,in poverty and dis tres s , he wrote hi s

‘Philosophy of An imated Nature ,

’ a work which he always considered as his best . He then tried his fortune in themetropolis , and, although a gen tleman in m ann ers , an authorwhose works had received the highest complimen ts from thehighest authorities on the qu estion s of which he had treated ,he was lost in the modern Babylon , and , mortified at hi s illsuccess , he returned to Sheffield in 18 5 1 . On his return tohi s n ative town

,it told against him that he countenanced and

partially practised homoeopathy . Homoeopathy was heresy,and the orthodox in medicine

,like the orthodox in divin ity ,

look coldly on the heretically wicked . Indeed it is to be fearedthat an independence of mind which would not permit itselfto be trammelled by routin e , and a temperam ent which re

tained to the last the specu lative and sanguine cast of hisyouth , did much to impede that practical recognition to whichhis extensive attainment s and brillian t natural powers en

titled him . Indeed a shade of sadness comes over u s when wethink of how much he has don e for his age and how little theage has done for him We can count our doctors by the thousand , but when we are called upon to bury the author of ThePhilosophy of An imated Nature ,

’ we are reminded that menso amiable , so learned , so gifted , and so pass ionately fond ofcurious research are public benefactors whose thoughts do not

124 THE MELLON FAMILY .

perish with them , and whose labours entitle them to be regarded as the philanthropists who bequeath to the worldnot silver and go ld indeed, but the mature fruits of the int ellect with which they were endowed . Dr . G . Calvert Holland , formerly President of the Hunterian and Royal PhysicalSocieties

,Edinburgh , Bachelor of Letters of the University

of Paris , author of An Experimental Inquiry into the Lawsof L ife ,

’ Inquiry into the Prin ciples and Practice ofMedicine , The Physiology of the L iver and Spleen

,

’

The

Vital Statistics of Sheffield,’ The Philosophy of the Moving

Powers of the Blood ,’ The Philo sophy of Animated Nature ,

’

and a little library of other works of the same high clas s ,was no ordin ary man . His address was worthy of hisappearan ce , his bearing became his reputation , his reputationrealized more than cou ld even have been anticipated from hisyouthful promise , and the on ly thing to be regretted is , thatwhen laden with honou rs and with years he did not reap agreater material reward .

”

LEIGHTON Thank you , I have enjoyed that much , for iti s all very true .WRAGG : Robert Holland , the sawmaker , became at a late

period of his life , after the m ann er of so many Sheffieldart iz ans , the landlord of the Blue Boar , which has alreadybeen mention ed . George Holland

,his brother

,built the

property at the top of Hicks lan e .JOHNSON : In Hicks lane , lived a family that for several

reasons must be noticed— the Mellon s . Michael Mellon ,

the chimney sweeper, was well known ; his grandson , Henry

Mellon , gave us a remarkable in stance of a selfmade man ;while the rom antic story of one of the family becoming raisedto the peerage as Duches s of St . Alban s is too good to belost . Mr . Holland’i‘ tells us that he was unable to remember the street in which Michael Mellon ’s rhyming invitation to customers was hung out on a swinging s ign-board ,but he fan cied it was True Love ’s Gutter . Whether Mellonever lived there or not he was certain ly a t one tim e acharacter in W estbar , with his bow-legs and his habit sof insobriety , living , as I have said , in Hicks lane . Thegraveston e in the Churchyard , which Mr . Holland mention s ,i s over his wife Sarah , who died the 6th October , 1807 ,aged 42 . There is some little vaguenes s as t o the relat ion sh ip of Harriet , the actres s , who is said to have risenso high in the world , to this chimney-sweep , bu t the proba

Our Old Churchyard,” p . 18 .

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126 THE REV. HENRY MELLON.

EVERARD It seems to me that Henry Mellon’s career hassomething in it much worthier of family pride than this illmatched alliance with the aristocracy , and this relative whowould n ever acknowledge the pit from which she was digged

,

nor lend a helping hand t o tho se who were still flounderingin it . But Henry Mellon did without her , though her persistent refusal to notice his application for the help necessary toobtain a university train ing was a great disappointm ent to him .

TWIS S That he su cceeded by self-help is all the more tohis credit , and adds another to the emin ent pupils who haveconferred honour upon the Sheffield Boys ’ Charity School .

EVERARD : The source of the following sketch of Hen ryMellon ’s career I have already acknowledged . Mr . Colliertells us that Michael , the wit and public character , begat John ,and John , a good steady man , who followed his father

’strade

,

” begat Henry in 1 8 18 . His father dying early,the

boy was placed in the Charity School . His studiou snes s andlove of learn ing m ade its m ark, and he became the head boy .

He was , on leaving , appren ticed as S ilversm ith to Mr . Samu elRoberts , the great patron o f that school , but during hisapprenticeship he showed a strong ecclesiastical bent , teachingin Garden street Sunday School , and help ing the clergymenat the Parish Church at the Sunday afternoon baptism s .What was of more importan ce , he studious ly increased theknowledge already acqu ired , devoted himself to Hebrew , and

ran sacked the Mechan ic s’ L ibrary for works on poetry and

history . Ultimately he became a studen t at the Chu rchMis s ionary College , Is lington ; pas s ed through the cou rse withdiligen ce , and was ordain ed by the Bishop of London after acreditable exam ination . What a strange tran sformation ina few years ,

”says Mr . Collier a chimney sweeper’s child

— a poor charity boy , with his yellow stockings and leatherbreeches— an apprentice boy , with an apron tied round hiswaist— now the accomplished Rev . Henry Mellon . He wasin every way worthy of his po s ition . With an Open

,ruddy

countenance , and a clear brow, he had a voice of fair compas s ,a graceful bearing , an entire absence of patois in his Speech

,

an unas sum ing m anner , and rem arkable powers of conversation . I shall n ever forget when b e occupied the pu lpit in thechurch where he had sat as a charity boy , and where I heardhis first sermon in his native town . Thos e who kn ew him as aboy

, and many su ch were present , could hardly realise in thegracefu l preacher the poor lad born in the depths of obscurityand poverty .

” After a brief mis sionary career in India,where

WE STBAR WORTHIES . 127

he lost his wife,the Rev . Henry Mellon returned to England

,

held curacies in Cornwall and Oxford , and even tually s ettledat Wads ley .

“ Poor fellow " Hi s day was soon over . Hi s

sun set early . He died in his 32nd year and wasburied in the churchyard of Wads ley . I have om itted Mr .Collier’s estimate of his characteris tic s as a preacher , and thedescription of his keen appreciation of nature , since the workin which these occu r is readily acces sible .WRAGG : It is hardy n eedful , I suppose , to recall the old

Workhous e , standing out between the bottom of the croft orlane to which it gave a name , and Silver street . Yet oneought not to pass over that old and familiar landm ark Of byegone days , any more than we shou ld om it to Shed a tear insympathy with the adjacen t pump , bereft Of all it s utility , except as a preaching rostrum .

J OHNSON : It was put up by the Town Trustees , whowisely purchased the S ite of the old workhouse , to keep theSpace open .

WRAGG : “ Neddy Furniss was a Westbar worthy . Hewas a prosperou s Shoemaker , who left hi s property to hisn iece

,already Spoken of as the wife of Mr . H . A . Bacon ,

of Snig hill .LEONARD Near Furn i ss ’s shop was a celebrated garden er ,

named Thomas Burgin , who died in 18 19 .

WRAGG : He was , I believe , the father of the late Mr .

William Burgin , the gardener , whose shop stood on the s iteof Mr . Sharman’s grocery Shop at the top of Corporationstreet . His was the garden n ear Brights ide Vestry Hall , andhis the orchard in Harvest lane that was such a grand sightwhen its fruit trees were in blos som . The Burgins were afamily of garden ers . I have coun ted as many as four ofthem in the D i rectory published 1828 . On e of the bu ildingsdestroyed in making Corporation street was the shop of thelate Mr . John Gaunt , grocer . On his retirement from bu s iness he removed to Darnall . He gave the S ite of St . Jude’sChurch , and afterwards paid largely towards it s erection . Hewas from the n eighbourhood of Pen iston e— I think Denby ,where there are now some of the family . It is said one of theGaunts at Denby can show the family descent from John ofGaunt

,Duke of Lan caster . Mr . Joseph Gaunt , the scale

cutter , of Pea croft , is a cous in of the late grocer , and I wouldalso add , the Gaunts of Leeds , are of the same fam ily .

JOHNSON : There are many other nam es well known inSheffield that might be men tioned in connection with West

128 WESTBAR.

bar,though this would bring us to times more recent than

we profess to take cognizance of. There was Mr . JohnTurton , the surgeon (see p . John Spink , the pawnbroker ,who

,marrying the niece of the owner of the property , turned

Benj amin Fox ou t of the Shop where the ru ined Casino nows tands Benj amin Sm ilt er , father of the present HighBailiff ; Fran cis Cluley, the earliest surgical in strumentmaker

,who was next door to the O ld Tankard,

” removingthen ce to Surrey street .WRAGG The Old Tankard , by the way , was once kept

by Jonathan Moore , one of the subj ect s of Mather’s virulent

son s .

gI‘

WISS And it i s pertinent to the locality to remark thatMather himself i s said to have been born about the year1737 , in Cack Alley , a passage or

“

jennel” leading from

We stbar green to Lambert street .LEONARD The hou se of Mr . Popplewell , currier , clo se to

the Old Tankard , bears date 1794 .

JOHNSON Then there was William Marshall,ironmonger

and paper dealer , on the S ite of the Surrey Vaults,at the

head of Workhouse lane ; the D ickensons and the Spurrs ,connected by marriage

“

with the Mellon s ChristopherMarshall , the pawnbroker George Shallcro s s , the miller , solong and honourably as sociated with Red Hill Sunday school .These and many others might be dwelt on were it not goingtoo far ou t of the record .

LEIGHTON You are all familiar with the palisaded houseat the bottom of Lambert street , now occupied by Mr . Watts ,clasp manufacturer— a busines s carried on there for manyyears . Long ago it was the res idence of Capt . Chisholm .

The workshops behind have been long used by coffin makers ,and there is a story of an escaped debtor from Scotlan d streetgaol finding secure refuge in one of those ghastly structures .And this reminds me of other whim sicalitie s of the neighbourhood— of the old lady living at the top of Bower spring ,who had such a mania for storing farthings , that after herdeath they were found hidden about the house in barrowsfull ; or of

“ Sally Platt s ,” the robu st gardener’s wife of 1 6

stone weight and 87 years of age , who began life as the on lysurvivor of ten childr en produ ced at one birth , and who wascurrently reported to have been pu t into a quart pot in thosedays Of innocent infancy . The name of her mother whoachieved the feat of ten children at a birth was Ann Birch .

Then there was Molly Revill, the celebrated oat-cake maker,

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130 WESTBAR .

in -law let it Slip , and it was sold to Thomas Gatley, the sonof a gardener at Attercliffe who had kept one of the stall son the King street S ide of the market . Young Gatley washims elf apprenticed to Isaac Deakin , penblade maker (sonin - law of George Merrill , fork maker , Harvest lan e) , andafterwards had a scrap shop in Gibraltar street , near TheCherry Tree .” Then he was at the bottom of Furn ace hill ,late Mr . Jo shu a Wortley

’

s . Having acquired money hebought Gaunt’s busines s , and subsequently sold it to Mr .Wm . Jackson , Sheaf Is land Works . He acquired much ofthe property about here . L ike so many other worthies whomwe have had to notice , Mr . Gatley was connected with Queenstreet chapelm unt il 1834, when he seceded and was the meansof establishing Mount Z ion chapel , the congregation of whichmet in a room over a shop in Carver lane while the chapelwas building .

LEIGHTON : Furnace hill was formerly called “t’ Cock

Tail I haven’t the remotest notion why . The Cock Taillady was celebrated by Mather and B u ck Hathard,

”

the son of a tailor , was also one of the “ characters” itproduced . Mr . Peceh , a scis sor manufacturer here , was thefather - in - law of Henry Steel , who has made him self a n ameamong the frequenters of the turf, and t ’ Cocktail” had thehonour of contributing a soldier to the Life Guards in theperson of Samuel Wragg , who , and his son as well , was acutler here .

WRAGG : The Quaker family , the B roadheads , have beenassociated with Westbar and the n eighbourhood throughoutthe present century . Mr . John Broadhead , then a maltster ,was in Scotland street , next door to the chapel . Then hecam e to the bottom of Furnace hill , subsequ ently cross ing tothe other side of W estbar , where the grocer

’

s Shop has beenever s in ce . Mr . John Broadhead died in 1838 . It is a littlesingular that not on ly did hi s son Alfred succeed to his owngrocery business , but that four of his five daughters marriedgrocers .

JOHNSON : Two trade notes may be made here . One isthat fram e polishing” may be said to have had its birth inFurnace hill— that is polishing spring knives without the aidof steam or water power . It was originated by Mark Blackwell (landlord of The Grapes”) and his brother George , byway of res isting a strike of the grinders . And it succeededtoo . The other is that the first nail cu t in Sheffield is saidto have been made down the yard by the Dog and Part

THE ANDREWS AND DONCASTERS . 131

ridge,the old public-house almost opposite to the bottom of

the hill .WRAGG : The Andrew family is closely identified with this

locality . O ld Joseph Andrew was a prosperous grocer andtallow chandler in Furnace hill before this century began .

Three of his son s , Isaac , Matthew and Jo seph , were grocers ,the first -n amed in Westbar at the corner of Hicks lane , thesecond in Charles street , and the third , first (1825 ) in Paradise square and afterwards (1833) in W estbar green . Twoother sons , twins , were William Henry and Albert George .They succeeded to the bu s ines s of Mes srs . George Butlerand Co . , Spring kn ife cu tlers , in Trin ity street , which was afterwards removed to Trin ity works , Eyre street , the old premisesbecom ing Mr . Longden ’s foundry . Isaac Andrew was , in hislater years , blind . His brother Joseph was the father ofJohn Henry Andrew, steel m anufacturer , a m ember of thepresent Corporation , and of Mrs . Crowther , Fargat e . TheButlers employed a larger number of men than any otherhouse in the trade when the statements” of 1 8 10 and 18 14

were made .TWISS Towards the end of the last century all these

street s running up the hill were thickly occupied by manufacturers . A familiar n am e among them i s that of DanielDoncaster , who , in 1787 , was a filesmith in Copper street .In 18 17 he was carrying on the sam e busin es s in Allen street ,while in 1821 the names of William and John take the placeof that of Dan iel , and in 1 828 William alone . Then , in 1833another Dan iel had j oin ed William ,

and in 1841 he carried onthe bu sin ess alon e in Don caster street and Copper street , andcontinued to do so un til j oin ed by his son s . It is said thatDan iel Doncaster the elder bought a field oppos ite his Allenstreet works for a sum far below what one year’s ground rentsnow amoun t to ; while you are no doubt aware that DanielDoncaster the younger married the daughter of him whoowned so much property in that neighbourhood that his name ,Allen , was given to the street .WRAGG : In Cross Smithfield was established , somewhere

about the m iddle of last century , the bu s in ess now carried onin Sycamore street by Mr . Thomas Wilson , the grandson ofit s founder . The germs of the bu s ines s seem to have been laidby old ThomasWilson at Ran Moor or Hallam . He was oneof the en terprising men who first saw the po ss ibility of di s

pensing with factors and of open ing up connection s of hisown without the intervention of a middle -man . Determining

132 THOMAS WILSON.-EBENE Z ER ELLIOTT .

to offer his kn ives— shoemakers’ and butchers’ - for sale himself, he packed up his goods and took them on his back intoLancashire . Wherever he sold any knives , he told the purchasers he should come again at a fixed period of tim e , andif the article did not suit he wou ld return the money . Onhis next j ourney he had no complaints , but so much greaterdemand that some of the retail shops would have purchasedthe whole of his stock , but he kept to hi s prom i se to theothers . He readily sold all he had taken ,

and soon returnedhome to manufacture more goods with which to complete hisj ourn ey . This was the first tim e that the trade mark of theFour Peppercorn s and a Diamond with the name Wilson”

went into the market now it i s a guarantee of good qualityin all the countries of the world .

LEIGHTON : Steadfast to their old localities in Snow hillare Richard Groves dc Son s , perhaps the oldest saw manufac

turers in the town . Mr . Groves , the grandfather of thepresen t firm , always had an open Bible before him on hiswork-board .

JOHNSON A very old workman for that firm was thefather of the late Mr . Hebblethwaite , who survived his sonand lived to a great age .

LEONARD Talking of saw-makers reminds me that Spearand Jackson were in Gibraltar street— a few doors on the townside of the Old Lan casterian schools— before they went intoSaville street .

EVERARD : All book-worms will remember that favouriteresort ju st by

— Mr . Joseph Pearce’s book Shop . At one timeit was on the premises now occupied by John Garts ide E lliott,a son of Eben ezer E lliott , the druggis t , who is famed for hisprescription s for children ’s disorders . Afterwards Mr . Pearcewen t into the Shop which i s now Hardy’s furniture store .LEONARD The name of Ebenezer E lliott calls up remem

brances of those days when he occupied the steel warehousebetween the bottom of Snow hill and Trinity street . It wasin 1833 that E lliott came to Gibraltar street , removing fromBurges s street , where he had been in bus ines s as an iron andsteel merchant since 1821 . While here he built himself ahou se at Upperthorpe . In 1 8 37 , a commercial revuls ionbegan

,and E lliott used to say that he ought to have retired

from bus ines s then , as he on ce in tended . But being afraidof leading an idle life , which being interpreted

,

” said he ,mean s my unwillingness to resign the profits of bus ines s ,

”

he waited for the crash and “ lost fully one-third of his

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134 BENJAMIN GARTSIDE ELLIOTT .

EVERARD : That last reference is to a nervous temperament and body- con suming sensibilities which E lliott himself always said he derived from his mother , whose life wasa continuous disease .”

LEIGHTON DO you remember the particulars of Benj aminE lliott’s deathLEONARD It occu rred in December , 18 67 E leven years

previously , on the death of his aunt Garts ide , who left himher property , he gave up bu s ines s and wen t to live in herhouse at Shiregreen— as charming a country retreat as couldbe desired . But it would seem his so litary life at the steelwarehouse , where he had lived entirely by himself, had engendered in him misanthropic habits which he could not shakeoff— pos s ibly he had no dispos ition to t ry. The garden was

entirely neglected . Little by little every vestage of glas sdisappeared from the windows , the shutters were kept con

s tantly closed , and Mr . E lliott lived in a small kitchen at theb ack , hi s on ly compan ion being a dog . H is milk and otherneces saries wet e handed in to him at the door , which heOpen ed no further than to admit them . On two mornings inthe win ter of the year I have named , the door never openedfor the reception of the milk

,and on the night of the second

the place w as forced open , and there the recluse was found ,stark and stiff, under the Sinkstone , dres sed on ly partially introusers and shirt , his boots un laced and without stockings .The room was covered in all direction s with papers andm em oranda . His seat had been a cast iron chair , h i s bed a sofa .

An Old printing pres s , som e old arms , crockery , tools and

other articles were strewn around in adm ired confus ion , whileon the mantelpiece was a mem orandum ,

That the Greekswere an in tellectual but not a polite nation . Near thecouch was a copy of Mrs . Shelley’s Frankenstein , so wornas to lead to the supposition that its gloomy fan cies had beencongen ial to him . The other part of the ho iI se , with itsbooks , it s furniture and i t s paintings , was in good order andcondition . It is said that Benj amin E lliott bore a strong resemblan ce to his celebrated father

,and he had the reputation

among his friends of being a man of superior attainmentsand some cultivation . Formerly he had been a contributor ofboth prose and poetry to a serial publication . An Old friendwho Visited him a few months before his death , and whoexcited intense amazement among the neighbours by obtaining, after some delay , admiss ion to the house , wrote : If Ihad seen poor Ben in a forest I should have taken him to be

THE WATER-HOUSE , ALLEN LANE . 135

a wild man— his hair and beard I should say had not comein contact with comb and scis sors for years his apparel wasa pair of very shabby trous ers , destitute of button s and

fastened with twine , and a coloured woollen shirt . He wereno coat or waistcoat . I stayed with him a little over an hour

,

and was much surprised at his cheerful and j ocular conversation . He told me many anecdotes of h is father , such as howhe thrashed a certain reverend gentleman who insulted h imin his office in Gibraltar street , &c . I asked him how hepassed his tim e He replied , chiefly in m editation , as hiseyes were so bad he could not com fortably either read or wr i tefor long together . I told him I thought he w as doing verywrong , both to him self and other s , to shut him self fromsociety in the way he did . He replied he was quite happyand comfortable , and he wished people to let him alon e .” Ishould add that he was sometimes heard humming cheerfu lairs or singing Au ld Lang Sync , and that he had n ot

altogether lo st in terest in the affairs of the outer world , s in cehe was a regu lar reader of newspapers , and he had journ eyedto Sheffield at the coun ty election of 18 6 5 to vote for Miltonand Beaumont .LEIGHTON : The old Lan casterian s chool— before that a

riding s chool , as it s rough in terior will en able you readily tobelieve— has broken ou t into Shops S ince the new schoolswere built in Bowling green street . Some seventy or eightyyears ago , or SO , that building and the Water -house” at thebottom of Allen lan e , where the Burkin shaws were accu st omed to pres ide over the sale of water by the bucketfu l ,were the extremity of the town in this direction . On thepremises las t mentioned , the wooden water pipes , which mayoccas ionally be seen when the Company i s m aking repairs ,were bored by hand . Som e of them were taken up fromBroad lan e on ly a Short tim e ago .

JOHNSON That property was sold by the Duke of Norfolkto Mr . Mat thewrn an and the original proprietors of the WaterCompany , and it was in their po s ses s ion in 1 741 . It wasafterwards sold to Lawyer Hoyle , and then to it s presen t occupier , Mr . Laycock .

LEONARD : We have been travers ing W estbar and thestreets which run down the hill to the left , and have necessarily had to leave , for the time being , the district on theright , which includes Spring street and other places productive of much old-world gossip . Suppose

,therefore , we now

turn back to that "

136 THE BAILEYS .

WRAGG : A prominent firm in Spring street was that of theBaileys . The late Mr . Samuel Bailey’s father , Mr . JosephBailey, carried on business at the top of Workhouse lane , nowthe Surrey Vaults .

LEONARD : Suppose we go further back still— to the timeof Mr . Samuel Bailey’s grandfather—Matthias Bailey , whomarried E lizabeth Wood

,at Ecclesfield, on Christm as day ,

1733 , and who , for many years aft erwards lived at Masbro’

,

and was employed in some respon s ible capacity in the worksof the Messrs . Walker of that town .

“ They were” it hasbeen written “ plain , hon est , hardworking people ; theirlasses went out to service , and the lad Joseph was put apprentice to a scis sor- smith . When he had served his tim e hecommenced business in Sands pavours , in Bow street , afterwards removed to the premises in Workhou se lane , andfinally built the works in Spring street , the firm being thenBailey, Eadon and Bailey , factors and m erchants .

” JosephBailey m arried Mary

,the daughter of old John Eadon , of the

Free Wr iting School , and Samu el Bailey was their youngestchild . The Eadon in the firm was John , the elder son ofthe same John Eadon ,

and was consequently Joseph Bailey’sbrother-in - law .

WRAGG The Spring street premises of the Baileys wereat the corn er of Love street . Spring street

,on ce called Brick

lane took it s nam e from a well in Bailey’s yard,

and people u sed to fetch the water to boil green s , &c . , asthere was believed to be non e like it . From little to moreJoseph Bailey increased in wealth , built Burn Greave , and inthe year 1801 was Master Cutler . He was one of the firstmerchants in Sheffield who traded with Am erica . By thrift ,economy , and industry , he amassed a fortune , which , withgood u s ing , has enabled hi s youngest son to leaveto hi s native town . It is not neces sary to dwell on that son’sachievements as a philosophical writer .LEIGHTON Nor on his poetic effu sion sEVERARD How Samuel Bailey a poetLEONARD : There is very good reason for believing that

he was the author of Maro , an anonymous poem publishedby Longmans , in 1845 . It is a satire in verse , for it canhardly be called a poem . It has none of the imagination ofpoetry , as you may well suppose .WRAGG : Samuel Bailey ought to have been the first

parliam entary representative of Sheffield . I once asked atable blade forger

,who was perhaps the most intelligent man

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138 SWAG-SHOPS .

the Sheffield Banking Cc . , had a room properly fitted up withshelves and counter like a regular draper ’s Shop .

TWISS I am sure nothing disrepu table could be affirmedeither of that firm , or of Hou lt , Rowbotham and Co .

LEONARD There were , I have been told , special circumstan ces connected with Harwood and Thomas ’s business— forinstance , that Mr . Lewis Thomas , who was for many years am ember of Queen street Church , was brought up as a draper .It is true that they had a large room (corresponding , I believe ,in siz e with the prin cipal bus in es s room of the Bank beforeit was en larged— it u sed to be called the O ld Coffee House)fitted up as a draper’s shop .

WRAGG : My father has taken tea in this way at twelveShillings per pound .

LEONARD : No doubt there would be unscrupulou s firmsthen as ever , and I do not defend the system , for it was opento the abuses we still see in districts where truck” persist sin surviving . It was well that it Should be stopped , but it i son ly fair to Show that something , as I heard from a friend afew days age , can be said in defence , and that some of thehouses were honourable enough to act fairly . My informantsaid

,The house in which I was an apprentice was in the

country trade , as distinguished from the foreign merchan ts ,and had a good Share of the Sheffield trade with Belfast .To promote it they frequently had one

‘

or more hogsheads ofhams or boxes of linen . We also kept black and green tea .All these were sold at fair prices , with very little pres sure ,if any, on the cutlers to buy them .

”

LE IGHTON : Bad as it was there is,more to be said for

this system than for the swag - shops ,” whose operation was

irredeemably evil . These were s imply establishments thatpreyed on the misfortunes of others , their chief victims being“ little mesters” in difficultie s . When Short of ready money ,and without any immediate market for their goods , they soldthem to the swag- shops at , of course , a large per cen tage oflo ss . But what was worse than this , unscrupulous factors

’

buyers or devils ,” would make excuses to rej ect goods they

had ordered when brought in , with the deliberate purpose offorcing the makers to the swag- sheps , and of buying themthence themselves at a lower price .

EVERARD The stuffing” system was an abominableone

,and it was carried out with a great amount of fraud and

extortion ; but it may be said that commercial intercoursewas not then out of swaddling clothes . The system was to

EARLY TRADING . 139

some extent a natural result of the infancy of trade , and wasan artificial attempt to overcome the difli cult ies of circulatinggoods . In these days it has been long superannuated .

JOHNSON Our present complicated andwonderfu l tradingsystem was not made in a day . It is going further back thanthe stuffing” system , but let me read you this descriptionof the infancy of the Sheffield trade Form erly the manufacturers had no trade connections , but depended entirelyupon persons coming to the town to purchase the article smanufactured . These traders were called chap s or chapmen ,

’ and were mostly Scotch or Irish , with som e English .

Their chief resort was Tommy Rose’s , The Bird- in -hand ,Church lane . The house stood where the Cutlers ’ Hall inpart now stands . They gen erally had with them two , three ,or more packhorses for the conveyance of the goods purchased . When a chap’ arrived, the o stler went round toeach of the manufacturers to inform him of the fact , and

each gave him a penny for his information and trouble . Anold man said , C ive been raand wi

’him mony a t o im e , whenoi war a lad, aboon 70 year sin .

’ Sometim es there were two ,three , or four chap s

’ in the house at one time , and each hada separate room for bus in es s . The cutlers waited until allwas ready and then went upstairs ‘ i’ their kales . ’ If theybargained they left the goods and took the mon ey home withthem . The house was sometimes quite crowded . Therewere other houses in the town which traveller s or chaps ’

frequented upon the same busines s , but none was as popularas Tommy Rose’s . This was a very precariou s way of doingbusiness . AS the makers had the materials to find, as wellas the labour , it put them to great inconvenience and causedmany familie s to suder great privation s during the time theyhad the goods in hand . To remove this difficulty the Cutlers’

Company frequently advanced money on goods deposited withthem without any interest being charged . This was alwaysthankfully accepted until the goods could find a market . In1768 , the Town Trustees let out £200 to twenty scissorsmiths , upon bond in small sums . In 1741 , Sir Fras . Sitwellbequeathed £400 to the Cutlers ’ Company , to be let out insums not exceeding £ 5 to any necessitous member or otherinhabitant . It is remarkable there is no account of this inthe Company’s books , although there are persons now livingwho can remember their fathers having received money fromthis source . These benevolences assisted the trade a greatdeal , for if a person had a stock of goods he could not dispose

140 PACK-HORSES .

of,he could take them to the Cutlers’ Hall and deposit them

there until he found a market . Tommy Rose’s being nextthe Cutlers’ Hall

,where the ‘ chaps ’usually put up , the goods

were easily removed if wanted .

In the year 1710 , a person of the name of Wrightintroduced the first stage waggon . Before that all publictravelling was equestrian , and the conveyance of all bulk andweight was effected by carriage as distinguished from draught .The burden was fitted to the animal’s back— which not unfrequently was ill-fit ted to bear it— and Shambling along crossroads , fording rivers , and climbing steeps , the j aded bruteday by day pursued his wearied route . In those days a busystreet at dawn would present an appearance only now to beseen in Cairo , or some other Eastern city , when a caravan ispreparing to start on its j ourney— only here , horses or mules ,instead of camels or asses , were the beasts . Often a trainof not fewer than fifty in number were being laden— themajority with the heavy produce of the manufactories

,others

with market stock , live and dead— grain and poultry , andvegetables

,and even pigs . At last when all was ready

,the

bells tinkled , and human beings poured forth from the inn .

These consisted of travellers and their friends , and merchantswho , either accompanying their wares or on some other bus iness

,were journeying to the capital . Perched on high

,

amidst boxes and bundles , were children and women , old menand maidens , leaving amidst the tears of their acquaintancewhilst the more active of the men were either starting onfoot

,or more easily bestriding a beast which had some appear

ance of saddle and pillion on its back . The orders for marchbeing given , onward they moved through the town , into thecountry

,over roads on which a track was paved for the especial

use of the pack-horse train but lanes also had to be traversed,

in which holes constantly occurred , producing Violent Shocks .Acro ss swamps , where the sagacity of the animals had to betrusted

,across swollen rivers where the wom en and the live

stock were alike alarmed , the cavalcade at last reached itslonged-for halting place for the night . Until 1747 , or thereabouts , there was no travelling from hence to sell goods orsolicit orders .”

WRAGG But we are wandering away from Spring street .It runs through what was once Norri s’ field” —so calledfrom the owner , Mr . Norris , who lived, as has been said , inWestbar . O ld Mr . Cakes , who has been mentioned as stillliving , and keeping a tobacconists

’ shop in Westbar, was

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142 THE STRATFORD FAMILY.

con s idering the largeness of his family , for by his first wifehe had three children

, and by the second ten . Only three ofthe thirteen children married , and of these the ninth and

youngest son alone , George Stratford , continued the familyline .

EVERARD William Stratford’s grandfatherWRAGG : Yes . Leaving the neighbourhood of his birth

when his father got into straitened circum stan ces , he sold theestate

,and

,after living at various places , settled in Henley- in

Arden,where he had a corn -mill . But nothing prospered with

him . He had two son s , Thomas and John , both of whom wereapprenticed to the well-known Matthew Bou lton , of the Soho ,Birmingham . John served his legal apprenticeship , and wasat the Soho when the celebrated James Watt j oined Boulton ,and it is said that John Stratford was the on ly person whocou ld understand Watt ’s curious pronun ciation of English .

Boulton and Watt sent him to the Gregory Mine,Ashover ,

with one of their engin es , to drain a lead mine on the estateof the late celebrated Sir Joseph Banks . This was in 178 3 ,and after remaining at Ashover until 1800 , he removed toLondon

,and becam e the engineer to the New River Company.

LEONARD But how about Spring streetWRAGG : I now come to that in the person of Thomas

Stratford , the other apprentice of Boulton’s , and with him

our local interest in the family begins . Before his term ofappren tice ship had expired he enlisted— not from dis sipation

,

but because he was a man of lofty Spirit and keen sen s ibilities .Mr . Bou lton obtained his discharge , but he en listed again inthe artillery , and was discharged on the peace that resultedin the declaration of American Independen ce . He married aBirmingham woman , named Kelsey , and came to live inSheffield—in Spring street , as already stated . From what Ihave heard , he and his wife would seem to have been themost singularly matched couple in the town . He was a wellformed man

, 5 feet 10 inches , with red hair , and quite agentleman in appearance , whilst hi s wife was a little , stumpy ,thick- set woman , the darkest complexion ever seen notactually black, yet all their children were light complexion ed .

Mrs . Stratford , however , was very kind-hearted and amiable .Her husband worked for the firm of Barber and Genn

,fender

manufacturers , Spring Street , and did j obs at home for Mr .George Oates , of the Wicker , and also for Mr . L in ley

,of

Spring street , in ornamenting scissors , now done by grindersat the wheel . He was one of the first to j oin the Sheffield

WILLIAM STRATFORD . 143

Volunteers , at their original formation , andhe was one of tho sewho found their own clothes . Mr . L in ley, for whom heworked at home , was Master Cutler in 1 797 . On the feastday he remarked that Mr . Lin ley had not invited him to thefeast . His wife replied ,

“ Thee works for Mr . L inley,and a s

such thee ’t a working man . He sharply replied,

“ I’m asgood as any man who will be there .” His wife was ao

customed to remark to her children that their father lookedwhat he ought to be— a gentleman , and She seems to havecherished the hope that the family would be restored to itsformer po s ition .

EVERARD I shou ld imagine that his family pride wouldkeep him somewhat aloof from his fellow-workmen .

WRAGG It did , and hi s respectable manner of conductinghimself seems to have been specially offens ive to some of them .

In a very depres sed state of trade , when Barber and Genn gavenumbers of people warn ing , Thomas Stratford was amongstthem . This discharge from employment sorely pinched him

,

and as a last resort , he undertook the menial work of assistingmason s . Not being accustom ed to the labour

,and getting

wet , he was seized with rheum atic fever , and never perfectlyrecovered . He died in 1808 , in the 48th year of his age , andwas buried in the Parish Churchyard , near to the Girls

’

Charity School .EVERARD It is a very sad history .

WRAGG : Now for the late William Stratford . He wasthe eldest son of this Thom as Stratford

,and was brought up

as a silver- sm ith . He served his tim e as a candlestick hand,but afterwards he was a spinner . He had a brother

,Thomas

,

who , although he had lo st a leg , was the leader of all kinds ofrough play . He died a young man . Their s ister marriedMr . B . Hinchliff e , whose son ,

Mr . T . O . Hinchliffe , i s nowin Garden street . William Stratford married a daughter ofWilliam Gray , and had a son and a daughter ; "the son a S ilversmith in New Church street the daughter married FrederickWithy Horsfield, the son of an apprentice of the late RobertWaterhouse ’s father , and the nephew of the historian ofLewes . The Horsfield family, which has been several timesmen t ion ed , i s an old on e . It was seated at Halifax , and hada grant of arms . I believe the Waterhou se family sprangfrom a person in Lincolnshire

,and removed to Halifax . The

present representative of the family is Maj or Waterhouse , ofWell head , Halifax , the Tory M .P. for Pontefract . WilliamStratford was established in Bramall lane, but towards the

144 SHALE S MOOR .

end of his life he went to live atMo sborough . He died on the18 th of April , 18 5 9 , aged 72 , and was interred at E ckington .

LEIGHTON : It is a little difficult to follow your description of the descent . One almost needs a genealogical table .LEONARD : Beyond Bower spring , the footpath— Cotton

mill walk— was the continuation Of Spring street . It ranin the direction now taken by Ru ssell street , acros s Longcroft

,

” as the open space was called in 1771 , towards Greenlane . O f course it took it s name from the cotton mill ofMr . Middleton . An open stream ran from the top of Cornish street , in front of Green lane , and emptied itself inthe Don , below where Green lane works now stand . On theother s ide of the stream were cottage gardens . Middleton’sSilk mill— built in 175 8 , burnt down in 1792 , and the cottonmill , re-erected on the same S ite only in turn to be burntdown in 18 10 , and again built on ly to become the Poor-housein 1 829— stood alon e in its glory, its nearest neighbour beingKelham Wheel , still there , as it had been at least as longbefore as in 1674 , on the now covered- in Goit . Across theriver was the suburb of Bridgehouses , and all around wasverdure . Those were the days when The old cherry tree,

”

whose name is now pei petuated on ly by the public -house andthe yard where it stood , was still young , and when Allen“ lane ” and the Bowling green marked the extremity of theinhabited region of Gibraltar . Beyond , the road ran betweenfields— “ Moorfields — and on to the distant rural haunt s ofPhiladelphia and Upperthorpe . There was Lawyer Hoyle’shouse up on the left ; and the little barber

’s shop , j ust before youcome to Roscoe place , near the jun ction of the Infirmary andPen istone roads , was alone In its glory until 1806 , when Mr .Shaw built the stove -gi ate works just named , and with hispartner , Mr . Jobson laid the foundations of that trade whichhas obtained for Sheffield the manufacture of stoves and fenders previously claimed by Edinburgh and London . Twopersonal notes may be made as to Mr . Shaw and Mr . Jobson .

The former was a Baptist , and he not only held service in hisworks on Sundays , but established a Sunday-school as well .Mr . Jobson was the last person in Sheffield who retained theold- fashioned queue, and a great scandal was occasioned bysome officers cutting it off in St . Philip’s Church , one Sunday .

JOHNSON : In Green lane , In the days we are speaking of,and even much later , the works had not become sufficientlynumerous to interfere with bathing i n the river . The Cleekham Inn and a grinding wheel occupied part of Messrs .D ixon’s

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146 OLD SHEFFIELD GARDENS .

embracing genus greens . Of course , being in the country—w

so to speak , though we were by no means out of the reach orou t of S ight of the smoke— our talk was of country things .

One told how his grandfather , a great garden - smith , u sed todelight to get away from his Shop to his little plot downBramall lan e way— a walk among the hedges and throughpleasant Shady lan es ; and another remembered being sent ,in 1825 , with a mes sage to Montgomery , who had retiredfrom his san ctum up stairs in the dingy Hartshead over thecoal place

,and with depres s ing ou tlook on to brick walls and

dilapidated roofs— to refresh him self for a time am ong thepolyanthu ses and daffodils of his garden , between Glos soproad and Leavygreave . That i s where Houn sfield road is now ,

for most of the Space from Glossop road to Brook hill , belonging to the Water Company, was divided into these little plots .The town in those days Was literally surrounded with

groups of n eatly-partitioned garden s . The late Mr . EdwardBaines (M .P. for Leeds from 18 34 to 1841 ) was accu stom edto rem ark that the multitude Of sm all , n icely-kept gardens inits suburbs was a characteristic of Sheffield , in which it was inadvance of any other large town he knew . Look which wayyou wou ld

,or go in what direction you wou ld

,there they were .

Besides the celebrated gardens in the neighbourhood ofHanover street , there were s imilar garden s higher up Broomspring lane andWilkin son street , and on the site of the BaptistChurch on Glos sop road, and up to Northumberland road andopposite Mushroom hall to Westbourne , Mr . Cadman

’s house ,near which are a few rem aining . From Glo ssop road theWater Company’s land extended into Brook hill , and thegarden s on this piece were always con sidered some of the bestin the town . Near to and behind the late Ald . Saunders’

house in Brook hill , were gardens , behind which were others ,reaching down by B rightmore street , B ellefield street , Portmahon , Bedford street , and Waterloo houses (commencedbuilding by the father of James Levick, the dahlia grower ,and finished by his mother) , to the river Don . Then on theopposite Side of the river, the Site of Neepsend brewery , andright up to the wood and Woods ide lan e also on the opposite side of Woods ide lane , under Pye bank , to the mouthof the railway tunnel . Harvest lan e , and Green lane toColson crofts were occupied in a Similar way ; and anotherplot of small gardens is now the site of the old MidlandStation in the Wicker . These , as originally intended , wereto have been the basin of the Sheffield canal . On the oppo

SUBURBAN GARDENS . 147

Site side of the road, between Twelve O’

Clock Wheel , or theAlbion Ironworks , and the Norfolk bridge , was another lot ofgardens

,destroyed about 25 years ago . There were small

gardens in the Park , part of which is St . John’s churchyard .

There were som e others at Skye edge , down to Duke street, orthe In take road . At the end of Clough lan e , down to theriver Sheaf (Sheaf gardens ) , were gardens con s idered secondto none in the neighbourhood , som e contain ing good doublehouses , not like those in Club gardens , Sharrow lane . Fromthese were others extending acros s Suffolk road , down toHarmer lane . There were also the garden s just destroyed atthe end of Bramall lane

,opposite Sheaf House , on the path

to Highfield ; and about 25 years ago was destroyed a plot ofgardens that had extended from the top of Young s treet toBroomhall street . There were some others that have di sappeared, to make room for buildings about the General Cemetery and Broomhall Mill .

“ When all the above gardens were in existence , saidMr . WRAGG , I believe one out of every three working menhad a garden , which he cu ltivated more for pleasure thanprofit . This was far better than his present gambling pro

pen sit ies ; but further , there were not a few in stances in whichthe working man ’s garden ass isted him to clothe his family ,or to pay off debts , unavoidably contracted , by the sale of thefruit from his pear or apple trees . Now , there are no suchplaces for a working man to resort to in his spare time , except for those who are members of some Land Society outs idethe town . It is said he may resort to the L ibrary , or perusehis book at home ; that he can amu se him self by holdingcommunication with the great men of past ages ; bu t allsuch talk is a delusion . Bodily toil and mental di sciplin ewill not go hand in hand , or blend . The garden plots remaining are , alas , but few ; they may be alm o st counted on thefingers of one hand , some under the wood at Hillfoot , and

some in Neepsend lane to the river ; the Water Company’s

piece , Hanging bank , and in the flat below the s ite of the olddams , common ly called Upper and Lower Canada ; somearound Younge

’

s Silver Rolling Mill som e , comparativelySpeaking recently made , between Hyde Park and the Manor .There are a few left in E cclesall road . In Sharrow lane arethe Club garden s , that have always been remarkable for thenumber of hou se s occupied by the ten an ts . Fenton Villegardens and South View gardens , extending down into theAbbeydale road , are noted for the number of their florists ,

148 SUBURBAN GARDENS .

the most successful of whom is William Allsebrook , famousfor rearing new kinds of polyanthuses . I am sorry to say Ibelieve all these gardens will soon be like the others ment ioned— demolished .

”

LEONARD : Yes , they are fast being engulphed by theomnivorou s builders ; and the robberies to which they areexposed are a great discouragem ent to the enthus iastic amat eurs who compete at pink shows , or dahlia contests , or whostrive to raise gigantic gooseberries

,to be weighed at Florists ’

Inn s , and celebrated with a supper . Let u s hope that thisannihilation of garden allotmen ts does not indicate that thehealthy delight in fioriculture that has always been a charact erist ic of Hallamshire is dying out . You may still see thegrinder returning from a

_pop vis it to his little coun try delight ,

laden with early spring rhubarb,or with roots of celery

,

according to the season of the year ; and freehold buildingsocieties have altered life so much as to give working m en anopportunity of having their hom es standing in their own gardens , which is not on ly healthier but handier .

A member of our company mentioned the splendid bed ofranun culu ses which a resident in one of the houses stillstanding opposite the top of Broomhall street , used to Show ,

and rem inded us of the celebrated garden which the Staniforths , father and son ,

the eminent surgeon s in Castle street ,had in the Grimesthorpe road

,the present Garden ers’ Arms

being their garden house . Mr . Wragg recalled that kind ,genial old man , Edward Middleton , baker , who kept theBarleycorn Tavern , in Coalpit lane— the most obliging ofneighbours among amateur gardeners . The vicinity ofHanover street used to be m arked out lik e a chess board bythese gardens , and Middleton had one , near the corner ofB room spring lane and Hanover street . The top part of itforms now part of Hanover street

,and the bottom extended

behind the houses of Mr . Owen , the draper , which face toB room spring lane . Afterwards , he showed his Skill in one ofthose previously spoken of

,on Glossop road— where Charles

Thompson’s cab premises are now,then belonging to the

Water Company— having gone there by reason of his neighbour , John Burton , the Quaker , buying a garden for him .

Mr . Wragg believed that the last posses sor of Middleton ’sgarden

,near Mr . Owen’s houses , was the late Mr . Bennett ,

grocer,Church street

,elder brother of the present Mr .

Benn ett , who succeeded him in his business . Jo shua VVilkinson had the next garden above, and he sold it to William

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1 5 O CLUB GARDENS .

a large quantity the next year in most conspicuous places,

and had not a Single bloom tipped . The secret seemed to beto check a too luxuriant growth of the plant . Mr . Levi ckalso produced a handsome crim son dahlia —Commander-inChief— which was honoured with a coloured engraving in thework named . Mr . Thomas Tyson , who kept the

“ Fountain,

’

in Coalpit lane , was a distinguished florist , and a manevidently much respected by hi s brethren , for

“his funeral

was attended by the florists of the town , who strewed hiscoffin with a profus ion of mo st beautifu l flowers .”

Club Garden s , as has been said , were remarkable for thenumber of the houses occupied by the tenants . In one houseresided the late Mr . Paul Smith , a well-to -do -man , said tohave been worth Six or eight thousand pounds but he wasinduced to enter into partnership w ith some firm whichshortly afterwards failed . The creditors seized all the property of Mr . Smith to pay the debts of the firm , so he becamea poor man ,

and died a recipient of the Iron and HardwarePens ions . Another res ident in these gardens was the late Mr .Charle s Unwin , ofW estbar , the broker . Previously he had agarden in Brook hill , in the piece behind Mr . B rightmore

’

s

house . After the death of Mr . Thomas Nowill, Mr . Unwinbought his garden , and there he res ided at the time Of his disastrous fire , in which some thousands of pounds worth of his property and stock - in -trade was destroyed . It gave such a Shockto his nervous system that soon after he died , about 16 or 18years ago . Mr . Unwin was a native of Anston , and originallywas a labouring man but he turned sawyer , and was a veryhard worker . Another native of Anston was the late Mr

.

