Does anyone know the history a company called Newton Chambers? Amongst many other things, they built, or at least supplied the materials to build, a gasometer in Aldershot, Hampshire in 1926/7. We are watching this huge landmark (& occasional eyesore) being cut up & sent for scrap to China! Does anyone know how such an enormous amount of iron & steel could have been moved from Sheffield to here in an era when outsize loads had to go by rail? Does anyone have drawings of this gasometer, or a similar one? We have copies of various papers & pictures issued in 1926/7, & pictures taken in the last few months of it's, scrapping which we could send by-mail or snailmail to anyone interested.

Newton Chambers were in Highgreen/Chapletown area now a housing estate. maybe chapletown library could help failing that try local refernce library in Sheffield. :)

Ok :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Newton Chambers were famous during the war for making the Churchill tank, they were a huge firm, sadly, as with so many sheffield steel firms, now long gone. They had a private rail line linking to the main system, so this is how they transported large items.

Glad to see Interest in Newton Chambers.
The really large items such as gas holders were actually built in sections and assembled/ rivetted on site.

during the second world war, Newton Chambers produced a total of 1160 Churchill tanks. There is still a tank at the old site now occupied by Cristian Salvason at the end of Warren Lane.

Newton Chambers had a full crew called the "Outside Erection Department" who did all the assembling of large jobs on site.

I worked at Newton Chambers in the 1950's & 60's in the Machine shop next to the Foundry and i've many fond memories of my time there..I remember the Manager of the apprentice training school was a Major Morton..and the Supervisor Jack Dougan.. and they were also involved in the Boy Scout movement,
I was in the Scouts so it was easy for me to get a job there..The Managing Director Sir Harold West was the Chief Scout in Sheffield at the time and he liked all the apprentices to be recruted from the Scouts.
I've now retired, had many jobs in the engineering trade but N.C. was the best.

there's a boozer called the newt and chambers..any connection?

My dad worked for Newton Chambers, in the 50's I think, and I think he was a sales rep. His name was Harry Giblin, does anyone remember him?

I worked at Newton Chambers from leaving school in 1954 until 1968 when I moved to Rolls Royce / I have the happiest of memories of those years from the apprentice school with its gym. and TAK Hewling the instructor joining our lunch time table tennis jaunts / what a great lead in to a work a day life from the school day life / I finished up doing a draughtman's apprentice scheme and was alocated to the Warren Lane excavator factory working on jigs and fixtures and enjoyed every minute of it. You really felt part of a tradition that had been ongoing since 1793 and proud of it. Good to hear of others who felt the same

A short film taken from the TV series 'The Way We Were', it's about Newton Chambers in the 50's ... vidiLife.com (http://www.vidilife.com/index.cfm?f=media.play&vchrMediaProgramIDCryp=AD4C5EBD-ABC8-43D6-8523-2)

Newton Chambers were in Highgreen/Chapletown area now a housing estate. maybe chapletown library could help failing that try local refernce library in Sheffield. :)

The area was known as Thorncliffe. People didn't say they worked at Newton Chambers, they said they worked at Thorncliffe. Try the Chapeltown and High Green Archive Society. They should have loads of information on Newton Chambers.

Timbuck mentioned Major Morton and Jack Dougan who I remember well as I played in the junior cricket team which Major Morton organized, what about al the camp sites we would prepare under Jack Dougan in Smithy wood for weekend scout camps. Does anyone remember the instructors of the training school, Mr. Frost in the machine shop, Mr. Curry in the construction and Mr. Pinder in the foundry. What about the working cutaway JAP. engine in the machine shop. The tea urn and dripping sandwiches from the canteen for mid-mornig break.My brother David followed me three years later and finished up in the works electrical maintenance dept.

Did the company build or repair railway waggons prior to 1900?
I have been led to believe that my grandfather (George Perry) served his apprenticeship at Newton Chambers before becoming a "journeyman railway waggon repairer" near Lockwood, Huddersfield.

Laurence Perry

Sent you a PM Laurence.
m&p

think my uncle christopher dickens worked for newton chambers in the 1970's

During my time at Thorncliffe I joined the works competitive fire fighting team and didn't we do well,travelled all over Yorkshire to take part in huge events. Most large companies had their own firefighting depts. and they would have an annual competition to see who was quickest at dry or wet runs. When the event was held in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield about '65 our team won overall prize for best in Yorkshire. We trained on the grassed area beside the girls business school off Thorncliffe Lane. Ted Hills

Newton Chambers had a full crew called the "Outside Erection Department" who did all the assembling of large jobs on site.

Oh my god, what a dream job !!!!!!:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:

The Sheffield Local Studies Library's website has some old illustrations relevant to Newton Chambers - here is a sample: http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=s09750

I remember reading a short history of the firm some years ago but I cannot remember where. The firm was founded in the early 1800s by Messrs Newton and Chambers, both of them local businessmen. Thomas Chambers was a grocer & draper, and also the local postmaster in Chapeltown. I happen to have a letter sent by him in 1841, addressed to a solicitor at York - here is a scan:

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/Chambers.jpg

and for the philatelically-minded...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/Chambers2.jpg

There is a book about the history of Newton Chambers in the Local Studies Library, also at the back of the estate office of the site there is a small 'museum' run part time by a very nice lady called Gloria, worth a visit.
Dean.

During the time I worked at Thorncliffe I remember a company newsletter called 'Thorncliffe News' coming out every Friday I think and about once a month there was an addition called 'the History of Thorncliffe' which traced the whole company back to its beginnings. I only wish I had kept mine in a safe place! I imagine that this collection would have made up the book mentioned by dean 1- Ted Hills

When I started work at Thorncliffe in the late 70s, I was shown some nearby houses and told they were made of iron panels, made at NCs. I think that they might be on Mortomley Close. Does anyone know if this is correct, and if it is, how were they constructed?

I have a Thorncliffe News dated March 1961. It belonged to my late Father. He kept it because it contained an obituary for his sister Margaret. She worked at Thorncliffe for many years.

Anyone remember when the Warren Lane factory (NCK) joined up with Ransome & Rapier at Ipswich, the boiler shop made one of the first booms for a walking dragline from std. rolled sections. I was working in the template shop at the time, what a challenge that was, certainly enjoyed the experiance. Also recall a union walkout with, was it Ernest Copley,the shop steward walking proudly at the front of the whole workforce. Interesting time to be introduced to industrial life. Ted Hills

