Who out there can remember the illuminations that used to be in Chapeltown park every year. I am sure it stopped during the mid sixties.

It ought to be revived. As I remember there used to be dancing in the Bandstand and hot dogs, fish and chips, etc. As a child I remember it as a magical experience.

Hehe... that's where my mum and dad met :thumbsup:

I agree - bring em back, along with the whit walk.

Wow, you've just stirred a memory that hasn't seen light of day for many a year.
My Dad took me and my kid brother to see the lights. It would have been 1963 (ish) and the theme of the lights that year was Nursery Rhymes. I distinctly recall The Old Woman who lived in The Shoe, and Jack and Jill
That year we also went to Blackpool, but I was more impressed with Chapeltown.
Bring 'em back!!

Yes back in the sixties,we used to go to Chapletown Illuminations from shiregreen,I remember going with my motorcycle mates,me on my BSA bantam!! , does anybody remember the illuminated paddle steamer they had,it was in the stream nr the bridge as you entered the park,also they had a funfair at the back of the Coach and Horses, Happy Days :-)

I remember going to Chapeltown Park illuminations. I think I only went once, but I used to go to functions at the Newton Hall. I never got to Chapeltown much, but I remember going to the cinema in Ecclesfield when I was in me teens. It was nicknamed the Bug Hut. I'm sure quite a few would remember that.

i also remember going to the illumination in the park, i left chapeltown in 1968 and can't remember going after that. the park seemed a great place for fun and adventures as a kid , i went to the whit sing in the park as well.

how long would the illuminations last these days,and at what cost? there isn't even a bandstand anymore so im told.

at least you could look forward to a special outfit at xmas and for the whit walk. im sure i went to the sunday school at the methodist church ,the one on lound side below the school.

I'm glad it's not only me that remembers this. The paddle steamer was in the stream on the left as you entered. It had paddles that rotated. As you went up the park on the right was a huge globe with Sputnik going round it.

If you know where to look there is still evidence of the illuminations. Cables and plugs hidden up trees and in bushes.

The big bandstand has gone, but only a few years ago. The bandstand area is still there with a little platform in it.

Is there anyone with some photos of the illuminations?

I remember the Chapeltown Illuminations well as a child. I visited recently but the park now seems neglected. Re the Bug Hut. We used to play in the ruins of the picture house. Did you know the cinema closed on Feb 3rd 1959. - the same day the music died.

I have heard so much about the illuminations in Chapeltown Park, but I am only 22 and so I never saw them. I live in Chapeltown myself and would love to see the illuminations return. The thing is, the park isn't as nice as it used to be, and thugs have let the bandstand go to ruins (or at least it has last time I was in the park). Is there any wonder the community spirit has died regarding such events when there are so many people out to ruin what we have?

My mum and dad always took me to Rivelin and Endcliffe Park when I was little. The river in Encliffe Park was so clean and fresh looking. I played in there for hours at a time... has anyone seen it lately? It is absolutely disgusting - I wouldn't like to dip my toe in there now-a-days and we're not taling that long ago either.. as I said I am 22 next month yet I can see so many rotten changes within the places I am familiar with. Not a nice feeling at all.

I hope things get better :)

It's good to hear that you younger people who never saw the illuminations have been told about them.

Not that many people will know these days what a wonderful park Chapeltown was back in the sixties.

As was mentioned above, the wonder of walking through the park in the dark with hundreds of other people seeing these displays of lights, each a theme, rather like the Blackpool set pieces. Each one was backdropped by the woodlands and shrub beds. For kids at the time it was awesome.

Has the Chapeltown Archive any photos of the illuminations, is there any Archive members who can comment?

This is an interesting local history thread not only for Chapeltown, Burncross, Ecclesfield, Thorpe Hesley people, but for wider Sheffield as well.

It sounds a lot like the illuminations they have in Matlock Bath. They are beautiful. Stunning too to see the fireworks set off from the cliff tops! The reflections from the lights in the river, as the themed boats travel down!!!

I have been every year since I can remember on my birthday in October to see the illuminations. Mum and dad have always hired a car to take us there. This year will be the first year that I won't be going, as my dad died in May (unexpectedly) and obviously he won't be able to drive us there :(

I guess it would have been nice to go, and not bring it to an end... maybe it is time to ask Sheffield City Council if they would think about revamping Chapeltown Park back to how it was and begin the illuminations again???

