As an ex pat living away I have recently bben loaned Gangs of Sheffield,all about the 1920s which I enjoyed.Any other recommendations on Sheffields past would be appreciated.

I can recommend David Hey's book "History of Sheffield".He certainly knows his stuff!

Look out for

Aspects of Sheffield: discovering local history 1
Aspects of Sheffield: discovering local history 2

both edited by Melvyn Jones. Wharncliffe Publishing Ltd

Each volume is a collection of essays in Sheffield's history. with further volumes to come I think.

David Hey has published several books on Sheffield and South Yorkshire history, - you can probably find a full list on Amazon or Bookfinder.com.

A long time ago a lady called Mary Walton wrote a book called
" Sheffield ; Its story and Its Achievements "----at least , I think that was the exact title-----long time since I first read it.
She , herself was part of Sheffield's history ! She lived on Clifford Road , off Psalter Lane and looked rather a severe , humourless woman ------but , actually she was the exact opposite. She worked in the library and I remember speaking to her in there , at some point , and discovering how nice and helpful she was.
I'm sure from her writing that she had a special affection for Nether Edge-Sharrow-Hunters Bar . She certainly knew the history of those areas intimately.
I suppose her book might seem a little dry to the modern reader but it wasn't out to entertain in any way-----just to inform. Suppose it's out of print now. I wonder if the Sheffield Libraries can help or , indeed , if anyone remembers Mary Walton ?

Originally posted by Fareast
A long time ago a lady called Mary Walton wrote a book called
" Sheffield ; Its story and Its Achievements "----at least , I think that was the exact title-----long time since I first read it.
She , herself was part of Sheffield's history ! She lived on Clifford Road , off Psalter Lane and looked rather a severe , humourless woman ------but , actually she was the exact opposite. She worked in the library and I remember speaking to her in there , at some point , and discovering how nice and helpful she was.
I'm sure from her writing that she had a special affection for Nether Edge-Sharrow-Hunters Bar . She certainly knew the history of those areas intimately.
I suppose her book might seem a little dry to the modern reader but it wasn't out to entertain in any way-----just to inform. Suppose it's out of print now. I wonder if the Sheffield Libraries can help or , indeed , if anyone remembers Mary Walton ?

That book is still available for loan in many of Sheffield's suburban libraries, most have two or three copies.

She also published three small books about the Nether Edge, Sharrow and Highfield areas:

A History of the Parish of Sharrow
A History of the Parish of St Peter, Abbeydale
A History of the parish of St Barnabas, Highfield

which cover a lot more than just the history of the churches.

Another of her Sheffield books is

Raiders Over Sheffield: the story of the air raids of 12th & 15th December 1940

I'm sure I must have spoken to her occasionally as I was a frequent user of the Local Studies Library in the 1970s. Wish she was still around 'cos I have a couple of questions :D

I used to work with Miss Walton (no-one dared call her Mary!) I was told that when she was writing the history of Sheffield she used to go and talk to the 'little mesters' who congregated in the old Mulberry Tavern, and like them she had her own personal tankard hanging over the bar! She was quite a character, looked formidable, but if you were interested in the history of Sheffield, no-one could be kinder or more helpful.

To Algy and Greybeard,
Thanks for info. , concerning Ms. Walton !
Aged between 11 and 16 , I used to walk every morning along Clifford Rd. to school and quite often pass Ms.Walton , presumably on her way to the bus on Psalter Lane.After a couple of years , I suppose the occasional ,"Mornin'" , passed between us.
Then , a few years later , I bumped into her in the central Library and got to know she was the well-known local historian.
That was fascinating about the old Mulberry tavern ! She is [or was] the sort of person one wishes one had known better.
I said "was" but I hope she is in fact still with us. If she is still alive , she must be a great age as I first saw her , round about 1954. Thinking about it , though , people of her calibre , do often seem to live to be a great age , probably because they find life so interesting. Any more news about her and books re--Sheffield would be most interesting too.
Thanks for verifying my memory !

One book to look out for is The Making Of Sheffield 1865-1914 by J H Stainton. I have an original copy here that my father gave me. He worked at the Star newspaper and as he was book reviewer at the time was invited to help himself to the paper's own library when they were having a clear out.

Another David Hey book: "Historic Hallamshire" is very good.

Also "The Sheffield Murders 1865 -1965" by David Bentley.

apparently theres a good looking book on the sheffield music scene.....pulp, clock dva, human league, abc etc etc and comes with a free cd, not quite history as those others mentioned, but still sheffield history to a degree :)