Do any of you oldies out there remember "the hutments" aka Shanty town located on Tyler street Brightside/Wincobank. Whilst researching the family tree I discovered that my father lived there for most of his childhood. He never told us any of this and it has been quite a surprise! I have found a couple of photos but I am desperate to find out more. Where he went to school ,did anyone know him or his family etc. His surname was Webb and both he and his father were called Charles. The family were relocated to Parson Cross. Hope to hear from someone soon. Anita:help:

Do I take it that the Shanty Town you refer to was the former Prisoner of War Camp which was constructed during the 1914-18 war? I remember going there once with a school friend who lived there with his parents. Absolutely diabolical place to live and should have been cleared long before the second world war started.

Frankly, the buildings were mainly brick-built hovels. Anyone living there would have been better off in a slum dwelling. Okay for prisoners of war, perhaps, but not certainly not fit for Sheffield’s residents — not by a long chalk!

Hello Anita. Although an oldie. they were a bit before my time. My parents were born and raised in Brightside and always referred to them as Tyler Street Huts. I'm not sure but I think a lot of them were burnt down during bombing in WW2. I seem to remember reading that Tyler St. huts along with Petre St. huts were built to accomodate steel workers and their families.

Thanks for your replies. The huts were apparently built to store munitions during the first world war and were, it seems , made mainly of wood as I understand it. There is a small booklet written by Betty Dickinson in 1985 called "Shanty Town "Childhood Memories of poverty and happines in Tyler Street munition huts. If anyone has a copy they would like to sell or knows where I could find a copy I would be most grateful. Anita:thumbsup:

Hello again Anita. After reading your post about them being munitions huts, I looked on Picture Sheffield .com. Both Petre St. and Tyler St. huts are referred to as munitions huts. Were they adapted to housing after WW1 I wonder? If you find any more info, please let us know.

Hi Cat. thanks for your reply and query. All I know about the hutments is what I have gleaned from the booklet I mentioned previously. A copy of the booklet is in the Sheffield Central Library and I am desperate to own a copy for myself. I know that my father must have spent most, if not all his chidhood there. His family were originally from the Stroud area and were living in the courts on Suffolk Road when he was born in 1917 but I dont know when they moved to Tyler St or when they moved to Parson Cross. They were still on Tyler St in 1936. I am certain he was there as a young man as my mum lived on Limpsfield Rd Brightside and they must have met, if not at school ,:thumbsup: then in the area somehow. My family were not great talkers and did not really mention their childhoods at all. If I find out anymore I will certainly let you know. Anita

The huts were originally built at the beginning of the 1st World War to house Belgian refugees. Soon after there was a serious shortage of housing caused by the influx of extra workers for the steel works. The huts were fitted with internal partitions and converted into family housing units. The huts were close to and overlooking the steel works. The first street of huts was named Munitions Street, and it stood until the outbreak of the 2nd World War, when it was demolished as a fire hazard. Some of the huts found their way into Derbyshire where they were erected as weekend homes. (From Sheffield City Batallion by Gibson & Oldfield).

Thanks Algy, You cleared that one up nicely.

The huts were originally built at the beginning of the 1st World War to house Belgian refugees.

Just a little history

In the first few days and weeks of World War 1, the Kaiser's boys captured a big chunk of Belgium and France before their advance was brought to a halt. This caused a massive number of refugees to flee ahead of the advancing German army.

Belgium was particualry bad. It's not a large country to begin with and the part not occupied by the Germans could only absorb so many refugees. They couldn't go to France because their remaining territory was already filling up with their own refugees. Therefore, it was decided to bring as many Belgian refugees as possible to Britain. Tyler Street and Petre Street huts were where they refugees were housed in Sheffield.

The job of accomodating, clothing and feeding the refugees from Belgium ( what was know as Belgian Relief) was a huge operation. As we all know, Britain had enough problems with the war effort at the time, without the added responsibility of handling refugees; however, the plight of these people was considerd to be so bad (the newspapers had a field day showing terrible pictures of women and kids) that public opinion demanded that something be done.

Britain provided the housing and whatever food and clothing they could spare; however, a goodly part of the supplies for the refugees came from North America: some from Canada, but mainly from the US. America was not even in the war then and didn't join until 1917, but American newspapers had shown the same photos.

Regards

I met an elderly gentleman yesterday, who, as a child, lived on Lyon Street between Petre Street and Carlisle Street. He told me that the Huts had their own Fire Brigade. One of his little pleasures was to go and watch them practising fire fighting on Sunday mornings.

I met an elderly gentleman yesterday, who, as a child, lived on Lyon Street between Petre Street and Carlisle Street. He told me that the Huts had their own Fire Brigade. One of his little pleasures was to go and watch them practising fire fighting on Sunday mornings.
The Sheffield Battalion book I mentioned earlier says that the residents formed several volunteer fire brigades, and used to have competitions on a piece of flat ground behind Munitions Street. From what you say it sounds as if it was a spectator sport too !

Hi there

Just joined.

Have just been speaking to my Father In Law, Norman Johnson who has
been telling me about Tyler Street Huts where he used to live as a child.
Later on the family moved to No 88 Limpsfield Road, Brightside. Please get in touch.

My email is : rye24@talktalk.net

Tony

There was a booklet published about Tyler Street Huts and I have a copy but it is in Sheffield and I am in New Zealand.

I believe they became vermin ridden and had to be burned declared unfit to live in.

