l live in parson cross now and loooking for people who lived here and went to school here
as im in a local history group
and we would like people to tell us they story as how parson cross used to be
so we can make a memory box to take around the local schools and the old people homes in sheffield

I was brought up in a council house on Parsons Cross. When we first moved in we had one gas ring to cook on. The other cooking was done on a cast iron oven range, which backed onto and was heated by the living room coal fire. I often wonder if any houses still have the old oven range in them. I remember my Mum used to black lead the oven every week. She cooked lovely meals and fed her family for years with just those cooking facilities. I think today’s housewife would be horrified. People did not live on credit to the extent that they do now and I remember vividly when we could afford a gas cooker and the day it was delivered. My mother never stopped cleaning it.

Has anyone seen the picture from a Colley School outing?

Bet a few people can remember going to Barmouth in Wales in the 60s as it was a regular trip for 8 yrs or so.

Originally posted by fatjohn
I was brought up in a council house on Parsons Cross. When we first moved in we had one gas ring to cook on. The other cooking was done on a cast iron oven range, which backed onto and was heated by the living room coal fire. I often wonder if any houses still have the old oven range in them.


All the living room ranges were ripped out by the Council in the 1970's and converted to burn smoke-less coal. As the 'new fuel' was difficult to light, the grate had to have a gas supply and small electric fan fitted.

My dad's family were the second to move onto the new Parson Cross estate, they moved onto Helliwell Crescent and he often told me that he had to walk through muddy fields to get to work, as the rest of the estate was being built round them.
They moved from Apple street at neepsend, as they were clearing the slums at the time.

you will find old photo's on the Sheffield librarys site.

Hi,
I was born on the Cross in 1955, the seventh of eight kids. My mum and dad were the first to occupy the house on Wordsworth, and mum stayed their for 50 years before moving recently into sheltered accomodation in Hillsborough.
My "territory" was the area at the junction of Wordsworth and Deerlands. My friends and I built a Cycle Speedway track there, and had two teams - PC Eagles (my team) and PC Devils.
Local character was a guy called Pete Howe, born circa 1949, he was the nearest thing we had to a John Lennon. He played guitar (really well as it happens) and sang. He also had outrageous hair and clothes, and had lots of beautiful girlfriends. We were all jealous of him. Local haunts were the Youth Clubs at Meynell, Mansell and Colley schools. I played football for Mansell YC in 1970 - 73.
I went to Thommy More's junior school. In 1966 we reached Football final (lost to Mansell) and Rounders final (beat Lound). I still have the fotos of both teams - collectors'items indeed.
My mum, like many others, went to the shops everyday, and bought stuff for that evening's meal only. No freezers in them days. We had a fixed meal rota. My fave was Meat and Potato pie [Thursdays]. My first "local" was The Beagle. Landlord was a Jewish guy called Joe (Williams?). Lovely guy, kept a great pint of Tetleys......(I'll add more soon if you like)

I had a paper round at “Fogg’s” on Chaucer Road. I had “Yew Lane” which had the most Stars (73) but was fairly compact. On Sundays I used to deliver at Rocher (The small private estate off Creswick Lane). This had lots of “Observers” and “Sunday Times” so the bag was weighed down with supplements.
“Heenan’s” on Chaucer used to let us buy fags and beer even though we were only 12. They even split a pack of ten into two fives, and gave us loose matches. (5 Parkies and a can of Long Life – Luxury!!)
We were the first house in our bit to have a phone. (We weren’t wealthy, but my dad worked for the GPO and we got it installed for free). This was used by lots of neighbours and was the communicator of Births, Deaths, and all points in between. I remember one girl ringing and asking to speak to her mum (8 houses away) because her boyfriend had collapsed. When dad asked her for details, it turned out she was in Moenchengladbach!! (He was on National Service in Germany)
We used to get 8 pints of milk delivered each day, from the Co-Op. Mum payed using small yellow tokens (Milk Checks) which she bought at Margetson shops and got divvy on. I can still remeber her divvy number (31010).
The one thing that always made me angry, still does in fact, was when people called it “Parson’s Cross”. Even the buses sometimes had it on
More soon….

My first few jobs were all Steel and Engineering related. I started at John Bedford’s on Bernard Rd. The building is now the “Mega Center”, whatever that may be. In 1975 I worked at “Millspaugh” which was on the Don next to Tinsley Flyover. It’s now buried beneath Meadowhall Car Park.
I used to get a works bus, 194, from outside the Parson Cross Hotel. I carved my (first) girlfriend’s name on the shelter.
On Fulmere Crescent is a large roundabout which we called “The Big Island”. This was the best football pitch around. Some Sundays we had 13-a-side. We used to re-enact big matches. I remember in ’66 when we did the World Cup Semi Final between England and Portugal. I was Eusebio (naturally!).
In that year I saw a World cup match at Hillsboro, West Germany versus Switzerland. The Germans were brilliant and won 5-0 (I think). We were at the Leppings Lane end which was deemed the “Switzerland” end. We all got given little Swiss flags to wave. I supported Germany right up to the final after that, then switched back to England for the big day.
On the day of the final I went to a wedding. The reception was at the Cross (Parson Cross Hotel), in that large back room. Someone got hold of a small telly and managed to get a hazy picture on it. All the men were huddled round the telly drinking beer, and the women were sat, fed up, at the tables. It was a brilliant party later though. I had to go home at nine o’clock so I hid under a table instead.
I had a wonderful childhood