I worked in the Redfyre Sales department from late 1959 to mid-1962, and then had 18 months in the Press Office at Thorncliffe. It was a great firm, and I have fond memories of those years. When I started in the Redfyre dept, the office was in the old Engineering Division Office block, and we later transferred up to what was know as the Development Office block in Thorncliffe Lane. The chief clerk in Redfyre was a chap called William Louis Gardner, who worked there for just about his entire career. Known as Bill, he lived in Chapeltown, but, following retirement, he and his wife moved to Lancashire (up near the Lake District). I had contact with him as recently as last year, but I learned only a few weeks ago that he had died at the age of 98. Other people at Redfyre in my time included Jack Booth (from Darfield), Rowland Wilson, Harry Mellor, Bryan Wadsworth, and a lovely guy called Jim Cranley, who, though he was then living in Jump or Hemmingfield, was a native of Hampshire. I was a correspondence clerk in those days, and my fellow clerks included Donald Bird (he now lives in South Wales) and Ian Knowles. Ian had a rather flash sports car, and I believe he went on to work as a rep for Redfyre. I often wonder what happened to Ian.
In my later spell, I was based in the HQ block, working alongside a man called Alf Dow. From the HQ years I recall Eric Gale, who was, I believe, secretary of the Thorncliffe Musical Society, a group that put on some fine shows at the Newton Hall. I especially recall productions of The Mikado and The Gondoliers (G&S) in the early 1960s.
Thorncliffe had a very good reputation for sports, and the football teams did well. The football secretary was a guy called Ellis, and I recall a Dick Hollingsworth on the sports side. The cricket team played in the Yorkshire Council under the name Thorncliffe Rec.
Some of the characters at NC included Frank Whitehouse, who was a works director in the Engineering Division; also Stanley Rippon, a main man in the Engineering Division; Jack Lingard, the works bank manager was a real "character". Of course, before my time the firm's MD has been the legendary Sir Harold West, and later bosses I recall included Shaun Waide, P.J.C. Bovill, Sir Peter Roberts, a chap called Walker.
It was certainly a very big firm, with three divisions --Engineering, Chemicals and Excavator. I think there were about 5,000 people based at Thornclife at one time, and it was a terrific community. If you worked at NC, you considered yourself rather privileged in those days.
By the way, the guy who wrote the history of NC that was serialised in Thorncliffe News was called H.E. Elliott. I never knew him, but I am told he was a character.
I often wonder what happened to the bound volume of the weekly Thorncliffe News after the firm folded. Whyat a mine of historical information was contained in those pages!
Cheers, "Redfyre".

Thanks Redfyre for filling in many Thorncliffe names I had long forgotten, I sort of remember Eric Gale although don't know why, the writer of the The History of Thorncliffe H.E. Elliott sprang to life for me and P.J.C. Bovill I remember after Sir Harold West, I remember Sir Harold attending apprentice prize giving days which shows the kind of man he was very keen to set young people off on the right track. Great firm to work for.
Ted Hills

Re Ted Hill's query about the merger of Newton Chambers and Ransome & Rapier (Ipswich), I am fairly sure this took place in early 1958.

I have special reasons for mentioning the R&R merger because along with two other apprentices I went on a 6 month exchange to learn about the Ipswich company and had a really great time working in different depts. and meeting some very freindly people especially a rather nice girl !
Ted Hills

Re Nigel Womersley's note about the issue of Thorncliffe News her possesses from 1961, does anyone know where all the old bound copies of the Thorncliffe News are now kept. At the end of every year, copies were bound. One bound volume was retained in the Press Office, and I always thought another was deposited at the local archives --but recent inquiries there have revealed nothing. It would be good to look through a few issues from around 1959 to 1964, for I am sure they would evoke many memories.
I can't remember Nigel W, but there was a Jack W in the drawing office in the old engineering division.

I worked in the J&T Drg. office of the Warren Lane factory from about '59 to '68 with a break for National Service from '60 to '62. Remember getting involved in an asbestos cord cutting fixture for the Redfyre Div. which initially looked a simple job but finished up being quite complex, but isn't that what designers do! Really enjoyed my time there and although I went on to work at Rolls Royce I never forgot the thoroughness of the training at Thorncliffe it prepared me well for anything I was presented with in all my subsequent jobs.
Ted Hills

Things come full circle my uncle got his first job at 14 (early 50's) on Thorncliffe and today he lives in a house build on the old Thorncliffe industrial estate.

Just another memory from training school days / when I was due to do my 2 year National Service stint the company arranged a week of lectures /visits from all branches of the services which was great. We had a trip out to Catterick Camp and had rides on tanks etc. There must have been about 15 ish apprentices from the company there. Time wise must have been July/August 1960 as I went to Cardington RAF camp on 23 August '60. I had no hesitation in coming back 2 years later. Ted Hills

Ted Hills. Hi Ted, Who were the main bosses at Warren Lane in your time? Was there anyone called Haigh or Hague, who lived on Ecclesfield Road, Chapeltown, near the Grammar School?
Also, at Warren Lane do you remember anyone called Harold Brooks, who came from Grenoside?

Hi Redfyre-Main boss at Warren Lane while I was there was indeed Walter Haigh, remember the foreman of the apprentice section Albert Wragg, and of the Toolroom where I worked, Walter Martin.Harold Brooks rings a very faint bell but can't really recall.
I remember one very cold Monday morning when the snow was several feet thick in front of the factory gates and everyone stood around hoping for a day off.Walter Haigh arrived asked for the gates to be opened and drove his big Austin car at high speed swirling from side to side to open up the main driveway, a short stocky man but he certainly made his presence felt. Ted Hills

Does anybody remember the name of the guy who used to run the Thorncliffe branch iof the NTTS (National Trades Technical Society)? I can recall going on a few trips with them. I'm talking of the early 1960s.
Also, does anyone recall a woman called Mrs Thomas in the Welfare dept?

I worked in the Redfyre Sales department from late 1959 to mid-1962, and then had 18 months in the Press Office at Thorncliffe. It was a great firm, and I have fond memories of those years. When I started in the Redfyre dept, the office was in the old Engineering Division Office block, and we later transferred up to what was know as the Development Office block in Thorncliffe Lane. The chief clerk in Redfyre was a chap called William Louis Gardner, who worked there for just about his entire career. Known as Bill, he lived in Chapeltown, but, following retirement, he and his wife moved to Lancashire (up near the Lake District). I had contact with him as recently as last year, but I learned only a few weeks ago that he had died at the age of 98. Other people at Redfyre in my time included Jack Booth (from Darfield), Rowland Wilson, Harry Mellor, Bryan Wadsworth, and a lovely guy called Jim Cranley, who, though he was then living in Jump or Hemmingfield, was a native of Hampshire. I was a correspondence clerk in those days, and my fellow clerks included Donald Bird (he now lives in South Wales) and Ian Knowles. Ian had a rather flash sports car, and I believe he went on to work as a rep for Redfyre. I often wonder what happened to Ian.
In my later spell, I was based in the HQ block, working alongside a man called Alf Dow. From the HQ years I recall Eric Gale, who was, I believe, secretary of the Thorncliffe Musical Society, a group that put on some fine shows at the Newton Hall. I especially recall productions of The Mikado and The Gondoliers (G&S) in the early 1960s.
Thorncliffe had a very good reputation for sports, and the football teams did well. The football secretary was a guy called Ellis, and I recall a Dick Hollingsworth on the sports side. The cricket team played in the Yorkshire Council under the name Thorncliffe Rec.
Some of the characters at NC included Frank Whitehouse, who was a works director in the Engineering Division; also Stanley Rippon, a main man in the Engineering Division; Jack Lingard, the works bank manager was a real "character". Of course, before my time the firm's MD has been the legendary Sir Harold West, and later bosses I recall included Shaun Waide, P.J.C. Bovill, Sir Peter Roberts, a chap called Walker.
It was certainly a very big firm, with three divisions --Engineering, Chemicals and Excavator. I think there were about 5,000 people based at Thornclife at one time, and it was a terrific community. If you worked at NC, you considered yourself rather privileged in those days.
By the way, the guy who wrote the history of NC that was serialised in Thorncliffe News was called H.E. Elliott. I never knew him, but I am told he was a character.
I often wonder what happened to the bound volume of the weekly Thorncliffe News after the firm folded. Whyat a mine of historical information was contained in those pages!
Cheers, "Redfyre".
A lot of these names are familiar as my dad Jack Cole worked at Redfyre from leaving school up until 1977 and the merger with Trianco . Also heard that Fred Rideout died this year at a good age