Henry Broomhead, the solicitor , whose father was a tanner .Some of the best garden s in the neighbourhood were the

Sheaf Gardens . About thirty years ago the late Mr . WilliamStratford had a garden th at was remarkable for the neatmanner in which it was kept by Mr . Stratford himself ; andhis tulip bed was the admiration of all beholders .Hanging Bank Gardens , when in existen ce , were notable

for the number of those tenants who exhibited gooseberries atShows berry showers the chief of whom , and the mostsuccessful

,was the late Robert Green . He resided in one of

the houses,probably built by himself or a former tenant

,

S ince it i s not the work of a mason . He had another gardenlower down , but one or two others intervened , and up a walknearer where the stream of water ran from the Water Com

pany’

s dams . From his succes s ‘ as an exhibitor of goose

MARKET GARDENERS . 1

berries , he Obtained many copper kettles as prizes . Whenthe time of exhibiting was about to take place , his garden hadto be watched from the Saturday night to Monday m orningto prevent his trees being stripped . Green was a springkn ife cutler , and worked for the late Mr . B . Micklethwaite

,

whose workmen were very respectable , honourable , and upright . Amongst them there were none of the coarse j okes

,

indecent conversation , or unmean ing , empty , and profanej ests , so comm on among workmen in the workshops of thepresent day . They talked when they had something to say

,

and years after,when one would casually meet another in the

street it was always with kindnes s and respect , something likeone gentleman m eeting another .About 40 years ago , in one of the gardens near what is

now the top of Fawcett street , j ust before B ellefield house ,was a whitewashed house , with sash windows , in whichresided the late John Milner , who in his day was said to havebeen one of the bes t , if no t the best Spring-kn ife cutler in thetrade , and notable for his great powers of debate . He wasborn in Spring street or the imm ediate vicinity , and in hisyouth or childhood was a compan ion of the late Mr . Wm .

Stratford . He was the last survivor of his early as sociates .When John Milner left the house it was not afterwards o ccupied . I t dwindled away— lads first broke the windows

,and

next it gradually disappeared .

In Watery lane was a very good house standing back ina garden . For some time it was unoccupied , and from beinguntenanted it got into a dilapidated condition . A few" yearsago , a portion of one of its walls fell on some children , andone of them was killed . The last occupier was a person ofthe name of Ros s , who left the town and afterwards died .

Ros s was a man who was going to get every one his fortune .People who believed they or their ancestors had been deprivedor dispos ses sed of property flocked to him in crowds . Somewhere in the vicin ity Ross had a rival , a woman , who had twostrings to her bow , for in addition to being a fortune -hunterShe was a fortune-teller .The market gardeners’ grounds ranged

,for the most

part , from Neep send and the O ld Park Wood to Hall Carr .There was George Stubbing , whose garden , kept before himby Mr . Thornhill, who had a cook shop in the Hartshead , extended from Woods ide lane to O ld Park Wood , being boundedon the north by Cook Wood . Part of his garden in Harvestlane is now the depOt of the Board of Health , while the

1 5 2 SUBURBAN DEGENERATION .

southern part , including the S ite of his original house,was

taken for the Manchester Railway . Before beginning a garden ou his own account , Mr . Stubbing had been in the serviceof Dr .Webb , of whose garden in Harvest lane he had charge .There was James Andrews , who had an orchard at Neepsend,where the Neepsend Nursery now is ; and the orchard inHarvest lan e of William Burgin , now displaced by the variousworks in Mowbray street , was one of the finest S ight s in thetown in spring time . Who does not remember

,too

,that

other orchard on the slope below Burn Greave,which every

body would stop and admire even so late as 1 8 5 5 - 60 Therewere two other Burgins besides William , but he was not related to them . They were brothers , George and Jonathan .

The former was the last inhabitant of the Clay’s house,in

Bridgehou ses ; the latter had a fruit Shop in Bower spring .

From Pit smoor Church to Burn Greave , and to where theRailway cro s ses Tom Cross lane , market gardeners hadtheir grounds , and a pleasant walk it was through them ,

for the B urngreave road and Rock street were not made then .

The orchard and grounds between these two roads , whereCatherine street now is , were occupied long ago by JohnPearson . His family were table-kn ife cutlers at Neepsend ,but he was fonder of gardening than cutlering . Afterwardsthe land was in the hands of Mr . John Garnett for manyyears . Then it got into Chancery and was in a lo st- lookingstate until it was bu ilt upon . Mr . Garnett removed to theland between the Wicker Congregational Church and Carlislestreet , Gower street having been made acro ss it near to wherewhat was his house still stands . Gardens of Similar kindextended to Hall Carr lan e , where , not many years ago , gypsie s might sometimes be seen . On the other sideof the townwas Mr . Hatfield

’

s nursery, on the Glossop road , adjoiningWesley College , which often attracted passers by its beauty .

From gardens and gardening we got to talk generally ofthe changes that have taken place in what may be called thenearer suburban surroundings of the town . The youngestmember of our friendly group could, we found , call to mindsurprising changes ; as for the eldest, the wondrous transmutation s to which he could bear witness were endless .Within a very small radius of the Parish Church— say Carverstreet Chapel —he had walked in green fields , or traversedwoods whose sites are now occupied by whole colon ies ofhouses , and it was told how tradition affirmed that a residentat the top of Coalpit lane had Shown his children Judge

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1 5 4 LITTLE SHEFFIELD .

in those days,after passing Heeley, ran close to Meersbrook

house , and up Derbyshire lane to B olehill, then throughwhat is now Norton Park to L ittle Nort on , forward to Greenhill Moor . All goods leaving Sheffield southwards wentthat way . The only road westwards was up Sharrow laneand so to E cclesall , Bent

’s green , and Ringinglow e . Therewas no Chesterfield turnpike , nor Abbeydale road , nor E cclesall new road , nor Glossop road . Mr . TWISS reminded usof the fact that it was in 1821 that the new road to Glossopwas open ed for carriages ; and LEONARD read a descriptionwhich had been written in connection with the house of oldSeth Cadman , the comb maker , in Young s treet . From itthere was a really charming outlook . Between Young streetand the Moor head on the on e s ide , up far beyond Broomhallstreet in front , and towards Sharrow lane in the other direction , there was little to be s een but well -kept gardens andequally well -t illed fields . Close to Fitzwilliam street I haveseen growing as fine a crop of wheat as ever gladdened theheart of a Yorkshire farmer ; and at that time Broomhallstreet , or

‘Black Lamb’s lane ,’ as it was called , was con

sidered rather a dangerous place to go along at night . Seth’sgarden was oppos ite to his house , and over the footpath hungtwo splendid pear trees . At that tim e , as now , the neighbourhood of Young street was called ‘ Little Sheffield,

’

and

gardens and fields divided it from ‘ Big Sheffield.

’ Mr .EVERARD told us how he remembered a clear space betweenthe bottom of Red hill and West street , including what wasthen Mr . Carr’s house , now the Hospital and D ispensary .

Said he,The intervening space was occupied by the brick

yard, and by Marsh’s field’ (in which Mr . Marsh

’s cowspastured , the cottage and cow-house being s ituate in on e

corn er) , together with the Site on which Messrs . SandersonBrothers ’ works now stand . Mr . Marsh did not bear at all agood name amongst us youngsters , for he very strictly maintained his ‘ manorial rights ,

’

and hotly pursued and inflictedsummary pun ishm ent on any of the youthfu l trespassers whohad the ill luck to fall into his hands . And so it was thatwhether engaged in playing at football , cricket , or kite -flying ,as soon as Old Marsh ’ made his appearance , we kn ew it washigh time to be off. At that period there were no houses oneither Side of Portobello ’ (with one exception) from the Britannia’ public -house , Opposite Mes srs . Newton Bros . , Portobello Works

,up to Victoria street but all was open Space , in

cluding gardens,the brick-field, and the

‘Burial Ground,

’now

THE BEE HIVE . 1 5 5

St . George’s Church and churchyard . The exception referredto was the two houses , yet standing , about half-way betweenCharlotte street and Regent street, with a flight of stonesteps out of ‘Portobello lane . ’ In one of these houses liveda venerable man named Dr . Cheney, one of the old school ’

as to dress and wig , and who was totally blind . In the otherhouse resided Mr . Mellor , the ropemaker . The gardens atthe back reached down to a cros s walk, now Glos sop road ,near the Bee Hive . Between these gardens there was a broadwalk to their full extent , which Mr . Mellor used as a ropewalk , where he Spun his twine and ropes . Subsequently, inthe lower of these two houses , not the uppermost as I oncethought

,res ided for several years the late Mr . Leader , pro

prietor of the Shefiield Independen t . In the upper one (nowMr . Joseph Kirk’s) Dr . Cheney spent the last years of hislife . From a house j ust above Sir John Brown made hisstart in the succes sful career. he has run , his father buildinga number of houses on Dr . Cheney’s land and occupying oneof them .

I well remember the time when the house , now enlargedand occupied as the Bee Hive public -house , was built in thecro ss garden walk just mentioned, which terminated at thetop of Broomhall street . It was erected by a Shoemaker,named Thomas Rose . He was a little man , wore top boots ,and kept a hive of bees in the garden bes ide the house . Hegot a license for the house and called it the Bee Hive . Hispear tree on the front yet retains enough vitality to Showyearly a few leaves . With the exception of the Old houseswith gardens and palisades at the top of West street , and thelarge house in Broomhall street , beside which until lately therock s have built , there were , I believe , no house s (exceptsome garden cottages ) from Portobello down to Holy Green ,and the top of Bright, Gaol , and Young streets . All theintervening space was occupied with fields and gardens .Hanover street was then a narrow country lane , with fieldson each side and I have myself pursued and tried to kill aweasel very near the spot where Hanover Chapel now stands .The ‘ burial ground ,

’ so called years before it was enclosedand used , i s now St . George

’s churchyard . This was ageneral play and cricket ground ; and on a summer

’s eveningmany groups of men and boys might be seen engaged in thegame and enjoying the fresh air and the healthful exercise .”

Mr .WRAGG added to these remembrances by a referenceto B lack Lamb’s lane , now Broomhall street . If, said he , a

1 5 6 VANISHED WOODS .

person stood at the corner of F itzwilliam street , with thehotel behind him , he could see the back of South streetchapel on Sheffield Moor . The only Shop in the neighbourhood, was kept by Mr . Hardcastle in Holly street— hewho died sexton of St . George’s Church . Mr . Sidebottomopened the next at the corner of Convent walk— now thePost Office . The oldest house on Glos sop road is that aboveMr . Sharm an’s , at the corner of Gell street , now occupied byMr . Ward . For many years , indeed until h is death , it wasthe res iden ce of an old gentlem an , Mr . Thomas Broadhurst .In the old days , Black Lamb

’s lane was quite a country walk .

LE IGHTON reminded us that the houso at the corner , whereBroomhall street and Devonshire street intersect , noted forthe solitary ash tree in which the rocks persisted in buildingfor so many years , was the residence Of William Fairbank,one of the surveyors who planned Glos sop road . His brother ,Jos iah Fairbank , lived in what is now the West End Hotel ,at the bottom of Northumberland road— a house in thosedays with a charming garden both before and behind .

With such rem in iscences as these the quiet evening s lippedon , and we sat in s ilence for some time , lazily watching thesmoke as it curled upwards from our pipes in the still air , asmentally we dwelt in the past . LEONARD broke upon ourreverie with on e of his abrupt speeches . The worst of it i s ,said he , that with all this much boasted exten s ion and growththe town is losing so much of its old beauty . Ten minuteswalk or so in any direction from the O ld Church would havebrought u s , thirty or forty years ago , into charming countrylanes . What a distance we have to go now before we get ridof the smoky blackness Even Win cobank i s lo s ing it s freshness , and is invaded by dull rows of houses . Heeley i s repuls ive , and as for Attercliffe , or Brightside , or Grimesthorpe ,ugh " And how our woods have gone . Without goin g SO

far back as Clay Wood (so called from the B ridgehou sesfamily) or Bamforth Wood , there were Cook Wood , and theO ld Park Wood , and Hallcarr Wood , where such delightfulrambles were to be had— “ how fallen , how changed .

” Bamforth Wood reached from Hillfoot almost to Owlerton . Itbelonged to Madame Bamforth , and there was a well in it ,the water of which it was pretended would cure every disease .People u sed to fetch the water from miles and miles .LE IGHTON : Attercliffe has long been on the road to

(pictorial) ruin , yet within the time you mention , though degenerating from country into town , it was not without its

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1 5 8 BATHS IN THE STREAMS .

so eager to witness that part of the ceremony that they pressedto one side , and lo the boat was instantly capsized , and theywere plunged over -head into the river . They were , however ,soon rescued without any particular harm beyond a greatfright and a thorough soaking . An old friend of mine whowitnessed the transaction , and possessed a vein of dryhumour , used to delight in puzzling his Baptist acquaintanceswith the following query That as the persons in the boatwere voluntarily attending a religious service , the nature ofwhich they understood , and that j ust at the moment and inthe hearing of the Minister’s scriptural words of consecration ,they w ere certainly immersed ; the question was , - whetherthey did not a s really receive Christian Baptism’ on thatoccasion as the others

LEONARD : It was at an earlier period that Mr . Wesleyused to bathe in the Don at Walk Mill.

JOHNSON : William White , in his“ Directory of Sheffield ,

has the following Though the rivers of Sheffieldafford ample means for the establishment of a large and commodious suite of cold baths , we have not yet such a desirableinstitution those who wish to enj oy the salubriou s exerciseof bathing being obliged either to immerse themselves in theopen river near Green lane (where there are a number ofdressing booths) , or in the small and inconvenient baths inBridge street , Younge street , Ball street , Pond street Gardens , and Upperthorpe .

” Can any one imagine for himselfa large and commodious suite of cold baths” in our Sheffieldrivers as we know them

JOHNSON : The Upperthorpe baths were in what i s nowAddy street , and were kept by one Couldwell. The waterthat supplied them and adj acent troughs was splendidly clearand cold . It was used also by the Infirmary . The baths inColson crofts were known as BrockSOpp

’

s . That was beforethe Goit was arched over , and I remember the Sign informing the inhabitants that here were baths in the running stream .

”

LEONARD : The extract I quoted just now shows what animmense deterioration our rivers have undergone . Fortyyears ago they were not the semi- sewers they are now . Andthe change is not only in the matter of cleanlines s and purity,but in beauty also . In a small poem , published in 1838 , byFrederick Horsfield, brother of the Rev . T . W . Horsfield,

the historian of Lewes, entitled A RuralWalk in June, in

BURN GREAVE AND THE HILLS . 1 5 9

the neighbourhood of Sheffield , Mr . Horsfield having trackedthe Don to Sheffield , my birth -place and pride ,

” saysHere o ft I’ve caught thy finny brood ,And sail

’

d thy w eir-bound waters o ’er.

The finny i s , I am afraid , not now oft caught here .One can sca imagin e fish in connection with the fouls tream ,

once a beautifu l river . In a note , Mr . Horsfield

says The river Don in it s cours e through Shefli eld i s , inmany parts

,adorned with garden s along it s banks .” We

,

who see the rivers of Sheffield in their present sad plight , arein danger of forgetting what they once were .EVERARD : Yes ; it was then , too , that Mr . Bailey

’sresidence at Burn Greave , now so completely smothered bysurrounding houses that it is absolutely invis ible from theroad , was spoken of as a pleasan t villa , s tanding on a gentlerise north of Sheffield , and about a mile from the town .

”

There was no hous e between it and Mr . Sorby’

s on Spital hill .TWISS The Hills” beyond Burn Greave , on ce the resi

dence of old Thomas Scantlebury , the Quaker of Campo lane ,was , in tho se days , a charming place . It has also been theres idence of Mr . George Hawksworth , of High street , whowas distingu ished for his succes sfu l gardening . One of Mr .Scantlebury

’

s sons once wrote —“ A . and E . Gales and JamesMontgomery used to call on us there . The poet generallypreferred to Sit on the rustic s eat on the Common ,

’

as itused to be called , to enj oy the beautiful view . And well hemight . I once heard an en thu siastic Fren chman , who hadtravelled exten s ively in England , say it was the most beautiful prospect he had seen in the country .

”

LE IGHTON It u sed to be said that there was no street inthe town from which the country cou ld not be seen . It wasnot , perhap s , strictly true , bu t it very closely approximatedto the truth— and very pretty country peep s many of themwere .LEONARD They were charm ing . The scenery in the di

rection of Attercliffe ,” looking from High street , was noticed

as especially striking when the atmosphere happened to bemore or les s favourable , or even by moonlight .

”

LE IGHTON : It is something that we still retain n amesindicating what many of our s treets may on ce have been ,and we should all most earnestly protest again st the absurdman ia for altering good old characteristic names . Harvest

Ho lland’s Tour of the Don .

160 THE TOWN’

S OUTSKIRTS .

lane and Daisy walk , Orchard street (Brinsworth’

s orchard) ,Nursery street and Cornhill

,Mulberry street and Sycamore

street (hill) , Figtree lane , and many others , tell u s what oncewasLEONARD The idiots who change old names— Tom Cros s

lane to stupid Brunswick road , and Coalpit lane to Cambridgestreet— ought to be ostracised . They cannot have beennative -born Sheffielders .

LEIGHTON : I am reminded of E lliott’s line sScenes rural once ye still retain sweet names ,

That tel l o f blo ssom s and th e wandering beeIn black Pea cro ft no lark i t s lon e n es t frames

Balm green , the thrush hath ceased to v is it thee .

When shal l Bower Sprin g her annual corncrake see ,Or s tart the woodcock i f the storm be near "”

EVERARD As to the outskirts we Should have to make acomplete circuit of the town to give even an idea of thechanges . There i s an article in the Independent whichglances at something of this kind .

ALL : Read "EVERARD : The writer has been speaking of the devoted

loyalty of native Sheffielders to the town of their birth , andthe charms that even its dingy street s have in their retrospect ive eyes . He has referred to the regrets one must feelat the neglected opportunities almost all of us have had ofrecording and treasuring up our local folk- lore as it droppedfrom time to time from the lips of that generation now , alas ,almost passed away , which was blossoming into manhood andwomanhood when the Directorate had been abolished andNapoleon made Consul . Is there ,

” asks the writer ,“ no

Boswell in our midst who has made Sheffield his Johnson ;no local Crabbe Robinson or Mrs . Burney who has hordes ofreminiscences and recollections that might be given to a grateful world ‘

2 D id Sheffield never possess some fertile letterwriter whose correspondence would throw interesting light onthe lives of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers Butthe following is the part of the article I wish specially toquote In the absence of more systematic chronicles , wemust be as satisfied as possible with what we can get

,and

we must see to it that those who are now children may nothereafter have to complain of any lack of material . And ,indeed

,it requires no great age to expatiate from personal

recollection on changes that have taken place in Hallamshire ,curious now and that will seem still more remarkable fiftyyears hence . A contemplation of the alterations in our town

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162 SUBURBAN COLONIES .

Infirmary , on the low side , was Philadelphia , and on the topSide Upperthorpe , pleasant suburban colonies . The NetherHallam Workhouse was alone in its glory in the lower part ofthe Crookes moor road, backed by the farmstead of BarberNook, and looking down upon the four small reservoirs thatoccupied the valley below the Great Dam . Addy street

,and

the long rows of brick houses which are prolongations of itup the steep hill side , were as yet un im agined , but the upperpart of Crookes Moor road— above Barber road , was much asit is now, though Butcher

’s dam had not becom e the neglectedand grass -grown hollow it is , nor had the small , triangularsheet of water called Godfrey’s Dam been as yet supersededby the large reservoir on the upper side of Dam road .

Broomhill s corned houses that did not s tand on their owngrounds B roomfield had not yet been invaded by hordes ofbuilders ; and as for Broomhall Park , the old Hall still stoodalone in its glory , the only house within the domain ,

itsnearest

'

neighbours being the houses in Park lan e . BroomGrove was not a road bu t a solitary hou s e , the old footpathoppos ite the bottom of Newbould lane being still a thoroughfare to E cclesall road . The Cemetery had not yet Sprunginto existence , but there were footpaths leading up to the remote region o f Sharrow head . Across Sharrow lane

,where

Wostenholm road intersects it now , was still to be tracedthe old pack-horse road to B eauchieff . Mount Pleasant andthe other residen ces at Highfield and Lowfield, together withSheaf House , Clough House , E ast Bank , The Farm , and

a number of others to the south -east of the town , enj oyed adelicious atmosphere and beautiful gardens . We need notremind our readers of the state of things now .

LEONARD Rows upon rows of brick cottage housesLEIGHTON Speaking of Newbould lane , the writer might

have mention ed the old house of Benjamin Withers in BroomPark , with the magnificen t weeping Willow in front , and thefield Sloping down to Clarkehou se lane . That ancient anddecrepit -looking residence may well have been startled out ofexistence by the Congregrat ional Church and the modernvillas which have usurped its place .TWISS : And as to Sharrow lane , the old house by the

Pack-horse road, or bridle sty, should not be omitted . Iti s a good Specimen of the gentleman ’s house of the period

,

with an inscription over the doorway , G 1 633 L —that i s tosay, George Lee . The family of Lee is very ancient in L ittleSheffield, although no pedigree of it appears in the Hallam

OLD HOUSE IN SHARROW LANE . 1 63

Shire . There was a Roger Lee , of Sheffield , butcher , whowas living in the first year of Queen E lizabeth , and probablythe same with a Roger Lee , who died about 1 614 . In theReliquary,

” vol . 2 , there is printed a copy of“ An inven

torie of the goods and chat t ells , rights , and credit t s of RogerLee , late of Sheffield , deceased , priced by William B lith ,William Bamford , John Quicksall, and Francis Barlow, thexvth daye of June

,The amount is £307 . 4s . 4d.

Roger Lee was father to George Lee , who was dead in 1649 ,and left a widow, Anne , living in that year . In the samevolume to which reference has j ust been made , there is alsoprinted a Copy of The inventorie of the goodes , chat tells ,and creditt s of George Lee

,late of L ittle Sheffield , yeoman ,

deceased , taken and priced the three and twentieth daie ofAprill , Anno Dom . , 1 649 , by Nicholas Stones , William Lee ,Robert Bright, and George Ludlam .

” The amount in thiscase i s £670 . 13s . 4d. The next we meet with is RogerLee , of Little Sheffield, gent . , who seems to be referred to inone of the items in the last document . He was father toJonathan Lee , of Little Sheffield , gent . , living 1712 , who hadi s sue— George L ee , of L ittle Shefli eld, Bachelor of Physic ,identified in the initials on the old house , which was probablybuilt by him . He died about 1719 , leaving a widow and twosisters his co -heirs z— l . E lizabeth , married first to DanielGascoigne , of Shefli eld, apothecary , and secondly (about 1721 )t o Christopher Cowley

,of Sheffield , gent . , and died without

i ssue . 2 . Ann,who married in 171 5 John Fenton , of L ittle

Sheffield, gent . , and had issue a daughter , E lizabeth , whowas wife to John Rotheram ,

of Dronfield, E sq . , Sheriff ofDerbyshire in 175 0 , by whom she had Samuel Rotheram , ofDronfield, E sq . , Sheriff of Derbyshire 1773 , who died un

married in 1795 John Fenton Rotheram , who died un

married in 1794 ; and an only daughter , E lizabeth , who alsodied unmarried in 1797 . After her death the estate devolvedto Mr . Joseph Cecil , in whose descendant s it has continuedto the present time .ale

JOHNSON : About fifty yards higher up Sharrow lane i sanother house of les s architectural pretensions

,but still , in its

decay, preserving some of the dignity of it s former state .This appears to have been the house of some substantialyeoman at a time when the yeomanry were th e strength ofEngland . Over the door Of one of the tenements into which

9“ See ante, pp . 74-75 .

164 PAGE HALL .

the house is now divided , appears the inscription , I D S 1638 .

In side , the floors are still supported by oak beams and rafters ,black with age . There i s a fine oak staircase , and traces aredistinct of a large open fireplace

,extending along the entire

breadth of the room .

TWISS I do not know to whom that house belonged .

LEONARD : Our notice of the suburbs of Sheffield wouldbe Incomplete if we failed to glance at Page Hall in the dayswhen Mr . George Bustard Greaves

,with his bag-wig , and his

portly person , did the honours of Sheffield to visitors of distinction , or rolled into the town in his yellow carriage (a phenom enon then) with sky blue liveries . It i s j ust over onehundred years Sin ce Page Hall was built on land

,described

in the early deeds as Page Field,

”and Page Greave ,

” byThomas Broadbent , the banker of the Hartshead .

" It was anotable place , for it was the first great outcom e of the increasing wealth of the town . Many as have been the magn ificen thouses s ince built by our manufacturers

,Page Hall stood

alone then , and there were not wanting birds of ill-om en who ,Cassandra like , prophes ied a bad end to such unprecedentedextravagance . There was some foundation for their gloomyviews , for before the hall was finished , Thomas Broadbent ,who must have been a man of large ideas

,found that he had

not sufficiently counted the co st , and that his plans were toogrand for his purse ; so he curtailed the dim ens ions of thehous e in a way plainly to be seen in the entrance hall to thisday . Nor was this all , for within ,

a very few years (the hou s ewas built in 1773 , and the event I now relate took place in1780) the banking firm of the Hartshead had to suspend payment , and Page Hall was mortgaged to Mr . James Miln es , ofThornes House ,Wakefield , the trustee under the bankruptcy .

In 1786 , it was conveyed to Mr . George Bustard Greaves ,who had married the heires s of the Clays , of B ridgehou ses .

He , as I have said , kept high s tate there until his death in1835 , when Mr . James Dixon ,

’r whose biography i s one of the

striking manufacturing episodes of the town , became the purchaser . It remained in the posses s ion Of his son , the lateMr . William Frederick D ixon , until his death , and the estatehas just been sold (May , 1 874) to Mr . Mark Firth , who intends ‘ to give a portion of it for the purposes Of a public park .

LEIGHTON Which reminds me that sin ce we began theseconversations , the lady of Weston Hall has laid down her

Ante, pp . 9-10. An te, p . 141 .

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CHAPTER VIII .

BANE STREET , THE CROFTS, BROAD LANE .

Present—Messrs Tw rss , LEIGHTON , EV ERARD ,WRAGG,LEONARD

and JOHNSON .

Period—A.D. 1874.

RAGG : We might very well devote this evening’s conversation to a tour in “ low latitudes” —as they are

now . They were not always so , as a glance at some of thehouses will show . Any one can eas ily pick out the old residences of the old substantial manufacturers of the last century

,many Of them now turned into public houses .LEONARD Suppose we begin at Bank street and work our

way onwards .EVERARD : We shall , then , commence with the corner ,

which was the Independen t office from 1846 to 18 63 .

LEONARD These premises were built by Mr . LukePalfreyman

,hosier , Sn ig hill , father of the late Mr . Palfrey

man,solicitor . Oppos ite i s the O ld Bank , now Mr . Waddy

’sauction room . It was here that Parker , Shores Blakelockcarried on business , and here that they failed in the year1843 , to the consternation of the town . One of the Shoreslived in the house attached . Subsequently the premises wereused for the Union Bank, until it was removed further on thestreet .VVRAGG : Proceeding, on the right we reach what was the

leather- currier’s shop of the late Mr . E lias Lowe —one whichretained its old-fashioned character until the death of itslong occupant , when it was turned into the offices now oc

cupied by Mr . William Fret son . Mr . Lowe , as mo st of usremember him in his later days— portly , rosy-faced, andfeeble

,was far different from the E lias Lowe of the olden

time . Then he was active and a busy public man . He wasone of Sheffield’

s first Aldermen .

JOHNSON His memory went far enough back to rememberthe figtrees , from which Figtree lan e takes it s name .EVERARD : In confirmation of that fact , I myself well

recollect,when a little boy , seeing the front of one of the

houses covered with a figtree . It was either the same,or

BANK STREET . 67

the next house to that in which blind Jonathan , the fiddler ,lived . He was a respectable man of that clas s in those days .

WRAGG : Mr . Lowe’s brother , Isaac , was the keeper of a

well-conducted beer-house in Bridge street .

TWISS Next comes the Independen t oflice of the presentday . There formerly was a large garden , which must havehad a terrace wall overlooking the precipitous hill side downto Snig hill . A part of the old wall was found during thebuilding of Mr . Leader’s present printing offices .

LEIGHTON Opposite are the offices of Messrs . Smith andHinde , the present partn ers being the son s of the originalfirm . What a profound impres sion the lo s s of Mr . Hinde ,when cro s s ing the Atlantic in the ill-fated Arctic , in 18 5 4,made on the town " Mr . James Sykes , late of the Victoriacorn mill

,was another Sheffield man on board .

WRAGG : The new Union Bank, on the left , was erectedon the site of the Saynors

’ factory . They, prior to 18 10 ,employed more hands than any other firm in the cutlerytrade .LEONARD How completely workshop s in this street have

now given place to lawyers’ offices .

JOHNSON : Thomas Saynor , lived at 14, Bank street , andcarried on busines s at the back of Alderman Vickers ’ offices ,The original Saynors were Samuel and John . They wereboth factors and manufacturers , their chief bu siness beingdone in London in all kinds of knives , swords , shoe buckles ,skates , scissors , and razors . The busin ess subsequentlycam e into the hands of Thomas Saynor , Scargill croft , whomanufactured the Sportsman ’s knife , scis sors , razors , and

pen machine knife . After the steel pen came into use ,trade began to be bad . In sailing from London to Hull

,

a drunken sailor fell out of his hammock on to Mr . Saynor ,and injured him for life . He lay for a long time in Hu ll , andafter he cam e home he was unable to attend to his busines s .The mark which he struck was “ Rainbow , and his eldestson strikes the same mark . At Whitby , Yorkshire , anotherbrother , Jeremiah Saynor , was town beadle . John kept theO ld Barrack Tavern Bowling Green , and another Saynordrove the coach to Doncaster and Thorne from Waingat e .

A bran ch of the family is still in Edward street and has beenthere for more than 5 0 years .TWISS We should not pass that old hostelry the George

and Dragon without a mention .

1 68 BANK STREET .

JOHNSON : NO, it was a noted market-house in the dayswhen it was kept by John Cooper . I have seen on a Tuesday and Saturday a line of carts reaching from Figtree laneto the bottom of Bank street , and I believe the late Ald .

Hoole was the cause of prohibiting their standing in thestreet .TWISS : Let us take a peep up the adjoining lane at the

Quakers ’ Meeting-hous e . It was re -built in 1806 .

EVERARD : E ither at the time when the Meeting-housewas re -built , or during the period of some subsequent alterations , the Friends assembled in the large upper room of

‘

Mr .Hoyland

’

s iron warehouse , now occupied by Mrs . G . Tucker,No . 7 , York street .TWISS : An important contribution to local biography

would be an account of the worthy men who have beenprom inently connected with the Quakers’ Meeting-house .WRAGG : We have met with some already , and we shall

yet meet with more .LEONARD : On its site formerly were gardens , running

down to and acro s s what i s now Bank street . The oldQuakers ’ Meeting -hou se was , according to Gos ling

’s plan ,on the other side of Meeting -hous e lan e , where are now theoffices of the late Mr . Fran ci s Hoole , formerly Mr . Tattershall

’

s , and now again another Mr . Tat t ershall’

s .

EVERARD : Those offices were once of the school of theRev . Matthew Preston , when he lived in the house in Figtreelane

,now the Hospital for Women ; and afterwards of Stephen

Eversfield. Then on the other S ide of Figtree lan e , occupying the site of the synagogue of the Jews that they havedeserted recently (in 1 872) in favour of a new one behind itwith a frontage to North Church street , was Mr . WilliamCowley’s English Grammar school .

,

JOHNSON : That room in the course of its existence hasbeen put to very various u ses , for it was the meeting place ofthe Chartist s . Mr . Cowley’s son married the daughter ofJohn Cooper , of the George and Dragon . Bank street andQueen street fairly bristled with schoolmasters in those days .Besides those who have been mention ed, and Mr . JohnEadon ,

of whom we shall have to speak presently , WilliamWright had a school in the room behind Mr . Smilt er

’

s office ,before him occupied by John Addy , to say nothing of old NannyBashforth , who lived in the passage past Queen street chapel .WRAGG : Mr . Addy was better known as a teacher of

drawing . After Mr . Wright succeeded him in the room just

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170 NEw STREET .

And also all such goods as are in the said house and weregiven and bequeathed unto me by William Skargell, my latefather , deceased .

” To his second son , Thomas , he left theCow close and the Cow close head, two closes of land inBrightside “ Bierley ;

” and also those my ffoure cottages ator near the West -barr end , which I purchased of John Bayes ,with one croft thereto adjoyneing . He had also land atUpperthorpe , which he bequeathed to his daughter , so thatJoshua Skargell, yeoman , was quite a man of property .

LEONARD : There was still a representative of the familyin the town towards the end of the last century, for , as weshall have to remark presently, Thomas Scargil, or Scargill ,was an original member of Queen street Chapel , being one ofthe thirteen who left Nether Chapel to found it .TWISS New street must have been a very different

place when houses were provided in it as residences for theassistant ministers of the Parish Church . The Rev . GeorgeBayliffe was one who lived there up to the time Of his death in1 804 . He had been assistant minister for 44 years , holdingalso the curacy of E cclesall for 34 of them ; and before thathe had been curate to the Rev . W . Steer, of Ecclesfield, for1 5 years . Born in 1721 , he was , of course , a very old manwhen this century came in . Mr . Hunter has described himas low in stature , wearing a white curled wig and cocked hat ,and accustomed to take early coun try walks before breakfast .The Gen tleman

’

s M agaz ine, in a notice probably writtenby his colleague , the Rev . Edward Goodwin , speaks of Mr .Bayliffe in his domestic relations in the highest terms , andsays that he was economical without parsimony , of thestrictest integrity and ready to do every good work . In thedischarge of his offi ce as a clergyman he was piously regularand punctual on every occasion . His discourses were judiciousand instructive , and accompanied with a proper degree ofanimation . In his clerical vis its he was unwearied and diligent ,and spared no pains to maintain that happy harmony whichsubsisted between him and his brethren .

”

LEIGHTON : Between New street and Scargill croft is nowthe County Court . To build it were removed the old houseswhere formerly was Mr . John Parker , solicitor , brother ofMr . Adamson Parker and of the Rev . Frank Parker , of Dore .Mr . Parker built the large hou se on the other side of Newstreet

,formerly the Highway office , now occupied as solicitors

’

chambers,where the celebrated Luke Palfreyman lived .

BANK STREET . 171

JOHNSON : William Wood , spirit merchant , lived at thetop of Scargill croft . There was a large skittle alley attachedto the house . Mr . Wood was one of the largest spirit merchants in the town . In this croft , too , were John Owen

’

s

malt kiln s ; and after him Mr . Parkin succeeded to them . Hisson now carrie s on the same bus ines s in Coulson street .William Walmsley , blacking manufacturer , was here also .

He had a good trade,and at night he used to spend his time

playing the dulcimer . He was a great favoul it e with theladies , and he was in request at pa1 t ies and balls along withblind Jonathan , the fiddle1 and wait , who lived i n Figtreelane . Then there was Mrs . Binns , who kept the Nelson Inn ,New street . It was one of the most respectable h ouses inShefli eld fifty years ago . When the notorious Peter Fodenmarried and commenced business on his own account , he tookthe shop which then had a bow window in Bank street , s in ceconverted into offices , and now occupied by Mr . Henry Vickers .Patience Davy , the quakeress , kept a noted worsted shop nextto the County Court, and a fine business she did . There wasno knitting by machinery then , and no worsted like PatienceDavy’s . She was skilled in curing wounds and bruises

,and

people came from all parts of the town for her help . Hercharge was Thou art welcome . She retired with an inde

pendence to the better regions of Glo ssop road , where shedied at a green old age . On the other s ide of the street

,in

one of Lawyer Tat t ershall’s houses ,” was William Nadin

,

stay maker , who lived and made his fortune in Fargat e,opposite the Exchange drapery establishment , and retired toBank street . His son William was apprenticed to the fatherof the late Joseph Woodcock , brushmaker . This son was agreat politician and Jacobin . He married Martha Wright

,of

whom Mr . Wragg told us a curious anecdote in connectionwi th the Parish Church , and Mr . Joseph Nadin , who represents St . Philip ’s Ward in the Town Council , i s their son .

John Bland , the late chief-constable of Rotherham ,lived

next door to Messrs . Clegg and Son ’s office . He was theson of William Bland , mentioned once before Thenin the house occupied by the firm of solicitors j ust ment ioned, lived Samuel Broadhead— afterwards Broadhead and

Atkin , Britannia metal and fine scissors manufacturers .The title deeds do not state how old this property is

,

but it was standing in 1787 , when Henry Tudor bought itfrom John Nodder and Mr . William Tattershall bought itfrom the trustee of Henry Tudor

,in 1824 . Then the late

172 QUEEN STREET .

Ald . Francis Hoole bought it from the executors of the lateWilliam Tattershall .LEONARD Before leaving Bank street we ought , at least ,

to mention the names of Robert Rodgers,solicitor , father of

the present Mr . T . W . Rodgers , J .P. and John Watson , 3 ,Bank street , brother of Thomas Watson , silverplater , whoeducated eight poor boys at the charity school . He was oneof the old Sheffield worthies . There was

,too , the prede

ces sor of the late Mr . Thomas Badger , as coroner , AndrewAllan Hardy, who lived at No . 19 . Strange tale s have beentold of him when Lord Cochrane was wanted on a charge ofhigh treason , but he was so much respected that the Secretaryof State could not find any one who would give informationas to his whereabouts .WRAGG : At the corner of Figtree lane , i s the beginning

of Queen street , and the oldest house in the street , now oc

cupied by Mr . Haxworth , surgeon . It was built in 1784 byone of the Hounsfields , of Pond hill .TWISS It has usually been said that Messrs . Rayn er and

Turner built the house . At that time the ground was coveredwith trees and was called Wade’s Orchard . There seems tohave been some hes itation whether to call the new streetQueen street or Fig street .WRAGG It was in the same year that Queen street chapel

was built by Thomas V ennor and John Read . As Mr . Twis ssaid of the Quakers ’Meeting house so I might say of thisa biography of those who attended it would include some ofthe oldest and best familie s in the town .

EVERARD This chapel , as no doubt most of you areaware , was founded by some members of the Nether or LowerChapel , who

“ apprehended several things to be exceptionablein the ministry and conduct” of the Rev . John Harmer , itsthen pastor . As early as 1782 communications were exchanged between them and the Rev . Jehoiada Brewer , andeventually (March 26 , 1783) he accepted their invitation . Onthe 28 th of the same month ,

“ Messrs . V ennor, Read andSmith agreed with Mr . Wheat , the attorney, for a piece ofground situate in Queen street, for the term of 99 years , atlé—d. per yard , for the purpose of erecting a place of worshipthereon . Mr . Brewer came to Shefli eld July 13 , 178 3 ,preached for a time in “ the long room” in Norfolk street ,and his first sermon in the new chapel (though not yet com

pleted) , December the 3rd. Meantime Mr . Harmer , declining to give the seceders their dismissal, expelled them from

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174 THE REV . JEHOIADA BREWER.

spiritual life . The chief manifestation of the power of suchlife existed amongst the Wesleyan Methodist s . Howardstreet , Garden street , Lee croft , and Attercliffe chapels werenon -existent— not to mention those that have been erectedduring the present century . In fact , Nether Chapel andCoalpit lane Chapel (then recently erected, in 1780 , in con

sequence o f a secession from the former on the appointmentof the Rev . John Harmer) , were the only two Independentplaces Of worship in Sheffield . Mr . Brewer was a man of noordinary stamp . In person he was well built , posses sing abodily constitution capable of sustaining a great amount ofphysical labour and mental effort ; as the fact that he regularly preached six times a week , bes ides attending to hisother engagements , may sufficiently attest . He had a voiceof great compass

,power

,and flexibility and a countenance

indicative of energy and decision , deriving in part it s expressiveness from a dark , piercing eye , which , as he gave utteranceto the stronger emotion s Of the soul , was wont to flash withthe fire of intense animation . As a preacher he was eminently practical and searching . He was a man of actionrather than Of speculation the popu lar preacher rather thanthe profound metaphysician or learned divine . His f or tecon s isted in the clear comprehension and statement of scriptural truth . The interest and charm of his discourses chieflycon sisted in their being pervaded by the essential element ofstrong common sense

,rendered attractive by familiar illustra

tions , and enforced by a popular logic . As a pastor , he wasexemplary and faithfu l in the discharge of the duties of hisoffice . The theological system which he embraced and expounded was that which I may denominate as a scripturalCalvinism . In political sentiment Mr . Brewer entertainedsomewhat ultra L iberal opinions . His views and preferen cesin this respect he boldly and openly declared, at a tim e whensuch avowal rendered a man liable to be reproached with beingassociated with infidels in the assertion of the necess ity ofparliamentary reform and in the advocacy of the claims ofcivil and religious liberty . Decided in all his views , he wasfrom principle and conviction a stanch Nonconformist . Thedistinguishing characteristic of his ministry was its earnestness . After a successful course of nearly thirteen years , someunpleasant circumstances arose in the church , which eventually issued in Mr . Brewer

’s removal to Birmingham in1796 . He concluded his work in this town by preaching afarewell sermon to a crowded and deeply impressed con

QUEEN STREET CHAPEL . 175

gregat ion. On that special occasion he took for his text thewords Finally , brethren , farewell " After giving outthese words he burst into tears and although a man of greatself-possess ion , he was so deeply affected that he had to Sitdown before he could sufficien tly recover himself to be ableto proceed . Mr . Brewer had laboured at Birmingham forabout twenty years when a new and much larger chapel wasbegun . He was in feeble health when he laid the foundationston e of the building , and on that occasion remarked thatwhen the chapel was Opened they would have to walk over hisgrave " This proved to be the fact . He died on St . Bartholomew

’

s -Day , the 24th August , 18 17 , aged sixty- six yearsand the late Rev . John Hammond , one of his converts atSheffield , gave the fun eral addres s .

LEONARD Was there no t som e peculiar circumstance inconnection with Mr . Brewer coming to SheffieldEVERARD Yes . His first settlement was at Rodborough ,

in Gloucestershire , and the event to which you refer happenedthere . It may be of much interest to any of you who areattracted by the philosophy of dreams . It is reported bymost credible witnesses , who had it from Mr . Brewer

’

s ownlips . One Saturday night he dreamt it was the Sabbath ;and that after he had ascended the pulpit and commenced theservice , he saw a stranger , whom he had never seen before ,enter the chapel , and sit down in a certain pew . He thoughtthat after the service , this person came into the vestry toSpeak to him , and gave him an invitation to Shefiield. Thatwas his dream . The next day whilst engaged in the publicservice , he actually saw the gentleman whose likenes s hadbeen presented to him in his dream walk into the chapel , andtake his seat in the identical pew . This proved to be noother person than Mr . John Read, who , at the conclus ion ofthe service , went into the vestry and informed Mr . Brewerthat his busines s was to propose to him a journey to Sheffield .

It is certain that Mr . Brewer regarded this as an extraor

dinary circumstance , and it practically contributed to free hismind from all doubt or hesitation in accepting this “ call .”

LEONARD : The Rev . James Boden , who followed Mr .Brewer , was minister of the chapel from 1796 to 18 39 , withthe Rev . Jo seph Augustus Miller as co -pastor from 1836 .

Mr . Boden contented himself with keeping a mere list ofmembers in the Church book during his time , so that wecannot trace the changes in the deacons more accurately thanto say that Wm . Alsop , 178 5 -1830 ; Wm . Smith , 1803-1817

176 QUEEN STREET .

William Andrews , 1803 -1830 ; William Eagle , 1804-1820

Lewis Thomas,1805 -1832 ; all filled the office somewhere

between the figures appended to each name , the first beingthe year in which they joined the church

,the second the

year of their death . In 1834, the list was : Robert Marsden , Pit smoor hill side (the only survivor of the earliestfour) Thomas Dunn , Cornhill Robert Leader , PortobelloJohn Greaves , Glossop road George Merrill

,Harvest lane ;

John Eadon , Broad lan e ; Richard Thomas Taylor , SheffieldMoor . Mr . Marsden died in 1834, and in 1844 (min ister ,the Rev . John Hope Muir) , Mr . Dunn and Mr . Taylor havingleft the chapel , the places of these three had been suppliedby Edward Hall , Edward Hebblethwaite , and Robert Waterhouse . It is not worth while to bring down the record laterthan this . With regard to Attercliffe Independent Chapel ,which Mr . Everard has mentioned , its origin dates from 1793 ,when the Queen street people took an empty house at Attercliffe , and there Mr . Brewer preached every Wednesday evening . This was soon found too small , whereupon a chapelwas built

,and opened in October of the same year .

LEIGHTON Queen street Chapel is altered now. I wellremember

,

” wrote a minister who visited the town in 18 5 9 ,after many years absence ,

“ when that chapel was frontedwith a dead brick wall , with a wooden gate ; no porch overthe doors

,all within as plain : as the simplest white-wash

,a

narrow vestry at the lower end, and the Sabbath school conducted on the other side of the street , in the rooms whereMr . John Eadon had his academy .

