View Full Version : Greaves of Sheffield


Touche
30-07-2005, 01:39
Does anyone remember the casemakers called Greaves on, I think, Matilda Street? They used to make cutlery canteens and hi-fi cases. I heard that the site had been demolished. Are there any photographs that someone can send me? Thanks.

RiffRaff
30-07-2005, 10:49
My brother-in-law was Sales Director for a while.
Yes, you're right, site "redeveloped" now.....
Greaves also used to have a retail outlet on West Street as far as I recall....

BILDEBORG
30-07-2005, 14:48
You could try this excellent site that has many thousands of Sheffield images

it appears I cannot paste a link untill I have made 5 posts....the name of the site is "PictureSheffield".....google it and you will be there

Good look.

Touche
31-07-2005, 00:18
Thanks for your replies. I used to work there until I left around 1988 or so. It was an incredibly busy place with non stop overtime. Some of the old time cabinet makers (no offence Ten Bob Ted) had worked there for forty years or over. I suppose its decline was linked to the decline of the cutlery industry, the receivers were called in about '87ish, though I don't know when it actually closed. It was a hellish place to work at....the standards were sky high and the pay wasn't that good. The writing was on the wall when they started making garage doors. I made the first prototype and they insisted on such high standards it was bound to lose money. Ah well, happy days.

lazarus
31-07-2005, 12:50
Originally posted by Touche
Does anyone remember the casemakers called Greaves on, I think, Matilda Street? They used to make cutlery canteens and hi-fi cases. I heard that the site had been demolished. Are there any photographs that someone can send me? Thanks.

I worked accross from Greaves at George Butlers, I can remember Mr Greaves coming every morning in his Rolls Royce. one of the men that worked there was called Stuart, I didnt know his surname but he worked there for years and he would help anybody, a women who befriended him asked him to go to her house just to check if her cat was o.k. She had split from her husband or boyfriend and he was hanging about when stuart went in to see to the cat, this man attacked him and stabbed him and killed him. stuart was a very honest, quiet and peaceful man and lost his life doing a favour.
The firm was sold to an Asian chap I believe but the business folded and now there are more bloody student flats there.

Touche
01-08-2005, 01:20
Ahh...I remember now...Stuart. That sticks in my memory, reading the headlines of the Star. I've racked my brains..Stuart Wolsteholme was his full name I think. He always said 'Y'alright kid?' If ever anyone would help you at Greaves it was Stuart. He was tall with tangled hair and most of all, he never moaned, is that right? George Butlers..I'd forgotten that one. That too was demolished wasn't it? Seem to remember Greaves making cutlery canteens for them. I know that things must move on but all these student flats and car parks (which I remember became the fate of the Butlers site) are no tribute to the hundreds of people that spent all there working lives there and all for the price of some tinpot clock or watch. Ten Bob Ted worked there for so long he forgot how he got his nickname!

Touche
01-08-2005, 01:24
Pardon me for going all nostalgic...does anyone remember the sandwich shop on Matilda Street? At tea break on Saturday mornings their sausage and tom were the perfect cure for hangovers from Friday night!

WallBuilder
01-08-2005, 01:35
If you are talking about the sandwich shop almost next door to the Matilda Tavern it is still there and is still owned and run by Eric and I think his son. The saus and tom were brill back in the 80's but he's changed his suppliers so they're not as tasty as they used to be.
I worked at M.M. Bells and used to often have to come round to Greaves to ask for their workers cars to be moved from the side of the building if we had a particullarily long vehicle attempting to reverse into our loading bays.
Struggling to remember the name of the old guy who ran the warehouse [Alan?] but I know I borrowed the forklift truck off him more than once.

Touche
01-08-2005, 01:40
Alan...wore a white coat with hair combed over his head a bit like Ralph Coates - haha! I'll try to remember his surname...was the Matida a Wards pub? Glad to hear of Erics but its sad about the sausage & tom....gone but not forgotten!

lazarus
02-08-2005, 18:19
Originally posted by Touche
Pardon me for going all nostalgic...does anyone remember the sandwich shop on Matilda Street? At tea break on Saturday mornings their sausage and tom were the perfect cure for hangovers from Friday night!

Erics sandwiches were great, I had several young lads working for me at Butlers and they always had two GEORGE B.E.S.T. --
Bacon , Egg , Sausage and Tomato. every Saturday morning.
Erics surname was Jarvis and I think they are still there.

You were spot on about Stuart, a very nice bloke.

joy clarkson
28-05-2008, 18:01
i work therein 1953 my surname was taylor. mr greaves was a lovely man .

when he pass away he left all is workers some money. i had a great time there .

that was a long time a go now but still remember some of the workers .

Lostinfrance
31-10-2010, 12:24
I grew up living across the street from Greaves'. Dad was caretaker at Smith & Hill's. Jarvis' was the new shop up the road from Pheobe's. Pheobe's sold just about everything except sliced bread and they had a great big german shepherd dog. When we were expecting 'company', mum would send me to Jarvis' for sliced bread and I think it cost 4d (not 4p).

Organgrinder
31-10-2010, 13:44
Pardon me for going all nostalgic...does anyone remember the sandwich shop on Matilda Street? At tea break on Saturday mornings their sausage and tom were the perfect cure for hangovers from Friday night!


Made my mouth water the minute I read that - how I enjoyed their delicious sandwiches.that was around 1957 to 1966.

Jim Hardie
31-10-2010, 22:39
Thanks for your replies. I used to work there until I left around 1988 or so. It was an incredibly busy place with non stop overtime. Some of the old time cabinet makers (no offence Ten Bob Ted) had worked there for forty years or over. I suppose its decline was linked to the decline of the cutlery industry, the receivers were called in about '87ish, though I don't know when it actually closed. It was a hellish place to work at....the standards were sky high and the pay wasn't that good. The writing was on the wall when they started making garage doors. I made the first prototype and they insisted on such high standards it was bound to lose money. Ah well, happy days.