We lived at 7 Hillside ave from 1946 to 1953 I remember sledging on a curved piece from a anderson shelter from the top of Tunwell knowle down to the jews cemetery what was then Blind lane [Colley road] The makeshift sledge held about 8 small kids The german and italian prisoners of war made us wooden toys etc for cigarettes, We mixed freely with them no problems after they were freed many stayed here One of them was Karl Suck a friend and neighbour, I remember a large deep lime pit unfenced something to do with plastering the new houses I think it would be considered dangerous now.
Oh well happy days despite no phone or car or tv and little money oh and sweets on ration.

One lovely aspect of growing up in Parson Cross, was the Workingmen's Club Trip. Although the clubs had their issues, and certainly corruption was often mentioned, here was an act of true benevolence.
It was an annual event, usually taking place on a Tuesday in early August. The build up would consist of two or three weeks in which tickets were feverishly sought, bought, and exchanged. Coach numbers were critical, and it took a number of swaps before you and your mates were all on the same bus. Low numbers were prestigious, though truth be told it made precious little difference.
The day would start early. In my case I would try and persuade my dad to run me down to the Ritz. If that failed then I would walk or seek out an early 49, sitting next to all the Bassetts women, smoking and gossiping their way down Wordsworth Avenue, their white turbans a proud badge of community.
As I got off the bus, I could see the magnificent sight of thirty-plus charabangs lined up on Southey Green Road. The first few were all in the beautiful green livery of Law Brothers, the others a mixed bag of size and colour, each proudly displaying its On Hire To Law Bros sign, alongside the crucial bus number. The street was lined with Stewards loading crisps, pop and beer on to the coaches, kids, still trying to get a swapsie for their pal's chara, and mum's, bidding their charges farewell before going home for a rare day of peace.
We would typically try and sit near the back, allowing the freedom of being distant from the steward, and enabling a few crafty Woodbines to be passed around. As it was summer, many of the coaches had previously been used for fishing trips, so the predominant smell was Bream Snot. It was also common to share the back seat with a large family of maggots (I'm sure they did it on purpose) as cleaning the bus was the driver's responsibility, and few of them went overboard. After the usual hustle and bustle that goes with thirty-five excited kids, and a few verbal warnings from the stewards about behaviour (No Smoking? Yeah, that'll be right) the vehicles would pull away, one by one, and set off on the road to that great tourist haven, the Venice of the East Midlands, Cleethorpes.
Getting to Cleethorpes these days is a doddle. 90 minutes max on the motorway and you fall of the end of it into Grimsby, in 1968 it was so different. The convoy wound its way through South Yorkshire housing estates, which in turn gave way to leafy Lincolnshire lanes. People would wave at us (Honest! They really did) as we snaked though their quaint little villages, and we of course waved back, not yet brave enough to do moonies. There would normally be a halfway stop, a small transport cafe that served snacks and drinks. The main objective of course was the toilet, which would be flooded by the time the fourth coach had gone through. There was a Juke Box playing the hits of the day, and whenever I hear Death of a Clown by Dave Davies (Where's Brian Matthew's Knighthood, that's what I want to know!!) I am back in that little sticky bun bar. The garden next door had a small orchard, and there was always one lad who would get back on the bus, his pockets bulging with small sour apples, which were almost uneatable. I say almost because of course we did eat them. And threw the cores at locals as we resumed our invasion of their sleepy hollows.
Once we set off again, the steward would then carry out his most important task. Doling out the spendo! This was the high spot of the day, as a guy with a big bag of half-crowns came towards you, and picked out three (yes, three!!) for each kid. If you'd managed to con a further 2/6 out of your mum, that meant a total of ten bob!! All that dosh! Luxury
Arrival in Cleethorpes was usually signaled by a long traffic jam, as the parking attendants tried to shoehorn two-thirds of Sheffield's coach corps into the Victoria car park. The steward would then deliver his well rehearsed lines about lunch, displaying your badges, not getting lost, and making sure you were back on the bus by six sharp or it would leave without you, (for Angela Sellars that very nearly came true) then you were free. Free to roam the streets (street?) of Cleethorpes, armed with just half-a-quid and a lunch voucher for the Victoria cafe.
The events of the day were many and varied. I have memories of the Big Dipper (small as it turns out), donkeys, rifle-ranges, carousels, hot-dogs, brandy snaps (what a disappointment they were!), snogging, and top ten hits blaring out from the rides. My favourite item was the laughing policeman. This was a 1940s mannequin with paint peeling from its face, dressed in ill-fitting uniform, and sat in a glass case. When you put a penny in, it rocked back and forth to the accompaniment of the song, The Laughing Policeman. Stephen King must have seen this, as I'm sure it was the inspiration for about eight of his books. Scary doesn't cover it. I still have nightmares to this day, and if I'm being particularly mischievous, my wife threatens me with that song.
Lunch was a bun fight. Hundreds of ill-mannered brats shoveling fish and chips down their cakeholes. (Grimsby Fish, soaked in vinegar, now there's a memory to cherish) Nicking the ketchup off the next table before they had finished with it. Asking the waitress for Hendersons Relish, knowing full well that they wouldn't have it. Holding the saltcellar upside down and blowing the salt in a girl's face. (Boy, was I cool). Flicking peas at your mate. It was brilliant. The staff must have dreaded it. It would have taken ages to get the place back to normal.
Round about 5 o'clock, the seven and a kick long spent, we would congregate around the bus park, meeting up with others off your coach who you'd not seen all day. As the crowds built up, eventually the driver and steward would come, each carrying a crate of Long Life, and unlock the door. One by one we would file on, less excited now, positively weary, and slump into a seat ready for the long journey back. At ten past six, the other charas long gone, Angela Sellars would turn up, refusing to say what she'd been up to, but looking disheveled and red faced. Then, as an air of calm swept around the coach, the journey home would begin. Some brave soul would try and get a sing along going, {Bye Bye Blackbird, but NOT the Black and White Minstrels version} and there would be a dare to try and nick a Long Life, but it rarely amounted to anything.
After a sleep, if you were lucky, Barnsley appeared on the road signs, and then, like some modern day Xanadu, Parson Cross materialized before your very eyes, and you were at the club. The walk back up Wordsworth was full of animated conversation, about what you'd done, whom you'd snogged, and what Angela Sellars had actually been up to. Then home. A nice cup of tea, Late Night Line Up, bed, and the first of many visits by the Laughing Policeman.