I remember Jack Cole very well. In my time he worked in the Development dept where the boss was Mike Hetherington, and the other staff included a Fred Medlicott. When I first joined NC, Redfyre was in the Engineering offices, with the Development dept in a then new building up Thorncliffe Lane. Later, the Redfyre dept was moved up there.
Just before we moved up to Thorncliffe Lane, Fred Ridout joined the Redfyre dept from another part of Engineering. Fred was an ex-clerk who made his way into management. "Ridout here!" he said when he answered the phone --he was quite a character, in that many felt he bluffed his way up the ladder and he was totally unconscious of the fact that some regarded him as like a character out of Gilbert & Sullivan. But he must have had some ability, and certainly he was a decent chap once you got to know him. I remember him with affection, really, and often wondered about him in later years, but never came across him. I think he lived at Thorpe Hesley at one stage, and he used to sell newspapers outside the workshops before starting work himself (or so legend has it). I was sorry to hear that he had died. (How we miss the old South Yorkshire Times for keeping in touch with news from the areas around Thorncliffe!)
For me my NC days were great days! It was a great firm, and I wish I could locate a few of the survivors from that era -though there won't be too many left, I fear.

Redfyre, Fred died in Ilkley I think but his obituaries were published in the Rotherham Advertiser.
Some of the other names you mention are familiar to me-I often wonder what happened to them.

Crabus, I can tell you that Harry Mellor, a pal of Jack Cole's and formerly of the research team but later attached to Redfyre Sales, died a few years ago in rather tragic circumstances. Harry's family lived at Mortomley for many years, but Harry was widowed and living in OAP flat at Hoyland Common at the time of his death. One of Harry's sons emigrated to Canada, I think, but another lived somewhere in the Hoyland area.
I was once told that Fred Medlicott had died quite a long time ago. He was a great guy, had an airforce style moustache, and could tell a good tale!
There was another colleague of Jack Cole --a younger man, probably called Burrows, who quit the firm around 1961 and went into the Methodist Church.
I never did hear what became of Mike Hetherington.
Do you know anyone who might have a cutting of the Fred Ridout obit?
If you wanted to locate any of Jack Cole's old colleagues, you could aways start a new thread with that aim. It would be interesting to see how you'd go on. Try it! In the meantime, if I pick up any info, I will let you know.

Redfyre, thanks for the info. On the subject of 'what happened to', my dad Jack died in 1985 aged 57.
Somewhere in mother's loft (she's still with us aged 82) theres a photo of all the development staff from 1962 or 63. I'll try and post it over the next few weeks.

Came across this forum on Newton Chambers Foundry and wondered if this is the same as Thorncliffe Foundry and if there was any information on the company in the mid 1920's. My Grandfather Thomas Cowling got a job, after the war, from the foundry manager at the time Mr Saunders and worked on drilling castings. He then moved to Bob Nesbitts machine shop but not sure where that is or was. All this information was from a newspaper article around 1950 that showed a brief glimpse of my grandfathers life. Any information on these two companies would be greatful.

Stewbish-As far as I am aware the names Newton Chambers(NC) and Thorncliffe are synonymous, Thorncliffe being the name of the area and NC being the name of the Company. As the company started as an iron foundry maybe Thorncliffe Ironworks is what local people and the workers called it and it got passed down through generations of families who spent their whole lifes working there. I'm sure older members may give a better reply but it seems reasonable. Ted Hills

The NCK crawler cranes division used to have a foreman who was called "Chalky" if my memory serves me right and he used to train the lorry drivers how to drive the cranes on and off the trailer so as they able to unload at the destination if there was no one available to off load as I have taken many a load out of there and the engineering shop which were mainly large pressure tanks and columns for the power stations,oil refinerys and chemical plants they was also quite a lot for export as well this would have been 1967 to1975 and it was always a very busy factory in those days

I left school in 1974 and worked for a short period in the floor polisher service workshop of Kent Panda. Floor polishers were built from the small pedestrian type right up to the ride on bells and whistles machine called a Pandamatic. I wonder if any are still operational?

My dad worked for Newton Chambers, in the 50's I think, and I think he was a sales rep. His name was Harry Giblin, does anyone remember him?

My Dad had an Uncle Harry sir name of Giblin, it was his dad's brother-I don't know if this is the Harry you mean?

I started work in the chemical laboratories straight from school in 1969. I have vivid memories of going into the factory to obtain samples to take back to the lab, particularly during the three day week when we 'tested' more paraffin wax than we should have. We kept working in the lab all the time due to the number of candles we made out of the surplus samples.
We used to make things like Zal, Izal, bubble bath, bath salts, ronuk floor polish and a washing up liquid, which I think was called squeezy. among other things.

Ted Hills. Hi Ted, Who were the main bosses at Warren Lane in your time? Was there anyone called Haigh or Hague, who lived on Ecclesfield Road, Chapeltown, near the Grammar School?
Also, at Warren Lane do you remember anyone called Harold Brooks, who came from Grenoside?

I remember Harold Brooks. He was my boss for about 5 years from when I left school in 1970 to 1975. Grand old lad he was, really funny guy. Died prematurely as far as I can remember.

I have vivid memories of going into the factory to obtain samples to take back to the lab, particularly during the three day week when we 'tested' more paraffin wax than we should have. s.

I also worked for Newton Chambers during the '3 day week period' for the Ransomes and Rapier division. This was at the time when there were random power cuts, and often we used to run a 5p sweep for when the next power cut would be!
Another memory from this time was trying to get time off one afternoon for a football match. Wednesday were playing a friendly against the great Santos team from Brazil, who included Pele and Jairzinho, and the match was switched from a night game to an afternoon fixture because of the power situation. The only memory I have of the game is that Wednesday lost (of course) and Tommy Craig who was wednesdays star player, following Pele around the pitch for the last 5 minutes of the game to make sure he got his shirt when it was all over.
Talking footie, can anybody remember going to Thorncliffe Sports Ground in the school hols to watch Wednesday train? I used to go up there regularly at a time when Wednesday were probably the 2nd best team in the country behind Tottenham. How times have changed!

I started work in the chemical laboratories straight from school in 1969. I have vivid memories of going into the factory to obtain samples to take back to the lab, particularly during the three day week when we 'tested' more paraffin wax than we should have. We kept working in the lab all the time due to the number of candles we made out of the surplus samples.
We used to make things like Zal, Izal, bubble bath, bath salts, ronuk floor polish and a washing up liquid, which I think was called squeezy. among other things.

Wasn't it called Doby ?

Fred Medlicot died at least 10 years ago, he was a victim of altzheimers or dementia. He lived not far from me.
There are Iron houses on Mortomley Close, one of them has the iron plates currently exposed.

Fred died in September 1996 - he was 75.

