"During the War"... (I know Uncle Albert again) ..During the War there were lots of Static Water tanks in sheffield, the nearest ones to me were one at the top of Hatfield House lane and one at the end of Windmill Lane, in Shiregreen..They were usually fenced off to stop kid's drowning in them but they contained all sorts of pond life eg: Frogs/Frogspawn, Sticklebacks, Newts , and lots of other things..these water tanks were there in case the water mains were damaged by bombing and the Fire Brigade had an alternate source of water supply..but we Kids were drawn to them like a magnet...My Dad who was the A.R.P Captain in the area in those days had a map of all the Tanks in the Shiregreen area, sadly it has now got lost....Can anyone Remember the location of these S.W.T.'s in their districts

There used to be one at the junction of Halifax Road and Chaucer Avenue/Deerlands Avenue, Sheff 6. No fence around it, though, dogs used to drown in it!!

Yeh! we had one where the island is at the junction with Crowland Rd and Hereward Rd, it was simply filled in to make the island. I still have a publication issued by "The Star" just after the war which has a map showing where every bomb dropped fell, it also has some really interesting info on what the different Sheffield steel firms made for the war effort.

There was a tank on the Manor Estate, it was still there in the early fifties but it was filled with rubbish and only just a couple inches of water was in it.
I lived at 123 Harborough Avenue and it was bang opposite my home but it was eventually filled in around 1954/5

Originally posted by Timbuck
"During the War"... (I know Uncle Albert again) ..During the War there were lots of Static Water tanks in sheffield, the nearest ones to me were one at the top of Hatfield House lane and one at the end of Windmill Lane, in Shiregreen..They were usually fenced off to stop kid's drowning in them but they contained all sorts of pond life eg: Frogs/Frogspawn, Sticklebacks, Newts , and lots of other things..these water tanks were there in case the water mains were damaged by bombing and the Fire Brigade had an alternate source of water supply..but we Kids were drawn to them like a magnet...My Dad who was the A.R.P Captain in the area in those days had a map of all the Tanks in the Shiregreen area, sadly it has now got lost....Can anyone Remember the location of these S.W.T.'s in their districts
i lived on bevercotes road we had around brick one down the fiel opposit therir was some metal ones in firth park near hucklow
road

There wetre two tanks as I can remember.

One is on Carsick hill road and the other is nearly opposite the Wisewood school on the rise of the hill.

I hope this helps you.

Maybe someone will verify this info.

There was a static water tank at the back of Pye Bank School. Not on the Rec' itself, on the waste ground that dropped down to Pitsmoor Road. I remember Ray Ashley (anybody remember him?) spending an hour diving in the filthy water, looking for the bodies of his two nephews, who, he was told, had last been seen playing in the vicinity. It turned out untrue, but they were missing for about eight hours all told. This was 1944,45.

There was another 25,000 gallon tank at the top of Deep Lane, Shiregreen. It was not fenced off, and I don’t recall that any of them were. Good in summer. They saved us going down to the open-air pool in Concord Park!

There was a static water tank on Wostenholme Road on the left about 100 yards past Sharrow Lane traffic lights. I remember there were old stone gateposts at the front so I suspect it might have been a bombed building.
Probably ties in with another bombed building about another 150 yards or so further on the other side of Wostenholme Road. As a kid I was always scared that the water in the tank was really deep but I remember it being drained and it wasn't that deep at all.
How life appears different when we grow up!!

The houses at the bottom end of Bloor st. were hit, and destroyed during the blitz. Brick reservoirs were built on the site to hold a water supply in case of further need. The tanks were still there way after the end of the war.

There used to be one on Carrville Road just of Parson Cross Road,this was at the end of the fairground,which is now Carrville Drive.

There was a Static Water Tank at the bottom of Grassthorpe Road, Gleadless, besides an old Ash Tree. This is a grassed play area now.

I'm going to add the one's that I can recollect on the Manor Estate.
Did anyone do any work regarding the fluctuation in the Frog & Newt population estimates, whilst the tanks were present and when they were filled in?

The National Fire Service water tanks which I recollect situated on The Manor Estate during the last war were One large one outside the Manor Hotel where Fitzubert, Fredson & Wulfric Roads intersected.
(2). One each side of Prince of Wales Road at the Farleigh junction. Outside the Brightside & Carrbrook, the Maypole and Needhams Chemist.
(3). One each side of Windy House Lane at the Wulfric Road inter section outside the Church.
(4) On Queen Mary Road. On the left hand side opposite the (Carrie Road?) junction.

