Whilst I was at the Victoria Quays, I took a walk down behind where the 'ACE Centre' is (not too far from where the old 'Studio 5,6,7' cinema used to be). I came across a sign that illustrates 'Witches' being dunked in that spot, alongside the River Don! There's even an old print showing a woman being raised/lowered on a 'Dunking Stool' or, 'Ducking Stool.' I gather that the Castle Dungeons,(under the Castle Market) is where they used to keep some of these people prisoner.
Besides, it's rather uncanny for the geographical location to be called 'The Wicker!' I've heard before of names like 'Burngreave' having 'satanic' connections or connotations of witchcraft.
I've been quite intrigued to find out more information on this,('The Wicker') and especially, as it's local history...

Does anyone have any further information? I've tried 'Sheffield Archives and Local Studies Library,' and the Central Library, but they have nothing on record.

Cheers!

It's actually 'Wicker' (No The). I believe that in the days of Sheffield Castle, the bowmen there used that area for archery practice. They fired at wicker targets. I think your find at the rear of the Ace building is really very interesting. Thanks for letting us know of it.

You're both wrong; the street is actually called "The Whicker" and was named in honour of 1970s travel show presenter Alan Whicker, who once journeyed along the road to buy sausages at Castle Market in the 1973 TV series "Alan Whicker's World Of Sausages".

I have a copy on DVD if anyone's interested.

You're both wrong; the street is actually called "The Whicker" and was named in honour of 1970s travel show presenter Alan Whicker, who once journeyed along the road to buy sausages at Castle Market in the 1973 TV series "Alan Whicker's World Of Sausages".

I have a copy on DVD if anyone's interested.

Gooo-on Bas! The jokes arrive thick and fast and as usual...Bas' delivery is masterful. :heyhey:

It's actually 'Wicker' (No The). I believe that in the days of Sheffield Castle, the bowmen there used that area for archery practice. They fired at wicker targets. I think your find at the rear of the Ace building is really very interesting. Thanks for letting us know of it.

Thanks Nigel. I thought I wouldn't get an answer on this thread -compared to some of the other ones.

I've heard that the dungeons are actually open to the public in summer (with guided tour). The lifts that the stall-holders use take you to the bottom floor.

I might have to take a walk behind the Ace building, it sounds really interesting. I didn't know there were any dungeons under castle market that you can go to..I thought the only accessable bit was the tiny bit of castle remains which you can look at if you ask inside castle market. The man who showed us the castle remains said you used to be able to see other parts too but the levels of carbon monoxide (I dont know if it is that, but some poisonous gas) are too high to let the public down anymore. Whereabouts would the dungeons be? If they are open at anytime I'd really love to see them.

I might have to take a walk behind the Ace building, it sounds really interesting. I didn't know there were any dungeons under castle market that you can go to..I thought the only accessable bit was the tiny bit of castle remains which you can look at if you ask inside castle market. The man who showed us the castle remains said you used to be able to see other parts too but the levels of carbon monoxide (I dont know if it is that, but some poisonous gas) are too high to let the public down anymore. Whereabouts would the dungeons be? If they are open at anytime I'd really love to see them.


Not too sure JenC. I believe that those large 'industrial' lifts -on the right as you walk-in from the main road, by turning into the square which leads to Sheaf Market, (or left, leading you towards the main road from the Sheaf Market), take you straight down to the dungeons.The dungeons must obviously be over-looking the area over the Don in the Wicker.

I recall someone saying that there used to be a sign in the lifts that said; " Keys To Entrance To Castle Available. "

Actually, I found the following link:

Visit the Castle RuinsSheffield Markets operates visits to the Sheffield Castle ruins on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year. Appointments are necessary.
http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/castle-ruins.php

Some interesting material on Mary Queen Of Scots who was, apparently, held at the Castle temporarily before being imprisoned at Manor Castle. But still, ...nothing about 'dunking witches!'

Ah that's what I've been to see I think. It's just a room with a small section of the castle in the middle, and you walk round it. Although there isn't much of it, it's definately worth seeing in my opinion. Theres some nice bits of masonry, and marks where arrows have hit the stone. Also theres a glass 'window' in the floor (only about 30cm x 30cm) and below it you can see wood from the old wooden castle that was there before the stone one was built. Well, there is, but we couldn't see it because the glass was so dirty (from the inside, so we couldn't wipe it) and the light that's meant to light up the wood wasn't working. The entrance to the room is at the loading bay for castle market (Castlegate, which runs along the bottom of Waingate). Anyway it's worth a visit, but you have to book in advance (it's free), so they can check for any gases first.