Fred died in September 1996 - he was 75.

Fred was a great guy --I remember him well from the early 1960s in the Development Department on Thorncliffe Lane. My old mate Harry Mellor was a big pal of Fred's.

Anybody remember Fred Noble from Thorncliffe Lane ? He worked at Warren Lane I believe, also Dennis Foulger who also lived on Thorncliffe Lane. Jack Moore also lived on Thorncliffe Lane.
George Molyneux as well, he was foreman of the fettling shop in the foundry.

Nimrod-I remember Fred Noble very well he was in charge of maintenance at Warren Lane factory, I remember once being told to find out the total weight of a large Richards horizontal borer and was told Fred was the chap to see.I went to the machine with Fred and he just looked at each section in turn and gave me a weight, I was well impressed. He was very down to earth, easy to talk to and knew his job. He did get a bit agitated sometimes when the pressure was on him but on the whole he could handle it. Ted Hills

Funny that Fred Noble's name should crop up. Only the other day I was looking through some copies of The Star for July 1953 and came across a news item which said: "Harry Noble, chainsmith at Newton Chambers, has retired after 55 years service at Thorncliffe. He joined the firm at the age of 13, and has two sons working there."
One of these sons would, I believe, have been Fred (I think in later years he lived at Thorncliffe Lane), and the other son, whose name I have forgotten, was an office manager or something of that sort.
I wonder if any surviving members of the Noble family will read this!
By the way, the name George Molyneux rings a bell. I don't know what area he came from to work at NC, but I recall him as a pleasant and popular guy.

I seem to think there has been another thread discussing this story -On it I said my Dad Frank Hibbert worked at Newton Chambers for most of his working like 1950 to 1990 - he bought a house on Thorncliffe Lane and during his last few years at work used to do the security for the Little Side Foundry. His neighbour was George Molyneux(a motor bike fanatic) sadly George died a few years ago. I worked at N&C as secretary to Mr Colton Chief Metallurgist. My Dad still sees some of his work mates in Chapeltown. When we speak I tell him whats going on on the Forum and he starts reminiscing. He recalls many of the people that are mentioned on the thread. I hope someone remembers him it will make his day.

Going back a bit here 1870-1930s,whilst researching family history found my great great grandad Reynolds was a wagon shunter at thorncliffe and my great grandad Reynolds painted the rail wagons,it seems both spent there working lifes at newton chambers.Does anyone know of any books regarding this time period for the company?

Shaner 13, I can only suggest that you try the Central Library's Local Studies and ask about a history of Thorncliffe by H.E. Elliott that was serialised in the works newspaper, the Thorncliffe News, in the 1950s. How much info of the kind you seek will be found in this I am not sure, but it might be worth trying.

Shaner 13, I can only suggest that you try the Central Library's Local Studies and ask about a history of Thorncliffe by H.E. Elliott that was serialised in the works newspaper, the Thorncliffe News, in the 1950s. How much info of the kind you seek will be found in this I am not sure, but it might be worth trying.

thanks,ille give that a try

My dad worked at Newton Chambers from mid 60's to early 70's he was William Sutton known as Ken Sutton,he was friends with Fred Medlicott,Fred came to our house several times,my dad played hockey at the sports ground.

Does anybody remember the name of the guy who used to run the Thorncliffe branch iof the NTTS (National Trades Technical Society)? I can recall going on a few trips with them. I'm talking of the early 1960s.
Also, does anyone recall a woman called Mrs Thomas in the Welfare dept?

I have now learned that the guy I was asking about was Allan Harris, who worked in the Welfare department at Newton Chambers and was also secy to the local branch of the NTTS.
On a different topic related to Thorncliffe and Newton Chambers, some of the names I have come across relating to the Design and Development department on Thorncliffe Lane include Michael Hetherington, Fred Medlicott (mentioned earlier), Vic Stead, Bryan Dyer, Jack Cole, Dick Kendall, Roy Denton, Michael Battey, Tom Kent.
Jack Cole started at Thorncliffe in 1942 and moved into the LC drawing office in 1947. Dick Kendall started as an apprentice at Thorncliffe in 1947, and joined Jack Cole in the drawing office in 1950. Dick then had a two year spell away from Thorncliffe before returning in 1961.
Roy Denton started at Newton Chambers as an apprentice in 1952, and joined the development department in about 1955. Roy was well known at Thorncliffe as a member of the hockey, badminton and tennis teams.

I have been looking at an old Thorncliffe News that mentions a German guest, Friedrich Karl Hohfeld, who spent a year at Thorncliffe and worked in the Redfyre Sales, Chemicals Consumer Sales, Izal and Chemicals Plant Sales (Engineering Division) in 1962-63. Friedrich was over here to learn about British business and office methods and to improve his English. He was the nephew of Hans Bischoff, head of the firm of Gottfried Bischoff KG, of Essen, with whom Newton Chambers had licence and manufacturing agreements.
I wonder if any old Thorncliffe employee has any knowledge of what happened to Friedrich in later years? He was, as I recall, a great tennis enthusiast.

The following note from the Thorncliffe News in 1963 raises the query “Whatever happened to the old Thorncliffe Musical Society that had links with Newton Chambers?”

“When the final curtain came down on another successful Thorncliffe Musical Society production last Saturday at the Newton Hall, Chapeltown, there were special cheers for two girls who stepped into leading roles in ‘The Mikado’ at very short notice.
“Halfway through the one-week run, during Wednesday evening’s performance, Pat Neely, playing Yum-Yum, collapsed on stage. Though she carried on for the remaining acts, she was unable to appear on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
This might easily have endangered the whole show. Instead the challenge brought out the best in the entire cast and very fine, confident performances by the two girls involved in the reshuffle.
“Miss Ann Whittlestone, who had previously been playing Peep-Bo, was already the understudy for Yum-Yum, but her sudden step-up demanded some hard studying. She stayed up most of Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday morning learning her lines; and before Thursday evening’s show members of the cast helped out with practices and rehearsals.
“Ann’s part was filled by Mrs Sheila Tingle, a member of the Barnsley Operatic Society. Fortunately, Sheila was quite familiar with the part of Peep-Bo which she played in May with her own group.”

hi,i wonder if anyone can help me?, does anyone have any newton & chambers tokens? i collect works and mining tokens for these companies, i have 3 at the moment but seem to have dried up, im sure they must be more out there, kind regards pete. please email pethar2@aol.com or tel 01924366906.

Does anyone know the history a company called Newton Chambers? Amongst many other things, they built, or at least supplied the materials to build, a gasometer in Aldershot, Hampshire in 1926/7. We are watching this huge landmark (& occasional eyesore) being cut up & sent for scrap to China! Does anyone know how such an enormous amount of iron & steel could have been moved from Sheffield to here in an era when outsize loads had to go by rail? Does anyone have drawings of this gasometer, or a similar one? We have copies of various papers & pictures issued in 1926/7, & pictures taken in the last few months of it's, scrapping which we could send by-mail or snailmail to anyone interested.

I was an 'Apprentice Moulder' there in the late 50's and again as an overhead crain driver in 1960! :o:o :o

My father was Len Jolly. He worked in the office of the erection dept until the late 60's/early 70's. He worked with Jim Stamp. We lived at the very top of Thorncliffe Lane, next to the Mellors. I used to spend summer Saturday afternoons watching the cricket on Thorncliffe rec. I well remember the Thorncliffe News that my dad brought home.