”

EVERARD It was afterwards Farnsworth’s , at the bottomof North Church street . Mr . Eadon lived in the cornerhouse of that street and Queen street . But North Churchstreet was not opened through in those days . Below Wheat’spassage

,leading from Paradise square , was a precipitous bank ,

which had not then been cut away . Below that bank and immediately above the school , were the step s descending intothe wood-yard , as at this day . That yard belonged to Mr .Fox

,who lived at the house at the other end, facing Paradise

square . Projecting into the yard from Wheat’s passage wasthe house of Mr . Axe , round which the thoroughfare wound ,emerging into Wheat ’s passage by another flight of steps .Below were the backs of the Queen street houses , in whichlived (next to Mr . Eadon

’

s) William Knowles , then QuakerGurney

,and at the corn er , as now , was Mr . Bowman

’s,pawn

broker . The yard ex ists now just as it did then ; but it

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178 SILVER STREET .

murderers of Edward II . A third son of one of the Gurneysbecame a Quaker under the preaching of George Fox , and thefamily has long been seated in Norfolk . The late Mrs . Frywas a Gurney . I am sorry I cannot Show the connection ofthe Sheffield Gurneys wi th the Gurneys of Norwich

,but

,not

withstanding , they are of the same family .

LEONARD : Cousins , I believe .

WRAGG Continuing along Queen street,we get into quite

a new region , caused by the open ing through of the streetfrom Workhouse lane (Paradise street) to W estbar green , andScotland street . On the right , near Silver street , have re

cently disappeared some old cottages that were below the levelOf the street . A few yards up Silver street is the Star inn ,bearing the inscription— First hous e in Silver street , 1742 , f t ,Fifty or sixty years ago , that was a good double house . InSilver street , too , the Messrs . Dixon carried on business before they removed to Cornish place . At that tim e a man wholived in Workhou se lane had hi s letters directed to Silverstreet , because it sounded more respectable . At the top corner of Silver street there was a grocer’s shop which did agood business , it s occupier being Mr . Thompson , who unfortunately failed about 37 years ago . Since then the house hasgone through a variety of experiences , inclusive , of course ,of a beerhouse . It i s now occupied by a renovator of oldshoes .

EVERARD : I have heard it said that this Mr . Thompsongot his nickname of Sponty Thompson , from having usedthe word spontaneous” in a Speech at some meeting . ButI should rather think it was given to him as descriptive , ina single word , of his marvellous powers of speech and conversation . When very young I once spent an evening in hiscompany , and was very much struck and interested by him .

His words came in one continuous flow , and his language wasfar more pure and refined, and exempt from provin cialisms ,than it i s usual to hear in the course of conversation .

LEONARD Jonathan Watkinson , who was so unmercifullysatirized by Mather that he is said to have died of a brokenheart

,was aSilver street resident . He was one of the prin

cipal manufacturers of the day, and was Master Cutler in178 7 . His supposed offence was that he first exacted fromworkmen thirteen to the dozen ; but it is doubtful whether hedeserved the abuse he got , as may be seen from the notes inJohn Wilson’s edition of Mather

’

s Songs , pp . 63 -67 .

FRANK FEARN . 179

WRAGG : In Silver street head, near the Square , the grandfather o f Mr . John Clayton , the auctioneer , changed his busines s from a leather breeches maker to a broker and auctioneer ,and soon removed next door , to a much larger shop that wasprevious ly kept by a grocer , a well -known man , whose nameI have forgotten . Mr . Clayton’s second shop was t he onelately occupied by Mr . Neal . He had not been in busines smore than ten years when he retired . He died in the houseat the top of Convent walk , afterwards occupied by Mr . W .

S . Brittain . Down at the corner was “ Neddy” Maden , ashoemaker , who at his death had accumulated more than

He died on some of his property at the corner ofDuke street and Porter street . In We stbar green , where isnow the bottom of Scotland street (before it was Openedthrough to Queen street , and when the only issue was throughthe crooked Grindle gate , oppos ite Silver street head) , wasthe residence and manufactory of Mr . E lli s , file manufac

turer . The house stood backward , with palisades , and occu

pied the breadth o f the now street . He was a very respectable man

, but I am sorry to say one of his apprentices wasFrank Fearn , who was gibbeted on Loxley chas e for the mur

der of Nathan Andrews . Frank Fearn was naturally of adepraved dispo sition

,and Mr . E llis often predicted he would

die with his shoes on . A story is told , that when on thescaffold he said My master has often told me I should die

l

wi th my shoes on , so I shall pull them Off and make him aIar .

”

LEONARD : Mather , in his song on Frank Fearn , makeshim penitent on the scaffold

,but possibly with more poetical

licence than historical truth .

TWISS : There has been a good deal of speculation as towhat became of Frank Fearn’s gibbet po st . It is commonlybelieved that it was used as a foot bridge over the Rivelin orthe Loxley and it has been stated that

,having been washed

down to Shefli eld by a flood , it came into the possess ion of abuilder , and was used by him ,

along with a quantity of otherold material obtained by the removal of the ShrewsburyHospital , in erecting a row of cottages which stand in astreet that still bears the builder’s name .WRAGG : In Grindle gate lived the grandfather of the late

Mr . Thomas Dunn .

LEIGHTON : At the corner of Westbar green and Grindlegate was the grocer’s shop of Joseph Haywood , father of thelate lawyer and magistrate . It is still in the same trade .

180 PEA CROFT . -GEORGE SMITH .

EVERARD When I went to school with Thomas Haywood ,the younger son of the grocer mentioned , the family kept andlived at a shOp in Scotland street, opposite Now ill and Son

’swarehouse .WRAGG : In Scotland s treet was Mr . Benj amin Parkin ,

a large Spring knife manufacturer . He turned the front ofthe premises into a dram shop and carried on the bu sin es s ofa spirit merchant . The place is now Messrs . Mower andPearson’s . Near where i s the pawnbroker’s shop of Mr .Hides was , 60 or 70 years ago , Mr . Samuel Peace , grocer .He afterwards becam e a saw-manufacturer and acquired anample competency . He was father of the late Mr . CharlesPeace , one of our early alderm en .

LEIGHTON One improvement here is that the Scotlandstreet feast ,

” which had degen erated into an excuse for drinking and immorality , is a thing of the past , but it died hard ,and has not long since disappeared .

EVERARD : At the bottom of Pea croft was (and i s ) abaker’s shop , kept by Goodison , the father of Mr . Goodison ,the attorney .

LEONARD : The house is still standing in Pea croft thatwas built by the grandfather of Mr . Albert Smith— GeorgeSmith , who was Master Cutler in 1749 , and whose feast , asalready told , co st £2 . 2s . 9d. That was in the days whenthe apprentice s lived in the house with their masters ; and asMr . Smith had besides a large fam ily of children , he used tolead rather a long process ion when he went

,wearing his

cocked hat , down the Croft , up Silver street head , and acro s sHick’s stile field to the Parish Church , of which one of hi ssons was afterwards to be assistant-minister . There theyoccupied two pews . It i s a family tradition that on a Sundayto be remembered, one of the apprentices ventured to com

plain about the pudding . Mrs . Smith got up and boxed hisears , saying : Thou grumbles at such pudding as this "Better flour and better watter were never put together .LEIGHTON : We have changed all that by the modern sys

tem of apprentices . The alteration was beginning at theclose of the last century and attracted the attention of Wilberforce , who remarked , in his diary,

“ An increasing evil atSheffield is that the apprentices u sed to live with the mastersand be of the family ; now wives are grown too fine ladies tolike it ; they lodge out , and are much les s orderly .

”

LEONARD : But under the old system , apprentices , if notleft so much to themselves , had very hard times of it . There

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182 TREATMENT OF APPRENTICES .

apprentices always had a batch beforehand , that the ladsmight eat les s . It i s not therefore , specially surpris ing ,that when they had an opportun ity they snatched a cakefrom the bakestone . One lad was k nown to put an oat - cakein a coal basket , with the coal over it , while another concealedone under his shirt , and though instantly missed it was devoured before recovery was possible . On one occasion theyhad brewis or brewes for dinner . One of the lads , thoughtto be somewhat deficient in intellect , was seen to be pullingOff his j acket . When asked what he was going to do hereplied

,I’m going to j ump into the pan cheon to fetch that

big piece of cake out on the other side .” Barber , with allhis parsimony , died in the Workhouse .

LEONARD What is brewisWRAGG : Oat-cakes , mixed with dripping and hot water

poured on , seasoned with salt and pepper .EVERARD : It i s the traditional dish when the Cutlers ’

Company lunch together before the annual swearing in of theMaster Cutler . It is an old Saxon dish . In Gareth and

Lynette we read : He had not beef and brewis enow .

LEONARD : A Sheffield rhymster , named Senior , has sungthe woes of the apprentice s

When t’ prentice lad ate green wort cake ,Ta m i lk an ’ porridge blue ,

An ’ if at neet h e dar’d ta rake ,Thez e turn ’

d a darker hue .

E t’morn be t’larum clock struck s ix ,

If t’ Ro sco bell ’ad dun ,

E Lord Mayor shoes an ’ leather dicks ,E t ’ sm ithy he were fun ,

A wurkin fur h i s dai ly bread ,That came at braikfast time ,

Grac’d w i

’a fr inge , az green a tinge

A'

z t’ faan t in 0’ this rhyme .

”

TWISS : Another Sheffield man , in describing the formercondition of apprentices , said that the bad treatment to whichthey were subj ected originated the saying , He’s treated asbad as ony ’prentice lad .

” They were , said this writer,

indifferently fed and worse clothed , but it must be admittedthat some good old dam es ’ behaved well to them . Themasters , however , kept them in the sm ithy all the time possible from early in the morn ing till almost bed tim e . Thisconfinement was very injurious to young lads , and from stand

OLD SHEFFIELD APPRENTICES . 83

ing in awkward position s to do their work a great number ofthem became knock or knocker’-kneed . The growing ’prentice in his smithy attire was a picture . Tall and thin

,with

looks that bespoke hard work and poor feeding, he would beencased in leather breeche s that had been big enough threeor four years before , but with which now he was on badterms , they having run in and he having run out . The couse

quence was garments that did not cover to the knees , ludicrously tight , and shin ing with oil and grease . Or if theywere of fustian , they were les s constrain ing than the leather ,and consequently needed a constant ‘ hitch ’ to keep t hem fromslipping down altogether— for braces were not . On his headhe would have an old hat crown , or a brown paper cap ; hisShirt sleeves

'

doubled'

up would probably reveal a pair of oldstocking legs on his arms . Sometimes , but not always , heenjoyed the luxury of stockings on their proper members ,with a pair of old shoes of the mester’s ’ or dame’s ,

’

bywayof saving his own for Sundays . Add to these things a shirtunbutton ed at the neck , and a leather apron ,

and you have apicture of a cutler’s ’prentice of former days . The regulardiet of the lads was , in the morn ing a quarter of what (oat)cake

,

’ and milk porridge , with not too much milk . To dinnerthere would be broth and meat from fat mutton or coarseparts of beef. A quarter of oat-cake to drinking’ at fouro ’clock , and supper as breakfast . It was con sidered theheight of extravagance to eat oat - cakes that were not a weekold . Monday was baking day , and a week

’s batch was doneat a time

,so that by the time they were eaten they were quite

mouldy , and before the batch was finished they were nearly afortnight old . The lads then called them biscuit . It usedt o be said that to let the lads eat new bread would ruin a manwith a hundred a year . After supper , the

’prentices had tofetch , on their heads , water for the house supply (sometimesfrom a considerable distance) to feed the pigs and then , ifthere were 110 errands to run

,they might play till bed time .

Before a lad was bound he gen erally went a liking’ to hisproposed master , and if this led to satisfaction on both sideshe was taken to the Cutlers ’ Hall , where he was boundapprentice until he had attained the fu ll age of twenty-one ,the binding fee being half a crown , which was paid by thelad’s f1 iends or the master . His seven years’ servi ce was nopleasant thing to look forward to

,but there was the encou

raging prospect of having a good trade in his fingers at theend of the time . That over he had to take out his mark and

184 DAMES AND MADAMS .

freedom before he could begin working as a j ourneyman withsafety . His mark was registered by the Cutlers’ Companyfor a fee of 2s . 6d. , with 2d. annually as

‘mark rent . ’ If hen eglected paying this for seven years any other person mighttake the mark . Otherwis e it was piracy for any person tostrike a m ark without the con sent of the owner . Sometim esa mark was let for a sort of royalty— say 1 s . per gross if itwere a profitable one . There have been instan ces of theright of mark being sold for as much as £ 15 0 , when it wasin good repute .”

LEONARD I do not think we ought to dismiss the subj ectof apprentices without a glance at the “ Dames , who hadso much to do with them . There used to be a saying thatthere have been no good doings in Sheffield since so manyfine mistresses came into fashion and the good old dameswere supplanted . Dames were always looked upon as matrons ,and claimed respect . The ’prentice lad regarded his dameas a m other , and she acted a m otherly part to him . Dameshad all the management of the affairs of the hou se and family

,

t’

mester”

n ever interfering in them . There were,

” saida writer now dead , a great m any dam es when I was a boy

,

and they would have taken Offence if any on e had given themtitle of mistress , since that word was then used only in its badmeaning . Ladies of higher rank were Madams ,

’ as MadamsShore

,Fell , Bamforth , Hutton , &c . Some of these madams

wore hoops of cane near the bottom of their gowns , 40 inchesor more in diameter , and to enter a door they had to pu lltheir gown bottoms as lant to Obtain en trance . Nothing soridicu lous had ever been seen until crinolines came into voguea few years ago . There was a wonderfu l difference in theappearan ce of these madam s and the dames . The latter

,on

a working day, had a lin sey-wolsey or checked bed-gown , inwhich to do her household work ; a woollen or blue apron before her , and her plain cap fitting close to her head . Thehouse was a model of brightness and order . Everything in it sproper place , clean as a new pin ,

’ the pewter and pewter-casea credit to her care . The tren chers as clean , the fire- iron s ,candlesticks , brasses , coppers , &c . , as bright as hands couldmake them . In the even ing you would see her daughter andthe servant girl —shou ld one be kept— at a spinn ing wheel .All the dame’s bed and table linen had been spun thus eachhad her task of spinning to accomplish by the end of theweek

,and the noise was such as would not now be tolerated

by the male members of the family . On a Sunday, the dame

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18 6 PEA CROFT .

middle of one side , with the fireplace facing it ; and at eitherend i s a hearth , with the bellows in the corn er , and thes tithy s tocks’ in their proper situations . The walls areplastered over with clay or wheel swarf,

’ to keep the wind outof the crevices sometim es the luxury of a rough coat of limemay even be indu lged in . The floor i s of mud , the windows ,about half a yard wide and a yard long , have white paper ,well saturated in boiled 0 11, in stead of glas s , or in summerare open to the air . In one corner is a place partition ed offfor t ’mes t er

’

as a warehouse or store room , and on each S ideare the work -boards with vices for hafters , pu tters together ,&c . Over the fireplace i s a paddywack alm anack , and thewalls are covered with last dying speeches and confess ion s ,Death and the Lady ,

’ wilful murders , Christmas carols , listsof all the running horses , and so forth . Hen s u se the sm ithyfor their roo sting place , and some times other live stock havea harbour there— as rabbits , guin ea pigs , or ducks , while thewalls are not destitute of singing birds ’ cages . There areodorous out -o ffices clos e adjoin ing , and it is essent ial that thewhole shou ld be within easy call from the back door of‘ t ’ mester’s’ house .

”

WRAGG We must not pas s Pea croft without a mentionof that old and respectable firm , Matthias Spencer and Son .

In 1787 , it was s imply Matthias Spencer , file sm ith ; butlater the son was added to the firm , and they became steelconverters and refiners ; and, in stead of the s imple filesm ith , they were manufacturers of file s , edge tools , saws ,&c .

” The descendants of the origin al firm are still there ,and old Mr . John Spen cer , who lives at Rotherham and hasno t discarded breeches for such new-fangled things as trousers , i s the senior past Master of the Cutlers

’ Company . Heheld the office in 1835 .

LEIGHTON : Another Master Cutler of Pea croft fame wasGeorge Wood , scissors maker . His was the hous e with thepalisades , now a beer -house . H is year of office was 1791 ,and the previou s year having been distingu ished by a disputebetween the masters and their workmen , in which Mr . Woodtook a promin ent part, he cam e in for a share of Mather

’s unsparing abu se .

WRAGG : In Hawley croft were located the Messrs . Rodgers ,now of Norfolk street . In the same street is a stone building ,with quoin s and s tring courses , and two bow w indowshaving evidently been shops . The date of this is 1724, with

the in itials TM

M . The door above is a very large house when

HAWLEY CROFT . 87

it was built it would perhaps be the largest house in the town .

It was a beer-house for a number o f years .EVERARD : The hou se cons ists of 24 rooms , one of which

is bu ilt up, and it i s now used as a lodging house . Over thefire place i s a sort of shield bearing the date of 1721 and thein itials D

I

S ; (the S is somewhat doubtful— it may be some otherletter) . My father has often told m e that when he was alittle boy and lived in the neighbourhood, Squ ire Bright

,

”

as he was then called , lived in this house . He was describedas a goodly—looking personage , with powdered wig , cocked-hat ,golden -headed cane , and silver shoe -buckles , who might oftenbe seen standing at the entrance ; whilst the young urchin swere won t to gaze upon him with adm iration andwonder

, and

wou ld occasion ally get a peep at h is flock of beautifu l pigeons,

and at the green grass -plot at the back of the hou se , togetherwith the garden s . Thes e comprised the land extending toLee croft

,

”and, I believe , included the site on which Lee

croft Chapel now stands .LEONARD : Mr . Holland has it that one of these Hawley

croft hous es— probably he mean s that of 1724 , was built andoccupied by Jonathan Watkinson , of whom we spoke in connection with Silver street . I do not know on what evidence .LE IGHTON : In Hawley croft , too , was Jonathan Beard

shaw . He kept an inn , the very hous e above described , withthe pas sage that leads into Lee croft , and he made muchmoney there .WRAGG Yes , it was the Ball he kept , and he did it with

profit and credit to him self. He was the father of the lateAlderman B eardshaw , and the grandfather of the presen tMessrs . B eardshaw , of Baltic Works , Attercliffe .LE IGHTON : He was by trade a Silversmith, but on his

only surviving son , George , coming of age , he set him up ,and entered into partnership in the saw trade .WRAGG In White croft were Mr . James Wild (of whom

I spoke in connection with his residen ce at the top of Tohead street) and the Jervises , descended from the Dutch cutlers who were amongst the artisans that quitted the Netherlands to avoid the cruelty of the Duke of Alva , andwho cameto Sheffield through the instrumentality of the E arl of Shrewsbury .

EVERARD : Lawyer Jervi s , the Rev . Mr . Jervis,for

merly of the Collegiate School , and Mr . Jervis , late druggistin Glossop road (who had been appren ticed to Messrs . Carr,Woodhouse , and Carr) , were of this family .

18 8 SIMS CROFT AND HOLLIS CROFT .

VVRAGG : In Sims CI‘

Oft —NO . 6— the grandfather of thelate Mr . Rowbotham ,

grocer,carried on busin es s before he

removed in to Tenter street , oppo s ite the bottom of Sim s croft ,about 80 years ago . It is easy in all these Streets still tospot out the hou ses of the old m anufacturers . They aremostly now public or beer hou s es . At the top of Sims croft ,for in stan ce

,there is one . Form erly it was occupied by a

person nam ed Bee , in the b race -bit lin e . In h is day , it wassaid

,he was m aking mon ey fast by posses s ing a valu able

s ecret in gilding . There , 60 years ago , one of his son s kepta hun ter , which was con sidered a wonderful thing at that time .

In Ho llis croft , on the prem ises now occupied by the Mes srs .

E lliot,were the Greaveses , before they removed into D ivis ion

street (now I . P . Cutts , Su tton and Co .

’

s premises ) prior tobuilding Sheaf works . Higher up in the street were Messrs .Kenyon ’s file works , afterwards occupied by Charles Burgin ;and at the t op,

at the corn er o f Red hill , was the res idenceo f Mr . Gardne1 , a partner in the firm . It was n ear to Mr.

Dunn ’

s, and was as good a hou se .

WRAGG : Next to the Kenyon s ’ works , in Hollis croft ,were those Of the Harrison fam ily , of whom Mis s Harrison ,

of Weston,was the last represen tative . There , too , were fixed

the Shepherds , razor m anufacturers . The las t survivor diedon Crookes moor , late the res iden ce of Mr . Edwin Hunter .Higher up res ided John Knott , who claimed to be a po et . Inever saw him but once . He was a poor Old man , withsomewhat curious features , dres sed in a Hanby

’s Charitycoat . When I saw h im he had on e o f his produ ction s , whichhe appeared to be offering for sale . The price , he said , wastwopen ce and he boasted that it was equal to any of Mont

gom ery’

s . He wrote tw o n au t ical songs that pos ses sedfi re

equal to Dibden ’

s . I shou ld like to see his effu sion s printedin a collected form , as Mather

’s have been . If I am not m i s

taken he married the sister o f Thomas Smith , the con stable ,— at any rate there was some relation ship . He was by tradea working hatter— n ow , I believe , there i s n ot a hat made inSheffield— but on e of the eccen tricities o f gen ius he pos sessedwas a love of drink , and he ended hi s days in the Kelhamstreet Workhou se . At the top of Hollis croft was an extensive table -kn ife manufacturer , nam ed B rownhill, who had theprem is es now occupied by Mr . Stephen Bacon . He had thecharacter of being ready to second anything at the meetingsof the Masters’ comm ittee ; so on one occas ion it was movedthat all the table -blade grinders should be hung . Mr . Brown

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190 ST . THOMAS ’

S DAY IN HOLLIS CROFT .

found myself standing oppo s ite to the hou se . I was sorry tosee that the cock had lost some of the gay plumage whichadorned him so well 40 or 5 0 years ago yet he still holds up.

his crest as proud as ever , and is ready to do battle as in thedays of yore again st all who shall presum e to poach upon hisdomestic domain . I thought of the days that are long gon eby

,and of the old song

Bright Chanticleer proclaim s th e dawn ,

And spangles deck the sky.

”

My Lord , the early village cock hath thriceB id salutation to the morn .

”

And again ,that it was St . Thomas’s Day . All hail to the

founders of the Hollis Hospital , from whom the croft takesits n ame . They are to be found recorded within the groundsat the bottom Of Sn ig hill , and a full history is given inHunter’s Hallam shire . The trustees in their wisdom , and

no doubt with the best intention s , let the ground in Holliscroft on building leases for 900 years , the front at 1 s . peryard , and large pieces of ground at the back for nothing .

That they were gen erou s sou ls is sufficiently proved by theirallowing three guin eas to the tenantry to enable them toenj oy a good old English dinn er . It was held at the Cook ,

”

on S t . Thomas ’s Day , and these are the names of someof tho se who took a delight in attending . There were threebrothe rs of the nam e of Shepherd , two of whom I knew .

They were invariably together , one of them walking about ayard in advance of the other . Other two brothers wereSamuel and Benjamin Marples . I had the pleasure of knowing them well— hon esty and truth were in them , and whenone died the other could not live ; he did not long survivehis friend , his compan ion , his brother . Now, whatever Ihave said in praise of the above applies equally to those Ishall men tion below— Mr . Philip Law, Mr : John Spencer(Matthias Spencer and Son , Pea croft) and oh , what delightI feel when I meet his venerable figure

,and look upon his

cheerfu l counten an ce . He will long be remembered . Mr .Jonathan B eardshaw , of Whom more anon Mr . John Hawksley , Mr . James Wild (of whom you have heard before) ,Mes srs . Shirtcliffe , Skinner , Barraclough (Messrs . W ingfieldand Rowbotham) , Benj amin Leathley , Thomas Makin ,

CharlesSanderson , and various others . Their descendants are stillamongst u s , keeping up the good names of their families .The dinner is over, the usual loyal toasts are given , the land

THE COCK,

“ HOLLIS CROFT . 191

lord is ordered ; the spirits , the lemons , the sugar , &c . ,are

brought in , andMr . B eardshaw , in accordan ce with the timehonoured custom , i s called to m ix the pun ch . He con sultshis friends . A little m ore lem on ,

says Mr . Wild ; a littlemore sugar , says another ; and the m irth begins . Mr . Beardshaw is called upon to s ing h is song of the Flat Backs” :

To mak ’em w e are w illin ,

A basket full for a shillin ,

Red h errIn s and po tatoesOur bellies to be fillin .

”

But though tim es were bad with them,they could still be

gen erou s with the ale , and Pray the’ gie Steen (Stephen) asup , for he is varry dry , hi s throat is full of smithy Sleck , thewind has been so high .

” Other songs followed . The oldwarlike ones were n o t forgotten .

Let the song go round , let the shout s resoun d ,Let th e trumpet sound on Span i sh groundLet the cymbals bang , w ith a m erry, m erry clang ,To the j oys of the n ext campaignTo the joys o f the next campaign .

Amidst all the mirth and j ollity which prevailed , one thingwas never forgotten , a subscription for the poor widows of thestreet . It was always a liberal one , and I have no doubt carried comfort and con solation along with it . It is not alwaysa pleasure to recall the past , bu t in the cours e of a prettylong life I have exper i en ced a full share of bright sunshine ,to which I can look back with pleasure ; and some of themoments I pas sed on St . Thom as ’s Day , at the Sign of theCock,

” are among these . Several of those whom I havenam ed above cou ld well afford to ride in their own carriages ,but they were plain men , and wou ld have felt asham ed tohave been seen in them ; but in these days , when wealth i saccumulated by leaps and bounds ,

Som e drive along w ith four in handWhile o thers drive at random ,

In w ishy-buggy , gig or dog- cart ,Curricle or tandem .

TWISS When speaking of fraternal affection of Samueland Benj amin Marples you m ight have added that , in separableas they were

,it was the rarest thing in the world to see them

without their wives . The four were always together , andformed a most harmonious quartette .

WRAGG : In Bailey street we may again see what I havenoticed before— the houses of substan tial manufacturersturned into taverns . Behind they had their workshops . The

192 - BAILEY STREET .

t op house , No . 12 , unt il recently a beer-house , was the res iden ce of one of the Wing fam ily , who carried on a good filetrade in the yard . In this street , abou t 5 0 years ago , res idedJemmv Frith , the first money- club defaulter in the town

and h is relative , John Wright , Honest John ,” who followed

his example in 1 833 , was born here .

LEONARD You are certainily comparing the father'

w ith

the son . It was James Frith , the son of Jemmy , who

defrauded the money clubs . The original Jemmy Frith wasfor many years leader of s inging in Carver street Chapelindeed from the open ing of the chapel un til his death . Hegathered together a large company of vocal and in strum en talperformers for Christm as Day , n early filling the whole frontpart of the gallery . For m any years this was at five o’clockin the morn ing , but subsequ ently it was held at six o ’clock ,in Norfolk street Chapel and at half-past ten , and s ix in theeven ing , in Carver street . Occas ionally he secured the services of hi s cousin s— I think they were— Sam and Tom Frith ,both of whom Were accustomed to discours e sweet sounds inQueen street Chapel . If I recollect aright , all three hadalmost unsurpassed voices and capacity of modu lation .

WRAGG : At any rate , the Frith I mean slipped away toAmerica to evade the consequen ces of his delinquencies , bu tWright was tran sported from Pon tefract ses sion s Hewas defended by counsel , but he made a speech of so muchability in defen ce , that it was noticed by the first LordVVharncliffe in pas s ing sen ten ce . His Lordship told himthat he appeared to be a person of no ordinary abilities , anda man of som e con siderable education , but on that very aocount he was all the more dangerous . Non e of the learnedcounsel present , could , his

’

Lordship added , have made abetter speech . His clubs were held at 5 6 , Orchard street .A few years after his tran sportation , a m emorial was got upto the Governm en t , which enabled h is wife and family to rejoin h im . They were res iding at No . 32 in this street— thedoor below James Frith’s res iden ce . The men who weremembers of Honest John ’

s” clubs are now very few . Out

of the 36 witnes s es who appeared again st him at PontefractI believe there i s only on e left— a gentlem an who has beenMayor and who i s still an Alderman . It was on Mr . B .

Hinchliffe’

s case that Wright was convicted . Hin chliffe paidWright five pounds , two shillings and a penny . Wrightscratched out the five and put the money in his pocket . On

his trial he put forth the plea of ill health , which had placed

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194 THE INTRODUCTION OF BRITANNIA METAL .

was celebrated for the excellen ce of his wares until at lengthothers , amongst whom were Mes srs . D ixon and Sm ith , es tablished in Silver street up to the tim e of their rem oval ' toCorn ish place ,

’ began to rival him .

”

LE IGHTON : Excuse the interruption,but is that statem ent

that Mr .V ickers was the first manufacturer of Britann ia m etalteapots qu ite correct " I have heard the honour claim ed fo iMr . Con stan tine , then carrying 0 11 bu s ines s In Scotland st i eet ,who was uncle to Mr . Edwin Smith , scu lptor , Cem eteryroad .

EVERARD : I know that the question ,

“ WI1O was thefirst "” is a disputed point , but it i s my conviction (in theabsen ce of stronger eviden ce to the contrary than I have yetseen) , that to Mr . John Vickers , in partn ership with his fatherMr . Jam es Vickers , the honour is due . AS a boy I kn ew him as

far back as 18 14 , when hi s father was dead , and he was carrying on the bus in es s probably at the period of it s greatestsucces s . Mr . Rogers Broadhead , the succes sor of his father

’

s

fir ,m has’

confirm ed m e in my opin ion , and has fu lly adm ittedthe priority of the Messrs . Vickers to Mes srs . Broadhead andCo . As fo I Mr . James D ixon , he was an apprentice , I believe ,with Mes srs . Broadhead and Co . , and afte1wards wo1ked as aj ourneym an both for them and for Mr . Con stantin e .

TWISS : I have an account of the origin of the manufac

ture from the pen of an elderly gentleman , now deceased ,which quite confirms your view ; and since his father hadsomething to do with the matter , he had good oppo rtun ityfor forming an opin ion . This i s his story I have heardit said that Mr . Nathaniel Gower was the first person whobegan the Britann ia , or white m etal trade , bu t I differ inopin ion

,becaus e of circumstan ces which have been known to

me from childhood , and from proof in my father’s m emoranda . Mr . Nathan iel Gower was an early manufacturer , anda very respectable person in the trade In its infancy [he wasin partn ership with Mr . Georgius Sm ith , and died in 1 8 13 ,aged 8 3] but Mr . Jam es Vickers , of Garden street , was thefirst person who began manufacturing white metal articles inSheffield . About the year 1769 , a person was taken very ill ,and Mr . Vickers visited him in hi s Sickness . This manwas in possession of the recipe for making white metal .Mr . Vickers bid him 5 s . for the recipe , and the off er was accept ed. Having experimen ted and found the metal to be ofvery good colour , Mr . Vickers purchased some spoon mou lds ,and began casting spoon s . Getting them well fini shed

,h e

obtained a tolerable sale for them . He then got moulds made

RED HILL . 195

of vegetable forks , and these as s isted the variety on the market . My father was vis iting him in a friendly manner on enight , when Vickers said, Well , Charles , if I had but £ 10I wou ld get up a stock of goods and go to Lunnon with them .

My father len t him the money , and a short time afterwards ,in another conversation , Vickers says , Well , Charles , Ithought if I was in pos sess ion of £ 10 I cou ld have done anything , but now I find myself as fast as ever I was .

’ Myfather replied , Well , James , I can lend thee another £ 10 , ifthou thinks it will do thee any good .

’ He did so . Vickerswent to London , and his j ourney was succes sful . He soldhis articles , and got orders in exces s of the m aterial he cou ldobtain to execute them with . He kept the m on ey until afterhi s second j ourn ey, when he repaid my father . He thenbegan making a differen t kind of article

,as tobacco boxes ,

beakers , tea and coffee pots , sugar bas in s , cream j ugs , &c . ,

and got on rapidly in bu s ines s . Froggatt , Coldwell , and Cc . ,

Spoiles and Gurney , andParkins , in Campo lane , were all oldhou ses in that line .”

EVERARD During this break off , permit me just to remarkthat Mes srs . Broadhead , Gurney , Spoiles and Co .

, wereestablished as manufacturers in Bank street , in 1789 . I willnow proceed with the reading of the paper :

At the top of Red hill , som e years subsequently , livedMr . Morton , who had formerly carried on a laI ge s ilver platedbusin es s , and was the grandfathei of the late M1 . ThomasDunn . The celebrated Independen t preacher , the ReverendWilliam Thorpe , of

-Bristol , had been one of his apprenticesand n ever cam e to Sheffield without vis iting his old master .

In'

the large hou s e in Solly street , or Corn hill , fronting Redhill , lived for m any years Mr . Thom as Dunn , sen ior : and

this was the home in which our late highly esteemed and

able magistrate was brought up.

The ground on which Red hill School now stands was agarden , in which , as a child , I have gathered flowers . It wasthen occupied , and I believe owned , byMr . Binn ey , the fatherof Mr . Binn ey , the attorney . In 18 1 1 , this school was builtas a Methodist Sunday School the upper room s being let offas a day school . The first schoolm aster was M . Guion , aperson of French extraction ,

who was an able teacher , and

carried on for many years this respectable comm ercial academy .

At this school were educated,as my schoolfellows , the late W .

F . D ixon , E sq . , of Page Hall ; the late Mr . Brightmore

Mitchell ; Mr .“Henry E lliot Hoole

,of Green lane Works ;

196 BROAD LANE .

the late Messrs . Morgan andHenry Armitage , of the Mousehole Forge ; Mr . Henry Pickford ,

‘ the learn ed grinder ,’ who

acquired a knowledge of French , Latin , Greek ,'

and Hebrew ,

by nearly hi s unaided efforts , and who died in early life and

Mr . William Ibbit t , who at one time repres ented the St .George’s Ward in the Town Council and was well known bythe publication of a series of colou red prin ts , being Views ofSheffield and the neighbourhood .

’

The s chool in qu estion was afterwards kept for a number of years by the late Mr . John Eadon (who had previous lyoccupied the school belonging to Qu een street Chapel) , then ephew and ass istan t of the celebrated John Eadon , themathematician .

A few yards from Red hill,down Broad lan e , there is

a blank space en closed with a high and substantial wall . Fewperson s of the presen t gen eration will be aware of that spothaving been a Cemetery . At the comm en cem ent of thiscentury it was the on ly Quakers ’ burial ground in the townthough they had several places in the country . I myself haveseen two persons interred in this plot , both of them adu ltfemales .

The n ext building below was a large and respect ablehouse , with a clock in fron t of it . This was the res idenceof Mr . Samu el Hill

, who was much celebrated in hi s day forhi s proficien cy in clock making and repairing . Many of hisclocks may be seen in the town

, bu t more especially in then eighbouring villages

,with his n am e 0 11 the face . He was

a tall man , wearing a broad-brimm ed hat , long coat , withbreeches and leggings . He kept a stout pony on which 130 ‘ gohis rounds in the country, with his cas e of tools and at theirown houses cleaned and repaired the clocks of the farm er sand villag ers . He was a respectable man

,and very widely

and gen erally es teemed .

Although at a period earlier than my recollection , yetthe late Samu el Hadfield

,E sq . ,

told me that h is parents hadat one time resided in one of the three houses at the cornerof Red hill and Broad lane (I forget which) , when himselfand his brother George— afterwards M .P. for Sheffield— wereyoung boys .

The Broad lane of my early days was very different inappearance to what it is now . At that time the lan e properwas the highway

,but sunk lower than the present causeway

by four or five f eet , from St . Thom as street to Newcastlestreet—and to some extent to Rockingham street . The

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198 S T. GEORGE’

S CHURCHYARD .

On the Oppo site side of Broad lane , in the first houseabove St . Thomas ’s s treet , lived Mr . Ibbotson , the fatherof the late Mr . William Ibbotson ,

w ho married his cousinMary . Mr . William Ibbotson was con sequently brother-in

law as well as cous in to Mr . Henry ; and they took to theold gentlem an ’s busin es s , which I believe was the saw trade ,and en tered into partn ership as Ibbotson Brothers . ’ As isgen erally known , they bu ilt the Globe Works ; and wereone of the first firms in Sheffield which established an extensive trade in saws and cutlery with America .

During that dreadfu l tim e of bad trade , abou t 18 12 or18 14 , when flour was s ix and seven shillings per stone , andeven at that price much of it so unsound as to run out of theoven bottom in baking , there were some twelve hundred ablebodied m en on the parish , who were sen t to the

‘ burialground ’

(now St . George’s churchyard) to get clay and to

level it . They all wore wooden clogs , partly as a badge ofreceiving parish relief and this , I believe , was the first in trodu ction of the wear of wooden clogs in Sheffield , the custombeing imported from Lan cashire . Many of these men werehonest , indu strious , and respectable arti z an s ; and the soundof their daily tramp in wooden clogs up and down Broad lanewas very sad and ominous ; more especially in the ears ofsu ch as were them selves expecting soon to be reduced to thelike deplorable condition . I believe the spirit and feelingprevalent amongst this mas s of working m en

,at that time , was

discontent with the Governm ent,and despondency as to future

prospects . They were as men almost driven by the force ofcircumstances to the verge of despair and revolution . Neverin my m emory has there been in Sheffield so bad and distres sing a time .

The burial ground above referred to , at length actuallybecame what its nam e indicated it had been reserved and intended for , by the erection , in 1821 , o f St . George

’s Church ,at the laying of the foundation of which I was present . Ithonoured the day of the coronation of George IV . On thisoccasion there was a triumphal arch erected from the oldchurch gates to the oppo site s ide , illuminated by the latelyintroduced light of gas .

In my school-days I have had the honour of playing atcricket , on the burial ground , with the late Mr . Thom asDunn , being at that time boys res iding in the same neighbourhood.

THE BRICKHOLES . 99

Let me now add a brief description of what was at thetim e gen erally known as the ‘

B rickholes .

’ This comprisedthe large brickfield that extended from St . John ’s street ,n early to Bailey lan e . This was the property of the late Mr .Thom as Harrison , o f We ston . The chief m anager of thisbrickyard was old Jo seph Marsden , the father of Tom Marsden ,afterwards the celebrated cricket player , but who then workedwith hi s father at making bricks .

A large space ou t of which the clay had been dug becam e , by supplies from variou s sources , filled with water , soas to form a pond extending from Newcastle street to a littlebeyond Rockingham street . In the winter seasons this was anoted place for s liding and skating . In one part the waterwas of su ch a depth that I on ce saw a person have a verynarrow escape from drown ing . It was a winter’s day , the icebeing of great thickn es s , when , ju st at du sk , a man who wascom ing from Trippet lan e to Broad lane , in cro ss ing over didn ot happen to s ee that there was a hole broken in the ice , andin he went over head With hi s hands grasping the edge ofthe ice he cried out loudly and piteous ly for help , when a tallyoung man , snatching a knur stick ou t of my hand , and

another s imilarly provided , rushed to his aid , and rescu ed thepoor fellow from h i s extreme peril . The part of Rockinghamstreet where this occurrence took place i s , of course , m adeground acros s the B rickhole and certain portion s of Newcastle street and St . Thomas ’s street are the same .

It may, perhaps , be a fact interesting to some to know ,

that the said B rickhole’ was the spot from whence Sir

Fran cis Chantrey got the clay with which he made his firsta ttempts at modelling bust s and figures . He lodged for sometim e with Mr . Outram , (father of the late Mr . Outram ofHigh street) , who carried on the bus ines s of cabinet -makerand j oiner , living in the hou se n ext to the Sovereign inn

,

the yard and workshops Occupying the space now filled up bythe said inn , and the houses in Rockingham street extendingdown to the n arrow lan e . There was a Shop window fron tingTrippet lane , in which he exhibited h is furn iture for sale .One of the first attempts , I believe , of Chantrey at crayonportraits , was the execution of a likenes s of old Mr . Outram .

This was fram ed and hung up , and I have often exam ined itwith great interest when a boy . The fact of the great sculpt or , who acquired a reputation in that departmen t of artsecond to none in the kingdom ,

or perhaps in the world , having dug the materials for his first efl ort s of plastic skill out

200 BROAD LANE FEAST .

of this spot , is , I think , qu1t e enough to make it interesting ,at leas t to the m inds of some Old enough t o rem ember theplace as it then exis ted , and who adm ire the geniu s of Chan e

t rey .

'

I t will hardly do t o conclude the s e personal recollection sof Broad lane withou t some brief reference t o it s annualfestival— an event long anticipated and much enj oyed , especially by the young fo lks . It was held on Holy Thursday ,and was regarded as a gen eral holiday . In preparation fo r itduring the previous week , there was a great stir of whitewashing and clean ing , so as to put on the very best appearance .

On that day the Sun day clothes were worn . The best thingabout that festival , as it now appears to me , was that -i t

partook very much of the spirit and character of a socialgathering of relatives and friends— when the married daughtercame to her former home with her children to s ee grandmother ,

’ and aunts and uncles , while youthful cou sin s of bothsexes , met in kindly as sociation , indulged in j oke and laughter ,keen ly enj oying ball-play and all other innocent amusements .

Su’

ch , at least , was my home experience and , from all I saw ,

my impres s ion was that the experien ce of our n eighbours wasof a sim ilar kind .

But the great attraction for u s youngsters was the gm

gerbread stalls , the crankies , the swings,the puppet shows ,

and the races . The Open space , not so large then as now , atthebottom of Townhead street and Broad lane was just likea fair . Am idst all this life and an imation

,restles s activity ,

din , and turmoil , in perfect contrast might be seen the‘ blacksmith ,

’ with pipe in his mouth , and bare brawny armsresting on the smithy door , look ing on the bu sy scen e , withcountenance calm and complacent .

“ But the grand expectation and sight were the races .These were run .

by donkeys and ponies ; the jockeys beinggenerally milk boys out of the coun try , who , disencumbering their asses of saddles and milk barrels , prepared for thecontest . - The prizes usually were a hat , a smock- frock , or ateapot ; and the courses Bailey-field, Bailey-lane , and Broadlane . How the riders managed to ru sh up and down thesteepness of Bailey-field, and the n arrowness of Bailey- lanewi thout some breaking of the n ecks or limbs , either of themselves Or the spectators , i s to me up to this day a mystery .

Wearing the new hat , adorned with flying colours , hi s ruddyface and bright eyes beaming with conscious triumph , thevictor

,after re-saddling his ass , was then accompanied a short

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202 VILLAGE FEASTS .

country cousins for a bellyful of meat . There were no sm allnumbers , however , who went so lely for recreation , or to seethe stirrings at the place or in the public -houses .

EVERARD : Were the town feasts instituted to give an

opportunity of return ing the ho spitality of the country peopleTWISS : I do n ot know . Wakes were , in the Catholic

times,a dedication of a church , which was kept by watching

all n ight , or what was better known in those days by theappellation of the Vigil Feasts were originally in stitutedwhen there was but a small popu lation in the coun try , andso on an appoin ted day the relatives and friends by comm onconsent met together ; and at parting an invitation was givento them to return the vis it on a fixed day at their respectiveresiden ces , which might then be in som e new formed village .

This was called the Village feast -day , and cau sed a great ihfl ux o f visitors ; and being repeated periodically , eventuallyobtained a degree of notoriety . The parties who thu s as sembled generally requ ired som ething t o amuse them . Thefiddler was engaged for the dancing of the young people , who ,with juven ile hilarity , tripped it on the light fantastic t o e ,

”

whilst the bu ll or bear was obtained by the landlord o f thepublic -house (if there was one in the Village) for the trial ofdogs— a good dog being of con s iderable value . Matches atfootball , too , not unfrequently took place , as well as otherathletic games . Family affaiI S weI e for the most pa1 t , talkedover on Sunday . On the following day the sports began .

The feast dinner did not cons ist so much of the delicacies ofthe season as in the quantity of good , substantial food . Thepoorest person took care to brew a met of m alt ready for thewakes or feast ; and it was a practice the night before thefeast for n eighbours to go to each other’s houses to tastetheir respective “ taps” of home -brewed .

WRAGG : There are one or two points not touched on inMr . Everard’s account of Broad lane that I should like to add .

The George and Dragon was the residen ce of the late Rev .

Mark Docker’s father -in -law , Mr . Bramm er , and behind werehis press ing shops . When Sanderson Brothers and Co . werein one of the lanes behind the National School

,Carver street ,

they got up more table -knives than any one else in the town ,

and cut their own bone hafts and scales . The nog ends ofthe bones were led away as rubbish , and innumerable cartloads of them were thrown into the river at Green lan e , andin the brickholes— between Messrs . Riley

,Carr and Co .

’sworks and Rockingham street . Great quantities of them

BROAD LANE . 203

have been dug up in making and enlarging the commonsewer . The house mentioned as the residence of Mr . Ibbotson (first above St . Thomas

’ street) , was afterwards occupiedby Mr . Guion ,

the s choolmaster . The door above , now partof the Florist inn ,

was built by one Of the son s -in - law of thelate Mr . John Nicholson , of Darnall , who had , before hismarriage

,been coachman to Mr . Read , of Attercliff e , but who

was , when in Broad lane , a scale presser . He attendedHoward street Chapel , and an amusing story was told to meabout him by a person who was with him on the occasion .

The minister , in the course of his discourse , remarked thatthe time was getting on faster than his sermon . Mr . Nicholson ’s son-in -law called out from beneath one of the galleries ,Oh , never mind the time ; go on .

” Mr . Boothroyd , whodied a few months ago in an accidental manner , was oneof his apprentices . Close on the Brickhole was Newton’sband - spinn ing walk . He was better known as O ld Packthread and having , by rigid industry and frugality, amas seda competency for each of his children , he went to res ide inthe bottom house but one in Wilkinson street . With referenceto Tom Marsden , the cricketer , he lived in the Jericho , andit was there , and in the Brocco , that he was to be seen ,

when ever he cou ld get any one to j oin him at cricket . Hiswife , when a girl , attended the Garden s treet IndependentSunday School : her parents lived in the yard above theFlorist inn . The father ’s name was James Garside , whowas for many years employed at Younge

’

s spirit vaults , andfrom that occupation obtained the soubriquet of “ BrandyJemmy .