I’ll leave someone else to give the others.

I was told some years after the war ended that though the main purpose of the Water Tanks was to supply the Fire Service on demand with water they could also be used, after being emptied, as mass graves in the event of instant war time requirements to prevent disease.

There was one on Doe Royd Crescent.There are houses there now.

There was S W Tank up East bank Rd by the Midhill Workingmans Club.
It was the Barrage Balloons that used to frighten me to death, I had no idea what they were and thought they were there to gas the Germans.
hazel

There was one on Leadmill Rd opposite the bus garage.

I'm told there was a tank next to Crabtree Pond off Barnsley Road - you can still see the brick supports.

"During the War"... (I know Uncle Albert again) ..During the War there were lots of Static Water tanks in sheffield, the nearest ones to me were one at the top of Hatfield House lane and one at the end of Windmill Lane, in Shiregreen..They were usually fenced off to stop kid's drowning in them but they contained all sorts of pond life eg: Frogs/Frogspawn, Sticklebacks, Newts , and lots of other things..these water tanks were there in case the water mains were damaged by bombing and the Fire Brigade had an alternate source of water supply..but we Kids were drawn to them like a magnet...My Dad who was the A.R.P Captain in the area in those days had a map of all the Tanks in the Shiregreen area, sadly it has now got lost....Can anyone Remember the location of these S.W.T.'s in their districts

There was one where PRIMARK now stands because we went fishing in it during the war. I can remember an old lady giving me a Victoria plum there,the first one I had ever had

There was one where PRIMARK now stands because we went fishing in it during the war. I can remember an old lady giving me a Victoria plum there,the first one I had ever had

Where is 'PRIMARK'? situated.

Where is 'PRIMARK'? situated.

Opposite Fitzalan Square & Argos.

Here are a couple of storys that mention static water tanks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/39/a4103939.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/88/a8949388.shtml

Opposite Fitzalan Square & Argos.

Standing outside the middle of where the G.P.O. is or was. Flat Street is on my left. Looking forward towards Haymarket. Where is Argos. Thanks.

There was a static water tank at the back of Pye Bank School. Not on the Rec' itself, on the waste ground that dropped down to Pitsmoor Road. I remember Ray Ashley (anybody remember him?) spending an hour diving in the filthy water, looking for the bodies of his two nephews, who, he was told, had last been seen playing in the vicinity. It turned out untrue, but they were missing for about eight hours all told. This was 1944,45.

There was Static Watertank at the junction of Gray St & Fox St. and yes I remember Ray Ashley! Pitsmoor Rd. and at Pye Bank early 40's

Standing outside the middle of where the G.P.O. is or was. Flat Street is on my left. Looking forward towards Haymarket. Where is Argos. Thanks.
Argos is at the top of Snig Hill.almost opposite the CO-OP.Primark is on the opposite corner to the CO_OP.

Argos is at the top of Snig Hill.almost opposite the CO-OP.Primark is on the opposite corner to the CO_OP.

I don't go to town very often. Is Primark where Cockaynes and the cinema use to be on the left hand side of Snig Hill above Bank Street and across from the 'Hole in the Road'?

I don't go to town very often. Is Primark where Cockaynes and the cinema use to be on the left hand side of Snig Hill above Bank Street and across from the 'Hole in the Road'?

PRIMARK is the last building on the left going up Snig Hill.I think there could be a little bit of taking the Michael here!!!

PRIMARK is the last building on the left going up Snig Hill.I think there could be a little bit of taking the Michael here!!!

Primark used to be C & A and Top Shop, didn't it?

How soon we forget .... :hihi:

Primark used to be C & A and Top Shop, didn't it?

How soon we forget .... :hihi:

That`s right.

That`s right.

But is that not 'Angel Street?'. Snig Hill finishes at Bank Street dosn't it?
But back to the thread topic. Where was the NFS wartime water tank?

That`s right.

But is that not 'Angel Street?'. Snig Hill finishes at Bank Street doesn't it?
But back to the thread topic. Where was the NFS wartime water tank?

From memory:- A burnt-out Walsh's stood a the top of Angel Street backing onto Kings' Street. Across the road was the National Provisional Bank. Going down Angel Street on the left was Bank Street. This is where the Black Swan started off Snig Hill.
Across the junction, Castle Street started and a Police Station was on the left down Water Lane?. Along Castle Street was the Court House.
On this side where Snig Hill stared were furniture shop(s) and a shop which sold Chocolate (Fry's ?) above the shops were a number of flats.
Now where was the Water tank? I can recollect a 'British Restaurant' being at Bridge Street bus terminus on at the corner of (Cornish Street) where the Shiregreen Bus left from.
But I can not remember a Water Tank.