My humble version of the 'Day Trip', this was on my website (when I had one)

DAY-TRIPPER
'Day-tripper'!! It was the title of a popular song later - The Beatles had a hit with it. It probably didn't make much sense to anyone who was not English, but it was enough to keep young kids dreaming for a whole year.It meant that we got to go on the annual trip to the 'seaside', any coastal resort in England.
The trip was 'put on' by members of the local 'Working Men's Club', and was open to the offspring of any member in good standing. I never knew what that meant, but I always got to go, so I really didn't care. Luckily for me, the club was at the bottom of the street where I lived, so I didn't have far to go to get on the 'coach', to use the English word.
There were at least five hundred buses chartered for the trip, and the service road at the bottom of the street very quickly filled up with big red and white 'S.U.T' coaches. They were soon filled with forty or so screaming kids, one driver, and one adult club member, who was a combination referee, chaperone, policeman and 'giver-out' of a bag of stale sandwiches, and a bottle of 'Tizer', a very local soft drink.
The younger kids carried a small metal pail, which was gaily decorated with whatever the early post-war years version of the Ninja Turtles was. None of us kids had TV at home, so we didn't know what other kids had. When we met kids from other cities, it was always interesting to see what their pails had painted on them - ours were always better, though! In the other hand was clutched a small shovel.
Here's the deal. When we got to the beach, the pails were quickly filled with sand, tamped down on top, then the pail was inverted, and the sand would make a small tower. Then the whole procedure would be repeated, until either the kid got tired, or the tide came in! That was the extent of the trip for the young kids, but for us nine or ten year olds, that was kid's stuff.
When we got on the coach at about 5.30 am, we were given the sandwiches and drink, and a small amount of money, which the older kids promptly took from us. (I did that myself later!) The organizing clubs got smarter in later years, after too many bawling kids would throw temper tantrums, because their money got stolen. In later years the kids were each given a name-tag on a string to hang around their necks. This way the concession operators were paid after the fact, the kids never had to carry money.The only instructions were from the driver. "If yer gunna be sick, be sick in yer bluddy bukits!" (Puke in the pail!)
The trip to the coast, back then, took quite a while, although we never did go more than about 100 miles from home. If we went to New Brighton, a resort across the Mersey River from Liverpool, (yes, that Liverpool) one of the more popular destinations, the trip seemed to take all day. Several large cities had to be crossed, there were no by-passes or ring-roads, you went through downtown!
To get to New Brighton, the coach had to go through the Mersey Tunnel, always one of the high-lights, (unless you were a rookie bus driver!) By the time we reached the tunnel entrance, all the bottles of Tizer had been drunk, English buses were not equipped with wash-rooms, so the pails became handy receptacles for the contents of hundreds of little bladders, (or stomachs, whatever!)The older and wiser of us would threaten the little kids with dire consequences if they spilled one drop on the bus! This was not as a favor to the bus-driver, however! Oh no! Something else entirely was planned.
I don't know when the Mersey Tunnel was built, or where it stood in the longest, deepest category of world tunnels, but it always impressed us kids from Sheffield. The walls of the tunnel were done in what I suppose were, originally, highly glazed white tiles.As the tunnel was thequickest way to get to New Brighton from Liverpool, goodness knows how many coaches, over the years, had hauled screaming kids, pails at the ready, through the tunnel.
When we 'oldies' determined that we were far enough into the tunnel, one of us would give the order to wind down the windows. At the same time we would make one hell of a lot of noise, screaming and yelling, until the adult on the coach would give up trying to settle us down, and retire to his seat at the back. This was all part of the plan.Even though what we were about to do was not very nice, or smart, we still had a healthy respect for any adult, and bus drivers were almost gods to us kids. Nevertheless, the next move was one of the highlights of the trip. On command, the by now full pails, (urine and stomach contents,) were poured, or more correctly, hurled at the tunnel walls.Seasoned bus drivers would maintain a very large following distance, rookie drivers always 'tail-gated'! You could always tell who was a rookie driver when you got off the coach in New Brighton. Yellow windshield!
When all the buses were parked, in a very large gravel lot, (no parking lots big enough) the adult on each bus would attempt to lay down rules for feeding, and the time to be back at the bus. Of course, none of us paid any attention to the speech, the 'oldies' were busy planning their day, and trying to get what money the younger kids had left after the bus ride. Imagine if you will, upwards of 2000 screaming kids invading a penny arcade, or running en masse to the beach, or, as most of us did, finding any place that had a juke-box, and girls!
Feeding took place in a very old, very ornate building, that had, I suppose, been used at one time as a live theater, probably also as a cinema, but was now relegated to the care and nurturing of thousands of screaming kids. At the appointed time, the kids in 'our' group would line up outside the building.Only the English will form a 'queue', and we were expected to maintain our place in line. God help anybody who tried to 'push-in'! As we were not the only group in New Brighton, we had to get in, eat, and get out fast. There were probably several thousand kids in town at any one time, so the meal had to be 'fast'.I don't remember any one menu from the time, but, as I only went on the trips until I was 'too cool', i.e 10 or so, the food could not have been very memorable, the war had only been over a few years, some food items were still rationed, so I imagine sandwiches and some kind of drink would have been the order of the day.