” In the yard below St . Thomas’ street, Mr . GeorgeBowden had some workshops . He got up table -knives , and ,travelling on foot , he visited gentlemen

’s houses and smallcountry towns , and on his return brought back bones andstag horns , being also in the horn and stag cutting line . Inthis humble way he acquired a competency

,and lived for

many years at Ranmoor , where he died not long ago .

EVERARD There i s a resident of Broad lane,once some

what prominent , who has not been noticed— I mean JosephBarker , then a New Connexion minister stationed in Sheffield ,who resided in Red hill terrace . I understand he gave outthe hymns when the first stone of Mount Z ion Chapel waslaid . He was afterwards excluded from the New Connexion

,

and was the occasion of a great deal of trouble and some disruption in that body . He then went about the country as aninfidel lecturer , and passed through a strange and miserable

204 WILLIAM GRAY, THE JUMPER.

course of life in England and America . He was eventuallyreclaimed

,and publicly renouncing infidelity in all its forms ,

he has tried to undo , as far as possible , the mischief he haddone . He published an interesting book, with the title ofTeachings of Experience ,

” in which he gave a very striking accoun t of the phases of doubt , scepticism and atheism ,

through which he had passed ; together with the means andproces s by which he had been restored to his “ right mindand to the Christian faith .

WRAGG : There was also William Gray, boot and shoemaker

,the great “ j umper ,

” who lived in Broad lane , thefourth door below Rockingham street . He was , perhaps , themost celebrated jumper that ever travelled with equestrians .One of his feats was to jump over a stage mail coach ,

’

with

the passengers seated on the top . The way in which he became connected with the horse-riders was that his friend ,John Milner

,was in the fair when there were two equestrian

establishments,namely, Ryan

’s and Adam’s . One of thesepersons had a leaper , called the Flying Hussar ,

” from hishaving been in the army, and the proprietor challenged theproduction of his equal . John Milner went up to him and

said that he could find a man that would surpass him . Theproprietor replied that he could not be bothered with him orhis application . This circumstance got to the ear of therival proprietor , who sought out William Gray and engagedhim . This , of cou1 se , made his establishment the mostpopular ; people flocked in crowds to see a man j ump whowas a native of the town . Wherever the establishment withthe Flying Hussar” went , the other invariably followed .

At one of the towns in Lancashire , of which the“ Flying

Hus sar was a native , it was arranged they should contesttheir jumping powers . Twelve horses were set side by side ,the Flying Hussar” had the first j ump , when he alightedon the back of the sixth horse ; but Gray went over them all .The Lancashire people were so exasperated at the defeat oftheir town sman , that they used threats of Violence againstGray

,and it was feared they would carry them out . He got

away from the booth in some unusual manner— I forget how .

He was not only one of the best and quickest makers of boot sand shoes , but , had he been disposed, he might have equallydistinguished himself as a pugilist , or race runner ; but hepossessed more respect for himself than to enter on such acourse . That he was a man of great muscular power thefollowing simple instance may be sufficient to Show . His

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206 THE BROCCO .

EVERARD (reads) The Brocco of my early boyhood wasa wide and steep declivity , not very easy to describe . Whatever features of beauty the scene might possess , lay in thelandscape beyond it . What thos e were one of the late Mr .Ibbit t

’

s published Views , entitled The Valley of the Don ,’

will convey a clearer idea than any verbal description . Standing by the house occupied by the late Mr . H . A . Bacon (thefirst publisher of the Sheffield Independen t) , at the top ofGarden street (Garden walk it was formerly called) the Broccoconsisted of a steep and very rugged banks ide . It reached inits steepness as far as Edward street , and then extended in aslope and a comparative flat as far as Allen street . Theground was red earth and stones from whence the boys usedto dig ‘ raddle ,

’ with which they often transformed their facesinto a resemblance of the war-painted Red Indian s , or themountebank harlequin . There was a thin covering of grasson the flats but only in certain parts sufficient depth of soilto form sod . The appearance , as seen from the bottom , wasthat of a number of little hillocks and knolls of red earth ofvarious shapes , partially green . There was a footpath fromthe top of Garden street down the steep inclin e to E dwardstreet

,East ; and another sloping road , now built upon , as a

cross street . Allen street, at the point of it that crossed theB rocco , was only a highway without any houses , so that therewas a clear space and view from the top of Garden street tothe Jericho .

This view included Mr . Hoyle’s house (Hoyle street) ,which then stood enclosed in what , perhaps , might be described as a small park . At the back of this house was arow of high trees , serving as a rookery , where the birds builttheir nests , and around which they might be seen taking theiraerial flights . The narrow lane , now called Burnt Tree lane ,was then the road from Allen street to Portmahon , in whichthere was a white painted pair of gates , with the carriage wayrunning in a straight line to the front door of the house . In

the same lane stood an oak tree , which , during a severe thunderstorm , was struck and scathed by the lightning . Hencethe name it acquired .

”

WRAGG From Radford street downwards was , sixty yearsago

,quite in the country, there being only the houses of Mr .

Hoyle and of several cowkeepers —well-to -do men , of someproperty .

LEIGHTON : O ld lawyer Hoyle was a great man , with hiscocked hat .

RADFORD STREET . 07

WRAGG : There was in Radford street Mr . Dounes , thefirst Baptist m in ister in the town also Mr . D ixon , a cutler ,the father of James Dixon , the founder of Corn ish place , andof the Rev . Fran cis D ixon ,

for many years the consisten tminister of Lee Croft Chapel , who , besides , was said to bethe best auditor of accounts in Sheffield . It i s reported o f

the late Mr . Robert Rodgers, solicitor , that he often declared

there would never be another Frankey D ixon” at accounts .

It is said that the late Hugh Parker was a s leeping partnerin some co lliery , and when the firm was dissolved , Mr . Parkerwas no t satisfied with what he had to receive , so he suggestedthat Mr . D ixon should audit the accounts , to which it wasagreed , the result to be final . A cart load o f books was takento him , and this is said to have been the greatest job Mr .D ixon ever had

,and he had many . As the result of Mr .

D ixon’s labours , it appeared Mr . Parker , as he had firm lyan ticipated

,had a large sum to receive . Mr . Dixon was paid

what he charged, and Mr . Parker gave him , in addition , one

hundred pounds . Mr . D ixon was the maternal grandfatherof Mr . Alfred Allot t . At the corner of Radford street andAllen street , was Mr . B eardshaw ,

cutler , the‘grandfather of

Mr . B eardshaw , the engraver . Out of his shop was an nu

interrupted view o f the Cotton Mill , and when that buildingwas on fire , one of his apprentices saw the flam es . Runn ingdown the yard to a scale and spring maker , who was workingthere , he cried that the Cotton Mill was on fire , wou ld he goThe man could have seen the conflagration from hi s window ,

by s imply rais ing his head , but he qu ietly went on with hiswork without taking the trouble to look , as he an swered :No lad , there will be now’t put down for it on Saturdayneet . In more modern tim es

,in the same neighbourhood ,

were Mes srs . Richard and William Jes sop, whose parentswere in Pond street . They lived next door to each other

, in

what i s now 245 and 247 , Western Bank . In their bu s ines sthey were both together in one room , and for years did notspeak to each other . When one wanted the other ’s opin ion

,

he wrote a question on a bit of paper and pas sed it over tohis brother , who wrote a reply underneath . They said theywere of the family of Jes sops , of Broomhall , and when theRev . Jam es Wilkin son died

,advertisements appeared for

claim ants to h i s property . I have heard Mr . William saythey sent in a claim am ong others .

LEONARD You remind me of a story of two otherbrothers , named Glo ssop , who lived at Stumperlowe Hall .

208 THE BROCCO .

They were bachelors , and their nephew gave himself the air sOf their heir-at - law . One day as they sat smoking theirpipes over the fire , Tom , after much musing , spoke I say,John , there

’s ahr Fred been saying what he’ll do when hegets ahr money, as he

’s ahr heir .” Well , asked John ,after a long pause , what’s to be done Why ,

” repliedTom ,

“ one on us must get m arried .

” “ Which shall it befaltered John , conscious of impending misery . Don ’tknow ,

” said his brother ,“ let’s toss up. They tossed up,

and matrimony fell to John ’s lot . Putting his finger in hiseye

,he whined , Thah

’

s bet me again , Tom . There’s neveranything nasty to do but thou maks me do it . However , hepocketed his chagrin , took a wife , and there was issue onedaughter , who m arried a solicitor , named Sargeant .EVERARD (severely) : The prospect from the top of Brocco ,

about which I was speaking when interrupted , embraced asight of the Infirmary, then standing amidst fields and gardens ; the old Barracks , rendered con spicuous by their whitewashed walls ; the Club Mill, en sconced in the valley besidethe stream of the Don the house at Wardsend, on the margin of the wood ; and above all , the O ld Park Wood andCook Wood

,then existing in much of their primeval beauty ;

their sylvan solitudes undisturbed by the shriek of the railway whistle , as the trains now, by day and night , rush andthunder through .

LEONARD I have seen a water-colour drawing in thepossession of Mr . Samuel Gardner , taken from his father

’shouse at the top of Red hill in 1802, which embraces j ustsuch a View as you describe . Anything more completely ruralcould not be imagined .

EVERARD (continu ing to read) : On a dark Novembernight

,in the year 18 17 , I remember standing with my father

on the top of the Brocco , from eleven o’clock until midnight .

It was on the occasion , and at the very time , of the interment of the lamented Princess Charlotte . The hillside waspartially covered with groups of Spectators , who stood towatch the firing of the minute guns in the Barrack yard duringthe hour of the funeral procession . The flash of each discharge illuminated for an instant the entire valley, succeededby a sense of deeper darkness , as the sound boomed up towhere we stood and reverberated amongst the woods andhills . This midnight darkness and the firing , together withthe solemn dumb peal’ that fell upon the ear from the bells

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210 BULL-BAITING .

rustic beauty . With cheeks like roses , and her strong red

arms , bare above the elbows , she was dressed in a gown ofshowy pattern , and on her head she wore a white cap , adorn edwith ribbon s . Perched on a high wall , and full of boyishcuriosity , I had a perfect View of the who le scene and proceedings . The crowd as sembled included some of the choicestspecimen s of blackguardism to be found in the town and

neighbourhood . Am idst noise and clamour , pas s ing jibes ,and cursings , together with the yelpings of impatient dogs ,the ring was at length form ed , and the sport began . Mistress Runcorn ,

’ armed with a hedges take , which she wieldedwith effect

,kept the ring , and received the toll for the dogs

at the rate of threepen ce a s lip whilst her husband attendedto the bu ll , to see that he had fair play . The an imal thusbrought to the stake to torture was a fine , young , and activeone ; being , in the curren t s lang of the ring ,

‘ good game .

’

There he stood at bay , m oving his head from side to s ide , andwatching the poin t of attack . The dogs , one after another ,were then s lipped , and flew at him . Som e of them the bullmanaged at the first rush to catch with his horn s , and eithergored or tos sed them high in to the air . Certain of theirmasters , on seeing their dogs thus flung , ran to catch themin their aprons or arm s whilst others allowed them unaidedto run the risk of crippled limbs

,or broken backs . The high

trained dogs appeared generally to aim at the nose or t hroatof the an imal . One of them fastened and hung on the poorbrute ’s nether lip , whilst he ramped about in agony and rage ,as far as the tether would allow . And as the climax , atlength a savage dog seized the bu ll’s nose , caus ing the bloodto flow , and kept his hold until the n oble , ill -used creaturewas brought down upon his knees to the ground . The eventof the bull being pinned was immediately hailed with a shoutof ferociou s delight and triumph , and with loud expression sof brutal merriment . So the cruel and degrading sport’

went on to the’

end .

This , I believe , was the last bull-bait in Sheffield . As

a sad , though fitting sequel , I may add that this man , Run

corn , was eventually (May, so fearfully worried by hisown bear, in a field on the In take road , that he died in consequence , in the Sheffield Infirmary .

”

LEIGHTON : Run corn’s real nam e was William Ladsley.

I believe the circumstances of his death were these . He hadunmuzz led the bear

,which was usually a very peaceable

animal, and set it at liberty by way of a treat , on“ Bellows ;

STORIES OF BEAR-WARDS . 21 1

plain,near his residence in the Park . In some way, never

explained , the bear becoming suddenly enraged against itsmaster , turned upon him , knocked him down , and worriedhim on the spot . The poor man ’s body was taken up in ashockingly mutilated state , though it was with difficulty itcould be liberated by slipping dogs at the bear . The mur

derer was shortly aft erwards Shot ; the hind paws of theanimal were fourteen in ches long .

LEONARD : Bears seem subj ect to those fit s of anger . Asimilar case , most of you will remember as occurring withinthe last few mont hs at the Welsh Harp ,

” Hendon .

TWISS : Another local case happened at or n ear E cclesfield. A bear , kept by a person there , got at liberty andworried the owner’s wife .

WRAGG : A noted Shefli eld bear -ward was old ArnoldKirk . L ike Ladsley he was accustomed to take his bear tothe different wakes , for the purpose of baiting . The following is one of his adventures — Going with hi s bear to theDerwent wakes , he had reached the middle of the moors ,when bruin turned sulky and would p roceed no further . Atlast , when it was quite dark he got into motion again , andKirk

,guided by a light , managed to conduct him to a cottage .

The old couple who dwelt there were quite willing to giveKirk a lodging ; bu t how about his unwieldly compan ionIf they had on ly , said the old woman , sold their calf, whichwas to be fetched next morning by the butcher , a day before ,bruin might have occupied the shed . Arnold was equal tothe occasion , and it was arranged that the calf shou ld bebrought into the kitchen , the bear to take it s place in the“ crib This was done

,and s leep fell upon the mixed house

hold . About m idnight Arnold was disturbed by Dick, thebear , making a great noise and growling . Going to investigate the cause , he found that bru in had got a man underhim . Arnold called out , Hold him fast , D ick .

” He wentand informed the old people , who came immediately ; and assoon as the old woman saw the man she exclaimed ,

“ Way,Lord bles s me , if it i s

’

n t t’ butcher we seld t ’coaf to ’

en hewor to a fetched it and paid for it it morn in

’

. Arnold says ,So th’art cum ’

d a coaf stealing , art thou , and thou’s getting

a fine ’

un there ; squeez e him again , D ick .

” The bear did ashe was told , and roared ou t boukh ,

” again . Now then ,

rascal ,” said Arnold , if thou does not agree to pay ’

t priceof t’ coaf, I will unmuzzle him ,

and he shall worry thee .”

He had to purchase liberty from his awkward antagonist by

212 BEARS AND BULLS .

paying his money and receiving no calf in return . Theinhabitants of the cottage thus made a good thing out oftheir hospitality .

JOHNSON Let me cap that with a bull -baiting story . Onone occasion a bull had been procured at Bradwell wakes forthe purpose of baiting , but no stake to fasten him to had beenprovided . O ld Mr . Bagshawe , of the Hazlebadge pasturesso far entered into_the spirit of the sport that he exclaimed ,Tey him to mey , tey him to mey . We’ll neer loo st ’ beitfor t ’wont on a steek — suppo s ing , no doubt , that he wassufficiently strong to hold the bull . They did so , and uponthe first dog being slipped at the bull , he set off and took Mr .Bagshawe with him at the rope

’s end through the adj acen tbrook

,and it was with great difficulty that he escaped with

his life .LEONARD : The following nomin e or proclamation by

the bu ll or bear ward when the ring was formed may , perhaps ,wind up our gossip on these obsolete cruelties : 0 yes , 0

yes , 0 yes one dog one bull , or one bitch one bull . Threerebukes and a wind . Everybody keep twenty feet from t ’

stake or take what comes .

“

Now for t ’ first dog .

LEIGHTON Well , we have had a long but very interestingsitting . Good night . (ExeantJ

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214 THE TONTINE .

astonished the Queen ’s coachman to such an extent that heejaculated Jehu — by way , I suppose , of Invoking thetutelary genius of drivers in his difficulty .

EVERARD Credat J adaeus

LE IGHTON : How the glories of the O ld Haymarket havedeparted since the suppres s ion of the fine Old Tontine , ands ince the rattle of coaches and the galloping of post chaises

,

and the cracking of postilion s ’ whips gave way to “ Waterloos , which , in turn , have been supplanted by ignomin iousomnibuses and innovating tramways .

WRAGG : The Ton tine , built on the site of the Castlebarns , was finished in 178 5 , James Watson being the firstlandlord , and James Bickley the last . People stared withamazement at the erection of such an hotel and consideredits promoters dreaming , but the year after it was acknowledged to be the first in the kingdom .

LEIGHTON : O , why was it pulled down‘

2 How well Iremember the older Charles Clegg , trumpet -maj or to theYeomanry Cavalry , being ordered by the m agistrates to soundthe call” for the corps to assemble . L ike a brave man ashe was be m ounted and sounded

,first at the front of the

Tontine , and then on the flat above the Commercial inn , atthat tim e the vegetable market . There a potato , thrown withgreat force and unerring aim , entered the m outh of the trumpet , knocked out t wo of hi s upper teeth , and h e ceased sounding for ever . My Old friend had blown his last blast , andnever m ore did he at early morn sound the reveille, or thetattoo at dewy eve .

EVERARD : At this sam e Potato riot , or at one about thesame time , the following incident was witnessed by my father .The mob was standing near the Yellow L ion inn , and the lateJustice Parker , with the constables , s tood opposite the Tontin e

,when a large potato was thrown with great force by an

athletic man , wearing a leathern apron , as if by trade a blacksmith or blade forger . The miss ile struck the magistrate onthe chest , and he , lifting his hand to his breast , staggeredback . It would appear that as soon as the man saw what hehad done his heart smote him (for the justice was a favouritem agistrate) , and, standing forth a space in fron t of the mob ,he shouted out Mester Parker

,I didn ’t intend that to hit

yo ; I meant it to hit Tom Sm ith .

” Thomas Smith , thecon stable , was standing n ear Mr . Parker at the moment, andthus escaped being the Victim of this very sincere , if not good ,intention .

THE TOWN HALL . 5

TWISS : The Tontine ’s history is so well known that weneed no t go through the old story . Dr . Gatty gives a gooddescription of what it was in it s glory , when twenty horsesand five postboys were always ready when the yard bell rang ,

”

and how sudden ly it collapsed on the Opening of the Midlandrailway . Twenty pairs of horses were wanted one day ; onthe morrow the road was forsaken . Thus one of the fine oldEnglish inn s , in the court-yard of which a carriage and paircould be easily driven round , cam e to grief.

” It was in 18 5 0that the Duke of Norfolk purchased the hotel for the erectionof the New Market Hall .LEONARD I don’t know what Wills means by

Th e old Laiths [ barn s ] in Bulls tak e , that dismal retreat ,Where hearses and stalls very o ften did m eet ,I s now a large Ton t in em —the length o f a s treet .

LEONARD The s ite of the Royal hotel has been occupiedfor the purposes of a public -house for great numbers ofyears . It was as long ago as 1779 that Mr . Godfrey Foxpurchased of Mr . Barlow the old public -hou se and blacksm ith’

s shop , and on the ground whereon they stood , builtthe Rein Deer tavern .

WRAGG : Ah , Godfrey Fox occupied that hou se som ethinglike fifty years , and then he went into New Church street .He seems to have been a man of education , for I have a bookof his . It consists of a number of pamphlets bound together— comprising Burke’s Speech in 1780 , and his Refl ec

tions on the French Revolution also a letter to a Noble Lord(Earl Fitzwilliam) , and a reply to this by Mr . C . Browne .

On the leaf of the book is written , From the Author to hisfriend Godfrey Fox , and on the fly- leaf is written , in a good,clcar hand , Godfrey Fox

,Sheffield .

”

LE IGHTON : We have previous ly spoken of Old No . 12

and it s spirited proprietor , Mr . Thom as Wiley .

LEONARD I rem ember that for many years , in the woodwork below one of the w indows , was preserved the hole madeby a bullet fired by the soldiers during the riot at the firstborough election , in 18 32 . Mr . Wiley had the date pain

’

tedround the hole .WRAGG : A pas sing glance at the Town Hall , erected on

the Castle hill , the foundation of which was laid in 1808

(altered and enlarged in 1 833 , and again in mu s tsuffice . Many Sheffielders , indeed , have been glad enoughto fight shy Of the unpleasant holes under t’ clock,

” in thedays when the new police offices were yet unbuilt .

216 THE HORSLEYS AND NICHOLSONS .

LEONARD : Some day , perhaps , it may be of interest toremember that the deserted drinking fountain inserted in thewall of the Town Hall , facing Castle street , was the firsterected in Sheffield when the fashion arose for supplyingthese useful places for quenching the thirst . It was erectedby the Town Trustees , and was opened by the late Mr . Wm .

Fisher , in 18 5 9 .

LEIGHTON These drinking fountain s were not a brilliantsuccess here . They were put up by various patriotic individuals , at the Church gates , the bottom of Spital hill , theMoor head , Broad lane , and Gibraltar s treet , but there soonarose a difficulty about a con stant supply of water ; the streamstopped and the fountains were abominably disfigured bym ischievous boys and roughs . In fact they became nuisances .LEONARD Here is Castle street , or True Lovers

’ gutter :For lately two lovers w ere sat on a rail ,On th e edge o f th e s ink , fondly telling their tale ,When th e flood washed them down in each o ther’s embrace ,For n o longer the lover s could s i t in that placeAnd hence , True Lovers

’ gutter , the name that was given ,

Because by the flood these two lovers were driven .

”

WRAGG : At the top of Castle green was Mr . SamuelHorsley’s shoe shop . He m arried the s ister of the late Mrs .John Nichol son

,of Darnall , and one of his n ieces lived with

him ,as he had no children . Mr . Horsley had a nephew on

h is s ide , nam ed Glos sop , who also lived with him . From thiscircumstance an attachment was formed between the two , butthe young man died , and was buried at Queen street chapel .Mr . Nicholson ’s daughter became chambermaid at Page Hall ,and married Mr . Greaves ’s coachm an . Two of their children ,if not three , died in their infancy , and were buried at the oldChapel of Ease at Attercliffe . Then the husband died , andwas buried with the children . When the widow (Mr . Nicholson’s daughter) died , she requested to be buried with herun cle Horsley , and asked that a walking stick that belongedto the young man Glossop , her uncle

’s nephew , might be putin her coffin , and buried with her . This shows how strongwas her attachment . Mr . Horsley , although a Baptist ,attended Queen street chapel

, and greatly resembled oldJoshua Stephen son . There was a curious circum stance inconnection with Mr . Hors ley’s will . When in his death - illness it was being written , he desired that what he had to leaveshould be equally divided among the children of his wife ’ssister . His wife then put in , excepting John andE lizabethso these two had nothing , although the niece was the one

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218 SHEFFIELD CASTLE .

day of March , in 1791 , and it bears the signature of JosephWard , the Master Cutler, whom I presume would be thefather of Thomas Asline Ward . At that time this matureapprentice was the father of four children . Mrs . Nicholsonused to taunt or joke her three married daughters for marrying men who had to learn a trade after their marriage

,and

told them there was a gentleman who courted one of theother two . They wondered who he could be , and desired tosee him when , lo and behold , he turned out to be a collier ,and turned presser like the other three , but only for a time .In those days the trade of a presser was a good one . We

came across one of these sons in -law as residing in Broadlane . Mr . Nicholson removed to Sheffield to be near hischildren , and lived at the top of Broad street , between Newstreet and the street above , where he died . The property isdestroyed by the railway . His son or grandsons carried onin Pond street , now 129 , lately occupied by Mr . Allcock . In1804, William Nicholson was Master Cutler . He was a filemaker in Pond street , but he was not son of the foregoing .

TWISS : Passing on to Waingate we stand on classicground , but it is a little foreign to the tenor of our usual conversation to go so far back as to try to conjure up an imaginary picture of what the old Castle used to be . The materialsfor such a picture are very scanty , and all that remains to usabove ground is the name . We know that the Castle stoodon rather more than four acres of land , in the angle formedby the confluence of the Sheaf and the Don , that it was fairlybuilt of stone and very spacious , and stood around an inwardcourt and an outward court . Antiquaries may show a stonein their museums that once formed part of its fabric . Menwho work in what we now call Castle Folds , tell a somewhatdoubtful story of the ground sounding hollow beneath theirhammers , an indication of the existence Of cellars . But thecastle itself is nowhere to be seen . Its site is defiled withkilling shambles ; its court-yards , barns , stables , and servants

’

rooms , its state apartments and its great dining hall , havegiven place to shops and works , public -houses , cottages , andstables . Sheffield Castle , once so massive and strong, hasbecome a tradition and nothing more .LEONARD : That hollow sound beneath the hammers i s

not so apochryphal as might be supposed . Some interestingresults could be obtained if only we could carry out such ex

plorations as the Palestine Fund has been engaged upon in

Sheffield Cas tle andManor Lodge in by J . D. LEADER.

THE WICKER . 219

Jerusalem ; but instead of that we actually have opportunitiesfor investigation , when they are thrown in our way, hiddenfrom us . Take , for instance , the narrative that was laid before the Sheffield Archaeolog ical Society , in October , 1872 , ofan interesting discovery and an absurd concealment .WRAGG : Let u s get down into the Wicker , and among

the things and people within the memory of living men .

TWISS : What " without even a passing mention of thefour alms—houses for poor widows , that were at the foot ofthe Lady’s bridge un til 1767WRAGG : At the old tilt, across the Lady

’s bridge , whichhas been so long at work in hammering out the glowingmetal

,once worked and lived the father of the late Alderman

Edwin Unwin . Mr . Unwin was once himself with a man ofvery different character , Joseph Dew snap, better known asPimpey,

” who lived in the house now occupied in part byMr . Leeds , surgeon , and in part by Mr . Aitchison . Dewsnapwas originally a razor blade striker , but he became a rent anddebt collector , and was the first defaulter in that line . Hereigned about seven years , his career being short but

“ merry,”

for he made a grand flourish . There are many stories of hisextravagance . You may remember that in his latter days hewas employed to go round to the grocers , telling them whento raise the price of flour .LEONARD : Quoting from a notice of Mr . Unwin , which

appeared at the time of his death , it may be truly said thatgreat responsibilities were thrown upon him by this default ofhis employer , but

“ h is geniu s for figures , his strong goodsense and his integrity enabled him so to bear this ordeal thathe early established a high character , and laid the foundationsfor success in l ife . Mr . Unwin first came into public life asone of the Improvement Commiss ioners , a body constitutedunder a local Act in 18 18 , for lighting, cleansing , watching ,&c . ,

the town within a circle of three -quarters of a mile fromthe Parish Church .

” Mr . Unwin was elected a commissioner,

in August , 1830 , and he continued in the office , acting asauditor to the Comm issioners , until 18 6 5 , until the powers ofthe body were transferred to the Corporation . In July , 1 8 30 ,Mr . Unwin became one of the directors of the New Gas Company , and three years later he accepted the ofli ce of managingdirector

,retiring from his profession as accountant . When ,

in 1 844 , the two companies amalgamated , Mr . Unwin assumedthe management of the united concern . Under his controlthe company was highly eflicient and very successful . Mr .

220 WICKER WORTHIES .

Unwin was a very useful and consistent member of the TownCouncil . He was first elected in 1 845 , for E cclesall Ward ;afterwards he represented Upper Hallam ,

and he was anAlderman from 18 5 6 to his decease . In 1868 , a flatteringrequisition was presented to him by a large majority of thecouncil , requesting him to stand for the mayoralty, but indeference to his medical adviser he was compelled to decline .Mr . Unwin died in London , on the 7th of February , 1870 .

WRAGG Near the bridge was Eben ezer Rhodes , thegraphic author of Peak Scenery,

” the best literateur Sheffield has yet produced . He was a man of consequence , as hewas Master Cutler in 1808 but I am sorry so say he was notsuccessfu l in business . The firm was Rhodes and Champion .

Mr . Rhodes died December 1 6th , 1 8 39 , in Victoria street .At the far end of Stanley street , oppos ite Clay gardens , wasJohn Sk inner , who , 40 years ago , had the best steel pen tradein the country , but somehow or other the family let the tradeslip out of their hands , and it seems to have taken flight andsettled in Birmingham , and enriched the late Joseph Gillott ,once a pen blade grinder at the Kelham wheel , now Mr .Crossland

’

s corn mill . In conn ection w ith this neighbourhood , it would not be right to pass over the late EdwardSmith , for he came of an old Wicker family . His grandfather , Stephen Smith , who died in 1 809 , at the age of 78 ,was established in the Wicker . Edward Smith was a man ofsterling abilities , but of no ambition as he might have enteredParliament when he thought proper

,under the auspices of the

Anti - Corn Law League . As chairm an of a meeting , Sheffieldnever had his equal . He was a man whom a lawyer wouldcall the League’s chamber council , as they resorted to him foradvice in any doubt or difficulty , and he always encouragedthem never to despair

,as he had no doubt of the ultimate

is sue— that succes s would sooner or later crown their efforts .There are people who can remember Mr . Smith as a lad athome with his parents

,at 66 , Wicker , then at 114 , now the

shop of Mr . Simmons ; and finally at Fir vale , with a flowergarden second to none in Yorkshire .EVERARD : Edward Smith took lessons in drawing and

water colours , of the same master and at the same time asmyself.WRAGG : The Station inn ,

at the corner of Stanleystreet , was the manufactory of fine scissors and the residenceof Mr . Francis Oates (whose family , I believe , came fromStannington) , father of the late Mr . Thomas Oates , who be

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222 THE PICKLE .

EVERARD : I think it was not the “ Bull inn , but theWhite L ion inn , on the opposite side of the street , a shortdistance before you come to Stanley street , which was thefavourite meeting place of Montgomery and his friends . Itwas next door to Ebenezer Rhodes’ premises , and , I believe ,was kept by a person of the name of Wood , whose sonmarried the eldest daughter of Mr . Rhodes . John Holland

(Life of Montgomery) gives an account of the evening whenMontgomery suddenly dropt ” going . He had got on hi stop coat , and was just about to set of, when he asked himself—why he might not j ust as well stop at home as go He

decided to stay at home , and never went again . It is my impression , that Montgom ery had been subj ect to certain doubtsand qualms of conscience , at least as to the waste of time andprobably dissipating influence of such convivial meetings .LEONARD We have on a previous occasion had some talk

about the manner in which the neighbourhood beyond thishas changed , within far more recent times than that—withinforty years , indeed .

WRAGG : The date when the cattle market was broughtdown here has already been mentioned . Some of the posts ,remnants of the old pens , were remaining up to the time theManchester , Sheffield and L incoln shire railway Viaduct wasbuilt

,between the Falstaff inn and the public-house below .

LEIGHTON We must not forget to mention the old residence of the Heatons , in The Pickle— where , the familytradition says , the Young Pretender once came . Pickle house ,which still stood within the memory of person s yet living , waswhere Mr . John Hobson ’s steel works are now, the Picklebeing the nam e for the district from the entrance to the oldMidland station to the Twelve o ’clock . The district near thelatter

,on the town side , was called Jerusalem . Beyond , all

was open country, including what were at the beginning ofthis century called the Local Fields—where the local Militiawas reviewed . These extended towards Royds Mill . ColonelFenton , the first commissioner of police , living at Wood hillhouse , on the Grimesthorpe road, could thus have a good viewof his review ground in the valley below .

EVE RARD In the Pickle were the silver refining works ofthe father of the present Mr . Joseph D ixon , afterwards re

moved to Mowbray street .WRAGG : We should not leave the neighbourhood of the

Wicker without remarking on the learned attempts that havebeen made to arrive at the correct etymology of the name .

CLAYS OF BRIDGEHOUSES. 223

There seems to be little doubt , however , that it was once amarshy place , and that the osiers growing there , and usedin basket making , gave it theLEONARD : The branches of trees , hazel twigs , and so

forth , have been found in digging in various places in theneighbourhood of the White Rail s , and the sandy depo s it stend to Show that in these part s the river was once very aptto overflow its poss ibly not very accurately defined banks .The whole vicinity of the Nursery and the Wicker would , inearly times , be swampy .

WRAGG At the B ridgehouses end of Nursery street , nearthe Iron bridge and destroyed by the railway , was the Bridgehouse , the res idence of the Clay fam ily . Robert Clay , whodied in 1737 , came from Chesterfield t o Shefli eld, and forsome time resided at Walkley . His granddaughter marriedMr . George Bustard Greaves , of Page HallLEIGHTON : Who was extremely wealthy

, s ince the property of the two families was j oined by his marriage with theheires s of the Clays .WRAGG : Mr . Greaves had a warehouse and town residence

in Norfolk street , and , previous to his purchase of Page Hall ,he lived , I believe , in a large house on Oaks green , Atterclifl e . _He was the on ly person in the town who kept a carriage with coachman and footman . Hunter’s pedigree represents the Clay family as having expired in an heiress , as agenealogist would say, but this is not so , as Joseph Clay, thefather of Mr . Greaves ’s wife , was twice married . By hisfirst wife , E lizabeth Speight , he had a son , who went toAmerica . From some cause Mr . Clay discarded him

,and left

him only £ 10 , all his property going to Mrs . Greaves . Thisdisinherited son , however , left is sue in America , one of whomwas the founder of the Clays of Kentucky, from whom descended the celebrated American senator , Henry Clay . Hishead , according to phrenologists , was the best developed ormost equally balanced on record .

LEONARD Mr . Clay was the only gentleman in the neighbourhood who was eulogised by Mather— all the rest hesatirised or vilified . But this must have been Joseph Clay

,

not Robert Clay, his father , with whom Mr . John Wilson hasconfused him . Robert Clay died in the year in which Matherwas born .

Hunter’s derivation i s quite di ff eren t , but equally doubtful . See for

this and o ther part iculars respecting the Wicker, Hunter’s Hallamshire,Catty’s edition , 403 .

224 BRIDGEHOUSES .

WRAGG : The last inhabitant of the Clays’ house wasGeorge Burgin , who had entered Mr . Clay

’s servi ce in boyhood . His son was a printer .LEIGHTON The Brightside Bierlow stocks were formerly

on the B ridgehouses side of the old Iron bridge .EVERARD I well recollect them .

LEONARD Yes , even I call to mind the remnant of them ,

and old Mr . Oakes , still living in remembersbeing incarcerated in them— as he told me with much amusement one day . His offence , I grieve to add , was playingat pitch and toss on a Sunday . Sam Hall , the constable ,caught him , and kept him there for an hour . My mother ,

”

said the old man , came to see me , and didn’t she call the

fellow for putting me in .

” He remembers , too , to have seena man (Bill Jones) tied in a cart and flogged by the beadle onits progres s from Castle street to the Town Hall . At Rotherham he saw a man put in the pillory

, and subj ected to theOperation of being pelted with rotten eggs . That was D ickCrown .

WRAGG : As to Bill Jones , there must be some mistakethere— he was the whipper , not the whipped , for he was thebeadle at the Town Hall ; so that instead of receiving , he infl ict ed the punishment . This Bill Jones took persons toWakefield House of Correction after their commitment bythe magistrates . Hence aro se a very common saying at onetime in the town , when one person saw another deviating fromthe path of rectitude— “ Bill Jones will soon have thee , without thou mindest .” From the road to Wakefield being thenup Pye bank

,one person would threaten another he would

Send him up Pye bank .

” The prisoners had to walk,

fastened together by a long chain , like a slave gang .

LE IGHTON B ridgehouses was , in 1789 , associated with atragedy which caused much excitement at the time . Thestory has been variously told , and it i s difficult to get at it sexact merits now . A leg of mutton had been taken from aman’s basket as he went over Lady’s bridge , and one versionis that the thieves asked the person who carried it to go withthem and get it cooked for supper . One of the men turnedKing’s evidence , for there was £ 100 (blood money it wascalled) given to anybody who got a man hanged . The peoplewould have torn him in pieces , but he escaped— it was from

Mr. Oakes (see also pp . 115 , 116) has died while these sheets have beenpassing through the press (Sept . 2 , aged 88 .

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226 ECCENTRICS .

EVERARD : It was a very painful thing to see the poorcreatures pursued by a crowd of thoughtless boys , makinggame” of them , as they called it. But we had no Idiot Asylums then in which they might have been trained to moreusefulness .LEIGHTON : There was an earlier eccentric than these

Thomas Calver , an inmate of the Brights ide workhouse , whomthe children dubbed Billy Red-Waistcoat .”

JOHNSON : Silly Luke” had a solid substratum of sensebeneath his folly ; he was quite shrewd where shirking workor getting food were concerned . Many of his sayings havebeen handed down . He told the workhouse officials theymight make him work

,but they couldn ’t make h im like it .

He said also that he liked n either nuts nor nu t - shells , butreal-down , good- eating roast beef and plum pudding .

” Whenteased by the grinders who , in those days , worked with waterpower instead of steam

,and were consequently dependen t

on rain for the means of working , Luke wished we had asow-metal sky, with a round hole for the sun to peepthrough— for he wan ted to keep the rain from his enemiesbut not to lo se the sun for himself.LEIGHTON : Luke gave Dr . Sutton , the vicar , the name ofO ld Jog -my

-eye ,” because he would not give him money or

pudding ; of the latter he was very fond . The vicar had acast in his eye , and Luke followed him about saying , Ifthou won ’t give me pudding I’ll call thee O ld Jog-my

-eye .The Doctor got Luke’s liberty somewhat restricted after that .Nothing frighten ed Luke so much as to be told he shouldbe a grinder— for the grinders had ground hi s fingers .JOHNSON Mr . Bowman’s peculiarity was an aff ected style

of walking, varied every few yards with a Skip , and SoftCharley ,

” when told by the boys to walk proud ,” put on a

ridiculous strut . Mis s Hall , the miser , was a very familiarfigure in our streets and about the market at one time , inher search for dirty scraps with which to make a cheapdinner . It used to be said that her bonnet was renewed bybeing rubbed over with coal -tar , or oily- coil” as the vulgatehath it . She was quite wealthy , and her will greatly disappointed some who had diligently paid court to her for it .Among the eccentrics of about forty years ago , two of themost prominent were Edward Price , known as Lord JohnRussell ,

” and John Shaw, known as“ Magnet Jack .

” “ LordJohn Russell was a working brush maker . His specialitywas going about making political Reform speeches to a large

T'

HE CORN E" CHANGE . 227

following of boys , and he always rounded off his addres s withsome word ending in ation ,

” which he pronoun ced ore

ro tunda. Magn et Jack , too , was fond of spouting when inhis cups

,and was a well-known maker of magnets and fire

works . Both these men in their sober moments were menof high intelligence . They were very well-mean ing men ,doing most harm to themselves . I believe Price , in hislatter days

,became a reformed character .

LE IGHTON : Jack Burton” was still in the workhouse afew years ago . One of his favourite an tics was to starethr ough the windows of the houses in St . James’s row . Hegenerally cho se dinner time for his appearan ce , and Jack

’slong face , sudden ly pres sed against the window when Mr .Reedall had a dinner party , has Often frightened the ladies .

TWISS : I believe the late Mr . Henry Jackson cured himof that trick .

CHAPTER " .

THE PoNDs— NORFOLK STREET— SHEFFIELD MOORBARKER POOL— FARGATE .

Present—Messrs . Twi ss,LEIGHTON, EVERARD , WRAGG

,LEONARD

and JOHNSON.

Period—A. D . 1874 .

EIGHTON : O ld townsmen , revisiting Sheffield after anabsence of some fifty years , are as much struck by the

changes in the Corn Exchange and New Haymarket as anything else . The old H o spital Chapel was then j ust over theSheaf bridge , with its adj acent rows of ten ements for decayedtradesm en or their widows , which were reached by a descending flight of steps .LEONARD : They will be still more struck in a few years

more , should the plans that have been prepared for sweepingaway the present Corn Exchange and throwing it s area intothe wholesale vegetable market

, and erecting a new Exchangethat will occupy the larger part of the new Haymarket , becarried out . Though there does not seem much chance ofthat .

228 BAKERS’ HILL .

TWISS It was in 1827 that the New Hospital was opened .

When the old Hospital Chapel was taken down,in 1829, the

foundation stone was found to contain this inscription Thisfoundation stone to the HOSpitals of Gilbert , E arl of Shrewsbury, laid this 20th Oct . , 1774 , by Henry Howard , E sq .

”

That part was not , therefore , very old possibly it representedthe re -building after the flood , caused by the rapid rising ofthe Sheaf, had destroyed part of the Ho spital and drownedfour inmat es .EVERARD : Turning towards Pond street we come upon

Shemeld croft , the site of the old file manufactory of NicholasJackson , who has been ment ioned as giving evidence of hisvocal powers at the old Cutlers ’ Feasts . His an cestors wereNorton men , and at his residen ce young Chantrey was a frequent and intimate vis itor . The practical j okes which he andthe young ladies played upon one another led not unnaturallyto an afi

’

air de coenr between him and Susanna Jackson . Sheseems to have been one of his first s itters for a crayon portrait

,which was still in the family a few years ago , and may

be yet .TWISS : The poet Mather worked for Nicholas Jackson .

LEONARD On Bakers ’ hill a dame ’s school was kept byMrs . White , a Wes leyan , who is still remembered by some Oldinhabitants . One of her former scholars wrote a few yearsago with much gratitude for her early instruction , and headded that the house was still standing .

“ I went down , he

also wrote ,“ to Barrel yard dam

,becaus e , when a boy , I almost

los t my life there one winter , through the breaking of theice . I found it a dirty ditch in comparison with the lake - likedimensions and appearance which it had in my early imagination . I had not a few reminiscences of Pond street , andof the localities down Harmer lane

,and along by the Lead

mill and Burton bridge fields . B ut how changed are theyThe hill where the coke fires blazed covered with houses ;Balmforth dam , where in my youth I once suffered inexpressible agony at the sight of a drowning man

,dwindled almost

to the in significance of its neighbour of the Barrel yard ; anda ducal residence planted where

,in my earliest days , I had

gathered daisies and acorns .WRAGG At the Lead works lived and died the celebrated

Dr . Browne ; a man of a kind heart, and a general benefactor to the poor : when he died (in 18 10) they felt theyhad lost their best friend .

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THE LEAD WORKS .

cating the latter ; and it was through his influence , in a greatmeasure , that the institution took the name of The SheffieldGeneral Infirmary ,

” affording help to whomsoever might needit , coming from what quarter of the world they might . Mr .Job Fret son , the grandfather of Mr . Wm . Fretson , the solicitor

,being well aware o f the worthy Doctor’s strong feelings on

this subj ect , on presenting a request for an order of admissionfor some poor person , took care to head the paper in a distincthand

,To the Board of the Sheffield General Infirmary .

”

The Doctor , on taking the paper and seeing the heading,

marched about the room repeating the words , The SheffieldGeneral Infirmary ; yes , Sir , perfectly correct , the GeneralInfirmary

— I have great pleasure indeed in giving the persona recommendation .

TWISS : Dr . Browne is spoken of in Hunter’s Hallamshireas a gentleman of no great depth , but he had good address ,very plaus ible manners , and withal a very generous andbountiful disposition .

” He is satirized in a political squib,

written at the time of the great Yorkshire election of 1807 ,in the following lines

For Sham e , Dr . Brown e ,So soon t o disownAll th e friendly but fulsome pro fess ions ,Which t o Lascel les you madeBut t o break , I ’m afraid ,And t o in crease your small store o f tran sgress ion s ,

John Browne .

”

The town went into mourning for Dr . Browne for one day ;and Miss Seward has preserved his memory in one of herpublished letters Dr . Browne , of Sheffield , who lives toprom ote the good and the pleasure of others , brought us forone day the two younger and twin sisters of Mis s Rogers .”

This was said in 1783 . Possibly a few particulars as to theother partners named may not be uninteresting to you .

EVERARD Most acceptable .TWISS Denn is Browne was a surgeon , a relation of Dr .

Browne . He died in 1767 , and was buried in the chancel ofthe Parish Church . Samuel Turner was mo st probably themercer in Angel street, who was the father of 22 children , anddied in 1791 3‘ James Allot t , who became the principal partner in the firm , was the son of James Allott , of Chrigles ton ,

near Wakefield , by Margaret Clay , of B ridgehouses . He re

sided at Att erclifl e , and married E sther , daughter of WilliamBurton , of Royds Mill, and died without issue , 30th August ,

See ante p . 97.

POND STREET . 231

1783 , when the bulk of his property passed to the Greaveses ,of Page Hall and Banner Cros s . Thomas Gunning was theson of John Gunning , of Turney

’s court , Cold Ashton , Glou

cest ershire . He married Mary Shirecliffe , by whom he left anonly daughter , E lizabeth , who married her cousin , Capt .Matthew Gunn ing . It was this Captain and Mrs . Gunningwho sold their share in the lead works to Mes srs . Rawson andBarker in 1 821 . John Shirecliffe lived at Whitley Hall

,was

father of Mrs . Gunning , and died 13th May, 1789 . Thepedigree of the family is given in Gat ty

’

s edition of Hunter,

p . 446 . Thomas Rawson , ofWardsend, married for his firstwi fe a daughter Of John Barker , of Bakewell , and died withoutissue 24th March , 1 826 . He was also the founder of Pondstreet Brewery , and was commemorated in the political squibalready referred to in a coarse verse beginning

Tom Raw son , Tom Raw son ,

Thou mash tub , Tom Rawson .

His po sition in the Rawson pedigree will be seen on referenceto Gat ty

’

s Hunter, p . 45 1 . James Wheat was a solicitor,

clerk to the Church Burges ses and Town Trustees , and thefirst member of the Wheat family who settled in Sheffield .

Mr . John James Wheat , of Norwood , i s his grandson . Carlo sWheat

,on whose coming of age the Wheat family sold their

interest in the bus ines s , was the youngest son of JamesWheat

,and became the Rev . Carlos Coney Wheat, vicar of

Timberland,near Sleaford . He was born in 1792 .