I guess you could get a look at a copy of the booklet in the Local studies library or some bookseller who deals in local booklets such as Rare & Racy. Memories or at a local book fayre.

Hope this helps

Happy Days!

Thanks, I'll try that

Tony

Hi there

Just joined.

Have just been speaking to my Father In Law, Norman Johnson who has
been telling me about Tyler Street Huts where he used to live as a child.
Later on the family moved to No 88 Limpsfield Road, Brightside. Please get in touch.

My email is : rye24@talktalk.net

Tony
when i lived on limpsfield brian woodhead lived at number 88

Hello Tony. Would you ask your Father in Law if the huts were built on both sides of Tyler Street? I know they were where the industrial estate is now but wondered if there were any at the top of the railway embankment. Thanks.

Hi Cat, saw your message to Tony. My dad also lived in the Tyler St. Hutments and I have a couple of photos of them taken from picturesheffield. In the Sheffield central library there is a booklet called "Shanty Town" Childhood Memories of poverty, Happiness in Tyler St. Munition Huts by Betty Dickinson 1985.I have tried to find a copy but to no avail as yet.

Hello Anita, this thread keeps going. With a bit of luck some more information may turn up. I can remember the area of the Tyler Street Huts as a kid, although the huts were long gone, there were remains of concrete fences and steps.

Hi Anita, I bought Betty Dickinsons booklet many years ago ( I probably still have it in my attic as I never throw books away), but I seem to think she wrote 2 or 3 books about life in Wincobank. I remember them being fascinating reading. When I get a spare hour or 2 I'll hunt them down.

Hi Anita, I bought Betty Dickinsons booklet many years ago ( I probably still have it in my attic as I never throw books away), but I seem to think she wrote 2 or 3 books about life in Wincobank. I remember them being fascinating reading. When I get a spare hour or 2 I'll hunt them down.

That's fantastic alirosdan, I wish I could find a copy of that or any of the others. If you find the titles would you let me know please? Anita:) :)

Just been told by my brother that our parents lived there for a while before being moved to Parson Cross.

Anita,
I've just been in my attic but unfortunately the batteries died on my torch so I was unable to find all 3 books. I did however, find the last one that Betty Dickinson wrote. It's called 'Never Far From Wincobank Hill'. The front cover says it is by the author of 'Shanty Town' and 'Dahn T' Village to Wincobank'.

Anita,
I've just been in my attic but unfortunately the batteries died on my torch so I was unable to find all 3 books. I did however, find the last one that Betty Dickinson wrote. It's called 'Never Far From Wincobank Hill'. The front cover says it is by the author of 'Shanty Town' and 'Dahn T' Village to Wincobank'.

Thanks very much for that info alirosdan I am going to try Rare and Racy to see if they have got any copies. Anita

My Grandfather lived here when he was a child ... if anyone remembers Alexander Williamson please message me as id love to put my Grandfather in touch with you

My father lived in Munitions Street before WWI. Can anyone tell me where that street was in relation to Tyler Street? And was it a slum? My great grandfather worked in the steel factory - would that be Shackleton's?

My father lived in Munitions Street before WWI. Can anyone tell me where that street was in relation to Tyler Street? And was it a slum? My great grandfather worked in the steel factory - would that be Shackleton's?

hi my aunt lived on tyler street in the old back to back houses next to a doctor surgery anyone remember them i think they backed on to tipston street j

Algy - My father's birth certificate shows that he was born in Munitions Street in 1904. Do you think there was a street there before WWI?

I was born on Tyler Street and my Gran had the shop on Jenkin road behind the doctors surgery (drs Lawson and Clarke) she remembered the huts and knew some who lived there. Weston was my aunts name and I believe she lived there a short while when first married, Shepherd was Nans name, she started married life on Tipton Street, with a strange address something like 1 1/2 row 2 or something like that then moved to Jenkin Road.

[QUOTE=liedon;6909152]I was born on Tyler Street and my Gran had the shop on Jenkin road behind the doctors surgery (drs Lawson and Clarke) she remembered the huts and knew some who lived there. Weston was my aunts name and I believe she lived there a short while when first married, Shepherd was Nans name, she started married life on Tipton Street, with a strange address something like 1 1/2 row 2 or something like that then moved to Jenkin Road.[/QUOTE hi i remember shepherds shop on jenkin hill often used to go in there after school

One of my earliest memories was of my uncle, who played piano in a little band back in the 30's, talking about having a gig to go to at the Petre St huts. Apparently it was a bit rough, lots of fights etc;a guy would go up to the band and say 'Play a fox trot', or 'Play a waltz', and they did because the the guy would have a razor sticking out of his top pocket. And he was running the dance. They always got paid though.

I do believe my grandmother sold the shop at the bottom of Jenkin road to your grandparents. My grandmother then bought my mother Kathleen Tagg the hairdressers shop at 29 Tyler Street for her 21st, where I was born in 1949

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Lower Don Valley viewed from Wincobank Hill in the 1930's. Overlooking Tyler Street Munition Huts. Hadfields East Hecla Works and the Water Cooling Towers of the Electric Power Station are in the background. (https://www.hpacde.org.uk/picturesheffield/jpgh/s00750.jpg)
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My father lived in Munitions Street before WWI. Can anyone tell me where that street was in relation to Tyler Street? And was it a slum? My great grandfather worked in the steel factory - would that be Shackleton's?

Just in case this question has not been answered, Munition St I"m sure ran paralell to Petre St on the south side across Carwood Rd, just before it dropped to Carlisle St.