The other thing I remember vividly was the ceiling of the hall, or rather, the covering on the ceiling. Gold and blue shrouds of fabric were artfully arranged to resemble what I always though were clouds and sky.This material had no doubt been in place for many years, for we discovered that, if we made enough noise, and stamped our collective feet hard enough, thick clouds of dust would float down onto the tables, the food, and us, and, if we were real lucky, onto the heads of any adult unwise, or unknowing enough to eat with us.
Another cool place we went to was a little further north on the west coast of England. This was Blackpool, a large city that had several claims to fame.
The first was the 'Tower', a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I never knew the height of either tower, and never saw the Eiffel tower, (until many years later) but I instinctively knew that Blackpool Tower was the taller of the two, probably the tallest building in the world, at least in my world.
One of the other features of Blackpool was 'The Pleasure Beach'. This was a large outdoor amusement park, complete with all the requisite rides, a very long roller coaster, lots of 'merry go rounds', (carousels) and 'The Fun House'.The Fun House was dedicated to making as many kids as possible throw up in as short a time as possible, and contained several rides, all of them going up, down, or around, and, in one instance, the ride was simply a wide staircase, the problem being that each tread went up and down continually, the next tread never being 'in synch'. Around the perimeter of the Fun house were hundreds of penny slot machines, the closest we ever got to 'Vegas, the difference being that you never won anything! They were, to quote the metal plaque on each machine, ' For Amusement Only".
The Pleasure Beach contained several 'fast-food' stalls, comprising fish and chip stands, cotton candy, and my personal favorite, mini-donuts. You could watch these being made, never tiring of seeing a blob of dough being 'farted' (the closest I can come to the actual sound) down into a circular container of hot fat. The blob would bob around the container, and emerge from the tray as a perfectly formed donut. You have to remember that this was post war Britain, very post war, when delights of this nature were a 'once a year' treat for us kids.
To get from the Tower to the Pleasure Beach, at the other end of 'The Golden Mile' (more on this later), involved a ride on a tram. This was the English street-car. I never knew these vehicles by any other name, unless I was talking to an adult about them, whereupon they were 'tram-cars'. I suspect that 'tram' was short for something, but I never knew what! My home-town of Sheffield had a very extensive network of 'tram-lines', and I grew up riding the tram. Unlike Sheffield's system, which were exclusively double-decker' trams, Blackpool's trams were single deckers, and, if memory serves me, only ran on the beach front, known as The Promenade, or 'The Prom'.
After spending some time in the Tower, the base of which was surrounded by several theaters, arcades, and stores, and maybe riding up to the top of the tower, (900 feet comes to mind, for some reason), the time would come when the pull of the pleasure beach could no longer be fought. Onto the tram we would jump, being very careful to pay the one penny fare, and we would strain to see the roller coaster.
Blackpool was a very popular destination with us kids, because it always meant a very late return home, usually in the wee hours of the morning. Blackpool was only ninety miles from Sheffield, but a late start on the return journey was necessary because of what made Blackpool famous! Blackpool Illuminations!
Between the Tower and the Pleasure Beach, was The Golden Mile.' The beach front road in every resort town in England is known as 'The Prom', but only Blackpool has the 'Golden Mile'. This was a very wide street, eight lanes, with two tram tracks, parking on both sides, and, to us, the most fantastic sight in the whole world. Stretched out between each lamp post, and across the street, were literally hundreds of animated, lighted displays, in every color of the rainbow.
The 'illuminations' were not a permanent fixture, but left everybody who saw them breathless with delight. As we always went on the trip in the summer, it stayed light quite late, and, of course, there was no point running the Golden Mile until it got dark, we always got what we considered a bonus, we got to stay up past our bed time.Traffic was always extremely heavy after dark, that was the other reason we got home late.
Now we come to Blackpool's other claim to fame.Blackpool Rock is a very popular confection in England, other coastal resorts make it, but their's always pales in comparison to the monsters made in Blackpool.Slightly thicker than a broom handle, and 18 inches long, Blackpool Rock is unique in that the words Blackpool Rock are visible on the end of the 'stick', and go all the way through to the other end. The letters are simply different colored candy, the whole thing being made from sugar and coloring. The Rock is meant for sucking, it is usually wrapped in waxed paper, and was the first English 'fast-food'.No trip to Blackpool was considered a success unless Rock and Humbugs were bought.
Humbugs were a peppermint candy, quite large, and were shaped like the 'Tetra-Pak'. This is a rather unique shape, almost unexplainable, (by me, anyway), but one format was individual coffee cream containers, albeit much smaller.
Blackpool Rock, as long as the excess paper was re-twisted, had a very long shelf life, important in an era when 'fridges were exclusive to the rich in England.
All in all, it was considered a 'good' trip if you threw up on the roller coaster, or in the bus on the way home.