My father was Len Jolly. He worked in the office of the erection dept until the late 60's/early 70's. He worked with Jim Stamp. We lived at the very top of Thorncliffe Lane, next to the Mellors. I used to spend summer Saturday afternoons watching the cricket on Thorncliffe rec. I well remember the Thorncliffe News that my dad brought home.

I remember Len Jolly, although I must confess that after all these years I have forgotten exactly what he looked like! I was in the Redfyre Sales department (then based in the Engineering Div) for a few years, and lived for a time at No 5 Thorncliffe Lane. I remember Arnie Mellor, and used to watch him playing for Thorncliffe Rec around 1960. In the Redfyre department there were people like Bill Gardner, Jack Booth, Harry Mellor, Bryan Wadsworth, Rowland Wilson, Jim Cranley etc. (I think they are all dead now). For a time there were guys called Donald Bird and Ian Knowles, who were correspondence clerks. Donald now lives in South Wales, but I have never heard what happened to Ian Knowles.

My dad worked in the construction/boiler shop all his working life from his apprenticeship to being made reduntant in1980,his name is harry Riddle.Dad
died in1997,Mum lives on mortomley lane,now84,same house all their married
live.Ican clearly remember the thorncliffe buzzer,I seem to remember the buzzer sounding at the end of the working day,only because me and my twin
brother used to run down the red shale path to meet dad on his way home.In
dad,s younger days he played football for thorncliffe,centreforward,from there
he was transfered huddersfield town.Ihave the letter from newton chambers
allowing dad to play for thorncliffe welfare as an amateur inthe cup matches
before signing as a proffesional for huddersfield town,he also played for york city,halifax and goole town.Some that saw dad play said he was aprolific
goalscorer for thorncliffe,This is my first contribution to the forum,and i hope i
can help give information about newton chambers.My mum has a marvellous memory.

I worked at nc for three years before i moved on to work in sheffield. I started in the rate fixing office as the office boy replacing another boy called kenneth tims. From there iwas put into the foundry casting dept had two years there then left. I remember george elliot, albert butcher and a girl called margaret who worked in the ratefixing office. A mr priddle was in chaerge of the machine shop and a mr naismith in charge of the casting dept the latter lived on barnsley rd at sheffield. Another name that springs to mind is tak hewling who used to be the physical training instructor and assist plus play occassionaly for the cricket or football teams another name i have just remembered mr morris used to be in charge of ratefixing dept and played bowls if my memory serves me right margarets surname was furness

My grandfather worked at Newton Chambers for most of his working life up until his retirement around 1972. His name was Maurice Greensmith (molly) and he, his wife Esther (Tess), my mum Marjorie and her brothers Sam and Maurice lived at 76 Thorncliffe Avenue. My sister Karen and I (Helen) stayed with my grandparents at least 2 weeks a year and living and playing in and around the foundry was always a big adventure for us country kids. The noises and sounds of the foundry are something I will always remember; we slept in the attic where the flashes of welding through the night would scare us. My Auntie Jean worked at the IZAL factory and my mum worked for a short time on the Redfyre production line. Karen and I had lots of friends including the Foulger girls and we spent many hours on the Summer Hill above the dam. I have fond memories of the rag and bone man with his horse and cart, playing kick can, walking along the railway line picking up lumps of coal that had fallen off the rail wagons and blackberrying. Does anyone remember my family? My Nanna Tess was a cleaner in the offices in the late 50's and 60's I believe. I have also lost touch with my half brother John Matthews and have not heard of him since 1989 when I visited from Australia where I have lived since 1972.

My dad worked in the construction/boiler shop all his working life from his apprenticeship to being made reduntant in1980,his name is harry Riddle.Dad
died in1997,Mum lives on mortomley lane,now84,same house all their married
live.Ican clearly remember the thorncliffe buzzer,I seem to remember the buzzer sounding at the end of the working day,only because me and my twin
brother used to run down the red shale path to meet dad on his way home.In
dad,s younger days he played football for thorncliffe,centreforward,from there
he was transfered huddersfield town.Ihave the letter from newton chambers
allowing dad to play for thorncliffe welfare as an amateur inthe cup matches
before signing as a proffesional for huddersfield town,he also played for york city,halifax and goole town.Some that saw dad play said he was aprolific
goalscorer for thorncliffe,This is my first contribution to the forum,and i hope i
can help give information about newton chambers.My mum has a marvellous memory.

Hi Townender,

My Grandfather Cliff Brown was the boilershop foreman from 1958 and also lived on Mortomley Lane. He retired from NC in the 70's after 51 years service but then went on to work as part of the Green Keeper team at Tankersley Park Golf Club. Trapping moles being one of his jobs before we started using poison to keep the population under control.

i worked for newton chambers from 1954_1984 most of the time at warren lane in the m/c shop it was like a being part of an extended family,lots of real characters ,Roy Marriot what a crackpot but a first class turner some of the arguments around the marking out tables between Coll Lill and Don Marsh both red faced .the night shift that was something else,the card schools in the canteen M greensmith and A Clough glareing at each other ,the night we cooked the pike we caught at Worsborough ,football and cricket matches played on the stock yard as soon as it got light .then poor old jack Denton night shift forman we led him a right merry dance ,but we always pulled the stops out if we had a rush job on .Does anybody remember the tin of green paint that landed right on top Chriss Allred ,he had to run the gauntlet of the assebly line many memories most of good.

hi Lmc i lived in the next block to your grandad and nanan and i worked with Your uncle Maurice at warren lane he used to have right spats with A clough when we were playing all hearts Cloughie would bend over backwards to drop the queen of spades onto Maurice i have seen the cards chucked up in the air many times ,i also new your uncle Sam i can see him now with i shotgun over his shoulder and two cartridge belts slung over his across him just like something out of spanish western going down to westwood ,

Thanks for stirring up the old memory box bri bloomer as I started at NC in 1954 and finished up in Warren Lane initially as an apprentice machinist under Albert Wragg our paths must have crossed at some point. I moved into the tool room under Walter Martin and remember Charlie Jordon who during the lunch break would cut your hair behind the tall tool stores, Graham Harrison is another name I remember but the others need more prizing out, was Albert the drill sharpener? trying to recall the young man with polio in the wheelchair who inspected and set up all the gauges, I used to push him out to his invalid vehicle parked at the back of the factory every day so I should remember but its gone. You mention M Greensmith I wonder if this was Maurice who I remember well from the Thornclife firefighting team events, now that really was something else. I finished up in the Jig & Tool drawing office about 58/59 before doing National Service in RAF from 60-62. then continued in D.O. until I left in about '66. Certainly happy days. Ted Hills