A further occasional use to which Barkers Pool was put was for ducking termagants, for which purpose the “Cuck-stool” was brought up from Lady’s Bridge.

A further occasional use to which Barkers Pool was put was for ducking termagants, for which purpose the “Cuck-stool” was brought up from Lady’s Bridge.

Interesting! Have you got a reference for this? -Book, or anything?


BTW, the term you used there termagants: 'violent and overbearing character in medieval mystery plays.' Not heard that one used in a long time! A lot of these punishments, it seems, were reserved only for women who were often seen as bad-tempered, quarrelsome, who nagged, brawled, slandered, argued and gossipped about their husbands.

Nothings changed there then!

Nothings changed there then!

I wondered who'd be the first man to make this comment - I didn't have to wait long, did I??? :hihi:

Interesting! Have you got a reference for this? -Book, or anything?


BTW, the term you used there termagants: 'violent and overbearing character in medieval mystery plays.' Not heard that one used in a long time! A lot of these punishments, it seems, were reserved only for women who were often seen as bad-tempered, quarrelsome, who nagged, brawled, slandered, argued and gossipped about their husbands.

It's just that short snippet from, History and Description of the Sheffield Water Works.

Though i'm sure I've read it mentioned elsewhere.

Just found it in Reminices of Sheffield-Leader,
At the same time, "The way against it and the trowes in the Colepitt lane " were put in order. lt would appear that Barker Pool was, on occasion, used for ducking termagants, for in the constables' accounts for I654 there is a charge for "bringing the cuck stoole (from Lady's Bridge) up to Barker Poole."

I would like to see pitcures, paintings or drawings from the era your talkin about. Any idea where such things can be viewed

It's just that short snippet from, History and Description of the Sheffield Water Works.

Though i'm sure I've read it mentioned elsewhere.

Just found it in Reminices of Sheffield-Leader,
At the same time, "The way against it and the trowes in the Colepitt lane " were put in order. lt would appear that Barker Pool was, on occasion, used for ducking termagants, for in the constables' accounts for I654 there is a charge for "bringing the cuck stoole (from Lady's Bridge) up to Barker Poole."i once read many years ago that wives were scolded at barkers pool by putting them in the stool/chair and dunking them,and as you say,it was removed from the river don in the wicker up to the pool, ive never heard of a witch trial in old sheffield though

It's actually 'Wicker' (No The). I believe that in the days of Sheffield Castle, the bowmen there used that area for archery practice. They fired at wicker targets. I think your find at the rear of the Ace building is really very interesting. Thanks for letting us know of it.

Well I don't know that I've ever heard or seen 'Wicker' without the 'the'; —R E Leader in all his writings about Sheffield consistently uses 'the Wicker'.

There were archery butts in the Wicker, - there are ordinances about keeping them in good repair (in Sheffield Manorial Records or the old Burgery accounts), but archery targets were traditionally made from ropes of straw sewn into a flat sprial, and mounted on a timber frame.

The street we now call the Wicker was also know as Assembly Green in former times. The place where the local gentry who owed military service to the Lord of the Manor would present themselves, or a substitute, together with their weapons and a fit horse for inspection.

The name 'Wicker' more likely derives from the willow growth alongside the river, possibly deliberately coppiced to provide the materials for wickerwork which was used extensively in medieval times. The wicker-workers may even have lived there.

Well I don't know that I've ever heard or seen 'Wicker' without the 'the'; —R E Leader in all his writings about Sheffield consistently uses 'the Wicker'.

Streetmap (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=435857&y=387952&z=1&sv=wicker&st=6&tl=Wicker,+Sheffield,+S_3&searchp=newsearch.srf&mapp=newmap.srf) says it has no "The":).

Originally posted by Greybeard. Well I don't know that I've ever heard or seen 'Wicker' without the 'the'; —R E Leader in all his writings about Sheffield consistently uses 'the Wicker'.

As an ex Royal Mail employee, I do assure you there is no 'The'. Additionally, it states 'Wicker' quite clearly on the the street nameplates.

I would like to see the return or ducking witches.

All the people who charge deluded people to "read their palms" or who claim to contact the dead should be ducked in the Don until they admit they make it all up. The deluded people who regularly post "recomend a good clairvoyant" on this forum should have a bucket of cold water thrown over them as a warning to the others that are hard of thinking.

I would like to see the return or ducking witches.

All the people who charge deluded people to "read their palms" or who claim to contact the dead should be ducked in the Don until they admit they make it all up. The deluded people who regularly post "recomend a good clairvoyant" on this forum should have a bucket of cold water thrown over them as a warning to the others that are hard of thinking.

gets her water wings ready....;)

I would like to see the return or ducking witches.