I saw Jimmy Clitheroe in Blackpool. 1965 (I think), at the Winter Garden. Susan Maughan was on with him. When he came on stage he threw his cap like a frisbee, and it landed on a hatstand. He also did it when he was in Aladdin at the Lyceum. Never saw him fail.

I posted a reply today[27/06/04 History and Expats ] to a query about hardware shops.My reply has some of my memories of the shops on Margetson Cres;
See if it jogs the memories of you old timers.

Just to help everyone, the thread you need to look at is 'Fishers Ironmongers'.

Old Parson Cross Joke

"Why did Jesus die on the Cross?

Because there were no houses left on the Manor"

Originally posted by sandy
l live in parson cross now and loooking for people who lived here and went to school here
as im in a local history group
and we would like people to tell us they story as how parson cross used to be
so we can make a memory box to take around the local schools and the old people homes in sheffield


Hi Sandy,
I was born on the Parson Cross Estate,Wordsworth Ave to be exact in 1959, I grew up there till I was 14yrs old, then we moved to U.S.A.
My grandparents and parents moved into the house when it was brand new, thats the house I was born in along with my brother and sister.
My grandparents remained there till 1988, and so many things had changed.
I remember the news agent use to be at one time Mr Daley, then it was taken over by Aldams, then there was Straws, the chippy was owned by Mr. Mrs Bellhouse and the fruit shop was Leaches.
Boy do I miss those days .
I would love to hear from any old neighbours from around there.
There is never no where like home.

Did you have a sister called Pat?

Demolition of 900 homes at Parson Cross is well under way and Parson Cross College (the former Colley School and Saint Peters School) is due to follow.


Does anyone know what the future building plans are for the area ?

I'm sure that the 110 bus used to travel up Donovan Road at the side of the Fortyfoot pub, past the Magnet pub at Southey and turn full circle on the roundabout at the bottom of Adlington Road before returning to Bridge Street in town.

Years later it was extended to run down Colley Road and up to a terminus on Colley Crescent, probably as the number 79.

Would anyone remember my old school psl Cybill Guy ? she lived on the Parsons Cross estate, i use to roller skate to her house from South Green the we would skate off to school together.
Cybill the joind the W.R.A.C. (peace time ) I joined about a year later, thats when we lost touch.

[i]Originally posted by Unregistered [/i

Years later it was extended to run down Colley Road and up to a terminus on Colley Crescent, probably as the number 79. [/B]

Yes, you are right, I lived on Colley Crescent from being 12 to 22 across from the terminus stop and I can remember the number 10 went down the hill to Colley road and the 79 went up the hill over to Tunwell, My parents still live there.

I thought so.


Where is the boundary between Parson Cross and Ecclesfield?

Originally posted by Unregistered
I thought so.


Where is the boundary between Parson Cross and Ecclesfield?

I always thought it was at the end of Colley Road, where the P.Office is.

Post code S5 includes Parson Cross - S35 includes Ecclesfield and I think anything past the post office (not behind it) is S35.

Unless anyone else knows different!!

