When my familly lived at Kiveton Lane in Kiveton (1968 to '73) I remember being told a story about a WW2 German Prisoner of War. He was supposed to have built the walls around Keeton Hall Farm. Is this true? I always believed (and did at the time) that the Geneva Convention did not allow the use of POW's for manual labour that could aid their captors. Kevin Taylor.

hi
he built the stone barns in the farm yard,his name is in a stone above the door,forgot his name but will find out for you dont know if he built the walls.i belive he stayed in this country and married someone from harthill.
now heres the strange thing,same surname as you,lived on kiveton lane from1960 my mum still lives on there 1 was 13 in 1973 2 younger brothers and a older sister,bet we know each other pm me could be intresting

Careful here chaps! there may just be a bit of hidden family history about to be solved ;) nudge nudge wink wink say no more dear :D

My dad says his first name was August.

Originally posted by kev21662
I always believed (and did at the time) that the Geneva Convention did not allow the use of POW's for manual labour that could aid their captors.

German prisoners of war are also supposed to have laid the original roads on Parson Cross as well. At least thats what my dad told me and he lived on there from 1953 to 1970

Nearenuff - did you live at 270 or 272 Kiveton Lane? Was your Dad a retained fireman? I was 10/11 in 1973 and lived at 276. Kevin.

hi kev spot on,i have pmd you .

I understand that in its day, Keeton Hall (demolished 160 years ago) contained a stupendous art collection. It's difficult to believe that your own modest mining village once had its own "National Gallery"! Kevin Taylor.

hi kev,have you had a look on this site should bring back some memories.www.j31.co.uk

Cheers Neil. Yes, I've seen the site before. Kevin.

Hi, He was a great worker , worked for Bishop the Farmer landowner. he was very well liked and did marry a local girl.. There were two of them one was called Bruno. We had one stay with us he was billeted at Rotherham. They used to let them out to work for the local people. He stayed weekends with my Grandparents and helped out with the livestock. His name was Alfred Katofsky. He often sat and carved out a wooden toy for us. Alfred went back to Germany when they were released.

Originally posted by gales
His name was Alfred Katofsky. He often sat and carved out a wooden toy for us. Alfred went back to Germany when they were released.

This must have been a different person. The one that built the walls died in this country, in Dinnington.

Hi Woolspinner, Maybe I didn,t explain clearly enough for you. When I said two of them worked for Bishop that was August and Bruno, Alfred worked for my grandfather. He was the one that returned to Germany. The other two remained working in Todwick and married local girls.

PS Forgot to mention , I do have photographs of them in their uniforms. Alfred was a pilot, he was shot down somewhere down south and sent up to Rotherham.

Sorry gales, I got the wrong end of the stick.

Todwick Historical society have a video interview with one of the pow's. Gales would it be possible to get in touch for more information.

Gales, you might also remember my dad, George Pearson worked at Manor Farm at the time.

Hi, Sorry, haven't been on the site for a long time. I can send you a photo of Alfred. I live in Lancashire now so don't go to Kiveton often but will ask my friends see if they can get a copy of the video. gales

hi Gales' I saw your piece about the Edleys - I think we may be related my grandmother was Kate Edley born Wadsley Bridge 1902, daughter of Charles cited in census material as a Silver Comb Maker

Prisoners of war were allowed to do manual work as long as it did not help the war effort in any way.The roads round the cross and other parts of sheffield were built by german and italian ex. pows at the wars end.