Can anyone remember the chestnut man who had his cart just outside the" Penny Black" pub in the sixties.Me and my brother used to go to watch Sheff United and walk to Pond street after the match and wait for the number 46 to darnall and buy a bag of chestnuts to share ( tanner ) I think and there were six to a bag. We had three apiece and you could guarantee the last one was always bad

Don't rember the one in Pond Street but do remember the ones at the top of Snig Hill and on Campo Lane. Hated the damn things, they were disgusting.

my daughter burnt her brand new best coat on the chestnut mans wagon nr pond street.

I just saw this thread and was going to put, oooh I was going past once when I was a kid, and burnt all my coat on his chestnut oven :huh:

I remember the Chestnut man in the eighties, not the sixties. He stood near the Penny Black, on the corner. I only tried the revolting crap once. Are we really meant to eat the stuff?!

Roasting chestnuts seems to make them bitter, - my gran used to boil them and they always tasted sweet....and used to peel completely clean.

As kids we used to gather them in Ecclesall woods but they never were as big as the imported Spanish nuts in the greengrocers.

Originally posted by Greybeard
Roasting chestnuts seems to make them bitter, - my gran used to boil them and they always tasted sweet....and used to peel completely clean.

As kids we used to gather them in Ecclesall woods but they never were as big as the imported Spanish nuts in the greengrocers.

i think those chestnuts from the woods are known as sweet chestnuts - we used to gather them too - i have a feeling they're from a different type of chestnut tree from those imported ones .... and you're right - they were small and sweet ... delicious

re the burnt coat incident ... are you two mother and daughter IRL ...? spooky ....

We are ruby :D

I was stalkin' her hehehe

Yes, as a bus inspector working in Pond St, I remember this stall very well, in fact, I think he was still there into the 70's, he always did a brisk trade as christmas came close, the smell of the chestnuts roasting used to carry into the bus station, very nice.

I remember the chestnut man, we used to go to pond street to get the bus, and buy a bag of chestnuts, I now live in saskatchewan canada, and have tried to cook the chestnuts just like he did..somehow they don't taste the sameOriginally posted by sharkw
Can anyone remember the chestnut man who had his cart just outside the" Penny Black" pub in the sixties.Me and my brother used to go to watch Sheff United and walk to Pond street after the match and wait for the number 46 to darnall and buy a bag of chestnuts to share ( tanner ) I think and there were six to a bag. We had three apiece and you could guarantee the last one was always bad

im sure his barrow is in kelham island museum

as a child i often had a bag of hot chestnuts passing the bag from one hand to the other until they had cooled down enough for us to peal and eat them.we used to leave a long line of shells behind us as we made our way to the bus stop. Had a bag of roast chestnuts not long ago whilst in sheffield to take my grandchildren on the "big wheel" but they didnt taste the same most went in the bin and i made sure no shells went on the floor didnt want to have to pay a fine .

Can anyone remember the chestnut man who had his cart just outside the" Penny Black" pub in the sixties.Me and my brother used to go to watch Sheff United and walk to Pond street after the match and wait for the number 46 to darnall and buy a bag of chestnuts to share ( tanner ) I think and there were six to a bag. We had three apiece and you could guarantee the last one was always bad

Regarding this topic quite a few threads have already appeared in the past i remember a guy called ROY BLACK selling chestnuts opposite the Penny Black he used to leave his cart under the arches of Commercial st also a chinese guy i think he was called Frank had a cart opposite the old Suggs arcade.

Oh yes I remember the chestnut man............Unfortunately these days he couldn't exist what with 'Elf n Safety'........someone might get burned.

I was a Post Office Messenger and the chestnut man was always parked right outside our office and we had to pass him every time we went out and returned from delivering telegrams across the city. I wish I had a tenner for every bag of nuts I bought from this guy!

I remember the chestnut man but I wouldn't not on my way to Bramall Lane. Not ever. Well, maybe when they played the Owls.

The one in pond street in the 60/70s was called Joe Buffalero,he sold ice cream from a van in the summer months.

Whenever we are in Roma my wife heads straight for the Spanish Steps because there's always a chestnut man there too.

I rember in the 60s just above pond st, most where rotten....

Can anyone remember the chestnut man who had his cart just outside the" Penny Black" pub in the sixties.Me and my brother used to go to watch Sheff United and walk to Pond street after the match and wait for the number 46 to darnall and buy a bag of chestnuts to share ( tanner ) I think and there were six to a bag. We had three apiece and you could guarantee the last one was always bad

What memories it was normal after a few pints in town to get a bag of chestnuts, if they were bad so what all was eaten.
We also used to have the cockle man in the pubs at the weekend, sadley we dont see this anymore and of corse we had Nora the Pond street Queen.

The garage across the road at the entrance to the multi storay was open when the Pond street Kiosk was closed.
We went out and had a fun night with little if any problems, today sadly this is not the case,

Good post

there was a chestnut man on fargate last winter, I think he charged £2 a bag, bought some for my son and counted about 10 nuts, thats inflation for ya.

there was a chestnut man on fargate last winter, I think he charged £2 a bag, bought some for my son and counted about 10 nuts, thats inflation for ya.

4d a bag (less than 2p) in the sixties.

I Remember the chestnut men at the top of Snig Hill outside Harralls shop and in Pond Street at the top of the steps where the big city centre map used to be in a massive glass case. It had an index where you could press a button for the city landmarks like the town hall or the fish market ect. The chestnut men always had filthy hands like coalmen but it never stopped me eating them they smelt and the tasted lovelly in the winter weather. Happy Days!!!

i remember the hot chestnut man who stood by the city street guide i would go down pond hill waiting fo the smell to come wafting ut to meet me sometimes there was a queue and it was nice to stand near the hot ove to keep warm cant remember what they cost i know you never got many maybae half a dozen but they tasted so good and hot

Chestnut Man In Pond Street

I also remember the chestnut (chessnut) man from the 60's. It was nice to get a warm standing next to his cart, but you froze even more when you stepped away or so it seemed. As the O.P. said, there was certainly a few 'bad uns' in the bag. Was the Penny Black pub there in the 60's? I'd be surprised.
Whilst I'm at it......
Does anyone remember that 'You are here' metal board thing that had a map or the city centre inside the frame? I used to love pressing them buttons and watching the light bulbs coming to life. It was near to the really worn down steps that led from Pond Street to Flat Street.

There was also the thrupenny bit shaped news shop nearby, and the blind man outside selling The Star, Telegraph (?) and on Saturdays the Green 'Un. The palms of his hands were a black as coal from handling the newspapers and the coinage. I wonder where he lived.

I also recall a snack bar (cafe) in the bus station on the platform behind the shop that only sold tea and toast. It was a big favourite with the bus drivers, conductors, conductresses and maybe the inspectors, and me.

I Remember the chestnut men at the top of Snig Hill outside Harralls shop and in Pond Street at the top of the steps where the big city centre map used to be in a massive glass case. It had an index where you could press a button for the city landmarks like the town hall or the fish market ect. The chestnut men always had filthy hands like coalmen but it never stopped me eating them they smelt and the tasted lovelly in the winter weather. Happy Days!!!

I don't remember one being at the top of Snig Hill but I do remember the one at the bottom on the corner overlooking Bridge Street bus terminal.
I was small as a kid, still am but this old guy was not very tall and wore a cap and a brown smock as I remember