WRAGG In Paternoster row were the Messrs . Cresw ick s ,the silversmiths . A person in their employment was formerly one of the unfortunate people who , in a tim e of verybad trade

,were employed by the parish authoritie s in levelling

the berrin ’ ground,”n ow the site of St . George’s Church .

Fortunately , better times came , and some Of those person swere prosperou s . The one I have mention ed open ed thefirst pawnbroker’s shop in Rotherham . Of several otherswho afterwards held up their heads in the town

,only one

i s surviving . Mr . William Holmes , an old gentleman ,then

over 70 , who , in 1836 , said he cou ld rem ember corn growingin Paradise square , carried on bu siness as a table -kn ife m anufacturer at 1 5 4, Pond street . He remembered the walkacro s s the field . The Holmes ’s were previous ly in Broadstreet , Park . At 173 , Pond street , was a cutler namedMicklethwaite , who left two son s . One open ed a shop inLondon , and soon lo st what his father left him . He thenwent to Hamburg , and prepared some razors , which he sold

232 THE RAWLE AT THE POANDES .

”

with a few other things . He made his boxes to hold a pairof razors . Having previously cut up the wood into properlengths , breadths , and thicknesses , they were glu ed together ,and their corners rubbed down on the s inkstone ; and thenthe boxes were lined by his wife . He carried on in this wayuntil he returned to Sheffield ; and at one time he had agood German trade conducted in several diff erent places inthe town . He died in Glo ssop road , on the premises whichhe built , now occupied by Mr . Alexander Patteson . At onetime , George Crookes , the watchman , was his scale and springmaker , at Crookes . In Pond street , too , i s the celebratedbrewery of Thomas Rawson and Co . , established in 1780 .

Thomas Rawson , of whom Mr . Twis s was just speaking inconnection with the lead works , may be called the father ofthe radical reformers in Sheffield . At the corn er of Pond hilli s the warehouse of Messrs . Stephenson and Mawwood, lateHoun sfield

’

s . One of that family , the Doctor , with whom Mr .Haxworth was apprenticed , built the first house in Queenstreet , in 1784, now occupied by Mr . Haxworth , the surgeon .

TWISS : A sm all portion of the old Hawle at thePoandes” may still be seen between Pond street and the roadto the new Midland station . The inventory , found amongthe Talbot papers , of Lord Shrew sbury

’

s possessions atSheffield men tions painted canvas hangings for windows

"

and chimneys , boards , stools , fl agons and so forth , butthe enumeration does not throw mu ch light on the use towhich this building was applied , or help to prove or disprovethe tradition that it was a laundry .

LE IGHTON The road to the new Midland railway stationhas wrought great changes in the neighbourhood of ThePonds .”

LEONARD : The street s lying between the further end ofPond street and Norfolk street are striking, after many of theold localities we have been speaking of, for their symmetry .

It i s evi dent , at a glance , that they must have been carriedout on a definite plan .

WRAGG : Yes . They were already proj ected so early as1771 .

EVERARD : Towards the close of the last century that distriot , now so sooty and grimy , was quite suburban . The lateMr . Samuel Roberts cu t down a field of corn to build hissilver-plating manufactory in Eyre street , on the prem isesnow occupied by Messrs . W . Sissons and Sons , his successorsin busines s .

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234 HOWARD STREET .

dred of Scarsdale , or: North Derbyshire but the work was

never brought out .LEONARD : In hi s later years Mr . Mitchell was carrying

on works at Woodhouse Mill , near Handsworth .

WRAGG : In Furnival street , too , i s the warehouse ofMessrs . Parkin and Marshall , but previously of Messrs .Smith , Moorhouse , and Smith . One of the Messrs . Smithhas attended Carver street Chapel for so long a period that asinger , who visited it after an absence of forty years , saidMr . Sm ith was the on ly person he recognized . Lower downare the works of Messrs . Roberts and Belk , the silversmiths .This place was first occupied by Messrs . Furniss

,Poles and

Furnis s / Mr . Henry Furniss , of the firm of SandersonBrothers and Co . , who recen tly died , was one of the sons .In Charles street was Mr . Broadhurst , table -knife manufac

turer , whose life contains an incident of splendid devotion,

worthy of comparison with the noblest self-sacrifices historychron icles . Forty years ago , in a passage from L iverpool tothe Isle of Man , the vessel on which he and his daughterswere cros sing was wrecked , from the drunken stupidity of thecaptain . He and

’

two of his daughters had clung to somevestige of the vessel , when on observing it would not hold allthree , the daughters voluntarily stepped off to save theirfather , that he might be spared to the younger children . Mr .Broadhurst had been Master Cutler in 1842 .

JOHNSON : One of my earliest recollections is standing inHoward street on a summer’s night , and seeing the funeralsof cholera victim s in the Cholera Ground at Clay Wood in1832 , and I recollect few things that seemed more appallingthan this , and the sight of the Cholera Basket ,

” as the conveyance used to transport patients to the hospital , was called .

WRAGG : The premise s now occupied by Walker andHall , were the warehouse of the late Thomas Asline Ward ,who was a candidate for the representation of Sheffield inParliament , in 1832 . He was Master Cutler in 18 16 , andwas one of Sheffield’

s most prominent men for many years .EVERARD : He was a fast and early friend of Chantrey

,

and a member of the circle of refined men of literary and

scientific tastes , which Sheffield then could boast .WRAGG : JosephWard, Master Cutler in 1790 , and Samuel

BroomheadWard, his son , in 1798 , were of the same family.

Mes srs . Cammell and Johnson , afterwards of Cyclops works ,first commenced business in this street . You know that thecongregation of Howard street Chapel removed from Coalpit

THE REV . R. . s . BAYLEY . 235

lane in 1790 . The Chapel was attended by the Tillotsonfamily, the late W . and S . Butcher , when young men , theMappin families , Samuel and JosephHadfield, also by GeorgeHadfield, when young . Mr . Hadfield

’

s father is buriedhere ; and the father of Mr . George Wo st enholm , one of itsdeacons , i s also interred in the Chapel yard . One of itsmost talented ministers was the late Rev . R . S . Bayley, whoestablished the People’s College , to give not only a sound ,but a higher education to those who toil for their living .

There are many who have derived great benefit from theCollege .LEONARD Mr . Bayley was so noteworthy a man that po s

sibly you may like to hear an extract or two from a biogra

phical sketch published at the time of his death— November1 5 th , 1 8 5 9 . He was born at Lichfield, and was an in stanceof what may be accomplished by resolution in the pursuit ofknowledge . He was a man of indomitable self-wi ll , and hecarried into all his obj ect s the same resolution that he showedin self-culture . Bu t he was not always judicious in thechoice of his obj ects ; and while his talents procured himmany friends , his inflexible self-will often broke his friendships and interfered with hi s usefulness . Though alwayswell-m ean ing he was often imprudent, and not sufficientlycareful of his ministerial standing and character . Thisbrought h im into collision with the members of his church ,and resulted in those unhappy differences which led to theirseparation , and ultimately to his removal from Sheffield .

And while his friends mourned his failings , even his oppoh ent s were ever ready to testify to hi s pre - eminent ability .

But it was as the founder of the People’s College that heestablished his claim to grateful remembrance . While Governmen t and the variou s sections of the church were squabblingover the question of education , and doing nothing for it , he ,boldly and single -handed , entered upon the task of seeinghow far the education of the youth of both sexes of the middle and working clas ses could be carried on compatibly withtheir engagements in trade . His ability would not haveavailed him in this work un less it had been accompanied bythat indom itable perseverance which sustained him throughsuch labours as but few men could undergo . He wasthoroughly adapted to the work he had undertaken . Com

plet ely master of his task he gained the confidence of hisstuden t s and dull indeed

‘

must they have been not to havetaken knowledge in some of the varied forms in which he

236 THE REV . R . s . BAYLEY .

presented it to them . He sought to develop the minds of hisstudents and teach them to think , that being according t o hisidea the ultimate obj ect— ih fact education . None but thosewho had the good fortun e to be his studen ts can fully appreciate his excellences as principal Of the College . If at timesthey found in him the imperiousnes s of a despot , they alsofound in him the kindness of a friend and the tenderness of aparen t . Ever ready to communicate , it was his delight toteach , and he loved thos e who sat at his feet for in struction .

Mr . Bayley never sought to influence the religious Views ofhis student s to his own ideas of the truth . Always reverentof sacred things , he held the dom ain of conscience too sacredfor human interferen ce . Mr . Bayley was a man of manyfaults

, but to u s they appear greatly dimin ished by the timehe has been removed from Sheffield ; while his excellencies ,which were likewise many and best Worth remembrance , arepresent with us . He impressed his spirit on some of therising youths of Sheffield , and the benefit of his labours willbe felt through all time . They will be no less effective because not seen , nor less real though unacknowledged .

JOHNSON It was in 1836 that Mr . Bayley came to Sheffield , from Louth , Lincoln shire , and in 1846 that he left fora chapel in Ratcliffe Highway, London . Thence he went toHereford , where he had been about two years at the time ofhis death . He was the author of Nature considered as aRevelation ,

” “ History of Louth ,” Lectures on the E arly

History of the Christian Church , and other books . For someyears prior to his death he had been engaged on a life ofThomas Wentworth, Earl of Stratford , for which he had mademo st extensive researches among the State papers , the

-

r ecordsof the Wentworth family , and similar sources .EVERARD : There are some other point s in the history of

Howard street Chapel that I should like to mention . Youcan get a list of it s ministers from the ordinary sources ofinformation . The fourth , the Rev . J . Reece (1797) was avery amiable and exemplary Christian man , characterised bya singular simplicity and originality in his preaching . Montgom ery related how he heard him preach a funeral sermon ,which produced a great impression on his mind . After fouryears’ mini stry he died , January 8 , 1801 , universally re

spect ed ; and a handsome subscription was raised to makeprovision for his widow and children . The next minister wasthe Rev . Samuel Barnard , and he was succeeded by the Rev .

James Mather, a very energetic preacher and useful man ,

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238 ARUNDEL STREET .

EVERARD I forget it s provisionsTWISS : After various charitable and other bequests , he

left all his real and leasehold estates , and all the res idue ofhis personal estates , to his executors , declaring it to be hisearnest wish and desire that they shou ld devote the whole ofit to building and endowing churches , chapels , and schools , orto any other charitable purposes . Up to the present timeMr . Dew snap

’

s earnest desire’ has not beengratified .

WRAGG The Dewsnaps were pres sers . A few years ago ,for a short time resided at 91 , Thomas Longworth , thebrother of the celebrated Mrs . Yelverton . Just beyond Mr .Cowlishaw

’s was Mr . Stones , presser , father of the late Mr .Frederick Stones , edge t- ool manufacturer . On the s ite of theSchool of Art were the silver shops of Messrs . Smith andHoult . I think one of the partners resided in the house nowoccupied by Dr . J . C . Hall . At the other s ide was Mr . Spurr

,

the cutler , who left Church street . It i s now Messrs . Bradburys , silversmiths . At the end of Arundel street are theworks of the late Thomas E llin . He came out of the countryas apprentice to a person of the name of Oldale , married hismaster’s daughter , and was in partnership with his motherin - law in one of the lanes near Howard s treet Chapel . Mr .E llin attended to bus iness , and as the result busines s attendedto him but his brother- in - law fell into poverty and obs curity

,

and his grandchildren are now table -knife hafters . In Sycamore street died Mr . Francis Chambers , who previously kepta public-house in Water lane . Som e of his customers wereCharles and Matthew Shirtcliffe , William Gray, and JohnMilner . William Gray will be remembered in connectionwith Broad lane , as the great j umper and a boot and shoemaker . Of John Milner , it was said that he was the bestspring-knife cutler in the town , and as a debater he was considered unequalled in argument . On some occasion he wasexam ined before a select committee of the House of Commons . These were accustomed to meet at Mr . Chambers ’sto discuss and argue .LEONARD : Here is the Theatre Royal , with its spirited

profile of Shakspeare and some dramatic symbols in the pediment . That was executed by a poor wandering tramp

,

”

named Renilowe .

LEIGHTON : In the days of the South Devon Militia, ofwhom we talked once before , Messrs . Manley and Robertsonwere the lessees of the Theatre . Oh , rare Jemmy Robertson ,

” what a favourite were you , the darling and delight of

THE THEATRE ROYAL .—TUDOR PLACE . 239

the gods of the gallery ; your appearance was at all timeswelcome . The orchestra con s isted of Charles Clegg and hisson ,

O ld Foster,

” Billy Taylor” and his son , and otherswhose names I have forgotten . On the opening night theyknew well who was behind them and what was expected fromthem . On the first flourish of their fiddles , previ ou s to thedrawing up of the curtain , the cry was for Poor JackThere’s a sweet little cherub s it s smiling aloft , to keepwatch o ’er the life of poor Jack .

” There was great enthusiasm , the pit ris ing as one man to do homage to the songand to D ibden , its writer . It was the custom then to have aprofessional singer , who sang between the play and the farce ,and such songs were sung as tended to elevate the publictaste— not Nigger melodies . The first song I heard on thestage was He was famed for deeds of daring .

TWISS The boards of our Theatre , humble as they are ,have been trodden by distingu ished feet— Mrs . Siddons , andher brother Kemble (who was the les see for several s easons ) ,and Charle s Kean , and the elder Macready and h i s son .

LEONARD The present state of Tudor place i s verymelancholy . Grimy black walls , whose monotony is in creasedby tattered shreds of flaming posting bills , stare at the onceconsiderable residence of old Henry Tudor

,while its ancient

adornments of wreathed flowers contemplate with an aspect ofprofound melancholy the deep puddles , the chaotic boulders ,the piles of stones , the layers of timber , and gen eral wasteheap look that have invaded the sacred precincts of it sonce charming garden . The parade ground of the ArtilleryVolunteers , and the other buildings that intervene betweenTudor place and Arundel street , have u surped the place ofthe flower beds and fruit trees of Henry Tudor , and the sycamores that surrounded his domain have their memory per

petuated in the adjoining street , once Sycamore hill , thatbreathes a fragrance of anything but bright flowers and greentrees . There lived Henry Tudor , head of the firm of TudorLeader and Nicholson , one of the first , if not the first , thatengaged in the manufacture of the then newly -invented proces s of silver-plating . The business had begun somewhatbefore 175 8 , in the manufacture of snuff boxes , and it developed into the silver-plating trade . There i s a traditionthat it was in one of the garrets of Tudor house that the accidental discovery o f the possibility of coating copper with silver was discovered , on the s ite now occupied by the manufac

tory of Messrs . Round and Son ; and it was only as late as

240 HENRY TUDOR.

May , 1865 , that the last portion of the old building s waspulled down . In doing this a considerable quantity of scrapmetal was found , hidden away in the roof, the unremovedbooty of some unknown thief.EVERARD : I have seen a memorandum left by one who

at a later period was a member of the firm,which speaks of

Henry Tudor and Thomas Leader as two silversmiths whocame from London . They had a sleeping partner

,a medical

gentleman , named Sherburn , and , says the writer , he residedin Tudor House , the two working partn ers living in the houseadjoining , which was taken down when the Free Library wasbuilt .LEONARD If Mr . Tudor did not live in the house called

by his name at first , he did soon afterwards , and DanielLeader who , having been apprenticed to the firm as box

maker , i . e . snuff box , in 1762 , and afterwards became apartner , lived in the now demolished house adjoining , whichtoo had a fruitful garden .

TWISS : Mr . Tudor was a man of wealth , and he musthave had some taste , for he was one of our earliest localpatrons of the fine arts . I fear , however , he may have beendeceived , as plen ty of other people have been , in the genuinenes s of his purchases , for Chantrey had no very lofty opinionof them . His friend , Mr . T . A .Ward , seems to have writtento ask his friendly opinion , and Chan trey replied Thereare on ly three pictures in Tudor’s collection which I canrecommend you to purchase . The first i s one of the pictureswhich I cleaned —the binding of Christ , by O ld Franks : iti s one of the best pictures of that master , worth twentyguineas . The second is an Italian picture ; subject—figuresand architecture

,and has a good effect . I don’t know the

artist it may be worth about fifteen guineas . The third isa head by Wright , of Derby ; Mr . Tudor gave twelve guineasfor it , which I conceive to be its full value . The Guido ,Wat teau s , Wouverman s , &c .

—as they are pleased to callthem— are , in my opinion , very indifferent imitations of thosemasters I

,advi se you by all means not to That

was in 1808 .

LEONARD : Henry Tudor was a stately gentleman , of theold school , rather dogmatic , andLEIGHTON Very proud . He had the character of being

the proudest man in Sheffield , and he went by the name of

Memorials of Chantrey , 8 5 .

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242 THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS .

great -grandsons . Mr . Ash remembers Daniel Leader as heused to see him in his knee -breeches , long waistcoat , largecuffed coat , ribbed worsted stockings , and large buckles onhis shoes , at the famous hostelry of the Three Stags , inCarver street, kept by Mrs . Wilson . There , with his oldchum

,Quaker Abraham Wigram , Daniel Leader , who is de

scribed as a little stiff man , built like an oak ,”was wont

to discuss local matters , and drink his pint of home brewed ,in the days when our venerable friend of to -day was a youth ,eating his bread and cheese

,and adapting his palate to the

flavour of the Sheffield ale . Abraham Wigram was a bit of apoet , and somewhat of a wit , and when old Bishop , the factorfrom Sharrow lane , was buried , he made some verses descriptive of his screwing habits , and moralising on his end .

LEIGHTON : Entering Norfolk street from Arundel streetwe have on our left , back to back with the Theatre Royal , theAssembly Rooms , and on the right a tinner

’s shop , once thebuilding to which Mr . Wreaks removed the Post Office , in1828 . But the inconvenience of this situation was too great ,and a move was made to the Commercial Buildings in Highstreet , now occupied by Messrs . Levy .

TWISS : And would you actually pass over the AssemblyRooms , the scene of the most notable feature in the sociallife of Sheffield a century ago , with that bare mention“ From the year Hunter tell s u s , the assemblieswere held in two rooms of the Boys’ Charity School , wherethe company enjoyed conversation or the mazy dance by light ,not of wax , which beamed from sconces of tin . The roomsof which we are now speaking were built in 1762, and theTown Council became tenants of them in 1846 . In thatyear (November 28 ) the Independen t published some veryinteresting documents relating to these gatherings , which Ihappen to know were contributed by the most competent pen .

These comprised lists of subscribers , with an attempt atidentifying the persons whose names appeared ; a list of afew of the earlier Queens ; the terms of admission and therules . These contain much curious information , but they aretoo long to inflict upon you now .

LEONARD : A different and perhap s Older set of rules waspublished in the Shefiield Times of December 27th , 18 5 1 .

EVERARD : Opposite u s is Nether Chapel— the new NetherChapel we old men should call it , s ince it supplanted the o ldbuilding we remember so well . Amongst the seceders fromthe Upper Chapel ,

” and one who took a great interest in

NETHER CHAPEL . 243

and was a large subscriber to the building of the Old NetherChapel

,in 1715 , was a Mr . John Smith . On the authority

of Mr . Hunter’s “ Gens Sylvestrines ,” we learn that this Mr .

Smith was born at Bell House , August 28 th , 1684, and wasbaptised at Ecclesfield. He was apprenticed to John Winter ,a considerable manufacturer in Sheffield , was admitted to thefreedom of the Cutlers ’ Company in 1705 , and became theMaster Cutler in 1722 . He was deeply engaged in the effort sof the Cutlers’ Company to obtain powers to make the Don anavigable river by which Sheffield might be connected withthe Humber . On that occas ion the interests of the townwere committed into his hands and he went to London andso far brought over members Of both Houses of Parliament toapprove and vote for the design , that the obj ect was attainedin 1726 . Mr . Sm ith was a person of a remarkably religiousspirit . He died November 1 5 th , 175 3 , at the age of sixty-nine ,and was buried in the chapel yard . He was the great grandfather o f the late Mr . Ebenezer Smith , who married a daughterof the Rev . John Harmer , the minister of Nether Chapel , andwas the father of Harmer , Joshua , F . E . and Sydney Smith ,now amongst us . Some years ago a curious old relic , inthe form of a scrap of writing , came into my hands , whichafforded a Vivid glimpse of the state of feeling entertained by theNonconformists of that day with regard to Popery . It is in theform of an announcement made by the clerk ofli ciat ing at theNether Chapel , (Jeremiah Marshall by name , ) on Sunday , the4th November , 175 0 , informing the congregation that a publicservice would be held on the next day in the chapel on a specialoccasion . The Rev . John Pye , the un cle of the late Rev . JohnPye Smith , was at that time the minister . The following i sa copy of the notice in question Please to take notice ,that to -morrow will be the return of the 5 th of November .There will be a Sermon preached here in commemoration oftwo remarkable deliverances in our favour , both as Protestant sand Englishmen . The one was the Powder Plot , in the reignof King James the First , 1605 , now 145 years ago ; a plotthat could be contrived by non e but the Devil and his youngerbrother , the Pope of Rome , and his accursed crew . The

other was the Revolution’ in the person of the renownedPrince of Orange ,

"

1688 , now 62 years ago . He , as an instrument under God , delivered us from Popery and Slaveryand the memory of the great William the III . will be sweetand valuable to every true Briton while the world endures .From what I happen to know, I have little doubt that a

244 NETHER CHAPEL .

worthy ancest or of mine (one of the seceders from the UpperChapel) would relish and endorse the good old clerk

’s an

nouncement , and duly attend , with his family, the appointedservice . Although I should not like to undertake to defendevery word of Mr . Jeremiah Marshall’s trenchant phraseology ,yet I do admire the spirit of sturdy Protestantism and love ofcivil and religious liberty , that it expresses .LEONARD : I was reading , the other day, in the Shefiield

M ercury, of May 12 , 1827 , a long account of the foundationstone laying on the previous Monday, May 7 . It gives infull the oration” pronounced by the Rev. Thomas Smith onthe occasion , which is interesting as containing a sketch ofthe history of the chapel and of his predecessors in the

ministry . The inscription was as followsThe Lower Chape lbuilt 1715 ;

Re-built by Public Subscription1827 .

THOMAS SMITH , A.M . , Minister.

WILLIAM PARKER,JAMES BARTON , cons .

DAVID HASLEHURST,WATSON, PRITCHARD and WATSON, of York , Architects .

Below, this inscription , with a few verbal alterations , wasrepeated in Latin . On a roll of parchment , enclosed in abottle and deposited under the stone , was the following history : The Nether Chapel having stood 1 12 years had become inconvenient to the congregation and is therefore rebuilt by public subscription at an expense of about £4000 ,including £700 paid for additional land . A cons iderablepart of this sum has been raised by weekly contributions sinceApril , 1821 , chiefly collected by

“ Here ,” says the

M ercury,“ follows a list of twenty-one names , but we for

bear inserting them from motives of delicacy .

” Reading thereport now we can only regret that the newspaper , in havingsuch a tender respect for the modesty of the collectors , deprives us of a useful bit of town- lore .TWISS : We can get the names of the successive minis

ters from Hunter and other sources , but no one ever thinksof recording the deacons’ names . Yet such a list wouldsuggest many memories to old Sheffield dissenters .

EVERARD : A reminiscence I have of the opening ofNether Chapel in 1828 , enables me to give you a glimpse ofone who possesses a fair claim to rank among the O ld Sheffield Worthies—the Rev. William Thorpe . He took part inthe opening services, and that was his last appearance in his

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246 THE REv. WM . THORPE .

old . Young Thorpe carried out the instructions to the letter ,rubbing off the plate and bruisin‘g exactly as the old one wasbruised . Many of Thorpe’s fellow workmen were imbuedwith the extreme Views of Jacobinism , and at their instancehe challenged Mr . Macready, the father of the great tragedian , Who was at that time the lessee and manager of theSheffield Theatre , to a public discus s ion on the causes andprinciples Of the French Revolution . This Mr . Macreadyaccepted ; and the meeting took place in the Freemasons

’

Lodge,in Paradise square (recently Mr . Hebblethwaite

’

s

school-room) , which was crowded to excess . The late Mr .William Ibbit t

’

s father belonged to the same trade , and waspresent on that occasion . According to his account Williamhad quite the mastery over his opponent , and at the end themeeting , by a large majority, voted the youthful champion ofpolitical freedom the victor . The Rev . Jehoiada Brewer wasat that time the minister of the Queen street Chapel ; and heheld similar political Views . William Thorpe was happilybrought under his influence , and became a decidedly religiouscharacter. At length he entered on the regular discharge ofthe duties of the Christian ministry , though without passingthrough the process of an academical training . The firs tplace in which William Thorpe was located was as the pastorof the Independent Church at Shelley , a Yorkshire village ,whence , after about a year , he went to Chester . In 1796 , hebecame the minister of Netherfield Chapel , Penistone . In1800 he removed to London , and then ce to Bristol , where heremained to the end of his life . On the memorable occasionof the opening service s of the new Nether Chapel , in themonth of August , 1828 , the chapel was crowded to excess .The preacher was a tall , big man , and very corpulent , butwithout anything heavy or vulgar about the form and expression of the face . On the contrary , his features , ris ing abovea remarkable double chin , were finely and even delicatelyformed , more especially the nose and mouth . His high forehead was bald , and what portion of hair he had was of adark colour , with a touch of grey on his short , slight whiskers ,His nose was somewhat of the Roman type ; hi s eyes wereblack and piercing ; with a small mouth and arched eyebrows . His voice was remarkable for it s compass and power,and was apt to swell into thunder tones a s he denounced , inawful terms , the doom of the impenitent ; or become modulated into accents of the most persuasive tenderness , in urging sinners to repent and believe in the Saviour . The sub

NORFOLK STREET . 247

jcet was the Christian doctrine of the Atonement . This hetreated in his own peculiar style , and with a fulnes s of illust rat ion ,

and a clearnes s and force of argument that I neverheard exceeded nor , indeed , so much matter on that subj ectcompressed within the limits of a single sermon . It is truehe preached for above an hour and a half, but the attentionof the people was riveted from first to last . The impressionproduced on the minds of his hearers by this discourse wasvery great . Him self the son of the Rev . John Thorpe

,he

was the father of another Independent minister of the samename , who was for some years the minister of Mount Z ionChapel.

LEIGHTON : Chapel walk , between Nether Chapel and theWesleyan Chapel below (built in formerly came intoNorfolk street by a series of steps . They were removed atthe same time as those in Virgins ’ walk and East parade

,

descending into Campo lane , by a person named Marriott , afilesmith ,

who had the control of the highways .WRAGG : Chapel walk is one of our old thoroughfares .

It formerly contained , with their backs to it , some veryold frame houses , built of lath and plaster . In Georgestreet , the Mechanics

’ Institution was commenced in 1832 ,and conducted on the premises of the late Messrs . Pickslay,now the site of the ofli ces of Messrs . Broomhead , Wightmanand Moore , the solicitors . This was the first attempt madein the town for the labouring clas ses to receive instruction inevenings , after their daily toil .

LEONARD : You spoke once before of Harwood and Thomas,

who were on the site of the Sheffield Banking Company’spremises .

WRAGG : At the lower corner of Change alley were theMessrs . Deakin , merchants , one of whom founded the charitythat bears his name . At the

_o ther corner , until recently ,

were the Messrs . Woodcock, the brushmakers , who musthave been people of taste , as some very valuable pictures weresold at their sale . It almost looked as if they had studiedthe science of astronomy . Opposite

,in Norfolk street

,are

the Mes srs . Rodgers , the cutlers , who , as formerly noticed ,came from Hawley croft . I have heard it stated that origi nallythey came from Stannington . Near , in Milk street , i s Mr .Bowling’s school , celebrated as being kept by the late Mr . J .

H . Abraham , who , bes ides having the best school in thetown

,was of a mechanical turn of mind, for in 1822 he in

248 NORFOLK STREET .

vented a magnetic apparatus for the protection of personsemployed in dry grinding .

TWISS A testimonial was presented to him in that year ,in token of respect for his talents , and in acknowledgmentof his services to an afflicted clas s of workmen by his ingenious invention and he also received the gold medal of theSociety of Arts for the same invention .

JOHNSON : L ike many other things that are theoreticallysound, the magnetic apparatus was practically useles s . Thegreat complaint against it was , I believe , that it was speedilychoked with the fragment s of metal attracted , and then therespiration of the workman was di stressingly hindered .

WRAGG : Messrs . Sansom , in Norfolk street (now HarrisonBrothers and Howson) , had a table-blade forger , named Muscroft , who was a man of great ingenuity . He had been acollier . He made and repaired clocks , some of which I haveseen , and I believe he contrived a small gas apparatus . Ithink I could almost pos itively say that General Grainger ,one of the confederate officers in the United States rebellion ,was born in the Park, and was the son of one of Mr . Muscroft’s daughters .LEONARD : The public-house at the bottom of the street ,

now the Norfolk Arms , was , John Wilson tells us in a noteto Mather’s song of “ Shout ’em down ’s barn ,

” called TheHullett ,

” or Owl , and about the end of the last century itwas kept by Mr . Michael Waterhouse . It s pseudonym wasShout ’em down ’s ,

’ and it was a favourite rendezvous forrecruiting parties .EVERARD At No . 14 , Norfolk street , Chantrey had apart

ment s during the recess of the Royal Academy in 1804, whenhe solicited the patronage of the ladies and gentlemen ofSheffield in sculpture and portrait painting .

“ As modelsfrom life are not generally attempted in the country,

” hisadvertisement said , F . C . hopes to meet the liberal sentiments of an impartial public .”

LEONARD Chantrey , too , was a frequent Visitor at anotherhouse in this s treet , that which is now occupied by MissBarry, dres smaker , then the residence of Mr . Sterndale , surgeon , who had married Mary Handley , of whom we spokewhen talking of Angel street . In his Memorials of Chantrey,Mr . Holland tells that Chantrey and Mrs . Sterndale (who wasa local authoress) on ce met at a party at Mr . Revell

’s , inNorfolk street , and during the evening , a violent thunderstormcame on. Mrs . Sterndale and Chantrey disappeared in succes

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25 0 NORFOLK STREET .

from the academy . Thereupon he succeeded the Rev . Mr .Barber as pastor of a small congregation at Burntwood

,in

E s sex , and after a few years became assistant to Dr . Eaton ,High Pavemen t Meeting , Nottingham . After four years hewas invited , on the death of the Rev . Thomas Haynes

,to the

Upper Chapel , Sheffield , and he s ettled there in 175 9 . Hemarried , on the 29th July , 1762 , Susanna , eldest of thethree daughters of hi s predecessor , Mr . Haynes . For nearlyforty years he pres ided over the Sheffield congregation

,and

one at Fulwood, in conj unction with the Rev . John Dickensonfor half that period , and the Rev . Benj amin Naylor for thelatter half. In November , 1798 , he resigned the pastoraloffice , and he died on the last day of the year 1803 . The I ri sof the 5 th January , 1804 , contained a brief obituary noticefrom the pen of his worthy late coadjutor

,

” and another,

fuller and more accurate , appeared in the M on thly M agaz ine

for February of the same year . I have confined myself inthis epitom e to the bare facts , omitting the affectionate andeulogistic language which Mr . Hunter employed .

WRAGG : On the side of the street opposite Upper Chapel,

were the warehous e and town residence of Mr . Bu stardGreaves , of Page Hall . The warehouse is occupied by Mr .Hay, the spirit merchant , and the site of the house is nowthe Savings’ Bank .

LE IGHTON Concerning the same premises and the samefirm , it has been related how a young man , named Woodhead , became a partner of Mr . Greaves

’

s . He was apprenticed to Mr . Greaves , and being sharp and steady he wasoffered a partnership , after he came of age , if he could find£ 1000 . Having no mon ey of his own he went to one of theRimingtons , an old friend of hi s employer , and told his story .

Mr . Rimington ,with a genero sity so unexplained that I fancy

some essential point may have been omitted from the narrative

,advanced £ 1000 , wishing young Woodhead every suc

ces s , and telling him that if he failed the repayment of theloan wou ld n ever be asked for . Mr . Woodhead became awealthy man ,

bu ilt himself a man sion at Highfield, and livedto a good old age . It is said that manufacturers liked to dobusines s with the Woodheads , who were factors . So long asthe article was good no obj ection was raised to the price .WRAGG : In Norfolk street were the warehouse and works of

Blouk, Silcock and Cc .

— in the gates next to No . 143 . Theirshops extended to Norfolk lane and are now turned into tenements . At the top of the street , next to the Turkish Baths ,

LADIES’ WALK . 25 1

are the Messrs . Barlow, whose family have been in the scis sortrade for more than a century .

EVERARD : In the house now occupied by the TurkishBaths

,at the corner of Charles street , died , unmarried ,

George B adon , one of the sons of John Eadon , the master ofthe Free Writing school .TWISS : In Union street was the second Methodist Chapel

erected in the town , put up after the first in Pin stone lanehad been destroyed by a mob . But that was long agoabout the middle of the last century .

WRAGG : At the top of Porter street , or as it used to becalled , Ladies

’ walk , was Mr . Hutchinson , the coachmaker ,who , as I mentioned once before, was so tall that he had agig made expres sly for himself, with a recess for his legs .

His family, in Norfolk street , had been many years in thewheelwright and carriage business . He was the father of thelate Mr . William Hutchinson , of the firm of Naylor , Vickersand Hutchinson .

LEIGHTON A stroll down Ladies ’ walk would , at onetime , have taken us into a colony of pleasant gardens . Downthere was the famous file factory of Mr . Daniel Bramall, who ,in 1816 , built Sheaf House , afterwards the residence of Mr .George Younge . His name has been given to the street .LEONARD Chantrey adorned that house and took portraits

of a large number of the B ramalls , and as at that other filesmith ’s in Shemeld croft—Nicholas Jackson ’

s— so here , at thefile - smith’s in Bramall lane , he had an afiaire-de-cceur withone of the daughters— Mary .

WRAGG The factory was close to what i s now the Cricketground ; 5 0 or 60 years ago these were the largest file worksin the n eighbourhood . In 1805 , Mr . Danie l Bramall obtaineda verdict of £2000 damages against a Birmingham file makerfor violating his mark . Now , I believe , it is quite valueles s .EVERARD : Since we have wandered away from the town ,

suppose we get back to it by another route , taking in L ittleSheffield and the MoorJOHNSON : Good . I have no doubt L ittle Sheffield may

produce some interesting gossip , since the manufactory ofGeorge Jeeves and Son , brush -makers , was situated there .

It has been said that there probably never was any one aboutwhom so m any amusing stories were told as Mr . GeorgeJeeves , and the fo llowing have been related — He had , besides his own workmen , a large number of apprentices , andhe would station himself at his gates at six o’clock in the

25 2 MR. GEORGE JEEVES .

morning and pull the ears of any lads who were late . Oneof these lads was very lazy and troublesome to his master .O ld Jeeves used to keep a s ix -and-sixpenny whip for the purpose o f correction , and Jack S got a large share of thiskind of attention . While under pun ishment he would loudlyprom ise to do better , but would quickly relapse into his oldlistless ways . He was a great trouble to his employer

, who wasreally a good master to good servants . The lad often causedhis master to swear , of which he would bitterly repent afterwards , and he has been heard to say to the tiresome apprentice , Thah makes me run into more sin than a little .” Mr .Jeeves had a pew at St . Paul

’s Church , and expected his ladsto attend there , and in time . One Sunday morning , on hisway to church down the Moor , he saw George anapprentice , playing at marbles on some waste ground . Hecalled out in passing , Now , thab

’

ll be in time , lad thab’

ll

be in time .” Yes,Sir ,

” was the reply but he stayed toolong , and was late at church . O ld Jeeves waited his oppor

tun i ty, and during the prayers s idled up to the offender , andgave his ear a tremendous wring . George , partly from painand partly to serve his master out , set up a yell that resounded through the church . Another of these lads , notliking to go to church

,tried to annoy his master by going

very shabbily dressed ; and Mr . Jeeves quite audibly remarked ,Go thee to ’

t bottom , thah shabby d As a proof ofhis regard for the decencie s of worship , he was heard to sayto another lad

,D u m you , kneel in a praying posture .

”

WRAGG With some of the best stories told of Mr .Jeeves

,the Rev . Frank Parker , incumbent of Dore , is asso

ciated. Jeeves very frequently accompanied the minister tohis Sunday labours , and when , one feast Sunday, the incumbent took for his text

,It is eas ier for a camel to go through

the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdomof heaven ,

” Mr . Jeeves rose , and turning round to the con

gregat ion with his hand lifted , exclaimed , There , you poorragged devils , did you hear that " There’s good news forou .

”

yLEIGHTON : A good dinner used to be one of the accom

paniment s of the Dore excursions . It i s said that sometimes ,if the sermon was rather too long for his taste , Mr . Jeeve swould go to the bottom of the pulpit steps and call out in astage whisper , Frank , Frank , t

’ goose i s ready, cut it short ,man .

” Messrs . Jeeves had some very respectable boys , andamongst them Mr . Thomas Marshall, afterwards a butcher in

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5 4 SETH CADMAN .

tenant of the old house still standing at the corner of Youngstreet and Hodgson street , on

[ the 23rd Augu st , 18 03 . Atthat time the bu ilding must have been considerably morethan fifty years old , but it presented no sign that it would oneday be the dilapidated place it i s or that it wou ld be closedin by streets teeming with a hard working popu lation . Theprem ises were divided in to house and workshop , and fromthe latter there was really a charming outlook . O ld Seth”

took a lively interest in the stirring event s of his time, and

kept a diary, of which the intention was better than the spelling . Its records begin with 1807 , and it i s now in the possession of Seth’s granddaughter , Mrs . Gillo tt , of Egertonstreet . Evin tful Tim es to Future Ages” i s the heading ofeach page , and the entries relate to all mann er of events

,

private , domestic , local , national and foreign . In December,

1 823 , a great flood of water cam e into L ittle Sheffield . Itwas one yard Ighe in our hou se in Young street , did greatdamige . Largest ever noung .

” Seth Cadm an died in 1 8 32 ,aged 77 In the words of a sampler ,

” worked by a granddaughter , He was followed to his grave by upwards of s ixtychildren , grandchildren , and great-grandchildren .

” His son,

Seth Cadm an , died in 1849 , at the age of 67 , the third Sethhaving died two mon ths before , aged 26 . One of the s istersof the latter had married Mr . Gillot t , and a second Mr . Crossland , spring -knife cutler , who , twenty years ago , emigratedto America and settled in Buffalo . There he fell ill and wasin great distress , but his wife , who had had some training asa dress -maker and was a wom an of much energy

,sold a

watch , and with the proceeds bought materials which shemade up into a baby

’s dress . That was the beginning of apro sperous career , for the dres s being displayed and sold ,other orders followed , and now she is the head of a largeestablishmen t , and drives her carriage . Two brothers

,who

continued the comb -making trade in the old hou se untilabout ten years ago , also wen t out to Buffalo , andwere startedin bu s in es s by their sister a s stationers and n ews agents .LEONARD : You should not forget to add that posterity

owes a debt of gratitude to old Seth,as the first to manufac

ture here the small- tooth comb .

EVERARD : In those days , from Little Sheffield to theSugar House , at the bottom of Coalpit lan e , there was scarcelya hou se . It was then Sheffield Moor in reality

,where tall

Mr . Hutchinson used to break in and train carriage horses .WRAGG : The old house of Mr . Kirkby, in Button lane,

LITTLE SHEFFIELD. 25 5

would be one of the few in the neighbourhood . It is dated1705 , and part of it i s now occupied as the Blacksmith’sCottage” public-house . Miserable shop s have been built infront of part of it .

LEIGHTON Sheffield Moor originally was not much betterthan a swamp , through which a path was made by two embankment s being thrown up

,between which was a deep ditch .

The present road was made at great cost by filling up thisditch . But we have mentioned these things before .

LEONARD The Moor has been described as a wild common , adorned with gorse bushes and foxgloves , and possessinga bowling green .

WRAGG : The Woodman public -house on the Moor is oneof the oldest dwelling-houses in the neighbourhood .

LEONARD I think the Rose and Crown ,” at Highfields ,

i s still older . It is worth any one’

s while to go and look at it .I am told that there i s a bedstead in one room that has neverbeen taken down for nearly eighty years , and if it were re

moved now the ceiling would come down too , for it is supportedby the bedstead .

EVERARD : Rather an uncomfortable place to sleep in .

As we pas s Bright street,Fit zwi lliam street and Rockingham

street , let us notice them as illustrations of the origin of ourstreet nam es . They at once indicat e the ownership of thesoil by the house of Wentworth . The last Marquis of Rockingham married the daughter of the last E ccle sall Bright ,and so came into possession of the property . As he diedwithout issue it descended to his nephew , E arl Fitzwilliam .

It is said that the Marquis,when taunted with marrying a

woman of no blood , replied , that“ if she had no blood she

had plenty of suet .”

JOHNSON : In my own recollection,about 40 years ago , the

whole of the district comprising Devonshire , Hanover , Fitzwilliam , Broomhall , and other streets , has been laid out .D ivision street then extended no further than Canning street ,and the houses on the Sheffield side of this dingy little s treetwere open to the fields . In going to school at Western bankthere was scarcely a house beyond the Bee Hive . Conventwalk was a pleasant country lane , and on the left-hand s idewas what we called the O ld Orchard , being an orchard onlyj ust broken up. In passing Mrs . Bayley’s house , now thePublic Hospital , we were greatly alarmed , for the house washaunted ; at least so we were told .

25 6 COALPIT LANE .

LEONARD : We learn from old Seth Cadman’s diary, thaton the l st July , 1825 , Part of Coalpit lane was brought torise Sheffield Moor . I confess I don’t quite know what itmean s , unles s formerly the only exit from Coalpit lane wasinto Button lane .TWISS : The late Mr . Samuel Roberts (born 1763 , died

1848 ) speaks of having heard Mr .Whitefield preach from thetop of the cask at the Sugar house .

WRAGG : It is worthy of note that the houses on theE cclesall side of Coalpit lane are older than those on thetown side . In that lane was Mis s Patten , whose father wasin the cutlery trade . The house is now Mr . Kent’s mattressshop . Up the yard were Mr . Patten’s workshops . On thesite of the Primitive Methodist Chapel is a large bu ildingdivided in to tenement s , said to have been a farm house .Below was the old chapel , built by Mr . Bennet , about 1775 ,for a congregation of seceders from Nether Chapel , who re

moved to Howard street Chapel in 1790 . Another congregation of Independents removed from it in 1803 to Garden streetChapel . For eight years previous to 18 14 it had been occu

pied by the Baptists , until they rem oved to Townhead streetChapel . A few people , who held baptismal notions amongthe various Independent churches , separated from it andformed themselves into a distinct congregation or church ,and chose one from among themselves to be the minister , Mr .Downes . He was said to be the most knock -kneed man inthe town , even surpassing , in that respect , Tommy Hotbread.

The chief man in this movement was Mr . Bowman , the pawnbroker . There i s a tablet to his memory in Townhead streetChapel, stating that he was mainly instrumental in the erection of the place . In Coalpit lane

,I believe , the Newboulds

had been located before they went on to Sheffield Moor, andthere , too , was Philip Law, edge-tool maker , where his anoestors had been about a century . Edward Middleton , of whomI spoke once before as an amateur gardener , had the Barleycorn tavern here . If all innkeepers had carried on their business as he did , the present conflict between teetotallers andpublicans would not have existed , for there would have beenneither drunkards nor total abstainers . He was the brotherof John Middleton , the cooper , of Vicar lane .EVERARD We ought not to rest satisfied without a fuller

notice of Mr . Edward Bennet . He was a sugar refiner , andcarried on his business at the old Sugar-house , at the bottomof Coalpit lane, or Moorhead . He was a Christian man and

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25 8 MR. EDWARD BENNET .

was laid of his subsequent success,fortune , and position .

Mr . Bennet , in his acts of charity , was especially kind to poormin i sters in the neighbourhood . A late friend of mine ,likely to be well informed in the matter , used to relate aninstance of this kind that occurred as the result of an intimation received in a dream . But while correct as to thecircumstan ces , he must have been mistaken as to the person ,for he told it of the Rev . Dan iel of Loxley ,whereas Mr . Dunkerly only became the minister at that placein 1 802, fourteen years after Mr . Bennet

’s death . I think itpossible that the recipient of Mr . Benn et’s bounty was theRev . Josiah Rhodes , Independent Minister at Stanningtonfrom 1779 to 178 5 . However , to the story . The good manin question , whoever he may have been , was poor , having buta small stipend , and was often in straits ; but he was of amodest and withal independent spirit

,that would silently

suffer much rather than complain or ask for as sistan ce . Hewas at the time referred to in a special pecun iary difficulty ,and did not know which way to look for deliverance , but on lyto that great source from whence he had often derived helpand consolation before . He , therefore , prayed earnestly .

The same night Mr . Bennet dreamt that his friend was ingreat perplexity and distress of mind for want of money .

Under the impression of this dream , the next morning hesent him , anonymous ly, a £ 10 note (I think the sum was) ,which j ust came at the nick of t ime , and at once deliveredthe good man in his hour of extremity . Suspecting that itmust have come from Mr . Bennet

,he called upon him and

ascertained the fact . The minister then asked how he couldpossibly know of his distress , as he had not breathed a wordto a single human being on the matter Mr . Bennetanswered that he had not been told by anybody , but that heknew it by a means which convinced him , whether it mightsatisfy any one else or not , that God , even now , i s notlimited as to the mode in which information may be acquiredwhen neces sary for the relief of His suffering and prayingpeople . He told him that he had dreamt in the night of thefact of his distress , though without the particulars , and inthe morning had simply acted on the suggestion .