But is that not 'Angel Street?'. Snig Hill finishes at Bank Street dosn't it?
But back to the thread topic. Where was the NFS wartime water tank?



But is that not 'Angel Street?'. Snig Hill finishes at Bank Street doesn't it?
But back to the thread topic. Where was the NFS wartime water tank?

From memory:- A burnt-out Walsh's stood a the top of Angel Street backing onto Kings' Street. Across the road was the National Provisional Bank. Going down Angel Street on the left was Bank Street. This is where the Black Swan started off Snig Hill.
Across the junction, Castle Street started and a Police Station was on the left down Water Lane?. Along Castle Street was the Court House.
On this side where Snig Hill stared were furniture shop(s) and a shop which sold Chocolate (Fry's ?) above the shops were a number of flats.
Now where was the Water tank? I can recollect a 'British Restaurant' being at Bridge Street bus terminus on at the corner of (Cornish Street) where the Shiregreen Bus left from.
But I can not remember a Water Tank.
The static tank was actually on Kings` Street.

The static tank was actually on Kings` Street.

It must have been on the side where the Co-op was eventually built.
I can recollect the burnt out shells of Walsh's and I think 'One Pound Suit Shop' which was situated on the corner of Fitzalans Square and Haymarket where 'Woolworth's and the Market Hall' were and opposite where the Yorkshire Penny Bank was.

I remember two static water tanks in Woodseats. One was on Chesterfield Rd. in a space between some shops. It was opposite Olivet Rd.
The other one was at the top of Helmton Rd. (before the road was extended)
There was also a static pond in Graves Park about two hundred yards past the Chesterfield Rd. entrance.

Can't remember the pound suit shop on Fitzalen Square Albert, as I remember it was Marples, a photography shop and Wilson and Gumpets. Marples and the photo shop being bombed. I'm thinking you must be on the Commercial St side of Fitzalen Sqare. Wasn't Burtons next to C and A Modes, ( Burtons tailors of taste, out at the shoulders, in at the waist) at the top of Angel St.
Can not remember the S W Tank.

hazel

It must have been on the side where the Co-op was eventually built.
I can recollect the burnt out shells of Walsh's and I think 'One Pound Suit Shop' which was situated on the corner of Fitzalans Square and Haymarket where 'Woolworth's and the Market Hall' were and opposite where the Yorkshire Penny Bank was.
No it was on the opposite side, half way down.

Can't remember the pound suit shop on Fitzalen Square Albert, as I remember it was Marples, a photography shop and Wilson and Gumpets. Marples and the photo shop being bombed. I'm thinking you must be on the Commercial St side of Fitzalen Sqare. Wasn't Burtons next to C and A Modes, ( Burtons tailors of taste, out at the shoulders, in at the waist) at the top of Angel St.
Can not remember the S W Tank.

hazel

The ones that you mention were bombed and were in Fitsalans Square.
Its the burnt out buildings's in question that were between Angel Street, Fitsalans Square, The Haymarket and Kings Street.
What we seeking is where a Fire Service Water Tank was,

The static tank was actually on Kings` Street.

Lazyherbert, if my memory serves me right, you are right. The Tank was actually on King Street, situated in the middle of the road, not far from the top. I think this made the street into a cul-de-sac or one-way for the duration of the war.

Lazyherbert, if my memory serves me right, you are right. The Tank was actually on King Street, situated in the middle of the road, not far from the top. I think this made the street into a cul-de-sac or one-way for the duration of the war.

Spot on. I`m glad you remembered it too capricorn. And we caught little fish in it.

There was one on Bolsover Road which was uncovered when the garages were demolished. There was an article in the Local Studies newsletter last year.

Lazyherbert, if my memory serves me right, you are right. The Tank was actually on King Street, situated in the middle of the road, not far from the top. I think this made the street into a cul-de-sac or one-way for the duration of the war.

Good to have that recorded. Have we got more from any where else?

Good to have that recorded. Have we got more from any where else?
I heard mention of one in Bowden Homestead Woods on the Manor Estate. Some of my old mates used to swim in it.

There was a small, brick built one at the top of Dover Road - off Ecclesall Road - near the gennel. We used to play on the wall until we were warned off, as static water housed germs. Mind you, I'm still here....

There was a small, brick built one at the top of Dover Road - off Ecclesall Road - near the gennel. We used to play on the wall until we were warned off, as static water housed germs. Mind you, I'm still here....