I was five years old when we moved on to Parson Cross.
We lived on Milnrow Road and the houses on Wordsworth Avenue (at the bottom of our back garden) were only just being built.
We used to play on the planks between the houses and climb down the brand new incomplete empty sewerage man holes and play at hide and seek. We also used to play at cowboys and indians.
The first school I went to was Chapeltown Lound Infants School, and then I went to Mansel Junior School.
We used to go down to the brook between Holgate Road and Deerlands Avenue with our wellies on.
One day I was walking with me dad on Milnrow when we met Tony Dalli. My dad could speak some Italian and they had a short friendly conversation.
We used to go to the youth club at the corner of Wordsworth Avenue and Remington Road. A travelling fair used to visit this site, which we enjoyed immensely.
I went to Ecclesfield Secondary Modern School at the time and they used to have a fair at the side of the school towards Wordsworth Avenue.
I remember going to the fair in my new 'teddy boy' petrol blue drapes and crepes. I thought I was Jack the Lad!
We moved to Colley Crescent when I was fifteen and I bought a motorbike when I was eighteen. It was a Matchless 250 with a Red and white petrol tank and it was quite heavy to handle.

Originally posted by Alanbro

We used to go to the youth club at the corner of Wordsworth Avenue and Remington Road. A travelling fair used to visit this site, which we enjoyed immensely.
I went to Ecclesfield Secondary Modern School at the time and they used to have a fair at the side of the school towards Wordsworth Avenue.
I remember going to the fair in my new 'teddy boy' petrol blue drapes and crepes. I thought I was Jack the Lad!
We moved to Colley Crescent when I was fifteen and I bought a motorbike when I was eighteen. It was a Matchless 250 with a Red and white petrol tank and it was quite heavy to handle.

No offence Alanbro but I think you may have been a little before my time - but I also went to a youth club on Wordsworth it was called The Tanner Hop, mid/late sixties -I also remember the Fair, it was on the spare ground just down from the Wordsworth Tavern and the one in Ecclesfield used to be at the side of the Ball Inn.

I notice you are from Rother Valley, I used to live over there when it was called Brookhouse, not far from the colliery....happy days.

I used to deliver newspapers on Milnrow Rd and Wordsworth Ave .This would be 1953.

Originally posted by twinky1
I always thought it was at the end of Colley Road, where the P.Office is.

Post code S5 includes Parson Cross - S35 includes Ecclesfield and I think anything past the post office (not behind it) is S35.

Unless anyone else knows different!!

Seems correct ! - I wonder if S5 is the most densely populated Sheffield postcode. It was all fields in 1937 - from the Five Arches to Ecclesfield, the full length of what now is Wordsworth Avenue.

The OLD Wordsworth Tavern (pre 1966)

What a dive.

I bet no one has a photo.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Seems correct ! - I wonder if S5 is the most densely populated Sheffield postcode. It was all fields in 1937 - from the Five Arches to Ecclesfield, the full length of what now is Wordsworth Avenue.

It may well be - it not only takes in the Five Arches to Ecclesfield it also includes Shiregreen and I think Firth Park.

As for The Tavern, I have no photo's but I do remember it well, it used to be my Dads local.

My friends and I used to come from the youth club and hang about the Tavern off licence - can you remember John,( he had Downs Syndrome) he used to help out on the counter?.

Was it 1966 when it was knocked down? I thought it was later.

To Twinky 1

Dean Marshall and the Deputies started life at the Tanner Hop as you call it. They went on to become Jigsaw.

Originally posted by Alanbro
To Twinky 1

Dean Marshall and the Deputies started life at the Tanner Hop as you call it. They went on to become Jigsaw.

Jigsaw seems to be a memory from my dim and distant past, canyou remember the other band members names?

What other name did the Tanner Hop have (if any) ?

Originally posted by twinky1


As for the Wordsworth Tavern, I have no photo's but I do remember it well, it used to be my Dads local.

My friends and I used to come from the youth club and hang about the Tavern off licence - can you remember John, (he had Downs Syndrome) he used to help out on the counter?

Was it 1966 when it was knocked down? I thought it was later.

Yes I remember John - I think his mother worked there too.

You're right, the Wordsworth Tavern was knocked down later than 1966. I just know that it was definately still standing in that landmark year, due to the World Cup. It may have come down in 1968 but both pubs were standing alongside each other for a short period.

I only knew the Tanner Hop by that name although I never actually went. I seem to remember going to Youth Clubs at Monteney, Colley and Meynall Schools at various times, followed by that horrid ''in between period of limbo'' when you are ''too old'' for Youth Clubs and ''too young'' to get in a boozer with any confidence. We probably hung around Margetson Shops, bored stiff and being a nuisance - not much different from kids of today, although we did have The Ritz cinema on Saturday mornings!

Probably the first ''underage'' pub we got in was the Ball Inn at Ecclesfield. Old Arthur and Maud Smith never asked our age and it was a case of ''out of sight - out of mind'' in the back room. We then progressed to the Tankard (now the Stocks) run by Trevor who never spent a dime on the place but we loved the jukebox.

The Griffin was also on the go (now closed) with toilets plumbed in by numerous bits and pieces of plastic fittings that the Landlord had obviously nicked from the Public Works Department at the rear of Margetson shops, where he also worked!

In the early 70's the place to be was the Shiregreen Hotel with live bands on Friday and Saturdays. The place was just heaving with people. The greedy brewery ruined it by obtaining a late night extension. The neighbours were plagued by late night noise and got the licence removed - it was never the same again after that.