The Rev . Dan iel Dunkerly was succeeded , in 1821 , by the Rev. Davi dDunkerly, no relation , who married the eldes t daughter o f the Rev . James

Mather , andwho , af ter a pas torate of 8 or 9 years , wen t to Canada, andlately died there , aged 80 years .

p

ENOCH TRICKETT . 2 5 9

TWISS : There are other stories of a similar kind aboutMr . Bennet , but I am sorry to say I do not accurately re

member the details .LEONARD : There is an admirable story told of a Coalpit

lane file manufacturer , who was in busin es s here about themiddle of last cen tury , in partnership with his brother William— Master Cutler in 1771— while yet communication betweenSheffield and London was in its infancy . Enoch Trickettwas a genuine broad O ld Shevvielder .

” His shirt s leevesrolled up, wearing a leather apron whose bib was up to histhroat , without n eckerchief, he was not to be distinguishedfrom his workmen . When the commercial spirit extendeditself in the town , Enoch said he would go to Lunnonand see if he cou ld sell som e files and obtain orders

,thinking

he shou ld get better prices there than in Shefli eld. He wen tinto a merchant’s warehouse , and asked if they were in wantof any files , producing his pattern s , which they examined .

They asked prices , and what discount was allowed .

“ D iscoun he says , What’s that O i ne’er heard tell on itafore . They explained that by making them an allowanceof so much per cent . , he would get their order , and upon thereceipt of the goods they wou ld remit him the money in payment . “ Way , oi

’

ve t elled yo t ’proice on’em , an

’

beloike

oi’

st expect t ’bras s for ’em . Further explanations on ly resulted in the reply, Soa yo Wanf en me to gi yo so muchmoney to buy t

’

foiles The terms on which they would givehim a good order were explain ed , but Enoch

’s patience wasexhausted , and , lapping” up his fi les , he said, Nay

,lad

,

nay ; oi can sell’em for moor nor that at Breetmoor

’

s onnyt oime , and tak t

’ brass hoam w i’

me when ween ’livered .

” Iti s currently reported t hat Enoch never again tried h is hand asa commercial traveller . When umbrellas first came intovogue in Sheffield , Enoch

’s brother got one . See thee, see

thee ,” said Enoch , ahr Bill has get t en a waukin stick w i

’

pet ticot s on .

‘ EVERARD : The father of Mr . George Hadfield, ex-M .P.

for Sheffield , was one of the first to introduce the use of theumbrella into Sheffield . I have heard the late Mr . SamuelHadfield say, that as boys he and his brother were so ashamedof it that they wou ld not walk the same way to chapel withhim on rainy Sundays .LEIGHTON : That is almost as good as the reception ao

corded to the first pair of those new -fangled garments calledtrousers which found their way to the town . It was reserved

260 THE FIRST UMBRELLAS .

for Mr . Marriott (Marriott and Atkinson ) to introduce thesegarments , and when he revealed himself to his astonishedtownsmen in them , after a visit to London , he was greetedwith the exclamation Why , lad , thou

’s gett en breeches w i’

chimbley poipes on ’em . Where didst get ’em The ridiculewas so merciless that Mr . Marriott thought it prudent to havethese garments put away in a drawer until more en lightenedtimes dawned . But , one day , when he was at work , some ofhis frolicsome friends wen t to Mrs . Marriott , and , by profes sing they had her Mester’s” authority, got pos ses sion of thebreeches with chimney pipes” and pawned them . So whenMr . Marriott wanted to pay his n ext visit to London he foundout the j oke that had been played him .

LEONARD : There are several claiman ts to the honour ofhaving first introduced umbrellas in to the town— Mr . SamuelNewbou ld and Mr . Holy (who are said to have brought themfrom Ireland) , and Mr . John Greaves , merchan t , of Fargat e .

The res idence of Mr . Greaves stood where Mr . Proctor ,draper

,is now— a dingy old house , where he was succeeded

by his son , who , as his epitaph in the Parish Church has itwas the last survivor of a numerous and respectable family .

The umbrella of Mr . Greaves the elder i s still in existence ,and i s in the po s sess ion of his descendant , Mis s” Law , ofWestern bank . The tradition is that he brought it to Sheffi eld about the year 1742 . He was born about 1708 , and

died 6th March , 1779 . The ribs of the umbrella are j ointedin the middle , so that they and the cover attached to themdouble back ; and the upper part of the stick being proport ionat ely short , the whole when folded is only about 14 inchesin length , though the bulk is con siderable . The idea evidentlywas to construct an umbrella that could be put into the capacions pockets of those days . When it had to be hoistedthere was a j ointed stick to fit into the upper part , thusmaking the whole of a suitable length .

JOHNSON : The writer on Sheffield as it was forty yearsago , from whom I have previously quoted , says that at thatperiod The whole of Fargate from Orchard street corner toBalm green , and on the opposite side also , consisted of smalltumble -down , two -story houses , which must have been someof the oldest in Sheffield . Our fathers were not so particularas to the look of their houses as their children are . Myfather had a good busines s in Fargate , but on hi s marriagetook a house in Rockingham lane , a little above Button lane ,as a sort of country house .

”

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262 BARKER POOL .

LEIGHTON : The first house erected on it s site was builtin 1793 , by Mrs . Hannah Potter , as a public -house , with theodd Sign of Well run D imple”— an exclamation of oommendation addressed to a horse that distinguished itself onCrookes Moor racecourse .JOHNSON Forgive me for once more quoting James Wills

,

as he no t only describes the old pool , but narrates an incidentof some interest

The Barker’s Poo l , no ted for nuisance indeed ,Green over w ith venom , where insects did breed ,And form ing a square , w ith large gates in the wal l,Where the Rev. Charles Wes ley to s inners did call .Once when h e was preaching , an officer bo ldMarch

’d up through hi s audience , adorned with gold.

Mr . Wes ley perceived him w ith drawn sword in hand ,And Open

’d hi s waistcoat as he saw h im stand,Being fill’d by repentance by hearing the word .In those days persecution , that giant of hel l ,S talk

’d along in mad fro lic ; and, strange for t o tell ,Pursued the poor Christian s , abu sed them sore ,

Resolv’d that those people shou ld never preach more ;

But th e Wes leys andWh itfields , being fraught w ith pure z eal ,No t fearing their l ives , for s inners did feel ;And the Mulberry s treet preaching house being t oo small ,Wes ley s tood with h i s back again s t Barker’s Poo l wall .”

LEONARD : Mr . Samuel Roberts gives a curious accountof one of the uses to which Barker pool was put in his youngdays . It was ,

” he says ,“ well walled round . In the

even t of a fire (happily a very rare one) the water , on beinglet off , could be directed to most parts of the town . All thechannels were then in the middle of the streets , which were

generally'

in a very disorderly state ; manure heaps Oftenlying in them for a week together . About once every quarterthe water was let out of Barker pool , to run into all thosestreets into which it cou ld be turned, for the purpose ofcleansing them . The bellman gave notice of the exact tim e

,

and the favoured streets were all bustle , with a row of men ,women , and children on each side of the channel , anxiouslyand j oyfu lly awaiting, with mops , brooms and pails

,the

arrival of the cleansing flood , whose first appearance wasannounced by a loud continuous shout : all below was anxiousexpectation— all above a most amusing s cene of bus tling animation . Some people were throwing the water up againsttheir houses and windows some raking the garbage into thekennel ; some washing their pigs ; some sweeping the pavement ; youngsters throwing water over their compan ion s orpushing them into the wide - spread torrent . Meanwhile aconstant Babel-like uproar , mixed with the barking of dogs

SHEFFIELD WELLS . 263

and the grunting of pigs , was heard both above and below,

till the w aters , after about half an hour , had become exhaus ted.

”

LEIGHTON : As connected with the supply Of water youwill also remember that Mr . Roberts speaks of the supply ofwater brought in pipes to a receptacle in Townhead street

,

from which it was the bus ines s of a number of men to takeit in casks , fixed on the body of a wheelbarrow, holding aboutfifty gallons , to all parts of the town to sell . Water Isaac” /

was a well-known member of this band of barrel men . Mr .Roberts mentions too a large water reservoir belonging toMr . Matthewman , over Mr . Winter

’s candlestick factorysubsequently Mr . Bardwell’s auction room— for supplying thetown with Crookes Moor water .WRAGG : On the site of the houses where the Fire brigade

now res ide , in Balm green , there used to be some very oldhouses

,bearing the date of erection as in the seventeenth

century . In 1 671 , there were the following public wellsBurnt tree well,Water lan e well ,Workhouse well (the pump ,in Westbar , is no doubt i t s modern representative) , Websterwell , and Flint well . There were also the troughs in Waterlane .LEONARD : We have come across other sources of water

supply in the course of our rambles— Bower spring,and the

spring in Bailey’s yard , Broomhall spring , and the rest . Itis not so very many years sin ce some of these were still used .

The M ercury, of January 27 , 1 827 , records that A castiron pump has been recently placed at the bottom of SheffieldMoor , chiefly through the exertions of the Overseers ofE cclesall Bierlow . This pump will be a great accommodationto that part of the town , they having had to procure theirsupply of water from an Open well, which was often subj ectto nuisance . A reservoir has been made conn ected with thepump , capable of containing about gallon s , which willafford a supply for the summer mon ths . At the head of thesubscription list we see the name of E arl Fitzwilliam for £20 ,and that of Rowland Hodgson , E sq . , forWRAGG : James Levick , the dahlia grower , was an ivory

merchant in Pinstone street . He frequented Coxon ’

s publichouse , and at the election of 18 36 , when a Mr . Bell came downas candidate in opposition to Mr . John Parker , some one theresaid that he would get no one to support him . James Levickbet a guinea that he would be supported , and he won thewager by supporting him himself. I remember seeing him

264 PINSTONE STREET .

introduce Mr . Bell to the public from the Royal Hotel . Inhis rough and rugged way he said ,

“ I beg to introduce to youMr . John Bell .” In Pinstone street res ided the Withers ’

family , cutlers , one of whom , Benjamin Withers , was MasterCutler in 175 6 ; a second Benj amin Withers , in 1794 ; anda Joseph Withers , in 1802 . I believe the warehouse in Barker pool was never occupied for trade purposes , and

‘

the lateMr . Withers pos itively declined to let it when applied to .Lower down in Pinstone street is the Shop of Mr . Turnell ,the cabinet maker ; on the passage over his kitchen windowis a stone containing the following, T . I . S . , 177 It wasin this street that the first Methodist chapel was: built, anddemolished by a mob in 1743 .

LEONARD : Forty years ago , there were one or two treesgrowing on the property of Mr . Withers , in Pinstone street .A passage leading from Fargate to New Church street was afavourite play-ground of the boys of those days , and boastedthe name of Sow Mouth . In 1825 , the Town Trusteespurchased some property in Pin stone lane for the purpose ofwidening it .JOHNSON : Its present width makes us wonder what it

must have been before . Its old name was Pin stone-croftlane , or in the vulgate , Pincher- croft lane .”

WRAGG In New Church street resided Godfrey Fox , whohas been previously noticed as occupying the Rein Deer, nowthe Royal Hotel ,Waingate . At the corner of Cheney squareresided Mr . Cheney , who was one of the first surgeons to theInfirmary , and who lived afterwards in Portobello . I thinkhe had but one child , a daughter , who should have marriedDr . Ernest , but there was some scandal and the match wasbroken off . This may account for the doctor spending allhis life as house surgeon at the Infirmary . I would add thatwhen a lad , he went to some one at Shire green , whose nameI have forgotten , to be a fork maker .LEONARD The tenure of office of the modern house sur

geons at the Infirmary contrasts very strangely with Dr .E rnest’s 44 years ’ s ervice .WRAGG : Dr . E rnest , and old Mr . Tillotson who resided

at Broomhall , were two of the last men in the town to havetheir hair powdered . In one of the old Sheffield directories ,Cheney square is always printed China square . It looks as ifthe compiler fancied Cheney was a vulgarism for China .

LE IGHTON : In Fargate , near the shop of Mr . Johnson ,cabinet maker, was , forty years ago , a proj ecting window,

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266 FARGATE.

to keep people from the chapel , and to form a bit of a graveground . It was used for burying , and when the new churchwas built there was bother about the foundation .

WRAGG : Henry Howard,E sq . , the great grandfather of

the present Duke of Norfolk , resided in the Lord’s House .

He appears to have acted as steward to the previous Duke .LEONARD The lion over the door of the Assay Office , in

Fargate , was the work of a man named Mozley , who wasemployed by Ramsay , Chantrey

’

s master .WRAGG : The Fleur -de - lis opposite , j ust below the corner

of Orchard street , was , sixty years ago , the residence of Mr .Jennings , who , when he retired from business , went to liveat Hackenthorpe .

LEIGHTON : It has gone through many stages since then .

Not many years ago it was a doctor’s house .WRAGG On the s ite of the Exchange Drapery establish

ment —built as somewhat ambitious “ commercial buildings”

were some very old brick shops , almost as old , I should think ,as the first brick hous e in Sheffield ,

” built at the end o f

Pepper alley, according to the Rev . Edwin Goodwin , aboutthe year 1696 .

EVERARD In one of the shops Opposite was WilliamNadin , stay-maker , of whom mention was made in connectionwith Bank street . He was the only stay-maker of any notein the town . In those days stays were made that would lasta life -time almost .WRAGG : In the shop now occupied by Messrs . Watson ,

was a grocer named Greaves,who engaged the bellman to cry

down Younge andDeakin’s copper token s . When he returnedfor payment Mr . Greaves paid him in the same token he hadj ust cried down so the bellman stood on the footpath beforethe door , rang his bell , and proclaimed aloud that Younge andDeakin ’s money was paid again .

LEONARD : And thus we complete another circuit , andfind ourselves once more at the Parish Church .

CHAPTER " I .

FORTY YEARS AGO .

Present— Messrs . TWISS , LEIGHTON , EVERARD , WRAGG , LEONARD

and JOHNSON .

Period— AD . 1874.

OHNSON : I cannot , like mo st of you , speak of s ixtyyears s in ce and upwards I only profes s to speak of

forty years ago , from my own knowledge . Forty- three yearsago the popu lation of Sheffield was a little short ofas compared with in 1 871 . In 1832 , Eng land , practically , was without railroads , there being on ly three linesopened in all England ; and Sheffield had non e , except hercoal railways , for some years after this tim e . We had fourcoaches daily to London , four to Birmingham , four to Manchester , and five to Leeds . We had about four-and-twentycoaches in all , from and to Sheffield daily, and, suppos ingthese averaged ten pas sengers per journey , there wouldbe the astounding number of 240 persons leaving our oldtown every day " Han soms and cabs were , of course , nu

known but we had hackney coaches at the one s tand ” atthe head of High street . To Rotherham we had a vehicle ,unknown to the present gen eration , a kind of car , called aWaterloo the race i s quite extinct . I believe we wrotea good many letters in those days , but letter -writing was anexpens ive luxury , on ly to be indu lged in upon the followingrates z— For a place not exceeding 1 5 miles distan ce , 4d. ;

30 , 6d. ; 5 0 , 7d. ; 80 , 8d. ; 120 , 9d. ; 170 , l0d. ; 230 , 1 1d. ;

300 , 12d. 400 , l 3d. ; 5 00 , 14d. A letter contain ing an en

closure was charged double , and one exceeding an ounce,but

not exceeding l i o z . , was charged four s ingle rates " Thu s aletter to London , weighing a fraction over an ounce would bethree shillings and fourpence . Without railways and pennypostage , the bus iness of to -day cou ld not be carried on . Inaddition to the hackney coaches , the head of the High streetwas favoured by the presen ce of a row of s econd -hand shoedealers’ stalls . The shoes they sold were called Lord Mayor’s .The shopkeepers naturally enough obj ected to these shoe

268 FLYING STATIONERS .

stalls being fixed oppos ite their shops , but they were allowedto remain there for some years after this time .Forty years ago there were no daily papers in Sheffield

,

but there were four weekly . News , then , if not scarce , wasdear and people after buying the small sheet of news

,price

sevenpence , passed it from one to an other , and it was a cust omary thing for three or four tradesmen to j oin at a newspaper . As might be expected , at this high price the numberof readers was comparatively few . Hen ce arose another ins titution that has entirely died out— what we used to call“ crying-papers in the streets . These formed a means oflivelihood to a good many persons , both men and women .

These small slips of paper were generally extracts from thenewspapers of the town . Very often they were “ full , true , andparticular accounts” of executions and last dying speeches ;sometimes the calendar of York Ass iz es and often , es

pecially during a dearth of news , mere catch -pennies made tosell . I remember hearing a fellow crying one of these aboutsome wonderful appearances in the heavens , when a wholearmy had been seen— fully accoutred— in the sky. Even acricket match on the ice at L ittle London , when Tom Marsden stood umpire , or some doggrel on the winner of the St .Leger

,would sometimes serve the purpose of these wander

ing n ewsmen they were not over n ice , and it was alwaysall for the low charge of one halfpenny .

” I remember , atthe time of what was called the Resurrection Riot” in Eyrestreet

,in 183 5 , one of these gentry allowed his imagination

to run wild , and informed his townsmen that during the riotthe landlord (the late Samuel Roberts , E sq . ) was present ,and cried , with a loud voice , Burn and destroy .

’ But forthis the man was committed to the sess ions : he had gonea little too far .WRAGG : These flying stationers generally made their

appearan ce after some murder , or soon after the conclusionof some remarkable trial . Their “ Last Dying Speeches”

were long narrow slip s of paper,containing about half the

matter of a modern newspaper column,and the price one

halfpenny . If I mistake not,they were mostly printed in

York street , by a person named Ford ; then a rival namedBurgin started , up one of the Market place pas sagesWatson’s walk, I think . Sometimes they contained woodcuts , as was the case at Honest John ’s” trial . Those whoknew him said it was a fair likeness

,and it was certainly the

best half-pennyworth I ever saw .

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270 FORTY YEARS AGO.

“ Press forward , press forward ,There’s nothing to fear ,

We w il l have the Charter , be it ever so dear.

But , alas " on turning the corn er at the bottom of Dukestreet

,they caught sight of the helmets of the l s t Dragoons ,

who were coming to meet them . In stead of pressing forward” we all pres sed” every way but that , and in twominutes not a Chartist was to be seen . The dragoon s onthat occas ion were under no les s a person than Sir Charle sNapier

,at that time Commander of the Northern District ;

and I believe the inciden t is referred to in his life .

LE IGHTON : Going further back than you do , I recollectthat 1809 or 18 10 were troublous times . Flour and otherneces sarie s were very dear , and we used to have many riots .Jacky Blacker was a leading man . I have seen a considerable mob Of people following him up High street . He had apenny loaf dipped in blood , and he carried it on a spike aboutthe streets . I remember one riot in particular . Flour wasabout 7 s . or 7s . 6d. per stone , and the mob broke into the flourshops and distributed the flour to the people . The con stables were out and the soldiers were fetched from the Barracks ,and there was martial law in the town . Tradesmen werecalled out of their Shops at night to form part of the patrolthrough the streets and the district s outside the town . Irecollect my father being out in this way m any a time . Ionce saw the soldiers com e from the Barracks . There was aterrible riot going on in the Market place , the mob throwingthings about, when the Hu ssars came up with their spears

,

rode right up into the Market place and dispersed the people .Folks could s carcely carry on bus in es s in those days . Theyhad to shut up the mom en t the rabble were coming , if theydid not wish to have their windows broken . People have noidea now what so rt of times those were to live in .

TWISS : I rem ember being fetched home from school in18 16 , when there was a riot . The rioters had made a proces s ion and marched up Angel street . Afterwards I saw thesoldiers go by, with Mr . Hugh Parker at their head .

LEONARD My old friend, to whom I have had to acknowledge my indebtednes s for so mu ch information , said to methe other day : I have seen several riots in Sheffield , andone particularly I remember . At the bottom of Spital hillwas an old building that had been occupied by JonathanHobson as a warehouse , and when he gave it up it was usedas a store for the Volunteers . At the time I speak of therewas a riot about dear bread, or something of the kind . I was

RIOTS . 271

in ‘ the Pickle ,’ when down came the mob to the Volunteer

s tore . The doors were soon smashed in , and the fellowsp itched out guns and all sorts of things . Most of the muskets were smashed by striking them acro ss a low wall on theoppos ite s ide of the road, but a few were shouldered by therioters

,and they tried to march . As they were going up the

Wicker,a troop of cavalry from the Barracks met them

,and

didn ’t they run It was fine to see drums , trumpets , clothing

,and all sorts of military odds and ends tumbling out of

the chamber windows at the store , and the mob kicking themabout

,and shouting and yelling like mad things ; but the

soldiers brought them to their senses very soon .

”

EVERARD I, too , recollect that riot , and was also an eyewitnes s of it . Being in the Wicker at the time , I saw the troopof Hussars sweep down to the scen e of action . It was in18 12 , a dreadfully distress ing time of bad trade and highprices , of which mention was made when we were speaking ofthe large number of able -bodied men who were employed onthe new burial ground .

LEONARD : The account of the affair given in the I r is i sthat it originated with those men . They came down in abody

,it says , and paraded the Market place

“ for no imaginable purpose than to expose a spectacle of wretchednesswhich shou ld work upon the passion s of the indigent m anufacturers” [we do not use the word in that sense of art iz an snow ] and excite indignation again st the provision sellers .”

Having marched up the Market these men set up a greatshout and then returned to their occupation , leaving thecrowd ready to commit any mischief. Accordingly they fellupon the stores of the potato dealers , scattering, destroying , or carrying off those vegetables , breaking windows anddoing other mischief. The riot act had been read , and themob seemed pau sing as if not knowing what else to do ,when a voice shouted , All in a mind for the store -room inthe Wicker and there they wen t with the result that hasbeen described .

EVERARD A little later than that period another flourriot took place ; when I saw the rioters , armed w ith thicksticks and bludgeons , march up Broad lane , headed by JohnBlackwell

, alias Jackey Blacker , with a drawn sword in hishand , a penny loaf dipped in blood stuck on its poin t , andwith a large placard borne bes ide him , with the in scriptionBread or Blood This man was a tailor of very dis solutehabits , and the acknowledged king of the gallery” at

272 THE CHARTIST CONSPIRACY OF 1840 :

the Theatre . For this exploit he was tried and incarceratedin York Castle eventually he ended his days in the SheffieldWorkhous e .LEONARD : This talk about the riots

,and Mr . Johnson’s

referen ce to the Chartists , remind me of a very interesting aocount that was prepared nine years ago by Mr . John Taylor .It was reprinted from the newspaper in the form of a littlepamphlet ; but as pos s ibly non e of you have copies , exceptour friend Twis s , and as conversation is not very brisk thisevening , suppose I read itEVERARD By all means .LEONARD (reads) : The Chartist conspiracy , which culmi

nated in the audacious attempt , in January , 1840 , to give thetown over to pillage , anarchy, and fire , i s an event of whichmost of us have some recollection . The number of the conspirators and their dupes has never been accurately asoertained, but probably amounted to several hundreds , exclusiveof the much larger body of the moral -force Chartists , whoshrank from the wild extremes of their hot -headed leaders

,

and also exclus ive of the armed contingents expected fromRotherham , E ckington , and other places . The programmeof the Chartists , and the arrangements made for carrying itout , are matters of history . Taking a hint from the Wesleyan s , the Chartists met in classes at the houses of theirrespective ‘ leaders ,

’ scattered over the town . They had ageneral assembly-room in Figtree lane , and a secret councilroom at a public-house at the top of Lambert street . Guns ,cartridges , daggers , pikes , hand grenades , and

‘ cats ’ wereprovided in con siderable quantities by the leaders and members of the council ; and the equipment of the conspiratorswas to be completed by pillaging the gun shops of the town ,when the proper time came . The cats were small spikedimplements to scatter in the streets for the purpose of lamingthe cavalry horses , being so made that however thrown on theground one spike pointed upwards . The con spirator s wereto m eet in their class rooms on the night of the rising , proes ed then ce under the command of their leaders to a fewgeneral meeting places in the outskirts of the town , and thenmove in bodies to execute their atrocious designs . Some ofthe m ore daring classes were deputed to take posses s ion ofthe Town Hall and the Tontine , which were to be the headquarters ; others were detailed to fire the Barracks as soon asthe military had been called out , and to burn other obnoxiousplaces in the town . The rest were to fire the houses of the

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274 THE CHARTIST CONSPIRACY OF 1840 :

in conjunction with the more extensive organisation havingits head quarters at Sheffield ; and that the directors of thewhole movement , in order to avoid the suspicion that wouldbe likely to arise from too frequent meetings at Sheffield ,occas ionally came down to Rotherham and held their secretcouncils at his house . He added that they had begun to despair of peaceable measures ; and that though he and othersstrenuously opposed all resort to Violence , the whole tenden cyof their deliberations was towards a determined phys ical forcemovement . As yet the conspiracy was a mere unshaped des ign . It gradually ripened

,however

,into a definite plot

against life and property, as well as against law and order .The results of the repeated conferences were regularly rs

ported to Mr . Bland by Allen,and the conspiracy no sooner

assumed a distinct shape than Mr . Bland took Allen’s reportof it in writing . With Allen ’s con sent he communicated itpersonally to the present Earl of E ffingham , then LordHoward , res ident at the time at Barbot Hall , near Rotherham , and a West Riding magistrate . On the advice of hisLordship , Mr . Bland , and Mr . Oxley , the magistrate s

’ clerk ,privately vis ited Mr . Hugh Parker

,then the leading Sheffield

magistrate , and read the statem ent to him . The statementwas to the eff ect that delegates from Huddersfield and otherplaces had met those of Sheffield and Rotherham at Allen ’shouse that they had finally resolved to carry the charter byviolence that the delegates from a distance had guaranteedthe assistan ce of their respective districts to Sheffield ; thatthe Tontine and Town Hall at Sheffield were first to beseized as head quarters and that the town itself was to betaken pos ses sion of as a s tep to ulterior measures . Thehouses and places of business of obnoxious persons were tobe sacked and burnt , no atrocity being thought too . great thatcould pave the way for the charter . The story was laughedat and pooh -poohed by Mr . Parker and the Shefli eld authori

ties , who refused to believe that any scheme so wild and atrocious could possibly be entertained . Still the Chartist s heldtheir sworn councils day by day , chiefly in Figtree lane andLambert street , Sheffield . Allen ’s moderation having excitedtheir suspicion of him , they met less frequently at his house ,and took him less into their secrets . He was , however ,sufficiently acquainted with their designs to know that a forcewas to be mustered at Rotherham as well as at Sheffield , andthat that force was to strike their first blow by seizing theCourt House , and then sacking the residence of Mr. Henry

How IT WAS DISCOVERED . 275

Walker , at Clifton , and Lord Howard , at Barbot Hall . Whenthings had reached this pas s , Mr . Bland urged Allen againand again to ascertain where the ammunition and arms werecollected for the final upris ing . All Allen’s efforts to do this

,

however , were vain ; he on ly knew that there were to be anumber of such depOt s , and that the Chartists , when theyro se , were to be plentifu lly armed with cats ,

’ to protectthem from the cavalry . The tim e for the execution of theplot was evidently drawing near , but Allen was still keptignoran t of those details upon which alone the police cou ldact in anticipation of the rising . It becam e clear that Allenmust either go the whole hog as a Chartist or break down as

an in formant ; and Mr . Bland , who se duty was plain— tofathom and frus trate the conspiracy at any cost— urged thata man cou ld no t possibly play the traitor in a better causethan in the frustration of so hopeles s and atrocious a des ign .

Allen at length strung himself up to the emergency , and itwas arranged that he should go to the n ext council , declarehim self a convert to the absolute neces s ity of the physicalforce m ovement

,and offer to be ready at any tim e with 1 5 0

m en upon a day or two days ’ notice . This bold cours e reestablished Allen in the confiden ce of the council . It wasabou t the beginning of January , 1 840 . On the Wednesday ,Thursday, and Friday evenings of the same week Allenattended sworn coun cils . On the Friday evening , Januarythe l0 th , he reported that the cris is was t o come on the following n ight

, but that the Coun cil of delegates were to meetat Sheffield at three o ’clock on the Saturday to determine theprecise hour of the ris ing , and the several rendezvous fromwhich the various bands of in surgents were to start on theirerrands of death and destruction . The information mostdes ired by Mr . Bland all this time was the nam es of the leading con spirators , their m eeting places , and their arms andammun ition stores . Allen left Rotherham at one O

’clock onSaturday to attend the final council m eeting , —the understanding with Mr . Bland being that he was to return asqu ickly as practicable to Rotherham after the meeting, withthe details which were so m uch longed for and by the po ssess ion of which alone the ris ing cou ld be stopped before m i schief w as done . Lord Howard reached Rotherham at threeo ’clock

, remain ing with Mr . Bland in readines s to act upon amomen t’s notice . Anxiously they waited hour after hourun til pas t seven o’clock , and began to be terribly afraid thatAllen’s pluck had failed him at the last push . Between seven

276 THE CHARTIST CONSPIRACY OF 1840 .

and eight O’clock , however , he arrived almost breathless withhaste and trembling with fear . NO wonderAllen was terrified ;the ferocious character of the plot gave him little reason tohope for mercy at the hands of his old friends if it were discovered that he was the betrayer . He must never again showhis head in this part of the country

,for his life would not

have been worth an hour ’s purchase . Faithless to hiswretched comrades , Allen was true to the active and energetic ofli cer who had so cleverly turned him into an instrument for the frustration of the conspiracy . He had broughtall the required information . The ‘ classes ’were to meet attheir leaders’ houses at ten o ’clock on Saturday night wereto carefully arm themselves were to repair to three or fourspecified,poin t s , and march thence to their appointed work,each class detailing a few of its number to empty the gunshops , in order to arm their comrades . For a few momentsthe recipient s of this in formation anxiously debated the question ,

‘What i s to be done Evidently the great rising wasto be at Sheffield . Its authorities had been aroused fromtheir dream of incredulity by the further information whichhad been communicated to them from Rotherham

,after their

rej ection of the first statement , and by the evident stir andexcitement among the Chartists . But they were still in agreat measure ignorant when and how the rising was to beeffected ; and it was of the most vital con sequence that theintended rising should be frustrated before it had been made

,

not because there was the least chance of it s ultimately succeeding , but because a temporary and partial succes s mustn ecessarily be attended with the most dreadful results . TheRotherham police were not charged with the safety of Sheffield, but the conspirators were one body, and their success inthe greater must have been dangerous to the les ser town .

The plot was discovered , and for hum anity’s sake

,if for no

other reason , Sheffield must be made aware of the extent andnearness of its danger and the means of preventing it . Soreasoned Lord Howard , and manfully determined to be himself the mes senger of mercy . Provided with a copy of theparticulars of Allen ’s inform ation , he mounted his horse andgalloped at full speed to Sheffield , leaving Mr . Bland to takeall necessary precaution s to frustrate the Rotherham contingents , which were to arm at the gun shops and assemble nearBrightside at twelve o ’clock , under the '

command of Allen,

or , in his absence , of such other leader as they might choose .

His Lordship reached Sheffield towards ten o ’clock, and found

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278 PETER FODEN.

alarmed, that Lord Howard, yielding to her natural fears ,bound Mr . Bland and his officers beforehand in a solemnpromise to conceal the part he and they might take in thematter , in order to avoid the vengeance Of the Chartis ts .

Galling as must have been the knowledge that others werereaping the honours and rewards due to them , Mr . Blandand his subordinates religious ly kept their promise until LordHoward had left the n eighbourhood and Chartism had diedout . Shefli eld officials in pos ition s of the highes t trust knewthat there was some secret about the discovery , but cou ldnever fathom it . It was not until the resignation of Mr .Raynor , that the least hint was publicly given that it was toMr . Bland , Sheffield was so much indebted inJOHNSON : There is one little inaccuracy there— the refe

rence to Peter Foden being captured with the rest . He hadbeen apprehended in the early part of Augu st for taking partin riotous meetings and proces s ion s , and he did not obtainbail until the 3rd September , when Ebenezer E lliott , thecorn - law rhymer , and Mr . Wostenholm , file manufacturer ,Dunfields , were his sureties . For a while he kept aloof fromthe meetings , bu t he was at last prevailed upon to attend ,and although he took no active part in speaking , yet he wasbelieved to be in the secrets of the phys ical force party .

Peter Foden was not seen in the proceedings conn ected withthe collaps e of the conspiracy , but he was suspected of beingconnected in them , and a warrant was issued for his apprehension . He concealed himself in the town for som e tim e ,and at last went into Wales and stayed as long as poss ible invarious town s . He did not surrender at the Spring As s izes ,at which he was indicted for con spiracy, sedition , and riot ,and the recognisances of his sureties were forfeited . At last ,tired of dwelling in fear of arrest, and en couraged by thecollapse of the Chartist movem ent , he ventured to come toSheffield , and in order to see if the authorities would noticehim , he took some commodities of his own making and

hawked them in various public-hou ses . A good living hewould have earned had he not been arrested in December

,

1840 , at Paul Ashley’s , in Watson

’s walk . He was tried atYork , and having been advised to plead guilty by his coun sel ,he was committed to Wakefield for two years . He hadalready been in prison three months , which was taken intoconsideration . He served one year and nine months afterhis convi ction . He affected an odd demeanour in prison ,but ultimately being made schoolmaster, he attained more

THE END OF THE CHARTISTS . 279

liberty and had books to read . At one time he wanted to writea detailed account of his proceedings to his family , and hesecreted bits of paper and a pen , but how to obtain ink towrite was a matter of difficulty . So at last he hit upon thes ingular plan of writing with his own blood , and concealed thedocument in the neck -handkerchief of a discharged prisoner .One of his children , of the name of Feargus O

’

Connor , diedwhile his father was in gaol . Foden , released from prison ,went to Staleybridge , where he commenced busines s , and goton well ; but he could not settle , and removed to Doncaster .Then he sold all off and went to St . Louis , in America , anddied a few years ago . The citizen s made a public fun eral

,

and presented his wife with a fram ed docum ent,setting forth

the respect they had for him and hi s family .

JOHNSON : The senten ces those men received seem to meto have been light , when the magnitude of their crim e is considered—Holberry , four years

’ imprisonment ; Thos . Booker ,three years’ ; Wm . Booker and others , two years

’

; othersagain , one year ; and a large part of these sentences was rem it ted.

WRAGG : Holberry’

s was practically imprisonment forlife

,since he died in York Castle , in 1842 , before his sentence

had expired . His b ody was brought to Sheffield for interment , and the funeral , on the 27th of June in that year , wasthe excuse for a great demonstration . Another of these men ,John Clayton , also died in gaol , in 1841 , but he was buriedat Northallerton .

TWISS : We might have mentioned two of these peoplewhen we were speaking of the Hartshead , for Peter Fodenand Ju lian Harney were res idents of that clas s ic neighbourhood . Harney , after he had , along w ith Richard Otley , escaped punishment on a charge of con spiracy , went to America .

EVERARD : We have been talking of riots , and no mention can be made of such disturbances in Sheffield withoutrecalling that famou s Norfolk street outbreak which waslamentable through two of the crowd being killed , but mostmemorable through its being the cause of Montgomery’ssecond incarceration in York Castle . It occurred on the 4thof August , 1795 , and the events of that day are matter oflocal history .

LEONARD : The mildness and indirectness of Montgomery’s

references to C01. Athorpe’

s doings on that day , show thathis persecution was a piece of political hostility . How Matherscathed the colonel, nick-naming him

“ Beef-headed Bob ,”

280 SHEFFIELD VOLUNTEERS .

while he satirised the volunteers who took part in the affairas Ruddle-neck’

d tupsLEIGHTON Tho se first volunteers were unpopular before

that , because they were neces sarily obnoxious to the prevalent Jacobinical opinions of the mas ses ; but the affair ofthat day greatly increased their unpopu larity .

LEONARD : My nonogenarian friend says he remembersthese “ Blues . He saw them going as far as B olehill tomeet their gun s , and they had a sort of field-day at Norton .

They were fine fellows , with their blue coats , red facings ,white waistcoats , and black leggings . Mr . Athorpe was

colonel , and Mr . Fenton,lieutenant- colon el or maj or . Mr .

Carver, a woollen draper in High street , a tall handsom e man,

was one of the captains , and Dr . Frith , in Norfolk row , wasthe surgeon .

TWISS : Here i s an account of the old Sheffield V olunteers , drawn up by an officer in the corps

In the year 1794 , the Sheffield Volunteer corps was in stituted, under the title of the Loyal Independent SheffieldVolunteers . When first begun upwards of 1 5 0 individualsoffered to furnish themselves with arm s , accoutremen ts , andclothing . The furnishing of arms was obj ected to , andGovernm ent agreed to find arms and accoutrements , and acertain number of days’ pay , with ammunition for the serviceof the regiment . A subscription was en tered into by someof the town’s gentlemen to furn i sh clothing for those to whomit was inconvenien t to find the whole of their own . By thismeans the number was in creased to about 5 00 . In 1795 , thelady of Thomas Walker , E sq .

,of Rotherham , made an offer

Of two iron gun s to the Volunteers , but they were too un

w ieldly for field service . She then proposed presen ting thecorps with the amount equal to their value , and two brassSix -pounder field pieces were ordered from Woolwich , and theextra expense was paid out of the regimental stock purse .

This corps , under the management of Adjutant Ratcliffe ,Captain Goodison

,Drum-Major Potts (strict disciplinarians) ,

and a few town ’s gentlemen who had served as volun teers inthe American war , acquired a character for discipline , goodconduct

,and soldier- like appearance which did credit to the

town they belonged to , and it was generally allowed they wereequal to any of this description of military .

This corps was originally instituted in the month ofApril ,1794, for the defence of the town and neighbourhood of Sheffield during a time of the greatest difficulty and danger . It

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282 LOYAL INDEPENDENT V OLUNTEERS .

commissioned officer who knew, as he says , this affair was alla hoax , and , regardless of the orders of his commandingofficer , took the opportunity of a walk to Baslow a-fishing .

The conduct of the regiment on this occasion needs nocomment . On the 26th they again marched to Doncaster forfifteen days’ permanent duty . On the 1 5 th of October , beingthe day fixed , nearly the whole of the regiment transferredtheir services to local Militia under nearly the same regulations as the Regular Militia . The las t permanent duty perfo rmed by this regiment was at Wakefield , in August , 1 8 13 .

In April , 18 16 , the whole of the local Militia was suspended ,the officers retaining their commissions , that , in the event oftheir being again wanted , they might hold their rank andseniorit

’

y accordingly . The following is a list of the officersof that period . Those marked belonged to the Volunteer sof 1794

5“ L ieutenan t -Co lonel Commandan t F . Fen ton .

Second Lieutenan t-Co lone l Thomas Leader .

Major John Shore . Captain R. Clarke .

Adjutan t W . W . Darling . J . Blake .

Quarter-Master Sam l . Tompkin . Lieutenan t J . Hall .Surgeon John Sterndale . T. Bradbury .

Captain T. Newbou ld . J . Drabble .

T. A. Ward. J . Yeoman s .

C . Pick slay. T. B . Jackson .

J . Brown . Ensign S . Young .J . Wheat . J . Binney .

The following inscription i s engraved on one of the fieldreces :pThis piece of artillery, with another of equal calibre ,

was purchased in 1795 for the use of the regiment of Sheffield Loyal IndependentVo lunteers in defence of their country,then disturbed by internal commotions and threatened withforeign invasion , and through a long and perilous periodpas sed under the successive command of L ieutenant-Colon elR . A . Athorpe , Colonel Richard Earl of Effingham , andLieu tenant-Colonel Francis Fenton , by the latter of whom ,

and the surviving officers and privates , in a time of profoundpeace , after firing a royal salute in honour of the coronationof King George the Fourth , on the 1 9th day of July, 1 821 ,they were transferred to the Trustees of the estates of thetown of Sheffield and to their successors for ever .

God save the King .

Trustees of the town at the time being Robert Turner , collector John Shore , Peter Brownell , John Greave s , RowlandHodgson , Francis Fenton , Benjamin Withers , Jun . , Samuel

THE OLD VOLUNTEERS .

Stan iforth Thos . Asline Ward , Vincent Hy . Eyre,Samuel

Mitchell .LE IGHTON : When the Volunteers marched northwards

,

on the fals e alarm in 1805 , the well-known Dr . Browneaccompan ied them as far as Attercliffe Common

,where he

took leave of them in a speech in which he made the somewhat left -handed prom ise to be a husband to their wives anda father to their children during their absence . One of theVolunteers , whose name was Carnelly, used to tell how Splendidly the m en were regaled on the road , being called bravefellows ,

” and “ the pillars of the nation .

” When they re

turned they expected to be treated in a s imilar manner ; butwith the alarm had van ished the enthus iasm , and they metw ith but a cool reception . On remon strance being made , anda reminder given that they had been called “ pillars of thenation ,

” the rej oinder was , Yes , cater -pillars .LEONARD I recently had in my hands the original parch

m ent documents relating to the enrolment of the Volunteersof 1803 . It i s an interesting collection of the autographs ofour grandfathers— of such of them as could write , at least ,for there are not wanting in stances where a cross had to takethe place of a signature .

CHAPTER " II .

MR. WILLIAM SWIFT .

Scene.-A room in Leonard’s house . The chair usually occupiedby Mr . Twiss stands at its customary corner —empty . The

other friends are in their accustomed places .

Period—The l6th of December , 1874 .

EONARD

The sequel of t o-day unso lders allThe goodliest fellowship of old-world loreWhereof this town holds record .”

LEIGHTON (pointing to the empty chair)There sat th e shadow , fear

’d o f man ,

Who broke our fair compan ionshipAnd spread his mantle dark and cold .

EVERARDTis common all that live mus t die ,Passing through nature t o etern ity .

”

LEIGHTONAy, Sir , it is common .

EVERARD : Therefore , instead of further lamentations onour friend’s departure , let us take up the moral of his life ,and hope that we may be as honestly mourned .

The man we celebrate must find a tomb ,And we that worship h im , ignoble graves .

”

Who can tell the storyLEONARD Mr . William Swift died on Thursday evening

,

December 10 , 1874, at Ash Cottage , near Staveley , where afew weeks before he retired from his usual residence in St .James’ street , for the benefit of change of air . He had allbut completed his 5 6th year ; having been born on the 13thDecember

, in 1 8 18 . Mr . Swift was a remarkable man,

whose avocation in life as assistant distributor of stamps conveys no idea of the esteem in which he was held , or the extent of his erudition as a genealogist and topographer . Bornin a modest cottage near Chesterfield , of humble but respectable parents , he succeeded by his own perseverance inamassing a store of information in his own special field of

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286 MR. WILLIAM SWIFT .

spade a spade , but turned a cutler , a grinder, or somethinghumbler , into a gentleman . During the thirty - eight yearshe lived in Sheffield he had been carefully accumulatingfact upon fact , and there is probably not a family in the town ,save the most recent importation s , of whom he had not amore or less complete account . He was the Old Mort ality ofSheffield , and carefully copied the gravestones in the churchand chapel yards . The parish registers were more familiarto him than to the parish clerk . He knew the genealogicalvalue of wills and deeds

,and had made himself master of

those old handwritings under which our forefathers haveshrouded so much valuable information . Not having enjoyedthe advantage of a clas sical education , he yet so far masteredthe difficulties of Latin and Norman French as to be able totranslate intelligibly such mediaeval documents as were cou chedin those languages ; and of late years , so vast was the fundof information which he posses sed , that he was able at onceto appreciate the value of new facts that might come underhis notice , and to see meanings in entries and items that toan ordinary observer appeared to have no special S ignifican ce .For years pas t he has been the oracle to which all inquirersinto Sheffield history resorted . The antiquarian studen t per

petually made use of hi s kindly advice and coun sel the law

yers flocked to him regularly when any question aros e affecting family history and to one and all he was alike ready totell what he knew, and in return to accept any crumbs ofinformation his visitors might be able to impart . In this wayhis store of facts grew . Persons who had learn ed the valueof his information were glad to be able to offer him some return in kind , when anything came under their notice . His

fame as a collector of information spread , and from far andnear matters found their way into h i s hands that would nothave been entrusted to one les s dis creet . He was scrupulousin preserving and returning everything that was lent to himand exercised a marvellous reticence in dealing with subj ectsthat might have given pain to fam ilies or individuals . Henever spoke unkindly , and, though his mind was the depository of more family secrets than that of any man in Sheffield ,we never heard of an instance where an unfair or unkind usehad been made of what he knew . L ike many great collectors of information , Mr . Swift seemed to lack the aptitudefor collating , arranging , and editing his materials . Heshrank from the task of composition , fancying , very mistakenly, that he could not compose ; and yet we have had in

MR. WILLIAM SWIFT. 87

our hands fragments of his that would have been no discreditto so lucid and interesting a writer as the late Joseph Hunter .