Should we?????

im sure if you really felt you wanted to go to matlock that one of the bus companies runs a trip there im sure i saw it advertised, but maybe its something you want to leave till next year when the ground doesnt feel so shaky.

im a lot older than you and my dad passed suddenly the week after my ann. and it sometimes feels wrong to celebrate.

but back to the illuminations,ive often wondered who paid for the illuminations as there seems to have been a decline in the park since newton chambers/izal factory left chapeltown did they sponser any of it.

i loved the park as an outing and remember the fun, some kids just never get the chance to apprciate the simple things,i spend time looking back and wonder where the decline began, it must have started somewhere.

i was brought up on thorncliffe ave and lived close to the railway, the dam and the foundry, but knew better than to stray too far .

I don't know for sure, but it was in the days of the WRDC. The Wortley Rural District Council, (not Sheffield CC).

They used to put illuminations down the side of Mortomley Park at Christmas as well. The string of bulbs went from tree to tree starting at the toilets and finishing at Mortomley House.

Do you remember them?

i remember the light at mortomley i went past them on the way to and from school, in the days when school didnt finish at five past three.

i remember going to the pantomine it was ages after we stopped going that i found out it was something to do with the sheff.wed supporters club. we used to get on a coach i think outside the white hart pub. it was usually the lyceum or barnsley civic but im not certain.

I seem to remember that one year (61/62?) the Chapeltown Park Illuminations were re-used in town as part of the City's Christmas Lights.

There was a Nursery Rhyme theme, and I distinctly recall seeing "The Old Woman who lived in The Shoe" and "Jack and Jill" (a series of flashing lights illustrating the famous tumble) featuring in both displays.

Does anyone else recall this??

Yes one of my favourite memories chapeltown illuminations.
I use to go with my parents and grandparents then we use to go in the pub further up is it carousel - i went in the kids telly room as it was -made loads of friends there .
what was that pub called in 60s.?

we use to go in the pub further up is it carousel - i went in the kids telly room as it was -made loads of friends there . what was that pub called in the 60s?

It was the Midland hotel then the carousel it is now called
"Escape"

Hi, i use to help in playing the records, which was in a wooden shed on the grass overlooking the bandstand.

A neighbour was one of the park keepers at that time.

The park was filled with beds of flowers of all varieties.

What a thread...yes, I remember them. The Old Woman who lived in The Shoe, and wasn't there a small train right at the top that went into the woods? I remember the paddle steamer all lit up as well.
At the bottom there was a large clock in a flower bed.

Wow, I thought I'd dreamed the illuminations in Chapletown Park, I mean it doesn't sound very likely does it. It's a vague and slightly surreal memory .

I know what you mean Steptoad I find it hard to remember much about it and it all seems a bit dream like.
One thing I remember is that we used to cross 'the dike' as we called it, the Blackburn brook to give it it'a proper name, which was at the bottom of our garden (on Station Road):hihi:We used to then scramble up the banking to get in for free, but we had to watch out for the parky or the officials :hihi:
It probably only cost about 3d to get in :hihi:

I remember having a photo taken in there when about 5. It was on a rocking horse type of thing the one where you put a coin in. I was wearing a cowboy hat. Sadly havent got it now.

I remember the Chapeltown Illuminations well as a child. I visited recently but the park now seems neglected. Re the Bug Hut. We used to play in the ruins of the picture house. Did you know the cinema closed on Feb 3rd 1959. - the same day the music died.

I was at the bug hut with mates the night it closed,We brought a seat each out with us

Hi, i use to help in playing the records, which was in a wooden shed on the grass overlooking the bandstand.

A neighbour was one of the park keepers at that time.

The park was filled with beds of flowers of all varieties.

Main record I remember was :Purple people eater:

used to go to bug every weekend and seem to remember a snooker hall
round there where i first learned to play billiards
are you the barry smith that worked at cintride

My favourite from Chapeltown Illumination were the Bears that used to play Beatles songs. Wonderful memories !

used to go to bug every weekend and seem to remember a snooker hall
round there where i first learned to play billiards
are you the barry smith that worked at cintride

Sorry dont remember snooker hall, didnt work cintride

the snooker hall was back of chemist then changed to royal mail sorting office now dole office

Brilliant memories, I went in 1966 with a mate, I had a Triumph 500, we met two lasses from High Green and scuttled them in the woods the same night, oh the memories linger on,

I was at the bug hut with mates the night it closed,We brought a seat each out with us

I am sure it was 7 Feb 1959. I was there, and the last film was 'The Young Lions', with Marlon Brando and Dean Martin. The cinema opened on 1 January 1921. I have a potted history of it.

I am a friend of the park in Chapeltown, and I have been told about the Illumination that used to be in the park. Personally, I think that they should be brought back! We are hoping to get some electricity in the park, so maybe in the future they will come back! :hihi: :smile:

barry smith do you have a brother called alan who was a plumber in chapeltown:)