Takes Time!! Don't be in such a rush!!

Thanks, Al - I'll bear that in mind.

Thanks, Al - I'll bear that in mind.

I learnt to swim in a NFS Pond on the Manor estate and it would be interesting to know how many others did. We would all have been told of the extreme dangers lurking in the ponds, How many youngsters drown or sufferred serious ill effects from swimming, skating Etc in or on them, would be nice to know.
Another thing matter is: 'Why did we learn to swim in the ponds when we could get free white coloured baths tickets from school to go to the swimming baths that the council ran?'

I can recollect the burnt out shells of Walsh's and I think 'One Pound Suit Shop' which was situated on the corner of Fitzalans Square and Haymarket

Even in those days, was the city being taken over by One Pound shops?

There was one in crookes. On heavygate avenue. In the book 'crookes revisited' there is a picture of them building it, the picture was taken in 1940. It is a grass area now.

When did the tanks get filled in?

It says in the book they were called static tanks then stagnant tanks for during the war.

Even in those days, was the city being taken over by One Pound shops?

During the time that the National Fire Service's Static Water Tanks were around. A 'One Pound Shop', would not have had many customers. I would estimate that the average weekly wage at that time was £2.50 per week!
The 'One Pound Shop' that I vaguely remember was for a top quality suit, made to fit your individual measurements and sold to you for £1.00.

TattyBear - Would you please get a reference for the picture of the Water Tank being built at Crookes. ie. Which book or booklet and page. It Will be useful to someone some day. When did the tanks get filled in? I hope someone else lets us all know.

During the time that the National Fire Service's Static Water Tanks were around. A 'One Pound Shop', would not have had many customers. I would estimate that the average weekly wage at that time was £2.50 per week!
The 'One Pound Shop' that I vaguely remember was for a top quality suit, made to fit your individual measurements and sold to you for £1.00.

TattyBear - Would you please get a reference for the picture of the Water Tank being built at Crookes. ie. Which book or booklet and page. It Will be useful to someone some day. When did the tanks get filled in? I hope someone else lets us all know.

In the 'Crookes Revisited' Book. Page 54. Published in 1989 by Crookes Local History Group.

In the 'Crookes Revisited' Book. Page 54. Published in 1989 by Crookes Local History Group.

Thank you - TattyBear.
Has anyone else got information regarding where the War Time Emergency Fire Water Tanks were situated. When we have snuffed it, all this practical history will be gone.
Did anyone see one of the water tanks used when fighting a fire?

Apropos the "Pound Shop". There was also another shop nearby called the "Fifty Shilling Tailors."
There was, of course, Montague Burtons as well. They promised to throw in a free waistcoat, a shirt and a tie. This gave rise to the expression "The Full Monty" meaning you got the lot!

Apropos the "Pound Shop". There was also another shop nearby called the "Fifty Shilling Tailors."
There was, of course, Montague Burtons as well. They promised to throw in a free waistcoat, a shirt and a tie. This gave rise to the expression "The Full Monty" meaning you got the lot!

The 'Fifty Shilling Tailors' was the one which I've previously called 'The Pound Shop'.
Can't remember everything in my old age!!!.
Thank you for correcting me. - Heeley Tyke.

Pound Shops????? Fifty Shilling Taylors???????...Whats this got to do with Static Water Tanks??????

Pound Shops????? Fifty Shilling Taylors???????...Whats this got to do with Static Water Tanks??????

I think you mean "Tailors"
As for not being connected to static water tanks, the writer was pointing out a location in the centre of the city!

Pound Shops????? Fifty Shilling Taylors???????...Whats this got to do with Static Water Tanks??????

Back to the thread. Timbuck.
During the war the fire service had emergency water tanks situated in various parts of the city which they would use when necessary.
Are you able to find out, or know of, where any were located?

I remember one at the top of Wolseley Road near its junction with Abbeydale Road and another at the junction of Bocking Lane and Greenhill Avenue.

There was a tank in the playground of Carterknowle School at the junction of Bannerdale Road & Carterknowle. Another was in the old pig farm which once stood at the junction of Archer Lane & Bannerdale Road. They were signed EWS, (emergency water supply), in large white lettering. A local lady who was suffering from depression climbed over the wall and drowned herself in the Archer Lane tank, which was where the council houses are now.

There is an underground one on Rutland Road - you can see the marker for it on the stone wall near the bridge over the river. There is another under the roundabout outside the HallamFM arena on Attercliffe road.