Hi Ted i remember you well tall and straight with mop of red hair,the guy in the wheelchair was Bernard ? it will come to me later.Eric Grayson cutter grinder,Eric Bradbury tool grinder,Ken Bidwell,worked on jigs and fixtures.I worked on the copy lathe,M Greensmith is the same guy you trained with in firefighting team,Graham Blackburn was also in the team.I also remember your brother David the electrician.I worked there till they closed it down you would,nt recognize Thornclife the boiler shop site is now a large housing estate the welding shop area are all office blocks.Take care Ted.:::

bri bloomer- you filled in a few names I've been struggling to recall like Graham Blackburn from the firefighting team and Ken Bidwell who got saddled with Biddle until he strongly objected, of course it was Bernard I must have had a mental blockage, I've just thought of a Clive in the tool room who sold me his rather fine Ellis Briggs racing bike. Do you remember Mavis in the machine shop office, she really was quite a girl. I must confess I'm struggling to place you, were you the weight lifting idiot who manhandled the blank shafts from the storage rack into the machine to save on waiting for the crane? You said you knew my brother David but sadly what you wouldn't know is that he died of bowel cancer in April '04. He set himself up as a freelance gardener after he left NC and did OK at it until '03 when he had to give it up.For some life just aint fair. Ted Hills

Sorry to hear about David,and yes iam that idiot and although i do go to the gym six days a week i have some aches that i attribute to all that heavy lifting,and i remember Jack Rolland telling me i would pay for it in later life ,he worked on first vertical borer at the bottom of the m/c shop.And Mavis is still going she married Brian Black who worked on the second com turret lathe down from the time office he mated Harold Shaw the shop steward who allways wore the black beret .i was there at end and when they shut warren lane i was sent down to n/c engineering m/c shop as forman/work study engineer,until they finally closed that down and concentrated it all in the construction shop that only lasted a couple of years.a couple of months after i was made redundant they set me back on to help the autioneers with the sale of the m/cs and cranes,and then to supervise the clearance of all the equipment i remember one of the big horizontal borers went for £400.just for scrap.If i remember anything else of interest i will post it.Take care Ted Bri.

So you were there at the bitter end bri. that must have been heart breaking, something that had started in 1793 to finish like that, its hard to take in. In hindsight it was a great place to work for, the training was second to none as I discovered in all the other jobs I had including a spell at Rolls Royce until they crashed in '71. I was lucky whenever I was made redundant I always found a job straight away.You're right about the extended family and great characters I have nothing but good memories about the whole thing. I often wonder why the whole thing collapsed though, surely something could have been salvaged, but on second thoughts most large engineering companies have gone to the wall not being able to compete with the Far East so perhaps it was inevitable, still sad though. What are you doing now? Ted

After i finished at N/c,ihad a short spell at working as bowling green assistant for 6 months then back turning at Turton Platts for 6 months ,then finally the last job was working for Sheffield Brass Founders and Graham Blackburn was the manager,it finished up like a mini Warren Lane Eric Smedley who worked with Fred Noble in the maintainance at W/L John Collins,David Whiting,and Alan Heeley the last two you might not know.As i post this reply i am up to my ankles in Thorncliffe News going back to 1946 when you read some of these old papers and they report on the retirements of the old craftsmen at N/C its remarkable how many of them worked into thier mid 70,s doing 60 yr,s plus .and many of them are 4,th and 5,th generations.Just come across a photograph of a presentation in 1957 those present were S C Tyrrel,W H ague,R S Goodhind,and Jack Dorgan,+Mr Morton .The apprentices present were Barry Hodkin Harry Butler yourself Michael Helliwell Clive Brooks Terence Palmer and Graham Blackburn . Also when look through the old th/news the photographs shows what diversity of skills there was in that valley some of the fabrications were amazing the guys who worked in the template shop were real engineers i was just a 2,nd rate turner at Warren Lane the last 14 yrs at Brass Founders required much more attention .If i come across anymore points of interest i will post them ,all the best Ted ,Bri.

bri. - What a memory you're bringing it all to life again. When I applied to go in the DO. I did a draftsman's training which included a spell in the training school and then into all three shops ie. foundry and construction. Part of the time in the construction shop was spent in the template shop and by a stroke of luck it was at a time when NC. had got the order to build a boom for the R & R walking drag line in rolled steel sections rather than tubes. There wasn't a parallel section on the whole boom, the foundry pattern shop made wooden models so we could set up intersections and make wooden templates. Then the shop built the boom outside because it was too big to fit in the shop. They certainly did some fantastic work. Thanks for all the names, I wish I'd kept all my copies of the Thorncliffe News. Ted

Glad i have stirred a few memories Ted if i come up with anything that i think might interest you i will post them,just a couple to finish with did u ever see the full size cast iron or cast steel stag that stands infront of the white buildings,well i have done some research as to its origin,delving through the Thorncliffe News i have come across a couple of articals it was one of two that was cast for the 6th earl Fitzwilliam for his estate at Wentworth he ordered one but they cast two in case there was a waister,well the spare one was positioned on the bank to the left hand side of the white house,it was cast by Tom Fairies an old family name at Thorncliffe in 1890 so its stood there 120yrs,although i think it was moved just a few yards from near the top of the bank to where it stands now at the bottom of the bank what stories that stag could tell.the other is a story of Herbert Trickett,s retirement at the age of 73 with 60 yrs,well that was,nt a record because William Cliffe worked at Thorncliffe for 67yrs thats not a bad stint Ted .take care Bri .<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<:;

When I started work at Thorncliffe in the late 70s, I was shown some nearby houses and told they were made of iron panels, made at NCs. I think that they might be on Mortomley Close. Does anyone know if this is correct, and if it is, how were they constructed?
the houses you refer to were built in 1925 in Mortomley Close ,they also built an estate i think it is in Derby 500 hundred houses,they are built of tank plates about 4ft square which are then bolted together .>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi Ted i have been talking to Graham Blackburn regarding Bernard,s second name it was Scott,is nickname was Bunny,Graham says he remembers you well

bri - In an earlier message you mentioned Michael Helliwell I seem to remember him from my time in the training school particularly in the gym at lunch times. He started boxing there under TAK and he also had a brother who did the same. At WL remember one of the bothers marrying one of the girls in the production office typing pool, can't remember her name but the other girl in the office was Elaine I think, When you think these times were 53 years ago it's amazing I can remember anything at all, but it's great to have had some jolts to the grey matter. They were good times mostly. Ted

hi Ted in responce to your enquiry about Michael Hellewell is brother was called Keith they were twins not quite identical Keith worked in the welding shop they both became formen ,Michael did marry a girl out the office cant remember her name but i have got thorncliffe news report somewhereof thier wedding.i have been reading some reports on the walking dragline,s the one i am reading now was for Calgary Power Limited to remove overburden from the coal fields near Edmonton in Alberta Canada ,it can remove between 50/60 ton per bucket full,the order was worth 1.5 million dollars .do you remember the thorpe twins Peter and tony both boxers just found a photo of them talking to Alan Hewling just before they went to do thier national service.

just come across a Warren Lane fishing club presentation the match was won by G Booth 4ibs 6ozs,Jack Newbould 3ibs 7ozs,Ernist Stone 3ibs 4ozs,Cliffe Lakin 3ibs 3ozs ,and Raymond Whittaker 3ibs.in the photograph Alf George,Ron Sreer,Jack Rowland,Harold Needham, Jimmy Payne,Reg Davy,Jack Dransfield,Harold Shaw and John Dodds.>>>>>>.Who remembers Newton House on Union Street built 1894 badly damaged in 1940 by German bombs no windows left intact but the main building ok it was built around an iron framework made at Thorncliff the use of iron framework was unique in the construction of such buildings,but today is comon practice to construct around a steel frame,it was demolished about 1961 to redevelop the area around Union Street.When they closed it down they relocated at Thorncliffe with no job losses.When i read these old Thorncliffe News papers the memories flood back ,hundreds of photos and stories of the people who worked in the valley,the valley is still there but the heart has been ripped out.R.I.P.