”

w -O ur own columns” [it i s the Independen t from which I am

quoting] have not unfrequently contained most valuablescrap s from his pen ; but he would more

"

frequently give hisinformation verbally , and leave others to clothe it in set words .Under the signature St . ’ he sometimes con tributed to No tes

and Queries . Several papers of his have appeared in theReliquary and he has also enriched the Chesterfield n ewspapers from the stores of his Derbyshire lore bu t we neverheard of hi s publishing a book, n or ever knew a man morecapable of doing so . In connection with the inquirie s aris ingout of the bequest to the town of the property of the lateSamuel Bailey , Mr . Swift rendered great service and theRev . Dr . Gatty , in his preface to the n ew edition of Hunter

’sHallamshire , thus acknowledges hi s obligation s : The services of Mr . William Swift , well known for his genealogicalstudies , experien ce and accuracy , as well as for his accumu

lated stores of information relating to the various propertiesof the neighbourhood, have been e specially great throughoutthe latter part of the work, and deserve my warm est appreciat ion . He has extended the pedigrees with a careful hand ,and by an Old deed or memorandum has often contributedwhat the antiquarian will value . ’ Among his friends mightbe mentioned every name of note in Shefli eld bu t it is enoughto say that he was on intim ate terms with Joseph Hunter ,James Montgomery , John Holland, Samuel Mitchell , andHenry Jackson without particu laris ing tho se who have livedto feel his loss . When the late Samuel Mitchell’s papers hadto be arranged for the British Museum , Mr . Swift was selectedto perform the task , and very ably he discharged it . He hada pure and simple mind , inexpensive taste s and habits , andif there was a thing he erred in , it was in taking too littlecare of his own health . At one time he paid some attentionto a garden at Steel Bank , with a View to obtain out -door excroi se and recreation ; but of late that has been much neglected, and sometimes for a week together he never left St .James’s street . On the occas ion of the funeral of Mr . JohnHolland

,now nearly two years ago , Mr . Swift took a Severe

cold,which clung to him for many month s ; and over a year

ago he suff ered greatly from a carbuncle on the leg . Duringthe past twelve months he has not looked well , and manytimes have friends given him good advice in vain . He seemedunequal to the effort of tearing himself away from his favourite

288 MR . WILLIAM SWIFT .

home and occupations . A short Visit to the sea - side in the earlyautumn did but little to restore tone to his system , and fortwo months or more he has been unable to attend to business ,though up to the last few days of his life hi s mind retainedall its clearn ess . A few weeks ago , in the hope of derivingbenefit from change of air , he went on a vis it to friends inhis native district of Staveley , but nature was too far exhaustedto revive , and he there gradually grew worse and passedaway

,leaving many sincere friends to mourn him , and not a

single enemy to throw obloquy on his memory . His wife ,who has been the attached companion of his life , and two sonssurvive , and in their bereavement it may be some small consolation to know how universally the deceased husband andfather was esteemed . Some time ago Mr . Swift purchasedfor himself a family burial place in the new Cemetery atNorton , within the confines of that county of Derby he lovedso well .”

EVERARD : Let me read to you also what Dr . Gatty saysof our late friend I cannot allow Mr . Swift to pass awayfrom us without expressing my personal regret for his departure , and my conviction also that Sheffield has lo st in himone of its most u sefu l though least self- as serting citizens .

SO far as my opin ion has any value , I am certain ly entitledto speak of him , for circumstan ces threw me into frequen tcomm unication with him and there was something sogenuin e and truthfu l in his character that acquaintance soonripened into friendly regard . During the four years that myleisure time was occupied in en larging Mr . Hunter’s Historyof Hallamshire ,

’

my intercourse with Mr . Swift was frequentand intimate . I had known him long before , and regardedhim as a curios ity ; and I found him a treasure , when Ineeded his help . I applied to three other gentlemen for cooperation , with whom I was also acquainted— Mr . HenryJackson , Mr . Samuel Mitchell , and Mr . John Holland— bu twas too late , for death removed the two former before theycould render substantial aid , and the several sheets writtenby good , kind John Holland were not of the slightest use tome ; and I only name this because the contrary has beenassumed in his recent biography . Mr . Swift , on the otherhand , was a true and worthy disciple of Hunter . He caredand knew , I believe , little of the present , while he loved andlived in the past . Remarkably sensitive and fearful of givingoffence , he seemed scarcely to like even to talk of the living ,but of their ancestry he often knew more than they them

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CHAPTER " III .

SELF -MADE MEN.

—THE REV . D ANIEL CHAPMAN AND

HENRY PICKFORD .

HE account given in Chapter VI . (p . of the Rev .

Henry Mellon , who worked his way up from the Boys’

Charity School and became a clergyman of the Church ofEngland

,ought not to stand alone , for two other prom inent

examples of s elf-made men call for notice— The Rev . DanielChapman and Hen ry Pickford , the learned grinder . Thefollowing accounts are compiled from the statements of threedifferent writersDan iel Chapman’s birth takes us back seventy-five years

to the old Sheffield of 1799 . He could not have been born witha silver spoon in his mouth

,for at 14 years of age you cou ld

any day see him with hands and face as black as a tinker’s,

at the stove -grate manufactory,Roscoe place . But although

spending twelve hours every day at his employment , he founda little spare time for the pursuit of knowledge , which musthave been in those days , and in those circumstances of obscurity , a pursuit under great difficulties . He obtained a littleprivate instruction two even ings a week , and was soon pronounced by his teacher one of the best grammarians inShefli eld. Having laid this good foundation , we find himin an evening , after the day

’s work is don e , at one time witha Rev . Mr . -Whiteley , a Un itarian minister ; then with a Rev .

Mr . Harrison , and subsequently with Rev . Thomas Smith,

one of the Professors of Rotherham Independent College .Trade becoming very depressed, his father - in - law (throughwhose self-denying kindness he had been as sisted to theneedful funds) said, Thou must

,child , stop awhile , and

then begin again thou knows Rome was not built in a day .

True , father ,”i'

eplied the boy ; but they always kept onbuilding , until it was finished . One evening , a gentlemanwas delivering a lecture in the Assembly Room , Norfolkstreet, and gave at the close an invi tation for questions .Daniel Chapman , who was behind the audience in very humble attire , solicited the lecturer

’s opinion on a subj ect towhich he had not referred . The lecturer stated that it be

THE REV . DANIEL CHAPMAN . 291

longed to one of the most abstruse mysterie s of astronomy ,and as he was unable to throw any light on it , requested theyouth to give the audience the benefit of his own thoughts .These he clearly explained in a way which convinced hishearers that he was more than superficially conversant withthe subj ect . The late James Montgomery, the poet , waspresent on the occasion , and having sought out the obscureyouth , there commenced a friendship which only terminatedwith death . Daniel Chapman had arrived at the age of 20when he met in clas s with the Wesleyan community . TheRev . James Everett was at that time stationed in Shefli eld,and met for the quarterly renewal of tickets the class ofwhich Mr . Chapman was a member . This was on a weekevening , and earlier than the usual time , so that the ministercould do double duty the same evening . Daniel was thereforeobliged to appear in his working dress , and face and handsbearing evidence of the nature of his employment . On beingquestioned in the usual way , he related his experience inlanguage so much superior to what his apparent conditionjustified , that the preacher

’s godly j ealousy was awaken ed ,and he mingled caution against vanity and self-conceit withhis counsels , and especially against indulgence in these , undersuch circumstances . On the following day , Daniel sent Mr .Everett a scholarly letter . Mr . Everett’s surpris e may beeasily conj ectured . He promptly waited upon Mr . Chapman ,and mutual explanations and a good understanding everafterwards resulted . About this time we find that the Rev .

Thomas Smith had introduced Mr . Chapman to Dr . Bennett ,profes sor of theology in the Rotherham College . That wasan important link in the chain of events which led to hisbeing sent to the Edinburgh Univers ity . On one frostymorning , about nine o

’clock , Daniel knocked at the back doorof the Rotherham College . The servant observing his humble habiliments announced him as an Irish lad wanting tospeak to her master . Mrs . Bennett came to know the lad’sbusiness , supposing he was asking charity . The reply wascharacteristic— “ Please , Madam , be so kind as to presen tthis note (Rev . Thomas Smith

’s) to Mr . Bennett . The result of that interview was that Dr . Bennett made Mr . Chapman an offer to become private tutor to hi s children . As ,however , the pulpit was the goal of Mr . Chapman

’s ambition ,the offer was declined , and a committee of clergymen , Independent ministers , and laymen (upon which Mr . Montgomerywas very active) agreed that he should go to Edinburgh , and

292 SELF-MADE MEN.

so be left at perfect liberty to shape out his after course . Inthe University he rose to a first -class position , and carried o ffthe prize s both in natural and moral philosophy , and also inGreek . On leaving the University he became a We sleyanminister of good note . His discourses were full of vigourand originality . He was emphatically an independen t thinker .

It i s reported that he was taken publicly to task by one ofhis seniors at the Conference for the exuberance of h is beard .

Mr . Chapman’s reply to the inquis ition was a clear proof thatthey were dealing with a true Sheffield blade , If the growing of my beard maketh my weak brother to offend , let himtake a pair of scissors and cut it off . ” His uniform kindnes swas a ru ling trait of character : few hou ses that he visitedbut in them he was regarded with almo st enthus iastic affection . Nor was his kindnes s circumscribed by the lim it of hisacquaintances . An incident that occurred in the streets isbut one of many that might be mentioned . He overtook anaged woman who Obtained her living by the selling of apples .

Her too heavily- laden baskets and their contents were , by aSimple accident , upset ; immediately stepping off the pavement

,he as sisted with the u tmost alacrity in collecting the

scattered fruit ; nor was the old woman more delighted thanhe in seeing the apples restored to their proper place . Hewas not a little remarkable for the singularity of his ap

pearance . Hi s clothes hung loo sely about his person,as if

they were made for a much larger man . His white cravatwas folded in a roll and tie so loosely as to rest on his bo som ,

exposing the whole of the throat . His hat sloped backwardsat a very unusual angle . His warm cloak , always worn except in very hot weather , was thrown in a slovenly mannerover his shoulders . His gait was measured and slow, and

seemed incapable of being qu ickened . His by-the -way re

marks and conversational replie s were often very remarkable .In one of the circuits where he laboured he was obliged todecline an invitation to preach in a London chapel ; andhe was thereupon visited by two ladies

,who had gone in the

hope of prevailing on him to consent . After much fruitles sentreaty, one of them said playfully but earnestly , Mr .Chapman , I am determined not to leave your house untilyou promise to oblige us .” The reply was in stantaneous

,

Madam , you do me infinite honour ; for you will abide withme always .” It i s commonly reported of him that once hewent to a small Village to preach , for which journey he tooka hired conveyance . On pulling up at the destination

,where

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294 SELF-MADE MEN.

by this swarthy son of the workshop roused the bookseller’swonderment to the highest pitch , and he began to castglances into the future as to the probabilitie s of this youngman’s ultimate destiny .

The next time Dan iel’s name attracted my attention waswhen he came like a flaming star from the north as adistinguished student from the Metropolitan University ofScotland . At this tim e he was announced to preach in Carverstreet Chapel , and my curios ity had been too keenly awakenedin bygone days not to attend ; the more so , indeed , as theyoung man from Roscoe place came forth in the new attire ofa minister of the gospel, with the laurels of a universitystudent . Long before the usual time the chapel was crowdedto excess— not even standing room . The clock struck six ;at that moment the door behind the pulpit opened , and theRev . Dan iel Chapman was at once the object of every eye .The stillness was awful . To him the audience must eitherhave been appaling in the extreme , or else highly stimulating ;but this would depend on the susceptibility of his mentalcalibre , and the preparation he felt for meeting the requirements of so trying an occas ion . His appearance at this timewas nervous biliou s ; head , somewhat small but compact ;hair

,black ; forehead , rather narrow but high ; the coronal

region well developed the organs of the inferior sentimentsbeing small , they would not have f orce enough to give to theintellect high emotional and thrilling power . Never shall Iforget the manner , intonation , and beautiful enunciation withwhich he uttered the words , The first hymn on the paper”— not to m ention the exquisite style in which the hymn itselfwas read , so different from what we had been accustomed tohear . The time for prayer arrived . It was a splendid invocation to the Deity . He ranged through the universe , makingplanets and suns the mere footsteps to the throne of Godlightning , the gleam of his eye ; thunder , the voice of hisdispleasure ; and Chris t, the all-in -all for humanity’s redemption . The service went on the time for the sermon arrived ;the book opened , and the text read was , On his thigh andon his vestments shall be written— King of Kings , and Lordof Lords .

” The utterance of these words was transcendentlyexquisite , and an uncommon oration was delivered . In onepart of a burst of eloquence

, in which he quoted , for effect,his text in Greek , an old woman , roused to the top of herwonderment and the acme of her piety by these uncommonSounds , unconscious ly exclaimed , Glory Halleluj ah

THE REV . DANIEL CHAPMAN . 295

Daniel having, by his classical stratagem , put the crownings tone on the good lady

’

s emotion .

For a tim e Daniel Chapman was very popular with theWesleyans his style , ornate language , and other pecularitiesdrew overflowing congregations . Of his mental capacitiesverbal memory was the salient characteristic . Every otherpower was made the most of by the tenacity of his memoryfor words . Without this aid many of his facultie s wouldhave had only a sort of common-place manifestation . Hehad the power— whether naturally or acquired it i s hard tosay

— of investing thoug hts at the spur of the moment inlanguage at once verbo se , rotund , or singularly unique . Italmost amounted to a natural aptitude to express thoughts inornate language . This kind of style sounds grand , startle sfor a time , but at length ceases to have its attractions evenon the public ear . As for committing it to the press , thinking it good English composition , nothing could be furtherfrom the standard of excellence . The writer was a studentat the University of Edinburgh two or three years afterDaniel Chapman left it . Although four years a student atthe same alma mater , he never heard Daniel Chapman

’sname mentioned till within two months of his final graduation . Conversing one evening with the celebrated ProfessorWilson (the Christopher North of Blackwood) on Sheffi eld ,her poets and her scholars , Montgomery , E lliott , and Baileyhaving been on the tap is , he suddenly turned the subj ect andsaid ,

“ By the bye , did you know a person called Daniel Chapman

,who came from your town . He attended my moral

philosophy clas s for a ses s ion . He was a man of some genius ,but was sorely disappointed at n ot carryi ng o ff the moral philo sophy gold medal ; but his style of composition was peculiarand inflated and as there were better men against whom hehad to contend , he failed n ecessarily in what he aimed at .I was very sorry : he was an amiable man ; but I have a dutyto perform , and the best men alone carry off the highesthonours . At that time ,

” continued the Professor , it was mycustom to meet the students on the Saturday morning tohear them read the most brilliant passages of their prizees says . On one of these occas ions I called upon Mr. DanielChapman to read his e ssay , or portions of it . What withthe gravity of his manner , the peculiar stiffn ess of his utterance

,and the grandiloquent language in which the essay was

couched , it was not long before the whole class was convulsedwith laughter— and I laughed t oo , for I could not help it . I

296 HENRY PICKFORD, THE LEARNED GRINDER.

never had so much difliculty in restoring the students toorder ; and , in fact , this could not be done till I had called upanother student to read his essay .

Notwithstanding all this,Daniel Chapman was a remark

able man,and for him to do what he did redounded to his

infinite credit . To be able to throw aside the Sheffield s lang ,and attain the polish and perfection that he did , shows apower of perseverance tru ly Demosthenic . His enunciation ,in spite of what the Scotch students might think , was highlynervous

,and consequently exquis itely distinct , and his pro

nunciat ion of words , on the whole , beautifu l in the extreme .The manner of his sounding the vowel I , and all words contain ing it , in any syllable , was worthy of all imitation , for itfell upon the ear with a peculiar fascination . With a littlemore of the anime in his compos ition— that which gives themotive power to all the faculties—Dan iel Chapman mighthave become the impassioned orator , and , at will , have Ruledthe fierce Democracy .

” As it was , the impress ion he produced on all audiences was of no ordinary character .

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF MR . HENRY PICKFORD .

Henry Pickford was born in Sheffield about 1806. His

father , Mr . James Pickford , was an indu striou s , respectable ,and pious man , by trade a saw grinder . Leaving school whenabout thirteen years of age

,Henry Pickford began to work

with his father at the trade of saw grinding . From thatperiod he was self educated

,

” except some little as s istancerendered by the late Rev . Thos . Smith , A.M . , Classical Tutorof Rotherham College , and one or two other persons . Hisnatural taste was for the acquis ition of languages . He was ,I believe , in a great degree animated in these pursuits bythe laudable ambition of imitating that remarkable Sheffieldman of whom we have ju st been hearing , the late Rev .

Daniel Chapman . He pursued his studies , early and late ,with characteristic ardour and con s iderable su ccess . On e

day he very much aston ished the attendants of the BibleSociety’s depot by applying to purchase a Chaldo - SyriacTestam ent . This led to inquiries which , I believe , werethe means of his in troduction to som e of the clergy . Hehad been brought up at the Queen street Chapel , and was amember of Mr . Boden ’s church

,and

,for some time , his

thoughts had been directed towards the work of the Christian

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298 HENRY PICKFORD .

cessful conclusion , that he should be sent to the University ofCambridge , and put in a way of honourably distinguishinghimself by the fair exercise of those talent s which God hadbestowed upon him .

” One of the papers above referred toby Mr . Atkin son as having been sent to Professor Lee , consisted of a translation into one of the Oriental languages ofa well-known personification of one of the four Seasons , Ithink Spring,

” by Mrs . Barbauld.

Henry Pickford was of a very amiable and cheerful dispos it ion . Indeed, his exuberance of spirits , united with greatfluency of speech , was apt , at seasons , to explode in un

controllable fit s o f mirth , fun , and laughter . Some persons were inclined to regard such outbursts as indicative andproof of real habitual levity of mind . Such an opinion wouldcertainly be a great mistake . Such occasions were simplythe outward manifestation of one of Nature’s kindly gifts .In fact it acted as a safety-valve .In July , 1830 , seeing that his bodily and mental powers

were kept at too great and con stant a strain , I persuaded him ,

and he actually made arrangements , to accompany me to theWestern coast , in order to enj oy what at the time he verymuch needed

,an entire relaxation for some weeks . Unfor

tunately for him the saw trade , which had been dull , becamebrisk . His employers , therefore , pres sed him very hard andearnestly to do all the work he pos sibly could and he , beinganxious to get all the money he was able in prospect of theUniversity

,instead of going with me to the sea- side and in

haling the invigorating breezes of the ocean , stayed at homeand exerted himself to the utmost ; in one instance workingall night , during a season of remarkably hot weather . Heere long found that he had to pay the penalty which physicallaws exact on all , without distinction , who disregard or infringe them . That great exertion did him an irreparableinj ury

,having eventually the effect of developing a latent ten

dency to consumption , so that from that time he only lived ayear . Although during the succeeding months there werethe usual alternations of hope and fear , cloud and sunshine ,yet his earthly expectations were in reality blasted . Hismedical advisers were Dr . (afterwards Sir Arnold) Knight, andthe late Mr . Wilson Overend but from the first they gave tohis parents but slender hopes as to his recovery .

It was my privilege to visit him during the whole courseof his illness . He died in July , 1831 , about 25 years of age .Amidst the eager and successful pursuit of literature he had

HENRY PICKFORD. 299

not neglected the one thing needful . He was a young ,intelligent

,and sincere Christian , and purpo sed devoting hi s

talents and his life to the service of his Lord and Master .Relying on Divine mercy through the atonement and intercession of Christ , his end was peace . Respecting him nothingcan be more appropriate than the lines of Mrs . Hemans

Th e ethereal fire hath shiveredTh e fragile censer in who semould it quivered ,Brightly , consumingly .”

APPEND I" .

SAMUEL SCANTLEBURY . p . 7 .

Mr . Samuel Scantlebury died at Chicago , U .S . , the 31 s tDecember

,1874 , aged 74. He was born 1 st September , 1800 .

EARLY BANKERS . p . 9 .

There is still standing in the Hartshead , immediatelyabove where the Red L ion Inn cro sse s the passage , a poorhouse occupied by a working j eweller . The door opens outof the Hartshead

,and the window in the s ide looks out into

a little yard . In the wall over this is a stone with the ihscription H .

HASLEHURST SON ,178 3 .

MR. HALL OVEREND AND THE RESURRECTIONISTS .

p . 45 .

LEONARD : Mr . Hall Overend was an enthus iast in thecause of surgical s cience , which in his day was carried onamid great disadvantages and hazards , since the law providedonly for the dissection of crim inals who had been hanged ,and the supply was altogether inadequate for the medicalschools . This gave rise to the horrible practice of employing“ resurrection men ” to dis inter clandestinely bodies whichrelatives supposed had been born e to their last home . Mr .Overend established the Sheffield Medical School , and was it smost zealous promoter . The duty of obtain ing subj ectsrested main ly upon him ,

and he carried it out with charact eristic vigour and success . None but a man standing sohigh as he did, profes s ionally and socially , could have sust ained himself against the prej udice which the suspicion ofthe employment of “ resurrection men brought upon him ,

for not on ly were the feelings of families grievous ly wounded ,by fears or realities , bu t there existed an ever—smoulderingpopular indignation , which the slightest incident might anyday have caused to break out in riot and ou trage . Beside sthis , was the constant risk of the capture or inj ury of someof the agents employed, or the search of the premises of the

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302 APPENDI" .

between two of us , we were not long in driving to Sheffield .

Mr . Overend kept good horses , and anybody who tried tocatch us after we had got off , must have looked sharpLEONARD : I suppose you did not often venture on the

town grave yardsDOCTOR : No unless there was some special reason for

it , in the singularity of a case . I remember a deformedwoman who had died in childbirth . We were very anxiousto examine her , and we got her . But we preferred the quietVillage churchyards— most of these within 12 or 14 m ileswere visited at times .LEONARD When your men got to work on a newly-filled

grave , they would soon get at the bodyDOCTOR : Well , not always . They sometim es found ob

stacles put in their way, or graves made deep . I rememberone case where the men had excavated, and came back to ussaying there was neither body nor coffin there . We had togive it up for a time but we were so sure that we tried again ,

and we found that the sexton , when he had gone low enough ,had made a sort of cave along one side of the grave , and thecoffin had been pushed in there .LEONARD You would not like now to run such a risk as

you did thenDOCTOR : Oh , the excitement totally overbore the risk .

You will qu ite understand how the expeditions would arousethe adventurous spirits of young medical students , who hadto plan and conduct them . The greater the difficulty the morewe tried to overcome it . Most of the adventures were of ourown planning .

LEONARD How did you go about themDOCTOR : We went out prospecting ,

” to borrow a wordunknown then . When we heard of a death in one of thevillages , one or two of us would go out for a country walk,with a piece of bread and cheese in our pockets , and a silvercoin or two , not of the largest . We rested in a little Villagealehouse , and of course we must look at the church or copycurious epitaphs in the churchyard . Sextons were usuallycommunicative . We ascertained where some poor body wasto be buried in a day or two

,perhaps saw the sexton at work,

noted the points it was necessary to watch , marked the lineof retreat , and settled the best time to come . When thetime arrived, we walked to the place by different ways , andthe gig came after, to diminish the risk of its being observedwaiting .

THE RESURRECTIONISTS . 03

LEONARD Of course it would be a great obj ect with you,

when you had rifled a grave , to have it filled up so as to Showno trace of disturbance , but you must sometimes have had toe scape in a hurry .

DOCTOR : Oh , yes . I remember one very funny case . Ithappen ed in a Village that had b een infested by fowl-stealers ,who had made the people very vigilant , and we knew severalof them kept their guns in readines s loaded with slugs . Allhad gone right with us . The night was dark . We had gotthe body removed to a little distan ce , and the men wererapidly completing the grave , when un luckily the sky clearedand the m oon shon e out . A young couple had been marriedthat day , and lived in a cottage overlooking the churchyard .

The bride happened to get out of bed during the night, j usttoo soon for us , and to look ou t of the window . Of courseshe shrieked when she saw us , and her cry brought herhusband to the window . She screamed Shoot " Shootand if we had seen the husband turn from the window andcome back again , we should have supposed he had got hisgun , and have expected a charge of slugs . Of course wecould not stay to finish the work though we got clear Off withthe body . We had a narrow escape at another village wherethe church and the rectory were adjacent . Instead of findingall quiet at the usual tim e as we expected , we perceived thatsome of the rectory family were up . The rector had goneout to dinner

,and bes ides the servants in the hou se , a man

was in the out premises , waiting to as sist the coachman inputting up the carriage horses . We were j ust ready to be off,when the carriage came up , but we had to bring away a fellowpupil , whom I had put on the rectory yard wall , where he layto watch . Our usual mode of signalling was by throwingstones in the direction of the party to be warned , but in thiscase our watcher was too far o ff , and I had no chance but torun acros s the rectory lawn and bring him away . On anotheroccasion a strict watch had been s et over a grave . We gotthe watchers into the public -house , and so entertained themwith our songs and stories that our obj ect was accomplishedquietly, and we left the watchers boasting what they wouldhave done if the body-snatchers had dared to come there .

WRAGG : I think I can tell a story how one of the twoprofess ional resurrectionists once got into trouble . Aboutthe year 1830 , a young man died of consumption and wasburied in B radfield churchyard , clo se to the east end of thechurch . Some one near the church hearing a gig, and the feet

304 APPENDIx.

of a horse pacing about , got up to learn the cause of sounusual a noise

,and saw what was going on in the church

yard . Those in the gig made a precip itate retreat towardsSheffield . One man was caught in endeavouring to makehis escape from the churchyard , in which he would havesucceeded

,but his course was f impeded by a deep snow drift .

This man suffered twelve months’ imprisonment .

CAMPO LANE . p . 46 .

Mr . Hunter , in an unpublished MS .,says : In this

name (Campo lane) is preserved the memory of the ancientgame of camping or foot ball , which was known by thisname , camping , in the time when the Promptorium wascompiled , and is still in use in that sense in the countie s ofNorfolk and Suffolk . See the Promptorium in Mr . Way’sedition , p . 60 , and the E astern Counties Glos saries , by Mooreand Forby .

9" The ‘ Campar field’ occurs several timesin the returns of their Sheffield estates by the Dukes ofNorfolk , under the Acts 1 and 10 Geo . I .

,compelling Roman

Catholic s to register their estates with the Clerk of the Peace .

This proves that there was once a field in Sheffield appro

priat ed to this sport , and what more probable than that it wasthe open space now called Paradise squ are Campo lane

, so

called , as leading to it— in full , the Camper field lane .

”

CHARLES SYLVE STER. p . 46 .

S ee“ Local Notes and Queries (Shefii eld Independen t ,

Dec . 14,

DANIEL WHEELER . pp . 5 3 , 5 4.

For further particulars Of Mr . Wheeler’s life , see a Noteby Mr . T . O . H inchlifie , in

“ Local Notes and Querie s”

(Shefiield Independen t , July 1 , The date of Mr .Wheeler’s departure for Russia is there given as 1818 , andhis return 18 32 . He died in New York, June 12 , 1840 ,

f aged 69 .

EARLY SHEFFIELD PRINTERS . pp . 78 , 79 , 107 .

The following is from Mr . Hunter’s MSSThe first book I have met with , published at Sheffield ,

i s Bagshaw’

s small 12mo . De Spiritualis Pecci , &c . ,byNevill f

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306 APPENDIx.

Ward gave up his paper in 17 when another wasset up

,profess ing a line of politic s opposite to those of the

Register , printed by Northall under the title of the SheffieldCourant . This paper had not a long existence .

From this time to 1807 the Iris was the only newspaperpublished in Sheffield . In consequence of a quarrel betweenthe Editor and a printer in the town , The Sheffield Mercury’ was set up in opposition to it . The first number waspublished by Wm. Todd, on Saturday, March 28 th ,

EBENEZ ER ELLIOTT’S MONUMENT . p . 8 5 .

Removed for the purpose of re-erection in Weston Park ,July 1 st , 1875 .

ANGEL STREET . p . 98 .

While these sheets have been passing t hrough the press ,the whole of the property mentioned at the top of p . 98

[“ where is now Mr . Carter’s , shoemaker , there was an ob

struction in the road . It was at the bottom of the Angelyard , and Mr . Wormall

’

s shop is part of from theAngel gateway up to Messrs . Cockayne’s has been demolishedto make room for the expans ion of that firm . In the process of destruction the workmen , on the 30th April , 18 74 ,laid bare the upper side wall of the shop until then occupiedby Mr . W ormall, next above the Angel inn , exposing for ashort time to daylight a fragmen t of an old Sheffield house .The front was modern , but the side wall exposed was built ofrubble stone , as was the fashion in Sheffield, and was muchdecayed . There were several old windows , of more thanOrdinary size , with stone stan chions , years ago bricked up ,the style of which suggested that the building was erected inthe 17th century . An old chimney still remained , built withlarge dressed stones . Was thi s part of the proj ecting building mentioned on p. 98 as being altered by Mr . WalkerThere is a suspicion that the first Sheffield Theatre was

up the Angel Inn yard , behind the property above referred to ,and now used as stabling .

HOUSES IN PORTOBELLO . p . 1 5 5 .

The two houses here spoken of as “ yet standing, haveiust been demolished (June ,

MR . JOHN SPENCER. 07

MADAM FELL , p . 184 .

See “ Local Notes and.

Queries in the Shefi eld Inde

penden t for July 6 , 1874 .

MR . JOHN SPENCER . pp . 18 6 , 190 .

Mr . Spencer died at Masbro’ Cottage , Masbro

’

, November24th ,

1874 , in his 84th year . He deserves to be rememberedas a worthy relic of what we may almost call mediaeval Sheffield . A Sheffield manufacturer of the old school , he re

tained knee breeches , stockings , and shoes , together with thevernacular in all its purity ; but he yet had something of rsfinement both in language and manner . When urged topush his trade by sending out more travellers , he would reply with a confident smile— “ Nay lad ; we

’ll put in a bitbetter stuff if it be poss ible , and have a bit better workmanship , and that

’ll sell Spencer’s files , without more travellers . Many of his quain t and shrewd sayings are commonlyquoted by his old as sociates , workmen , and neighbours . Helived on terms of hearty familiarity w ith his workm en andpoor neighbours , and was known among the urchin s of Peacroft

,for whom he always had kindly words and looks

,as

“ Daddy Spencer . Straightforwardnes s , urbanity of manner ,and kindnes s of heart were his characteristics . As a boyMr . Spen cer commenced working as a file cutter , at the earlyage of seven years . When he was 17 years old his uncle

,

who was a file manufacturer , died , leaving him the busines s ,which he , under the guidance of his mother , carried on .

Being in London when the war between this country andFrance was brought to a close , and being unable to obtainany orders owing to the badnes s of trade , Mr . Spencer determined to cross the Channel and try what he could do inFrance . He succeeded in gaining customers , and there arehouses in France who gave Mr . Spencer orders nearly sixtyyears ago that still continue to do busines s with his sons .Mr . Spencer was a man of great industry . It was his invariable rule to manufacture a good article, and to treat hisworkmen with kindnes s , and when depression came , insteadof taking advantage of the times , he kept his men on fullwork , and stocked the goods until there was a revival , whenhe soon cleared off his accumulation of stock . Having himself experienced the difficult ies of travelling on horseback

,

carrying his patterns in saddle bags , before there were evencoaches , Mr . Spencer knew fully the value of improved means

MR. JOHN SPENCER.

of communication , and he accordingly threw himself heartilyinto various schemes to this end when the times were ripe .He was an active promoter of the “ Humber Steam Ship Company

,

” which , every Tuesday and Friday night , ran lightboats

,drawn by several horses , to Thorne , and thence by

steam to Hull , London , and other places . In 1835—6 , Mr .John Spencer was Master Cutler . His term of Office was avery important and exciting year , abounding in j oint - stockschemes of all sorts . As we had then no Mayor , the MasterCutler was by courtesy the authority to call and preside overpublic meetings ; and the Reform Act of 1832 appointed himReturning Officer . The first bill for the Sheffield and Rotherham line (of which Mr . Spencer was a warm supporter) hadbeen lo st , and it was resolved to apply again ; the NorthMidland scheme was brought forw ,ard and a great effort ,which many of the supporters of the Shefli eld and Rotherhanihelped to defeat , was made by Mr . Spencer and others tosecure Sheffield a station on the main line . The carrying Ofthe line by Masbrough was followed by various schemes forimproving the position of Sheffield , and prospectuses for linesto Manchester and also to Goole and Hull were issued . Mr .Spencer may, indeed , be credited with the initiation of theSheffield and Manchester railway . He pressed the subj ectupon the late Mr . T . A . Ward , Mr . Deakin , and Mr . E .

Sm ith , when it was decided that if the manu facturers ofMan chester would co -operate with them they would form acompany to start a railway between the two towns . Mr .Spencer immediately put himself in commun ication with theSidebot toms and other influential gentlem en of Manchester ,and with what success the traffic upon the railway now test ifies . In the year in which Mr . Spencer was Master Cutler ,the Company over which he presided , the Town Trustees , andthe Church Burgesses had the honour to present an addres sto the Duchess of Kent , on the occas ion of her Vis it, with thePrincess Victoria , to Wen tworth House ; and Mr . Spenceralso presided as returning officer at Mr . John Parker’s reelection for the borough , on the occasion of his becoming oneof the Lords of the Treasury . Mr . Spencer continued tocarry on successfully the business in Pea croft until the year1849 , when he gave it up to two of his sons . On retiringfrom bus iness Mr . Spencer went to live on an estate he hadat Masbro ’

,where he died .

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Bayes . John ,170

Bayley , Mrs . ,25 5

Bayley , Rev . Robt . Slat er , 235

Bayli ffe , Rev . Geo . , 170

Bawer, Geo . , 73

Beal , M ichael , 8 8B eardshaw , cu tler , 207B eardshaw , Jonathan ,

18 7 , 189 , 190

B eardshaw , Wm . ,173

B eauch ieff , 162

B ee , brace-bit maker ,188

B ee Hive , The , 15 5 25 5Beef-headed B ob , 279

B eilby Kno tt , 95B eilby Proctor, 137Bell Hagg , 5 3Be l l-house , 243Bell , John , parliamen

tary candidate , 263B ellefield, s treet , 146Bel ls , Church , 48 , 49Belper Joe ,” 225Bennet , Edward , Coalpit lane , 25 6-8Bennet ,Geo . , 5 6 , 69 , 233 ,25 7

Bennet t , Dr . , 291

Bennett , George , druggist , 93Benn et t , grocer , 148Bennett , rio ter , 65Benson , Mr . , 189

Ben t ’s Green ,1 5 4

Best , Rev . Thos . , 297

Bethe] , Sir Richard, 1Bickley , James , 214

Biggin ,Jo shua, 221

B iggin, Samuel , 221

Billy Hill’s parlour , 221Billy Red wais tcoat , 226B inney , attorney , 195Binn ey , Ens ign J .

,282

Binn ey,Messrs , 10

B inn s , Mrs . ,New s treet ,171

Birch Ann (ten childrenat a birth) , 128Bird-in -th e-hand ,Church lane , 5 5 , 139Bird- in -th e -hand,Spring

s treet , 141Bird , Thomas , spectaclemaker, 96Birks , constable , 1 13Birks , Ebenez er, 265

INDEX .

Birks , J . S . T 16 , 17

Birks , Thomas , 221Bishop , factor , 242Black Lamb lan e , 65 ,15 4, 1 5 5

Black L ion , 104, 109

Black Swan , 6 , 109

Blackburn , Rev . J . , 1 5 7Blacker , Jacky , 270-1

Blackw ell , John , 72

Blackwel l , Mark , 130Blake , Capt . J . , 282

Bland , John , con stable ,171 , 273

Bland, William , con

s table , 1 13 , 171Bland , Parson , 60

Blind Fiddlers , 5 , 167Blin d lane , 41 , 261Blonk ,S ilcock , Co . ,25 0

Blouk s treet , 149Blue Bel l , 71 , 74Blue Boar, 62 , 114, 141Blues , The , 249 , 280Blyth es , o f Norton Lees ,79 , 80

Blythman , Geo . , 109

Boden , Rev . James , 175 ,233 , 296

Bole hill , 1 5 4, 280Bo lsover hill , 45Bolsover , Thomas , 233Booker , Tho s . dz Wm . ,

Chartists , 277 , 279Boo te Dan iel , 37Booth , Mrs . Sally , ao

tress , 96Boo th , Thomas , 5

Boothroyd , 203Botham , con fectioner,70Boulton 85 Wat t , 97 , 142Bournes , The , 165B ow street , 43Bowden , Geo . , 203

Bower dz Bacon , 110

Bower , Bishop ,” 129Bower Spring , 128 , 129 ,144, 1 5 2 , 263

Bow ling Green street ,135

Bow ling , Richard , 247Bowman , 225 -6

Bowman , pawnbroker,176 , 25 6

Boys’ Charity School ,126 , 1 69, 242 , 290

Bradbury, Si lversmith ,238

Bradbury , L ieut . T. , 282

Bradfield churchyard ,304

Bradley , Wm . brewer , 99Bradshaw , Joseph , 172Bradwel l wakes , 212Brady, Quaker , 41Bramal l , Danie l , filemaker

,241

,25 1

Bramal l lane , 143 , 146 ,147 , 1 5 3 , 241

Bramhal l , 149Bramley dz Gainsford, 3 ,233

Brammer, Broad lane,202

Brelsforth ’s schoo l , 221

Bretland , Thos . , 79

Brewer, Rev . Jeho iada,69 , 172-175 , 233 , 246Brewis , 182Brickholes ,The , 199, 202

Brick lane , 136Bridge s treet , 112 , 15 8 ,237

Bridgehouses , 3 , 144,1 5 2 , 223 -5

Bridgehouses’ tragedy ,

224

Bridle-s ty, 162

Bright,Henry

,Whirlow ,

5 9

Bright , Squire , 187Bright , Stephen , 5 9

Bright , Thos . ,yeoman ,

79

Bright s treet , 1 5 5 , 25 5Brightmore , Robt . , 43 ,5 8 , 15 0

Brigh tmore street , 146Brights , o f Ecclesall ,25 5

Brights ide , 15 6 , 1 61Brightside lane , 1 5 7Brights ide Ves try Hall ,127

Brittain , W . S . , 179

Brittain dz Wilkinson ,

129

Britann iaMetal -teapots ,firs t makers o f , 194

Bri ttlebank , Joseph , 4Broad lane , 44 , 45 ,63 , 135 , 193 -205 , 238 ,271

Broad s treet , 218 , 231Broadbents , The, 8 , 9,10, 165

Broadben t , Tho s . , 3 , 164

B roadh eads , o fWes tbar,130

Broadhead , Gurn ey ,Sporles Co . , 195

Broadhead , Rogers , 194Broadhead , Samue l (andA tkin ) , 171 , 194Broadhurst , table-kn ifemanu facturer , 234Broadhurs t , Thos .

,1 5 6

Brocco , The , 105 , 203 ,206 , 208

B rock sopp’s Baths , 15 8

Brookes , A lfred , 80Brookfield, 6 , 5 3

Brookh i ll , 43 , 1 13 , 146 ,1 5 0

B roomfield, 162

B roomgrove , 162

Broomhall , 65 , 90 , 15 3 ,1 62 , 264

Broomhall Mill , 5 9 , 147Broomhal l Spring , 1 5 3 ,263

Broomhal l s treet , 15 4,1 5 5 , 25 5

Broomhead Ben j . , 217Broomhead , Henry , 1 5 0Broomhead , Sarah , 173Broomhead , Wightman ,

Moore , 247Broomhi ll , 162Broom spring lane , 98 ,146 , 148 , 149Brougham

,Lord , 1

Broughton , Spence , 11 6(h is las t letter) , 117Brown , Capt . J .

,282

Brown Cow , 41

B rown , Geo druggis t ,76Brown , Jam es , bo okbinder, 105Brown , John , Stampo ffice , 5 3 , 285

Brown , John , draper , 5 2Brown , Sir John , 15 5Brown ,

Roger, 149Brown , Walter , 5 3Browne , Rev. Cuthbert ,76

Browne , Denn is , 229-30

Browne , Dr . , 4, 5 6 , 228 ,283

Brown el l , Mrs . , 5 8

Brownell , Peter , 282Brownhill, Second-themotion ,

”188

INDEX . 311

Brownh ill, Jonathan ,189 Cann ing street , 25 5

B rown ill, Chas . , 31

Brumby , Wm . , 5

Buchan , Dr . , 12 , 145

Buckingham ,Duke o f

, 78

Bull baiting, 209Bull Inn , Wicker , 221Bullock , Wi lliam ,

229

B ullstake , 89

Buonaparte , Napo leon ,

8 8

Burbeary Smith , 6Bardon ’

s t oy shop, 87

Burges s s treet , 132 , 261Burgin , Charles , 18 8Burgin , George 85 Jonathan , 1 5 2 , 224

Burgin,pr in ter, 268

Burgin , Thos . , gardener ,127

Burg in , Wm . , gardener ,127 , 1 5 7

Burial ground , 15 4, 198 ,231

Burkin shaw fami ly,135

Burn Greave , 108 , 136,

Burngreave road , 15 2 ,161

Burn s tavern , 29

Burn t Tree lane 85 w ell ,

Burrel l , G . dz J . S . , 93

Burton Jack , 225 , 227Burton , John ,

148

Burton ,William , Royd’sM ill

,230

Burton -bridge fields , 228Bush , Wm .

, 68

Butcher , John , 69

Butcher, Wm . dz S .,235

Butler, Geo . dz Co . , 131

Button lan e , 15 3 , 25 6 ,260

Cack Alley , 128Cade , James , 83

Cadman , Seth , 1 54, 25 3 ,25 6

Cadman ’s-ih -the-Fields ,

1 5 3

Calver, Thos . , 226

Camm e l l John son ,234

Campo lane , 6 -10 , 26 -28,

46 , 47 304

Canada,Upper 85 Lower,147

Canal , 146Gandow , Mr 71

Carlis le s treet , 1 5 2Carnelly, vo lunteer , 283Carr , Ald. John

, 249Carr , Geo .

, po st -mas ter ,86

Carr , Jo seph , draper , 87Carr

,Mr . , 1 5 4

Carr , Riley, 8 7 , 202Carr

,

’S iah , 48

Carr , s taymaker, 5 3Carr

,Woodhouse Carr ,187

Carter , shoemaker, 98 ,306

Carver, Robt . , 72 , 103 ,

280

Carver s treet , 129 , 189Carver s treet Chapel ,1 5 2 , 192 , 234, 294

Cas tle court , 8 9Cas tle fo lds , 218Cas tle green head, 107Cas tle h ill , 2Cas tle Inn , 104, 1 12

Cas tle street , 108 , 197 ,216

Catherine s treet , 1 5 2Cattle Market , 213 , 222Caw thorne , James , 37,105 , 107

Caw thorn e, John , 106

Cawthorn e , Thomas , 37Cawthorn e ,William ,

105

Cawood, Job, 41

Cecrl, Jo seph , 75 , 163Cemetery , Gen eral , 162Cemetery road, 103 , 194Chadburn , William , 95

Chadw ick , Rev. C . , 29,30 , 39

Chadwick , Rev . C . , jun . ,

29

Chambers , Fras . , 238

Change al ley , 34, 80 , 8 1 ,247

Chan trey , Sir Francis , 4,40 , 5 8 , 69 , 108 ,

25 1 , 265

Chapel Walk , 247Chapman ,

Rev. Daniel ,290-6

Chapman , Wil liam , 9

Chaps or Chapmen ,139

Charles street , 131 , 233 ,234, 25 1

Charley , Soft , 225 -6

312

Charlotte, Princess , 208Charlo tte stree t , 15 5Chartis t Con spiracyh ow it was discovered ,272-279

Chartists , 168 , 269-279

Cheney , Dr . , 108 , 1 5 5 ,264

Cheney row and square ,16 , 261 , 264

Cherry Tree , Old, 130Chesterfield road, 1 5 4Chimes , 48

China square , 264lChi sholm , Captain , 128

Cho lera Ground, 234Chronicle, S hefiield, 75Church Gates , 2Church s treet , 29 , 42-46 ,5 3 -61 , 139

Clarbour, John , 69

C larke , Captain R. ,282

Clarkehouse lane , 162 ,237

Clay Wood, 1 5 6 , 234

Clays , Bridgehouses , 74,

Clays , of Ken tucky , 223Clayton , A lex . , 5

Clayton , Chas . Mary ,173

Clayton , John , 179

Clayton , John , Chartist ,279

C layton , W. H . , 3 , 5

Cleekham I nn , 144

Clegg,

24

Clegg , Wi lliam , 171

Cleggs , t he trumpeters ,5 4 , 214, 239

Clerk , Cornelius , 5 9Cliff , High s treet , 72Clifton , Wi lliam , 77

Clough House , 162C lough lan e , 147Club Garden s , 147 , 1 5 0C lub Mill , 208Glaley, Francis , 128Coaches , 63 , 100 ,102, 1 67 , 267

Coalpit lan e , 129, 1 5 2,

Cochrane , Lord , 172Cook , Th e , High s treet ,78 , 107

Cock , The , Ho llis crof t ,189

Cock Tai l Lady, 130

INDEX .