All the people who charge deluded people to "read their palms" or who claim to contact the dead should be ducked in the Don until they admit they make it all up. The deluded people who regularly post "recomend a good clairvoyant" on this forum should have a bucket of cold water thrown over them as a warning to the others that are hard of thinking.

here here and lets also bring it back for those women who wont do as there told.
and for those who wear too much make up. and those who go in pubs on sunday dinner instead of doing dinner. and also fat ones.

Well I don't know that I've ever heard or seen 'Wicker' without the 'the'; —R E Leader in all his writings about Sheffield consistently uses 'the Wicker'.


The street we now call the Wicker was also know as Assembly Green in former times. The place where the local gentry who owed military service to the Lord of the Manor would present themselves, or a substitute, together with their weapons and a fit horse for inspection.



The correct name for a place of military inspection as you state above is "Wapentake"

I thought that a Wapentake was an old administrative area dating back to the Dark Ages? The equivalent of a parish.

Either that or a crap rock bar from the 1970s.

What a wapentake was...

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Definitions/AreaDefinitions.html#anchor250911

...the Wicker wasn't one.

Yorkshire wapentakes...

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Maps/Wapentakes1.gif

Originally posted by Greybeard. Well I don't know that I've ever heard or seen 'Wicker' without the 'the'; —R E Leader in all his writings about Sheffield consistently uses 'the Wicker'.

As an ex Royal Mail employee, I do assure you there is no 'The'. Additionally, it states 'Wicker' quite clearly on the the street nameplates.


It's shown as 'The Wicker' on William Fairbank's 1771 plan of the town which significantly pre-dates both the Royal Mail address database and any name-plates the council may have stuck up.

And in normal conversation everybody seems to call it 'the Wicker' - do they not ? :)

I would not get too excited about cell's under the markets :( Our old fella's a retired fireman and he has been down there and seen the ruins. Thats exactly what they are 'ruins' he seems to think it's little more than the remainders of the foundations and not much more. I was gutted when he told me, I was allways under the impression there was a lot more down there

It's shown as 'The Wicker' on William Fairbank's 1771 plan of the town which significantly pre-dates both the Royal Mail address database and any name-plates the council may have stuck up.

And in normal conversation everybody seems to call it 'the Wicker' - do they not ? :)your right greybeard,its just some out of towner altering the dialect to suit their own agenda,its t'wicker,and always will be to those old enough to relate to sheffield's own dialect :thumbsup:

You mean...dahn t'wicker weer t'water runs o'er t'weir ? :D

And I think the old student rag magzine was called 'Twicker'

I would not get too excited about cell's under the markets :(

There's a brief description of the archaeological findings here...

http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/sheffield-castle-investigation.php

and the full report will be available in the local studies library who hold all the HAS volumes.

I wouldn't get at all excited about witches and the cuck-stool either. During the witch-hunts of the late 16th and early 17th centuries witchcraft was deemed a capital offence and most of those found guilty were hanged.

In fact the cuck-stool was commonly used to punish 'common scolds' (often malicious gossips), harlots and tradesmen who gave short measure.

You mean...dahn t'wicker weer t'water runs o'er t'weir ? :D

And I think the old student rag magzine was called 'Twicker'

Two t's in watter please.

It's shown as 'The Wicker' on William Fairbank's 1771 plan of the town which significantly pre-dates both the Royal Mail address database and any name-plates the council may have stuck up.

And in normal conversation everybody seems to call it 'the Wicker' - do they not ? :)

You obviously like the last word - so there, you have it. Nobody mentioned a time when it was called one or the other. All I stated was what it was officially called today - nothing else. May I just mention that Royal Mail does not name streets etc. The Postcode section receives name details from the local authority, and allocates a Postcode to that name. Some roads may have several Postcodes, it all depends on the length of the thoroughfare. At least we won't differ over Fargate. Not worth getting upset about.

You obviously like the last word - so there, you have it. Nobody mentioned a time when it was called one or the other. All I stated was what it was officially called today - nothing else. May I just mention that Royal Mail does not name streets etc. The Postcode section receives name details from the local authority, and allocates a Postcode to that name. Some roads may have several Postcodes, it all depends on the length of the thoroughfare. At least we won't differ over Fargate. Not worth getting upset about.

Surely you mean The Fargate?

;-)

You obviously like the last word - so there, you have it.

Nah...I'm not that bovered - you have it :D

Nah...I'm not that bovered - you have it :D

Let's both have it. Share it. Regards.

Surely you mean The Fargate?

;-)

I think I'll leave that one to you, and anyone else who is interested.