my dad worked n/c on the horizontal borer til he got made redundent then went to work brass founders on scotland street is name bob harrison

my dad worked n/c on the horizontal borer til he got made redundent then went to work brass founders on scotland street is name bob harrison
graberman when was your dad made redundent i vaguely recall the name iworked at Warren Lane i think your dad worked at N/C engineering,i also finished up at Brass Founders but your dad must have left before i started ,did he once get caught up in the machine,i just seem to recall Grahame Blackburn telling me about it

my dad worked at n/c for about 30 years he got made redundent in 1970 are71 then started work at brass founders yes that wos my dad wot got caught up in the machine he sadly died in 1992

Hi Bri- certainly remember the boxing Thorpe twins, and that has jogged many more memories about the training school especially at lunch time in the gym. Do you remember Herbert Pinder the foundry instructor playing table tennis with his constant blocking backhand you couldn't get passed him. We used to practice juggling with balls, Indian clubs and anything else and got quite good at it. Also played a form of football where to score a goal the ball had to skim across the line in contact with the floor, I got to be pretty good at this. Happy days- Ted

It did,nt seem like going to work when we were based at the training centre did it Ted,do you remember mr Walsh who used to take us for gym sessions even in his early 70,s .Idont know when the last time you were in Thorncliffe but you wouldnt know it now the boiler shop template shop and ensicote shop is now housing estate ,the welding shop has gone its now been replaced with office,s,and they are in the process of renovating the machine and fitting shop.lots of other business,s have located in the valley but not many of them manufacture anything,do you remember the bronx rolls in the boiler shop they finished up somwhere in the far east .that will do for now Ted take care Bri ,>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

I worked at Newton Chambers from leaving school in 1954 until 1968 when I moved to Rolls Royce / I have the happiest of memories of those years from the apprentice school with its gym. and TAK Hewling the instructor joining our lunch time table tennis jaunts / what a great lead in to a work a day life from the school day life / I finished up doing a draughtman's apprentice scheme and was alocated to the Warren Lane excavator factory working on jigs and fixtures and enjoyed every minute of it. You really felt part of a tradition that had been ongoing since 1793 and proud of it. Good to hear of others who felt the same

Hi there,

my mum (Cheralyn Clarke nee vickers)worked at newton chambers from 1966 - 1978 and has recently reached retirement age. She has been trying to find out where to contact regarding claiming her pension. Is there anyone out there who is currently getting their pension from newton chambers that could help us out?

many thanks

dean (dean.clarke@roland.co.uk)

I started work in the chemical laboratories straight from school in 1969. I have vivid memories of going into the factory to obtain samples to take back to the lab, particularly during the three day week when we 'tested' more paraffin wax than we should have. We kept working in the lab all the time due to the number of candles we made out of the surplus samples.
We used to make things like Zal, Izal, bubble bath, bath salts, ronuk floor polish and a washing up liquid, which I think was called squeezy. among other things.

When i worked for A.E.Evans tankers on Cricket Inn Road I used to deliver white spirit from the NCB refinery at Wath into Newton Chambers in the late 60s and into the 70s.I don't think a sample of the product was ever taken,just "oppen up and lerrit go":hihi:
A great place to deliver to.

My Dad had an Uncle Harry sir name of Giblin, it was his dad's brother-I don't know if this is the Harry you mean?
Hi there. Sorry I've only just seen your reply. It could be the same Harry Giblin - although possibly unlikely as although my dad Harry had two brothers Jim and Jack, Jack had no children and Jim had one daughter.

Thanks, Clare

any one remember john marshall (MASH) working in boiler shop and lived at ecclesfield

I think my dad was mates with 'Mash' - didn't he keep pigs as well

hi thatis right mash had pigs and hens

Hello great reading,My grandad worked in the boiler room and lived on site at the newton chambers and company ltd/Izal.I would like to see some of the pictures mentioned at the begining of this chat of when it was knocked down and pictures beforehand.My grandad was called Harry Kirkham.Theres a great book at the library by Matthew Habershon that tells of the history of the Newton Chambers and of the family.

Hi my uncle worked at Newton Chambers in the early 60's his name is George Pearson sadly he passed away last year. I don't know what job he did but he used to live in a terraced house near the railway. I remember stopping there with my grandpareents after we had been to the Chapeltown WMC, and listening to the steam trains go past my uncles house.

Hi im a little young to remember the people who your talking about. However my parents knew them espically my mum Mary Caveney i wounder if any of you know of her we lived in Lane end always lived there on the main road. before staindrop lodge anyone remeber us please reply.

i worked with a bloke from chap/high green the tanks were so important to the war effort that a full hospital was built in the hillside along with a couple of miles of tunnels/air raid shelters. in the 80's some of these tunnels were used for growing mushrooms and storage before the total shut downof izal and n/c

any one remember john marshall (MASH) working in boiler shop and lived at ecclesfield



My late Mother used to buy eggs from him. I remember him and his wife very well. I also remember his parents.

I've recently been browsing through some old photo albums and found several NC works photos of presentations etc. I don't know how to affix photos to messages or even if it is allowed but briefly there's one of Warren Lane tool room Walter Martin foreman, Tommy Richards, Graham Harrison, Eric Bradbury and Ken Bidwell. Another shows Walter Haigh, Ben Morton, Mr. Dorgan? and a crowd of apprentices a few of which I could name taken late 50's-Ted Hills

My wife's late uncle was made manager of the coke dept. during the war his name was Charles Boyd and lived in a big house in Chapel town called "The ?" .I believe he inherited Mrs. Newton Drew wealth .

My late Great Uncle Hugh Foster worked at Newton & Chambers before and after the Second World War, He was an Engineer

Have you any idea what department he worked in?

My late Great Uncle Hugh Foster worked at Newton & Chambers before and after the Second World War, He was an Engineer

If he lived in Church Street, Ecclesfield, I knew him well enough to talk to.

My uncles name was Eric Gale i think he was chief cashier there buy sadly no longer with us.

I remember Eric Gale well. He was the Cashier and worked in the HQ building at Thorncliffe; and he was also connected with the Thorncliffe Musical Society, along with his wife, and, I think, their daughter. The Society put on some terrific shows, notably Gilbert & Sullivan, in the 1960s. I wonder if any of the one-time performers are still around? They may have been mentioned in the Remember Newton Chambers Group pages on Facebook.

Eric Gale and his wife Bessie are my aunt and uncle,. Eric died about 33 years ago but aunt bessie lives near Kings lyn near her daughter Elizabeth.

Charles Boyd was married to my aunt on my mothers side. The house in question is called "The Horbury'

Regards
Claire

Just asked my mother! :) Charles Boyd was sales director of the coal dept until the mines were nationalised.

Regards
claire

My wife's late uncle was made manager of the coke dept. during the war his name was Charles Boyd and lived in a big house in Chapel town called "The ?" .I believe he inherited Mrs. Newton Drew wealth .