I'm sure the Tavern is still standing - pity the rest of the estate is not.

Originally posted by Internetowl
I'm sure the Tavern is still standing - pity the rest of the estate is not.


Maybe the Right To Buy council housing is to blame.


People bought all the decent houses - leaving all the rubbish housing behind to deteriorate even faster.

I lived at shiregreen in 66 onwards and remember quite a few characters from the cross area as we spent most of our time there.
there was a man who everybody ran away from called arnie
he was probably very sweet but because he was a bit different
the kids were scared of him. poor arnie.

Also well known large families -kerrigans, staniland's, crookes ,sutherlands, wilsons, were around at that time.

We also went to colley youth club-69 to 70 ish.
And we had a lot of friends who went to colley school.
- graham daggert, mick peacock,malc young, john brice- i think.
and someone nicknamed hoof.
anyone know these.

Also one of my relatives lived near tavern i think, he was called Alf and only had one leg.

Originally posted by twinky1
Jigsaw seems to be a memory from my dim and distant past, canyou remember the other band members names?

What other name did the Tanner Hop have (if any) ?

I don't remember the youth club having any other name. I think they may have called it Colley Youth Club when I went there.
I was 16 in 1958, so it is probably a bit before your time.
Barry Marshall was the real name of Dean, but I don't remember any other names of the rest of the band.
How old would you be in 1958, twinky 1, if you don't mind me asking?

Originally posted by Alanbro
I don't remember the youth club having any other name. I think they may have called it Colley Youth Club when I went there.
I was 16 in 1958, so it is probably a bit before your time.
Barry Marshall was the real name of Dean, but I don't remember any other names of the rest of the band.
How old would you be in 1958, twinky 1, if you don't mind me asking?

I don't mind you asking at all - I was 5yrs in 1958.

Do the names Pauline Kidd, Ray Hines, Tony Shipman ring any bells.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Yes I remember John - I think his mother worked there too.

You're right, the Wordsworth Tavern was knocked down later than 1966. I just know that it was definately still standing in that landmark year, due to the World Cup. It may have come down in 1968 but both pubs were standing alongside each other for a short period.

I only knew the Tanner Hop by that name although I never actually went. I seem to remember going to Youth Clubs at Monteney, Colley and Meynall Schools at various times, followed by that horrid ''in between period of limbo'' when you are ''too old'' for Youth Clubs and ''too young'' to get in a boozer with any confidence. We probably hung around Margetson Shops, bored stiff and being a nuisance - not much different from kids of today, although we did have The Ritz cinema on Saturday mornings!

Probably the first ''underage'' pub we got in was the Ball Inn at Ecclesfield. Old Arthur and Maud Smith never asked our age and it was a case of ''out of sight - out of mind'' in the back room. We then progressed to the Tankard (now the Stocks) run by Trevor who never spent a dime on the place but we loved the jukebox.

The Griffin was also on the go (now closed) with toilets plumbed in by numerous bits and pieces of plastic fittings that the Landlord had obviously nicked from the Public Works Department at the rear of Margetson shops, where he also worked!

In the early 70's the place to be was the Shiregreen Hotel with live bands on Friday and Saturdays. The place was just heaving with people. The greedy brewery ruined it by obtaining a late night extension. The neighbours were plagued by late night noise and got the licence removed - it was never the same again after that.

I think we may have been in the same place at the same time at some point in the past - I can relate to everything you have written.

Same youth clubs, same pubs, same time,

Monteney youth club was the first one I went to, then it was either Mansell,Meynall and Colley, we also went to Mrs Rollets in Ecclesfield, can you remember that one ?

My friends and I also spent our first underage drinking spree's in The Ball Inn and The Griffin ( Jean and Al Smith, Landlord and Lady). Always ended up in Winnie Cacks for chips and fish with scraps - the best, well after a few beer and limes.

I loved going in The Tankard, I thought Trevor had a wicked sense of humour and also a friend of mine used to work behind the bar. I have occaisionally seen Stella, Trevors wife, shopping in Ecclesfield, I think his daughter Judy still live there.

We had some great times at The Shiregreen - could be a bit rough though, there was always some kind of scrap at chucking out time,

When The Shiregreen closed down we then moved on th The George 1V on Infirmary Road.

Originally posted by tara


We also went to colley youth club-69 to 70 ish.
And we had a lot of friends who went to colley school.
- graham daggert, mick peacock,malc young, john brice- i think.
and someone nicknamed hoof.
anyone know these.

Also one of my relatives lived near tavern i think, he was called Alf and only had one leg.

I remember these names Tara, they were at school with my sister, she would have been at the youth club at the same time. I knew Malc Youngs older sister Anne, she was in the year below me at Colley.

My mother worked at the old Tavern for a few years
Her name was May , a small skinny woman.
She was still there when I left England in 66.
She died in 02 at the age of 88
Does anyone remember Clarks who lived on Knutton Rd.
I think it was Johnny,he had Celebral Palsy and frequented the Tavern.I was friends with his older brother but his name escapes me.I always remember their mother.Mrs Clark seemed a very nice lady.
It seems I remember most of my friends mothers treating me with the greatest kindness.