Cockayne , William , 88

Cockaynes , 17 , 8 8 , 306Co ckburn , Thomas , 80

Coe , Johnny , th e knockkn eed, 96

Coke , Dr 189

Co le Bro thers , 6 1Co lley , Fras . , 78 , 89

Co llier , Rev . C . , 125 , 126

Co lquhoun , 71

Co lson S tyle , 115 , 146 ,15 8 , 171

Columbia Works , 5 2Commercial Buildings ,70 , 72

Commercial street , 213Constables , 113Con s tan tine ,street , 194

Convent Walk ,25 5

Conway street , 15 3Cook shops , 15Cook wood , 15 1 , 15 6 , 161 ,208

Cooper, con fectioner, 72Cooper, draper , 80Cooper , John , 168

Cooper , Thos . , grocer ,76 , 77

Cooper , William ,229

Copeland , Mr . , so licitor ,10

Copley , 6Copper s treet , 131Corbett , Dr. , 5 7

Corn Exchange , 227Cornhill , 29 , 1 60 , 195Cornish place , 15 7, 194Corn ish s treet , 144

Cotton M ill burn t , 1 18 ,207

Cotton Mill Walk,144

Couldwell, 15 8

Courant , S heffi eld, 5 6 , 5 7 ,94, 306

Coutts , Baroness Bur

dett , 125Coutts , Thomas , banker,125

Cow ley , Chris . 163

Cowley , Wm schoo lmaster, 29, 1 68

Cowen Dixon , 71

Cowen , Thomas , 71

Cow ley , Jo seph , 71Cowli shaw , J. Y. , 238

Crawshaw , James , 71

Scotland

Creswicks , silversmiths.231

Crich , publican , 6

Crooked Billet yard , 78Crookes , 18 1 , 232Crookes Feast , 201Crookes , Geo . , constable ,

Crookes Moor , 2 ,188 , 262 , 277

Crookes Moor Dams , 1 62Cros s Daggers , 78 , 89Cro ss Smithfield, 131

Cross land , 5Cross land , spring knifecutler, 25 4

Cro ssland’

s corn m ill ,220

Crown , Dick, 224Crown shaw , publican ,

109

Crow ther , Mrs . , 131

Cubley Pres ton , 77

Cup Inn ,27 , 94

Cutlers ’ Arm s , 265

Cutlers ’ Company , 139 ,182 , 184, 243

Cutlers’ Feasts , 5 7 , 66 ,95 , 228

Cutlers’ Hall , Old, 5 5 ,139

Cutts , I . P. , 97 , 188

Daisy walk , 160Dames , 184

D’Amour , Matthias , 16

Dam road, 162

Dan ie ls , Jam es , 80

Dan iels , Samuel , 80Darlin g , Adjutan t , 282Darnall , 127 , 217Davenport , Michael , 197Davenport’s s tal l , 84Davy, Patience , 171Dawson , John ,

1 1

Dawson ,Rev . Josh . , 249

Dawson , scythe grin der ,18 1

Deakin , Change alley ,247 , 308

Deakin , George , 237Deakin , Isaac , 130Deakin , Miss , 95De laPryme , James , 229

Den ton , grocer , 115Den ton ,Wm . ,Pi tsmoor,

1 15

Derbyshire lane, 40, 15 4Devils ,” 138

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314

F lour rio ts , 270F lying S tation ers , 268Foden ,

Peter , Chartist ,171 , 277-9

Ford, prin ter, 268Forres t , druggis t , 93Fo ster , local band , 261Fos ter , Campbe ll , 2Fo ster , George , 77Fo ster , Wm . SJ Son , 60 ,77

Fo ster’s court , 78Foulds , Astley , 34Fou lds , Samue l , 34Foun tain ,

The , Coalpitlane , 15 0

Fox , B enj. ,Westbar , 128

Fox , Godfrey, gao lkeeper, 89 , 215 , 264

Fox , Rev. Jo seph , 237Fox , North Church st . ,

1 76

Fox , Westbar , 11 5

Fowler , Samuel , 1 15Frame po lishing , 130France , surgeon , 60

Free Library , 23 , 240FreeWriting School , 36 ,41 , 25 1

Fret son ,Job , 230

Fret s on , Wm 166 , 230

Friends , Th e , 9 , 10 , 168Frith , Jemmy , 192Frith , Mr . (Dr . Ink

bottle) , 249 , 280Frith Peter , optician ,11 5

Fr ith, Sam andTom ,

192

Froggatt , Co ldwel l dz Co . ,

195

Froggatt , Samuel , opt icran , 97

Froggatt , so licitor’s clk . ,

93

Fru it Market , 89Fulwood, 25 0Furnace Hill , 129 , 130Furn iss , Henry , 234Furn is s , Neddy, 1 10 , 127Furn is s , Po les 65 Fur

n iss , 234Furni val s treet , 233 -4

Gai n s ford, Fen ton dc

Nicho lson , 233

Gain eford, Robt . John ,

233

Gales , A. & E ., 68 , 76 ,15 9, 1 8 1

Gales , family, 13-15

INDEX

Gales , Joseph , 12 , 221 ,305

Gao l , Old debtors’, Kingstreet , 89

Garden street Chape l ,28 ,126 , 129 , 25 6

Garden walk , 193 , 206Gardeners’ Arm s

,148

Garden s , Old Sheffield ,145 et seq .

Gardn er , Samuel , 188 ,208

Garnet , John , printer ,

Garnett , John , nurseryman ,

1 5 2

Gars ide , James , 203

Gars ide 85 Shaw , 89

Gas coal , Th e first , 98Gas Company, 71Gasco ign e , Dan iel ,apo thecary, 163

Gatley,Thomas , 130

Gatty, Dr . , 96

Gat ty’s

“ Hun ter ,” 3 , 9 ,77 , 79 ,

223 , 230 , 231 , 287-8

Gaun t , John ,grocer , 127

Gaunt , Joseph , scalecutter , 127

Gaun t 85 Turton ,129

Gell , Philip , 15 3Ge l l s treet , 1 5 3 , 237George 85 D ragon

,Bank

s treet , 167George 85 Dragon ,

Broadlane , 202

George inn , 80

George street , 247Gen tleman ’

s Magaz in e ,1 70

Gibbet posts , 116 , 179G ibraltar s treet , 129 ,130 , 132 , 144, 261 , 293

Gilbert , Ear l o f Shrewsbury, 228

Gillat t , druggis t , 80Gillo t t , hatter , 94G i llo t t , Jo s eph , 220Gi llot t , Mrs .

, Egertonstreet , 25 4Gin Sam ,

” 1 6 , 77Girdlers , The , 70Girls ’Charity School ,26 ,143

Glanville, Samuel , 88 ,99

Globe Works ,

Glossop , 216Glo ssop road , 43 , 146 ,148 , 15 2 , 1 5 4, 15 6 , 171 ,

Glo ssops , o f Stumperlowe , 207

Goddard Hall , 33 , 5 3Godwin ,

Fisher, 8 8Godwin 85 L ittlewood , 42Go lden Ball , 6Goodison ,

Capt . , 280Goodison ,

Tho s ., 33 , 180

Goodlad, Sam , 5

Goodwin , Rev . E . , 37 ,105 , 170 , 266

Gordon ,Duchess of , 16

Gosl ing’s plan , 70 , 1 68

Gower, Nathan iel , 194Gower s treet , 1 5 2Grainger, General , 248Grammar Schoo l Boys ,

Grammar Schoo l , Theold, 29-36 , 5 3

Gran t , Joseph , scalecutter , 127

Gran t’s (El lis) s tall , 84Grapes , Church st . , 5 4

Grapes , Westbar , 130

Gray , E ., saddler , 74

Gray, Wi lliam , 143 , 204,238

Grayson , Optician ’s

w orkman , 96

Greatrex , James , 229

Greaves , o f Sheaf works ,

Greaves ,GeorgeBustard ,O f Page Hall , 74 , 1 64 ,

Greaves , John , Fargate ,260

Greaves , John , Glossoproad, 1 76

Greaves , John , grocer ,266 , 282

Green Market , 89, 102Green lan e , 144, 146 ,1 5 8 , 202

Green lane works , 144Green 85 Pi ck slay, 75Green Robert , 1 5 0Greenhill moor, 1 5 4

Gregory , cheesemonger,89

Gregory , James ,surgeon ,

89

Gregory, Joshua, 67

Grenoside, 40 , 63 , 281Grey Horse , 70Greyhound , 1 12 , 205Griffi ths , Richard , 129Griffi ths , Richard , postmaster , 8 6

Grimesthorpe , 15 6 , 161 ,Grimesthorpe road , 148 ,222

Grinders , Apparatus forpro tection o f , 248

Grindle gate , 179Grout porridge , 18 1Groves , R. 85 Son , 132

Grubb , William , 173

Gu inea buyer, 118Guion

,Mr . , 195 , 203

Gunn ing , Matthew , 229,231

Gunn ing , Thos . , 229-30

Gurneys , The , 176-7Hackney coaches , 267Hadfield, George ,235 , 25 9

Hadfield, George, opt ician , 96

Hadfield, Joseph , 235Hadfield, Robert , 5 2, 60Hadfield, Samuel , 196 ,235 , 25 9

Hagger, Mr. , Wes tbar,1 14

Hague, Wi lliam , s i lverstamper, 149:Hall , Church street , 5 4Hall , Dr . J . C . ,

238

Hall , Edward, 27 , 176Hall , John ,

27

Hall , Lieut . J . , 282

Hall , MISS , m iser , 226Hall

,pos tmas ter , 8 6

Hall , Sam , 62 , 224

Hal l , Samue l Parker,110Hal lam , 1 31

Hallam shire Ho tel , 73Hallam shire s tandard o flong measure , 5 2

Hallcar, 102 , 15 1 , 161Hallcar lane , 1 5 2Hallcar wood , 1 5 6 , 1 61Hammond , Rev. John ,

175

Hancocks , Henry, 82Handley , cowkeeper , 221Handley , Mary , 102 , 248Hanging bank gardens ,

Hanover street , 98

INDEX . 315

Hanover street gardens ,

Hardcastle , s exton , 15 6

Hardcas tle , Thomas , 75

Hardy, Andrew Al len ,

coron er, 172

Hardy, furn iture maker,132

Harmer lane , 147 , 228Harmer, Rev . John , 172

Harney , Julian ,279

Harris on Bros . 85 How

son,248

Harrison George , tableblade forger, and localpreacher

,129

Harris on , gardener t o

LordWharncliffe , 149Harrison , J . T 76

Harrison ,Mis s , 4 , 1 64,

188

Harrison ,Rev . G .

, 33

Harrison , Rev . Mr . , 290

Harris on , Samuel , 69Harrison , Thomas , 27 ,165 , 197 , 199

Harrison ,Will iam , 229

Hartshead , 9-16 , 68 , 76 ,79 , 145 , 146 , 164, 279 ,300

Harvest lane , 15 , 60 ,127 , 130, 146 , 1 5 1 ,1 60 , 161

Harwood , John , M .D . , 31

Harwood 85 Thomas , 137

213 , 247

Haslehurs t , David , 244Haslehurst , Han . 85 Son ,

9 , 300

Hatfield’

s nurs ery, 15 2Hathard, Buck , 130Hathersage , 40Hawke , John , 141

Hawke , Sam uel , 5Hawks ley, Charles , 60Hawks ley, G . 85 J . W . ,

189

Hawksley , John , 189, 190

Hawksworth , Geo . , 70 ,1 5 9

Hawk sworth ’s yard , 70 ,

71

Hawle at thePoandes ,”232

Haw ley croft, 186 , 247Hanworth , surgeon , 23 ,172 , 232

Hay, winemerchant , 250

Haynes , Rev . Thos . , 25 0Haywood , Bram leyGains ford, 233

Haywood , Joseph , 10,1 79

Heald, saddler, 74H

zaton s , The , High s t . ,7

Heaton s , Th e (Pickle) ,19 , 213 , 222

Hebblethwaite , Edwd. ,

4, 21 , 23 , 176 , 221

Hebblethwaite , Rt . , 132

Heeley , 1 5 3 , 1 5 6Hemm ing , Dan iel , inven tor o f oval shields ,119

Henderson , Ho llis croft ,189

Henders on , Robert , 69Hen frey , John , 241

Heppen s tall, Philip , 97Hew itt , Thos . , 34

Hey, Turk ,” 92Hicks ’ lane , 1 18 , 131 , 141H icks ’ s ti le , 2 , 180Hides

,pawnbroker , 180

High s treet , 60 , 67-78 ,104, 1 5 9, 242 , 270

Highfield, 147 , 1 5 3 , 162 ,241 , 25 0

H ill , B illy , 221H il l , Rowland , 2H ill , Samuel , clockmaker, 196H i ll - foo t , 147 , 15 6Hills , Th e ,1 61

Hinde , H .,1 67

H inchliff e , B . , 149 , 192Hinchliffe ,con s table andpublican ,

112 , 1 14

H inchliff e , G . W . , 10

Hinchl iffe , Robert , 114H inchliff e, T. C . , 143 ,304

Hirst,Thomas , 141

Hirst’s schoo l , 141Hobs on ,

Dicky , 96Hob son , John , 222

Hobson , Jonathan , 270

Hodgkin son , Ralph ,druggist , 93Hodgson , Dr . , 5 3

Hodgson , General , 281Hodgson , John , 5 3

Hodgson , Rowland , 241 ,263 , 282

316

Hodgson street , 254Hodgson ’

s Fo lly , 5 3Hofiand, Mrs . , 75 , 1 5 7

Ho lberry, Sam , Chartis t ,277 , 279

Ho lden , watchmaker,265

Ho lland , George , 124Ho l land , Geo . Calvert ,119-124

Ho lland , Amos , 95 , 149

Ho l land , John , 173

Ho lland , John , 4, 23 , 24,46 , 5 8 , 71 , 94 , 124 ,

Ho l land , John , pere , 95

Ho l land (Mrs . Dunn ) , 19Holland,Robt . , publ ican ,

Ho l lis croft , 188 -191Hollis’s (or Brown) Hos

pital , 11 1 , 190Ho lly street , 15 6 , 261Ho ly green ,

15 5

Ho ly,Mr . ,

260

Ho ly , Wilkin son 85 Co . ,

1 12

Holmes , William , 231

Homfray, B evi l, 78 , 107 ,305

Homf ray’s Sheffield

Weekly Journal, 78 9

Hon es t John ,

” 191 ,268

Ho o le , Barbara,1 5 7

Hoo le , Fras . ,168

Hoo le , Henry E llio tt , 1 ,195

Horrabin Bro thers , 193Horse Dyke , 1 5 3Horsfield fam ily , 91 , 143 ,1 5 8

Hors ley , Samue l , 216Hospital Chapel , 227Ho spital forWomen , 168

Ho spital , The old

Shrew sbury , 228Ho t bread, Tommy , 1 12 ,25 6

Hoult, Dame , 18 5

Hou lt , Robotham 85 Co . ,

137

Houn sfields , o f Pon dh i ll

,

House , an Old Sheffie ld ,306

Hovey, draper, 98 , 110

INDEX .

Howard hill , 36Howard street Chapel ,28

, 5 2 , 98 , 173 , 203 ,234-7 , 25 6-7Howard street , 5 1 , 234Howard , Henry, 228 , 266Howard , John , prisonphilan thropis t , 90Howard , Lord, 274-8

Howard , Stirling , 74Howard , Thomas , 74 , 75

Howard, William , 74

Howlden,Richard, 189

Hoyland , Edward , 34Hoyland

,iron m erchant ,

168

Hoyland , Jonathan ,

brush maker, 177 , 25 3Hoyland , Wm . , Churchs treet , 77Hoyle , Lawyer , 135 , 144,206

Hudson 8: Clarke , 129Hul lett , Th e , 248Hun t , flour dealer , 89Hun ter , Edwin , 188

Hun ter, Rev . Joseph ,46 , 170 , 217 , 242-4,249 , 287-8 , 304, 305

Hutchin son , coachmaker, 103 , 25 1 , 25 4Hutchin son , Wm . , 25 1

Hutton , Madam , 184

Hyam,tailor , 71

Hyde , Chris topher, 221Hyde Park

,147

Ibbi tt ,Wm . , 75 , 196 , 206 ,246

Ibbo tson , o f GlobeWorks , 198

Ibbot son ,Wm .,123 , 198 ,

203

Ibo t son , Geo .,37

Improvemen t Comm iss ioners , 219

Ince , Richd. , 114

Ince , T. N. ,1 14

Independent , Shefi eld,72 , 104, 109, 1 19 , 160 ,

Infirmary , 60 , 68 , 108 ,

264

Infirmary road , 144In g le Jo shua, 149Inkbo t tle , 249

Innocen t , John , 6

Intake , The , 61 , 147

Ireland , The jumper,205Iri s , The , 1 1 , 71 , 101 ,

Irish Cro ss , 2 , 107Iron bridge , 224Is le , The , 1 12Jackson , Arthur, 5 3Jackson , Hen ry, 5 3 , 60,227 , 28 7-8

Jackson , John , 34

Jackson , Johnny , 18 1Jackson , Lieut . T. B . ,

282

Jackson , Nicho las , 5 8 ,

Jackson , Susanna, 228

Jackson , Tho s . , 42

Jackson , Wi lliam , SheafIs land , 130

Jai l s treet , 1 5 5 , 25 3James , Rice , po stmaster,8 6

Jeeves , Geo .,25 2

Jeeves , Geo . 85 Son ,25 1

Jehu lane , 213Jenn er , Dr . , 197

Jenn ings , Dr . Dav id , 249Jenn ings , Mr.

,Fargate ,

266

Jenn ings , Neddy , 113Jericho , 203 , 206 , 209Jerusalem , 222

J ervises , The , 187Jes se , of Greno side, 62Jess op , Richd. 85 Wm . ,

207

Jes sop , Wm . ,1 5 3

Jew s’ Synagogue , 168Jobson ,

Mr . , Ro scoe

place , 144John , King , in Sheffield ,70

Johnson,David , 6

John son , Fargat e , 264

John son , Jemmy , drumm er , 96

Jo llie , Rev . Timothy, 79Jonathan ,

Blind , 167 ,171

Jones , Bill , beadle , 224Jone s , Caesar , 75Jones , John , draper, 80 ,89

Jus tice, Figure o f , 8 5 ,8 7

Kay, or Key, Jam es , 82

Kean , Charles , 239Keats’Eating-house, 17

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3 18

Meadow street , 75Meal tubs in Market , 84Mechan ics’ In stitute ,122 , 247

Mechan ics ’ Library , 17 ,19 et seq . , 101 , 126

Meersbrook , 34, 1 5 4

Meeting House lane , 169Meggitt , Wm . , Fargate ,265

Mellands , The , 165

Mellon , Harriet ,Duchess o f St . A lbans ,124

Mellon ,Rev .Henry , 124,

126 , 290 0

Me llon ,Michael , 124

Me llon , Sarah , 124Mel lor , ropemaker , 1 5 5Melluish ,Wm . , 103 , 149

Merchan ts , F irs t , 10Mercury, Shefiield,

94, 1 17 , 244 , 263 , 306

Merrill , Geo . , 130 , 176

Methodism , 72 , 25 1 , 264

Micklethwaite, B . , 1 5 1

Micklethwaite , cu tler ,231

Midland Railway, 222,232

Midland Station road ,213

Middleton ,butcher , 8 8

Middleton , Edw. , baker ,

Middleton ,John , cooper ,

25 6

Middleton’s Cotton Mill ,

144

Militia, 5 2Mill Sands , 112Milk street , 94, 247Miller, chem is t , 129Miller , Rev . Jo sephAugus tus , 175Milner

,J . C . , 34

M ilner,John , 1 5 1 , 204,

238

Milner, W . P. , 34

Milnes , Jam es , ThornesHouse , 164Milton

,Lord

, 1

Mistress Cutler , 5 7 , 66Mit chell,Brightmore ,43 ,195

Mitchell , Mrs . , 43

Mitchel l , Sam l . , 31 , 43 ,233 , 282, 287-8

INDEX .

Mitchell-Withers , 43Mon tgomery , Jam es , 7,12 , 20 , 22, 23 , 24, 5 6 ,60 , 72 , 76 , 94, 101 ,104, 146 , 1 5 9, 18 1 ,197 , 221 , 222 , 237 ,279 , 287 , 291 , 305

Montgomery’s funeral ,25

Moore , Jonthn . ,128

Moorfields , 144

Moor Head , 1 5 3 , 1 5 4

42 , 90

Morpeth , Lord , 1Mort on

,s ilverplater ,195 ,

245

Mo sborough , 144

Moun t Pleasan t , 1 62Moun t Z ion Chape l , 129 ,130, 203 , 247

Mowbray s treet ,Mower 85 Pears on , 180

Mo z ley , sculptor , 266Muddiman ,

bootmaker,94

Muir, Rev . John Hope ,176

Mulberry street , 72, 74,1 12 , 160

Mundella, A. J 1

Muscroft , table-bladeforger, 248Mushroom Hal l , 146Nadin , Wm . , 171 , 266

Nadin , Wm . cutler , 48Nag’s Head , 213Nail , firs t cut in Sheffield , 130

Name changing , 1 5 9Napier , S ir Charles , 270Naylor , Rev. Ben jam in ,

197 , 25 0

Naylor , Robert , 31Naylor , Vickers 85 Co .

,

11 1 , 25 1

Neepsend , 146 , 147 , 15 1 ,1 5 7

Nelson inn , 171

Nelson ,Mr. , surgeon , 60

Nether Chapel , 5 9 , 104,108 , 170 , 242 -7 , 25 6

25 7

Nether Hallam Workhouse , 162

Newbould , Capt . T. , 282

Newbould family, 25 6Newbould lane, 162

Newbould, Samuel, 260Newcastle st . , 196 , 199

New Church street , 143 ,215 , 264

New Hall , 15 7 , 161Newhall street , 1 10New Haymarket , 227New Market hall , 215New street , 116 , 1 18 ,1 69 , 170

New spapers , Sheffield ,305

N ews sheets , 268New ton , Broad lane , 203Newton ,

Campo lan e , 5New ton , F . , merchan t ,1 5 4

New ton , gro cer , 82N icho las , Emperor , 5 4N icho lson , Jo seph , 75Nicho lson , m arket gardener, 89

Nicho lson ,Wm . , Mas terCutler , 218

N icho lson s , Th e , o f

Darnall , 203 , 216 , 2 17Niddlety Nod,

” 66

Nield’s Prison s o f Yorkshire , 64, 90 , 91

Nodder , John , 1 71

Nodder , Will iam ,177

Norfo lk bridge , 146Norfolk , Duke of , 266

Norfo lk row ,249 , 265 ,

280

Norfo lk s treet , 17 , 5 9,72 , 75 , 149 , 172 , 213 ,

Norfo lk s t . Chapel , 192Norris Field , 140Norris , Samuel , Westbar, 1 14

Norris , Thos . , Wes tbar ,1 14

North Church street ,1 13 , 168 , 176

North street , 1 19Northall, prin ter, 94, 306Northumberland road ,146 , 1 5 6

Norton ,40 ,

288

Norton Lees , 79Nowill, High s treet , 5 ,71 , 15 0

Now111 85 Son s , 180

Nursery , 1 10 , 160 , 223Oaks green , 223

Oakes ,Edward,Westbar,1 15 , 1 16 , 140, 224

Oakes,Jo seph , 31

Oates , Francis , 220Oates , Geo . , 142, 221

Oates , Thomas , Hartshead , 1 1

Oates , Ald. Thomas , 221

Oborne , Walter , 37O

’Brien , G ian t , 108

Occupat ion road , 221Ogle , Richard , 31Old Bank , 166Old Barrack Tavern , 167

Old Brick houses , 266Old Carr , 221

Old Cherry Tree , 144Old Church , 46 , 47 , 63 ,126 ,

Old Church s teeple , 5 0Old Churchyard , 46, 5 8 ,143 , 1 69 , 25 3

Old Coff ee house , 138Old Haymarket , 213Old Packthread ,” 203

Old ParkWood ,161 , 208

Old Red Hou se , 263Old Tankard , 128Optician , Th e first , 97Orchard place , 5 5Orchard street ,260 , 265 , 269

Orchards , 1 5 2Ost liff, Samue l , 173Otley , Richard , 279Otters in th e Don

,1 5 7

Outram , High s treet ,69 , 73 , 199

Overend, Gurney , 85 Co . ,

.46

OverendHall , 44-46, 300

Overend, John , 45

Overend, William ,34

,45 ,

5 7

Overend, Wils on ,

60 , 269, 298

Owen , Henry , so licitor ,233

Owen , John , maltster,

171

Owen , Mr. , draper , 71 ,148

Owen , Richard 49Owen ,

Robt 4

Owlert on , 15 6

Oxley , Mr. , Rotherham ,

274

INDEX . 19

Pack-horse road , 162Pack-horses , 99, 139, 140Padley , Samuel , 149Padley , Wi lliam ,

brasscaster , 96Page Hall , 141 , 164, 216 ,

Pal freyman , Luke , 31 ,166 , 1 70

Paradise square , 1 -5 , 64,71 , 131 , 176 ,269 , 304

Parish , Rev . Mr . , 4

Park lan e , 1 62Park , Sheffi eld, 211 , 248Parker , Adam s on 85

John ,170

Parker , Brown 85 Parker

, 5 3

Parker , Hugh , 207 , 214,270 , 274

Parker , Rev . Frank , 61 ,170 , 25 2

Parker , Rt . Hon . John ,

263 , 308

Parker, Shore 85 Co . , 10

72 , 166

Parker , Tho s . James , 31

Parker , William , 244

Parkin , Ben jam in , Sco tlan d s treet , 180Parkin , Mes srs , Highs treet , 7 5Park in ,

Mr . , Campolane , 27Park in 85 Marshal l , 234Parkwood Springs , 60Paternoster row , 231

Patten , Mis s , 25 6Patteson , Alex . , 232Pattins on , Tho s . , 77

Faw son 85 Brails ford , 67Paxton , Sir Joseph , 149Pea cro ft , 177 , 180 , 18 6Peace , Sam l . 85 Charles ,180

Pearce , Jo s eph , 132, 293Pearce , Joseph , junr . , 76Pearson ,

John , 1 5 2

Pearson , Thomas , 16

Peech , Sam l . , Angel inn ,

98 , 99 , 101

Peceh , William , 102

Peech , s cissormaker ,130Pen istone , 246Pen istone road , 144, 161People’s Co llege , 235Pepper alley, 266

Philadelphia, 144, 162Philipps , R. N. , 34

Pickford, Henry , 196 ,290 , 296 -9

Pickle , The , 19, 189, 222 ,271

Pickslay, Appleby 85Bertram , 76 , 247 , 282

Pierson , booksel ler , 93Pin fo ld s treet, 41Pin ston e s treet (Pincher cro f t lan e) , 71 ,1 13 , 25 1 , 25 3 , 263 -4

Pi tsm oor , 120 , 1 5 2 , 1 61

Pitt’s death , 8 1Platts , Sal ly , 128Po lack , Jewe l ler , 69Pond h ill , 232Pond street

,1 5 8 , 218 ,

228 -232

Poo l place , 261Popplewel l , currier , 128Port e r, John , 74

Porter , John Taylor , 74Porter (Thomas ) andNew ton , 91 , 93

Porter river , 1 5 3Porter s t . , 1 5 3 , 1 79 , 25 1

Portmahon , 146 , 206

Portobe llo , 5 3 , 15 4, 1 5 5 ,237 , 264, 306

Pos t Office , 67 , 72 , 76 ,

Po tato riots , 214Po tter , Hannah , 262Po tter , John , B eighton ,

165

Potts , Drum Major, 280Pres t , Mes srs , 73

Pres ton , Rev . Matthew ,

168

Pretender,The young ,

19, 222

Price , Edward , 226Prin ters , Early She ffield,

‘

78 , 79 , 107 . 304

Prior gate , Priory or

Prior row , 70

Proctor and B eilby, opt i cian s , 94

Proctor , draper , 260Publi c Hospital and

Dispen sary , 1 5 4, 25 5Pumps , Town , 119 , 127 ,

263

Pye Bank , 146 , 161 , 224Pye , Rev . John , 104.

320

Pye-Smith and Wightman , 8

Pye-Sm ith , John William , 105

Q in the Corner , 5Quakers , 9 , 5 4Quakers

’Burial Groun d ,196

Quakers’Meeting House ,168

Queen street , 23 , 168 ,1 72, 1 77 , 232

Queen Street Chapel ,2 , 69 , 98 , 114, 130 ,170, 172 , 192 , 216 ,233 , 246 , 296

Queer , Jemmy , 114Radford , Charles , 3 1Radford row ,

5 1

Radford s treet , 184, 206Radley , druggis t , 80Ramsay, 69, 266Ran Moor , 1 31 , 203Ratclifie , Adjutan t , 280Ratten bury, Rev . J . , 71

Raw son ,Mo l ly , 84

Rawson ,Thomas , 8 , 5 6 ,

229, 231

Raw son ,Thomas 85 Co . ,

232

Raw son s ,of Page Greave ,165

Ray, James ,Raybould , Michael , 109Rayner 85 Turner , 172Raynor , Thomas , ChiefConstable, 34, 278

Read , John , At tercliff e,

Red Cro ft , 41Red Hill , 15 4, 188 , 193 ,195

Red hill Sunday school,128

Reece , Rev . J . , 236

Reedal, Gabriel , 5 3 , 227Regen t s treet , 1 5 5Reg is ter , The Shefi eld,12 , 5 0 , 66 , 305

Reindeer tavern , 215

Reli quary, The , 125

Reni lowe , sculptor , 238Renn ie, hosier, 265Renw ick , Orchard street ,265

Resurrection riot , 268Resurrection ists , 300304

INDEX .

Revel fam ily 85 estates ,76

Revell , Norfo lk s treet ,248

Revill, Mo lly , 128Rhodes , Ebenez er, 109 ,

Rhodes , Mrs . Ebenez er ,5 8

Rhodes , Rev .

25 8

Richards 85 Son , 79 , 80

Ridal Charles , draper ,

Ridgard 85 Benn et , 69Ridgard, E z ra, 69

Ridge, G eorge , 72, 93 ,149

Riley (85 Parkin ) , 75Rim ington , E li z abeth(Mrs . Tudor) 241

Rim ington , Mr 25 0

Rimington 85 Younge , 69Rimmer , Father, 265Ring dials , 96Ringinglow , 48 , 15 4

Rio ts , 268 , 272 , 279Rivelin , 179, 1 8 1

Rivelin fores t , 5 9Roberts 85 Belk, 234Roberts , Samuel , 31Roberts , Samuel, senr. ,

47 , (au tobiography) ,99, 1 26 , 169, 232 , 25 6 ,262 , 268

Robertson ,Jemmy , 238

Robin son , Richd. , 67 , 69

Rock street , 15 2 , 1 61Rockingham , Marquiso f , 25 5

Rockingham s treet and

lane, 196 , 1 99, 202,25 5 , 260

Rodgers , Jo seph 85 Sons ,94, 186 , 247

Rodgers , Paul , 1 6Rodgers , Robert , so licitor, 93 , 1 72 , 207

Robuck , Roger , 5 9Roebuck , currier, 108Roebuck , Dr . , 5 8

Roebuck , J . A. , 1 -2

Roebuck’s Bank , 9 , 5 8Rogers , George , 109Ro llin son , Robert , 47 , 80Ro llinson , Thomas , 80

Ron

é

ian Catholic Chapel ,2 5

Jos iah ,

Room , Wi lliam , 173Roscoe place , 144, 1 5 3 ,1 61 , 290, 294

Ros e and Crown ,High

field, 25 5

Rose , Benj . , 102, 1 11Ro se , Tho s . , 1 5 5

Ro se, Tommy , 5 5 , 139

Ro s s , fortune teller , 1 5 1Ros s i , sculptor , 102Ro theram s , The , o fDronfield, 1 63

Ro therham ,272

Rotherham Co llege ,290-1

Round -about -house , 93Round 85 Son ,

239

Rowbo tham , grocer , 188Royal ho tel , 21 5 , 264Royal Oak , 91 , 1 14Royd’s Mi ll , 97, 161 , 222Runcorn , bear-ward , 209Rus se l l s treet , 144Sale , Dr . , 289

Sam Hall’s parlour, 62Sanderson Chas . ,

190

Sanderson 9 s teel wrks

Sands paviours , 1 36Sandys , Geo . , murderer,113

Sansom ,Tho s . 85 Son ,

248

Sargean t , sol icitor , 208Saunders , Ald. G . L . ,

43 , 75 , 146

Saunders , auctioneer, 68Savage , gardener, 149Savi lle s treet , 132 , 161Savings ’Bank , 5 6 , 25 0Saxton , Wm . , 69

Sayle , B ., 100

Sayles , B en ,opticians’

workman , 96

Sayles , Lew is G . 3 1

Saynors , The , 167

Scan tleburys , Th e , 7 , 8 ,1 5 9 , 300

Scargi ll cro ft , 167-171

Scargill , or Skargell,fami ly , 1 69 , 173

Scholefield, M .P. , 94

Scholeys , o f Coal Aston ,

97

Scho o l croft , 29 , 31Schoo l o f Ar t , 238Sco tland s treet , 91 , 113 ,178 , 180, 194

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322

St . James’s row ;2 , 26 , 5 1St . James

’s street , 5 1 ,

5 2 , 287

St . John’s Church , 147

S t . Jude’s Church , 127S t . Marie’s (R. Catho lic) ,265

S t . Pau l’s , 233 , 249 , 25 2St . Philip’s Church ,144,297

St . Thomas street , 196 ,203

Stables , grocer , 82S tacey , builder , 5 2S tacey, Wm . , 69

S taceys of Church st . , 5 4

S tage-wagon ,F irs t , 140

Stamp Office , 5 2 , 74Stan iforth , Broad In , 149

Stan iforth , John , 31

Stan iforth , Samuel , 31 ,108 , 282

Stan iforth ,William , 108

148 , 197

Stan ley street , 220 , 222Stann ington ,

247, 25 8

Star, inn , 71

S tar inn , Silver st . ,178

S tation inn ,Wicker , 220Steam Engine , first , 97S tee l bank , 287Steel , Henry, 130Steer, George , 3 6Steer, Rev . W . , 170

S tephen , Blind, 5Stephen son , hi s trick onBuggy Eyre , 93

Stephenson 85 Mawwood,232

Stephenson , Joshua, 216S terndale , John , M .D . ,

S tevens , An tipas , 6Stoakes , cheese factor ,8 8 , 109

Stocks , 2 , 3 , 64, 224Stone house , Old, Highs treet , 73 , 74

Stones , Frederick , 238Stovin , Thomas , glasscas ter , 96

Strat ford fami ly , The,141, 15 0 , 1 5 1

S treets , darknes s of , 99Stubbing , George , 1 5 1Stuffing sys tem , The , 137Stumperlowe , 207, 237Suckthumb , Sammy, 113

INDEX .

Sugar house, Old, 3 ,25 4, 25 6

Sun Express , 8 1Surgical instrumen t mak er , The first , 128

Surrey Mu sic Hall , 119Surrey street , 42 , 249Surrey Vau lts , 128Sutclifie , Richard , 44, 46Sutton , Dr . , 20 , 24, 49,5 6 , 226

Swag shops , 138Swift , G . E . , 149

Swi ft , Wi lliam , 5 2 , 284 ,289

Sycamore street ,1 60 , 238 , 239

Sykes , Eyre s treet , 233Sykes , James ,m iller , 167Talbo t papers , 232T ’alli S ton e , 48 , 73 , 169Tapton , 40

Tasker , John , 97 , 102 ,103

Tattershall , E . B . , 31

Tat t ershalls , The , 1 68 ,171

Taylor , Commercial Inn,

149

Taylor , James , 221

Taylor , John , 272

Taylor John (Frenchh ornplayer) , 5 4, 96Taylor , Rd. Tho s . , 176Taylor,Robt .Stopford,34Taylor , Thomas , let tercarrier , 68Taylor , Rev . ThomasRaw son , 237

Taylor, William , 5 4, 239Telegraph , S hefi eld, 76

Temperance , Hall , 41Ten ter street

, 188

Thatched House Tavern ,

27 , 5 3 , 78

Theaker’s coffee house ,

149

Theatre Royal , 238 , 246Theatre , firs t Sheffield ,306

Thomas , Lewis , draper,138 , 176

Thompson , Charles , 148Thomp son , Chartis t , 277Thompson , Samuel , 69Thompson , Spon ty, 178

Thompsons , booksellers ,8 7

131,

Thornb ill’s cook shop ,15 , 1 5 1

Thorpe , Rev . John,245

247

Thorpe, Rev . Will iam ,

195 , 244-7

Three S tags ,s treet , 242Tillo tson fam ily ,Tillo tson ,

James , 31

Times , S hefiield, 242T inker , Charles , 77Todd , William , 72 , 86 ,93 , 94, 306

T ’o il i’ t’Wall , 16To ll

, Captain ,1 03

Tom Cros s lane , 1 5 2,

Tom linson , J 69

Tompkin , quartermas ter , 282Tompson , Samuel , 82Ton tine , The , 214 , 215249 , 272

Town Coun cil , 242Town Hall , 17 , 215 , 269 ,272

Town Hal lTown Trustees , 49, 1 27 ,139 , 216 , 264, 282

Townhead Cro ss , 42

Townh ead s treet , 5 1Townh ead s treet Chapel ,41 , 25 6

Townhead, The , 42

Trading , Early , 139Travell, J . A. , clo thier , 74Trickett , Wi lliam , 5 7 85

Enoch , 25 8Trin ity s treet , 13 1 , 132Trippet Ann ,

Trippet’syard, 71Trippet lane, 41 , 199Trousers , introductionof , 25 9-60

Tucker,George , 168 , 221

Tudor , George , 241Tudor , Henry , 171 , 23941

Tudor , Leader, 85 Nicho ls on , 239

Tudor place , 239Turf Tavern ,

17

Truelove , Maria, 75Truelove ’

s Gutter , 124,216

Truelove’s yard , 75Turk , Dog , 91 , 92

Carver

Turkish baths , 25 0Turnell , cabinet maker ,264

Turner , John ,mercer , 97

T urner, John , merchan t ,10

Turner , Jonathan ,pos t

master , 86Turner Robert , 282Turn er , Sam ,

publican ,

16, 77 , 97

Turner , Samuel , draper,16 , 97 , 229-30

Turner, Sheriff ’s o fficer ,149

Turn er, S . W . , 97Turton , George , 42 , 5 3Turton , John , surgeon ,

42, 128

Twelve o ’

Clock ,222

TWibell, John , 109

Type founders , Sheffield ,1 10

Tyson , Thomas , 15 0Umbrellas , 99, 25 9Under th e Water ,” 112Un ion Bank, 1 66Un ion street , 25 1Unwin , Charles , 1 5 0Unwin , Edwin , 219

Upper Chapel , 197 , 242,249

Uppertho rpe , 132 , 144,1 5 8 , 162, 170

Vaughan , Dan iel , bras spo lisher, 96

Vennor, Thomas , 69,

108 , 172

Vicar lane , 27 , 25 6V icarage cro ft

, 5 1

Vickers , Benj. , 31 , 141Vickers , Edward, 40Vickers , Henry , 167 , 171Vickers , John 85 James

,

193 - 5

Vickers , T. E . , 141

Vickers , William , 31Victoria Inn , 74

VictoriaStation road , 213Victoria s treet , 15 4 , 220Virgin ’

s row, 2 , 26 , 247

Vo lun teers , 98 , 142 , 239 ,270 , 280 -3

Vo lun teers , Loyal Independen t , 280

Vo lun teers , Sheffield Infantry, 281

INDEX .

Waddy , I . D . , 166

Wade Mrs . , 71

Wade’s orchard , 172

Wads ley , 127Wads ley Hall , 123Wadsworths o f A ttercliff e , 217

Wain gate , 1 5 3 , 167 , 218Wake , B . J . ,

17 , 241

Wakefield , Wm ., grocer,

265

Walk m il l , 15 8Walk Mills , 97Walker, Ben jam in , 67 ,69 , 98

Walker 85 Hall , 5 1 , 234Walk er , Henry , Cl ifton ,

275

Walker, tinman , 98

Walker’s bank , 118Walkers o f Rotherham ,

40 , 136 , 280

Walkley , 223Walms ley, Wi lliam , 171

Walpo le , Horace , inSheffield , 99

Ward 85 Bawer, 73Ward

,Broomhead , 5 1 ,

234

Ward , druggist , 1 5 6Ward , John , 31

Ward , Jo seph , fiddler , 5Ward Jo seph , m as tercutler , 218 , 234

Ward , Mrs . , 6 , 8

Ward, Rev. Broomhead ,3 1

Ward’s S hefi eld PublicAdver t i ser, 305

Ward , Thomas Asline ,20, 5 1 , 109 , 122 , 137 ,234, 240, 282 , 308

Wardsend, 208

Warm Hearthston e, 28Watchmen and watchboxes , 113

Water Company,42

, 135 ,146 , 148 , 261

Water House , 42 , 135Water lane head, 108 ,238

Water lane w ell , 263Water Isaac, 263Waterfall , John , con

s table , 103 , 1 13Waterfall , John , jun . ,

con stable , 1 13Waterhouse, Ann , 75

Waterhouse, fami ly of

Halifax , 143Waterhouse , Henry , 75Waterhouse , Hodgson ,

85 Cc . , 5 3

Waterhouse , Joseph , 5 3Waterhouse, Michael ,248

Wat erhouse,Rev . Robt . ,75

Waterhouse, Robert , 60 ,71 , 143 , 176 , 221

Waterloo houses,146

Waterloo tavern , 17Waterloo s , 267Watery street , 145 , 15 1Watkinson , Jonathan ,

178 , 18 7

Watson , druggist , 88Watson , grocer , 177 , 266Wats on James , Ton tin e ,214

Watson , John , Banks treet , 172

Watson , Pritchard 85

Watson,244

Watson ’s walk

,17 ci

seq . , 149 , 278

Watson s , S ilversmiths,

15 , 1 7 , 73 , 1 72

Watts , clasp maker , 128Webb , surgeon , 5 9, 108 ,1 5 2

Webb , Parson , 61

Webs ter, Blue Pig , 141Web ster , J . 85 G . ,

8

Webster, Leonard , 8 1Webs ter , Rev . John

,8 1

Webs ter well , 263Webs ters (Change A lley) ,8 1

Weekly J ournal, S hef

field, 78 , 305Weekly Regis ter , S heffield, 78Wel ls , George , 29We lls 85 Pumps , 263Well Run Dimple ,262

Wes ley, Rev . Charles ,245

Wes ley, Rev . John , 2 ,97 , 1 5 8 , 189

Wes t bar , 114 , 15 0 , 170Wes t bar green , 128 , 131 ,1 78 , 179

Wes t street , 41 , 73 , 15 4,15 5

324 INDEX .

Westbank lane , 41Westbourne , 146West-end ho tel , 1 5 6Western bank , 5 3 , 207 ,25 5 , 260

Weston hal l 85 park , 164,306

Wharnclifie , Lo'

rd , 192Wharton ’

s Tragedy , 225Wheat , Carlo s ,Wheat , James , 229-31 ,282

Wheat’s passage, 176Wheatcro ft , Mr . , 32

Wheelan , 71

Wheeler, Dan iel , 5 3 , 5 4,304

White cro ft , 43 , 187White House , 241Wh ite Lion , Wicker, 222White ,Mrs . , Baker’s hill ,228

White Rai ls , 223White , Rev.William , 33 ,34, 35

White’s ,William ,Dire

’

c

tory , 86 , 1 5 8Whitefield , Rev . Will iam , 25 6

Whiteley , hatter, 80Whiteley, Rev . Mr . , 290

Whiteley wood works ,233

Whitham , Jonathan,

watchmaker , 94Whitley Hall , 231Wh ittier , poet , 5 4Whit t ington ,

J o seph ,221

Whyte Rev. Peter , 173Wibberley, Sam ,

64

Wicker , 108 , 146 , 213 ,219 , 271

Wicker CongregationalChurch , 1 5 2

Wicker Sunday schoo l ,221

Wigram , Abraham ,242

Wilberforce , 5 6 , 62, 1 80Wild, James (constable) ,1 13

Wi ld, James , pres ser , 43 ,

Wild , Thomas, 77

Wildgoo se , J im (con stable) , 1 13

Wildsm ith , carpet w eaver , 17 , 237

Wiley, Robert , 80

LEADER AND SONS, PRINTERS, INDEPENDENT OFFICE, SHEFFIELD .

Wiley, Thomas , 80 , 8 1 ,215

Wi ley’s w indow , 80 , 8 1

Wilkinson , Jo shua, 148Wilkin son , Justice, 4 ,

1 7 , 5 6 , 64, 67 , 94, 15 3 ,207 , 229

Wilkin son street , 69 , 146 ,1 5 3 , 203

Wilkin son , tooth drawer,1 18

Wi lley 85 Judd , 80Wi ll iam s , Dr . , Rotherham Co llege , 104

Wills , James , 44, 5 0 , 84,99 , 215 , 262

Wilson , George , 40Wilson , Mrs .

, 242

Wilson ,Pro fes sor , 295

Wilson ,Rev . Jo seph , 32

Wi lson 85 Son ,ironmon

gers , 98Wi lson ,

Thomas , 131Wi lson ,

Thomas , telescope mak er, 97

Wi lson ’

s Mather ,” 5 ,30, 93 , 112 , 178 , 223 ,248

Wiltshire , Mr . , 5 3

Wincobank , 15 6Wingfield 85 Rowbo tham ,

190

Win ter John , 243

Win ter 8 candlestick facto ry

,263

Withers , Ben jam in ,1 15 ,

162 , 264-5 , 282

Wo lfe , General , 96Wood , Eliz abeth , 136Wood, George , 18 6 , 217Wo od, Wil liam , 171

Wood , Wicker, 222Woods

, Old Shefii eld,1 5 6

Woodcock , Joseph , 171 ,247

Woodhead , factor, 25 0Woodhead , Wm . , 82

Woodhill , 34, 222Woodman inn , 25 5

Woodside lan e , 146 , 15 1Woo l len ’

s Library , 70Wo rkhous e lane

,128 ,

136 , 141 , 178

Workhouse , The old, 12 7Workhou se w ell , 263Worth , Samuel , 40 , 149Wormall, grocer ,

Worstley, Carri l , 165Wortley, Joshua, 130Wo s tenholm

, George ,235

Wo s tenholm 85 Gregory ,67

Wostenholm,Mr . , Dun

fields , 278

Wos tenholm road , 162Wragg, Samuel , Lifeguardsman , 130

Wreaks , Barbara, 75Wreaks , E llen , pos tmi stress , 87

Wreaks , Joseph , postmaster , 72 , 8 6, 242Wreaks , Marmaduke , 75Wreaks , Tho s . , 71

Wri6

ght , B en , Optician ,

9

Wright , Billy , Changealley , 8 1

Wright , Billy (shoebuckles) , 84

Wright , first s tagewagon driver, 140

Wright,John , Hones t

John ,

” 191

Wright , Martha, 48 , 171

Wright, Wm . , 32, 33 , 36

168

Wrights , The Park , 81Yates , Haywood 85 Cc . ,

273

Yel low Lion , Attercliff e ,1 16

Yel low L ion , Old Haymarket , 2 14

Ye lverton ,Mrs . , 238

Yeomans , Lieu t . J . ,282

Yeomans , Richard, 82York street , 69, 169, 268Yorke , Redhead , 305Youle, Jo seph , 1 69Young , Arthur , 101Young , Ensign S . ,

282

Younge 85 Deak in ,266

Younge 85 Rimington’s

Bank , 71Younge , Charles , 71Younge , Dr . Thomas , 36 ,37 5 3

Younge , Dr . Wi lliam ,

Younge , George , 25 1Younge , Robert , 31 , 8 8Younge s treet , 147, 154,15 8 , 25 3 -4

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