Sent you a pm.

Hi All,

I too would dearly love to find out more about Newton Chambers. I have a personal interest as the founder, Thomas Chambers is my 6 x Great Grandfather. I have only known about this connection a month or so.
Does that lovely lady Gloria from the museum have an email address that perhaps I can contact her with?
Alternatively I am happy to gather what information I can, particularly the history of the company in the context of my family members.
I am from Oz, so cannot actually visit. Can supply email on request.

thanx Kazza

Hi Kazza. There are still some small books available on 'Amazon' by the Chapeltown and High Green Achive Socety on the history of Newton and Chambers. The society no longer wants to know about the local history unfortunately although they have done a terrific job in the past.

Hi there, anyone remember me from the tank factory? Stewart Crew . . my nickname was Joey. I started in 1966 at the same time as 3 more apprentices: Eric Taylor, Mick Lindley, and Alwyn Roberts. I worked on a turret lathe mating up with Diddy Dave for a time. Did well at Barnsley Tech and ended up in the drawing office before moving "darnt yard" to work in the drawing office down there. Still have some good memories, but at the time engineering really wasn't what I was best at, and after being made redundant trained to be a state registered nurse at Barnsley Hospital: wern't that good at nursing either but there we are! I'm 60 this year. Be good to here from people who new me then. Anyone know who to contact about my superannuation pension? Maxwell took most of it . . RIP ! ! ie ripped us off.

Hi Stewert i remember you well blond hair i think ,i was the long haired guy who worked on the copy lathe ,i also remember M Lindley he was a good footballer and cricketer ,Eric Taylor long haired with scruffy blue and white woolly hat ,A Roberts also long haired he now runs fish and chip shop on Greengate lane in High Green .hope you are well ,i still spend a lot of time in Thorncliffe its changed a lot ,take care Stew .Bri Bloomer ,x

Hey up Brian, I remember you very well. Yes I did have long blonde hair, wish I'd got a bit of it left now! Still live local in Hoyland Common. Last time I saw you was in Thornclife Pavillion playing snooker, probably 10 years ago. Must go and see Alwyn now you've told me where to find him, be great to see him and see how he's changed, he was a real character just like a lot more who worked there. Ken Armatage still kicking, he's a neighbour of mine , lives in Tinker Lane, I see him a lot in the Star pub in Hoyland Common where we rem anise about the Excavator factory . . perhaps we could arrange to meet up one night for a pint? Think Eric Taylor still lives in Jump; he was always winning the apprentice of the year award, last time I saw him he was managing an Engineering company. Not sure but think Chris Alred might still be alive! See ya . .

Hiya Stew good to here Ken is still going strong ,i know he comes to see Brian Hovey in Chapeltown .Be good to meet up sometime ,i will nip over to the Star one night for a pint ,By the way Chriss Allred died a few weeks ago i think he was 98 yrs old.Do you remember Ted Hills he has put quite a few post on Sheffield Forum .Keep in touch Bri x

I started at Newton Chambers College in 1960,which was only half a day a week, Miss Berry was the principal. the rest of the day was spent as the office junior in the Redfyre Sales Office. Louis Gardiner being my boss, i had to do all the mail, and deliver orders to the foundry.centramatic shop, and all the paperwork to the accounts dept. there was a lot of walking to do, mum used to complain i wore a pair of shoes out every three week. i then went on to work in Redfyre Accounts, Jack Gandy being my Boss. its about 4 yrs since i have seen him, but he still had the same sense of humour. was very proud to have worked at Newton Chambers, which gave me an all round business education.

You are holding up pretty well Brendyboo - a typo I suspect!!!!
I worked for Mr Colton the Chief Metallurgist frrom about 1969-71 - I remember Stuart Ramage and Richard Littlejohns.

You are holding up pretty well Brendyboo - a typo I suspect!!!!
I worked for Mr Colton the Chief Metallurgist frrom about 1969-71 - I remember Stuart Ramage and Richard Littlejohns.

lol it was a typo Mary, i dont remember the names you mentioned sorry, i remember Bryan Dyer, and mick Hehterington

Hi Redfyre. i have been racking my brain as to who you are, the only name that comes to mind is Kieth. I remember all the names you mention in various post. Roldand Wilson played the organ at my wedding.

My name is Leo Goudge and I was an apprentice in the boiler shop in 1947 working for 6 months with Jack Walker and Harry Riddle, who at that time was 21 years old. This was part of my engineering training of 6 months in each of the engineering workshops. I have some very good memories of working with Harry.

I'm trying to date a couple of files with 20 odd caricature pictures of what appears to be sports club members, a couple of the names are mentioned in this thread, L. Gardner star salesman, Harry Giblin inside left.

only the white building the garage and the engineering offices look the same and the old cast steel stag that as stood in the shrubs outside the white house 4 over a 100 yrs

Surprised that Newton Chambers Thorncliffe were still working in the mid 70's. I used to go for walks through there and up to Westwood row and the ressie. No-one ever stopped us walking past the big pits . Did not know anyone who worked there as a kid but used to go to discos at the rec.

What about the toilet rolls and Sanizal thet they used to make. Th Izal toilet roll appeared to be the hardest in the world.

Sigismund

I remember that we had it in school. pretty useless. My brother used to take his dog for a walk past the steelworks and listen to the radio blasting out at midnight. Must have been open then. Love the fact that security those days was not necessary. Used to sit under the cricket stand for hours.

Hi all,
I just happened to come across this website and found this question about Newton Chambers Engineering. I worked for them from 1965 to 67 and moved to the US. So did a colleague of mine from Sheffield, Grant Shields.
I still have a Newton Chambers Engineering binder with info on all their divisions and the picture of the Newton Chambers Works College at the back.

Grant Shields and I kept in touch for a long time but we lost our contact in the last 8 or 9 years.

T thought this info may be of some interest to some.
Best wishes,
pastsheffied

mike w .... my father in law Arthur Fullwoood used to paint the works there for many years so did my husband

does anyone remember the humphreys family, they had a farm/small holding opposite new biggin dam on the road to the tankersly golf club.

Hi Bri- certainly remember the boxing Thorpe twins, and that has jogged many more memories about the training school especially at lunch time in the gym. Do you remember Herbert Pinder the foundry instructor playing table tennis with his constant blocking backhand you couldn't get passed him. We used to practice juggling with balls, Indian clubs and anything else and got quite good at it. Also played a form of football where to score a goal the ball had to skim across the line in contact with the floor, I got to be pretty good at this. Happy days- Ted


I worked in the foundry, 1965 to 1970 and remember Herbert Pinder well. He was trainer for the apprentices for a while then went as Superintendent in the light castings dept. He was a true gentleman. They dont make 'em like him anymore, they broke the mould.............

There is a good film on the Yorkshire film archive of Newton chambers -click on 50s south yorkshire

Been on archive site, there's one or two from Newton Chambers. I recognised a couple of faces. God, I'm OLD.......:hihi:

we are all getting old nimrod ,but we never get fed up of reading about the old times to do with Newton Chambers ,i still pass infront of the White House and up the steps to go to the gym located in the managers canteen ,the old stag still stands in the shrubery where it has been for well over a 100 yrs. i sometimes take photos of it and wonder what stories it could tell ,