My grandfather was a cabinet maker there. It would be in the fifties/sixties I think. His name was Walter Hydes.

kads
05-11-2010, 13:20
Hi.i worked there for a short time in 1961/2,and remember rex bacon of the four mimes (later the discoes).the only person there with his full name on his clocking in card

lazarus
07-11-2010, 11:08
The original Mr Greaves who started the firm is buried in the Norfolk St chapel grounds, his grave is raised and its made of what looks like brown polished granite or marble.

denlin
26-06-2011, 15:20
Know this thread is quite old but I worked at Greaves twice, first time was in early 1970's and the whole operation I worked on (record decks and speakers) was moved to Little London Road behind Abbey Glen laundry. One of the guys was Ernest Taylor and he was still there when I went back years later. Anybody else who used to work there? I also worked with Brian Grocutt twice, once at Greaves and then at Sheffield Rebuild.

Others I worked with - Lynn Kynoch, Elaine Johnson, Olwyn Coddington, Maureen Green, Tony Robertson. office girl Jackie - anyone remember labourer Wilf? Sylvia McKendry and her sister Diane, Alan Hill can't remember many more

okismoki
27-06-2011, 17:45
Know this thread is quite old but I worked at Greaves twice, first time was in early 1970's and the whole operation I worked on (record decks and speakers) was moved to Little London Road behind Abbey Glen laundry. One of the guys was Ernest Taylor and he was still there when I went back years later. Anybody else who used to work there? I also worked with Brian Grocutt twice, once at Greaves and then at Sheffield Rebuild.

Others I worked with - Lynn Kynoch, Elaine Johnson, Olwyn Coddington, Maureen Green, Tony Robertson. office girl Jackie - anyone remember labourer Wilf? Sylvia McKendry and her sister Diane, Alan Hill can't remember many more

Greaves was actually on Sidney Street,my first job was there, I lasted a week,David Fish was the foreman,Les Mould worked there,Alan,if i remember right,was nicknamed Ben Turpin.....Pete Atkin(later to become a doorman on the Crazy Daizy) and a lad called Sav are the ones i remember.

lynnielass
29-06-2011, 15:44
Greaves was actually on Sidney Street,my first job was there, I lasted a week,David Fish was the foreman,Les Mould worked there,Alan,if i remember right,was nicknamed Ben Turpin.....Pete Atkin(later to become a doorman on the Crazy Daizy) and a lad called Sav are the ones i remember.

I worked at Greaves! I remember a few of the names mentioned also some others.. Vic ?? Martin Wheatcroft. Vera? sorry can`t remember these surnames. Oh and there was Irene Constantine...

denlin
29-06-2011, 19:46
Are you Lynne Kynoch? Vic was Vic Hardy and his brother John worked there too. Vic married a lass called Shilrley and there was a labourer called Kevin Hardy, no relation

lynnielass
30-06-2011, 14:58
Are you Lynne Kynoch? Vic was Vic Hardy and his brother John worked there too. Vic married a lass called Shilrley and there was a labourer called Kevin Hardy, no relation

No. I`m Lynn Stacey (before I married). Who are you ?Yes I remember Shirley, did she & Vic do ballroom dancing? Do you remember Kath? Trying to remember a few other names but the old grey matter isn`t what it used to be!!!
:confused:

paul cooke
01-07-2011, 19:34
yes greaves was on sidney street, ernest taylor was at little london road,that was closed down and the he moved to sidney street,

denlin
03-07-2011, 12:14
No. I`m Lynn Stacey (before I married). Who are you ?Yes I remember Shirley, did she & Vic do ballroom dancing? Do you remember Kath? Trying to remember a few other names but the old grey matter isn`t what it used to be!!!
:confused:

Linda Theaker, Kath was Kathy Hatt, didn't you, Kath and Shirley start about same time?

lynnielass
03-07-2011, 16:38
Linda Theaker, Kath was Kathy Hatt, didn't you, Kath and Shirley start about same time?

Yes we did! We came from Foxon & Robinson.

denlin
03-07-2011, 16:43
I remember you. I moved to Little London Road, left and then came back to Sidney Street part-time years later. Worked with Brian Grocutt again about eight years ago at Sheffield Rebuild when I was receptionist and he was woodwork tutor

lynnielass
03-07-2011, 17:23
[QUOTE=denlin;7833692]I remember you. I moved to Little London Road, left and then came back to Sidney Street part-time years later. Worked with Brian Grocutt again about eight years ago at Sheffield Rebuild when I was receptionist and he was woodwork tutor[/QUOTE

My memory is shocking these days!! Sorry can`t place you::confused:help:

denlin
03-07-2011, 17:35
About 5 ft tall, knocked around with Lynn Kynoch and Elaine Johnson, bleached my hair blonde at front (well my cousin did, she's hairdresser) and then coloured the blonde bit shocking pink. These days it's all blonde, naturally:hihi::hihi::hihi:

lynnielass
06-07-2011, 15:53
About 5 ft tall, knocked around with Lynn Kynoch and Elaine Johnson, bleached my hair blonde at front (well my cousin did, she's hairdresser) and then coloured the blonde bit shocking pink. These days it's all blonde, naturally:hihi::hihi::hihi:

Did Elaine used to go out with Martin Wheatcroft?

denlin
06-07-2011, 16:05
Did Elaine used to go out with Martin Wheatcroft?

Yes, but it was a bit turbulent in the end. Martin was a bit volatile but I think Elaine used to wind him up. Graham Dawson got sacked by Les Grocutt and then I believe nutted him but I was at Little London then