Originally posted by sweetdexter
My mother worked at the old Tavern for a few years
Her name was May , a small skinny woman.
She was still there when I left England in 66.
She died in 02 at the age of 88
Does anyone remember Clarks who lived on Knutton Rd.
I think it was Johnny,he had Celebral Palsy and frequented the Tavern.I was friends with his older brother but his name escapes me.I always remember their mother.Mrs Clark seemed a very nice lady.
It seems I remember most of my friends mothers treating me with the greatest kindness.

The Tavern was my Dads local in those days, I will ask him if he remembers your Mum.

As a Youngster I can remember a dark haired man who used The Tavern and Margetson shops, he had Cerabal Palsy, never knew his name but he always spoke to us kids who hung around the pub and shops, I remember some kids were frightened of him cos he was a bit different. Could he be the same man?

BTW, whereabouts in Canada do you live, I visit friends who live in Hamilton Ontario once or twice a year - love it.

Originally posted by sweetdexter



Does anyone remember Clarks who lived on Knutton Rd.
I think it was Johnny, he had Celebral Palsy and frequented the Tavern. I was friends with his older brother but his name escapes me. I always remember their mother. Mrs Clark seemed a very nice lady.

It seems I remember most of my friends mothers treating me with the greatest kindness.

I think you mean Walter Clark. He's still around, although he uses an electric wheelchair. I never knew any of his family but he used to play football and cricket on the three fields around Margetson Road, where they have built Colley Club, a church and some housing.

Originally posted by twinky1



We also went to Mrs Rollets in Ecclesfield, can you remember that one ?

I loved going in The Tankard, I thought Trevor had a wicked sense of humour and also a friend of mine used to work behind the bar. I have occaisionally seen Stella, Trevors wife, shopping in Ecclesfield, I think his daughter Judy still lives there.




I vaguely remember Rollets although I only went once or twice. If it's the right place, it had a wooden stage that would nip the back of your leg when you sat on it. Weird thing to remember. Somewhere up The Wheel I think.

Trevor died many years ago. He had bought two houses on Picking Lane (behind The Ball) when they were first built. I know Judy lived in one of them but I haven't seen her or Stella for ages. A girl called Jean Plant was the only person I remember working there. Not seen her for about 30 years.

Thank you 'Unregitered' .It was Walter.
John would be the brother who was more my age.
Twinky1 if you go to your PM box

Originally posted by Unregistered
I vaguely remember Rollets although I only went once or twice. If it's the right place, it had a wooden stage that would nip the back of your leg when you sat on it. Weird thing to remember. Somewhere up The Wheel I think.

Trevor died many years ago. He had bought two houses on Picking Lane (behind The Ball) when they were first built. I know Judy lived in one of them but I haven't seen her or Stella for ages. A girl called Jean Plant was the only person I remember working there. Not seen her for about 30 years.

Yes - Rollets was up The Wheel at the old church on the left as you go up the hill.

Judy moved from Picking Lane and moved onto The Floogate Estate.

Jean Plant was the friend I mentioned who worked at the Tankard.

Originally posted by sweetdexter
Thank you 'Unregitered' .It was Walter.
John would be the brother who was more my age.
Twinky1 if you go to your PM box

Walter, that was the chap.

Originally posted by sweetdexter
My mother worked at the old Tavern for a few years
Her name was May , a small skinny woman.
She was still there when I left England in 66.
She died in 02 at the age of 88
Does anyone remember Clarks who lived on Knutton Rd.
I think it was Johnny,he had Celebral Palsy and frequented the Tavern.I was friends with his older brother but his name escapes me.I always remember their mother.Mrs Clark seemed a very nice lady.
It seems I remember most of my friends mothers treating me with the greatest kindness.

I remember May, she was lovely. My brother Pete worked there with her a while. Didn't she have a daughter Janice?

Sheffield Council Archives 24 June 2004.

''Parson Cross Neighbourhood Action Team

The Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) has been operational for about four months and has been working closely with Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations and the Police to tackle some of the anti social behaviour in the area. The NAT concentrate on prevention, education, and engagement and they complement the Anti Social Behaviour Team who are responsible for enforcement action.

The main area of work for the NAT is working directly with the community to identify anti social behaviour problems, prioritise them, and then look at the best way to solve the problems.

One of the initiatives identified and undertaken so far is working with retailers and local community on resolving anti-social behaviour at Margetson shops.''

=========================

Some people are working hard to improve the area.

It would help if Parents knew what their kids were up to, before they get a knock on the door from Police and before their name is added to the Police computer.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I remember May, she was lovely. My brother Pete worked there with her a while. Didn't she have a daughter Janice?

A lady called Mrs Smedley( can't remember first name) once worked there,she had a daughter called Janice.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Sheffield Council Archives 24 June 2004.

''Parson Cross Neighbourhood Action Team '

=========================

Some people are working hard to improve the area.

It would help if Parents knew what their kids were up to, before they get a knock on the door from Police and before their name is added to the Police computer.

Agreed, but check out the thread about 5 years for smacking a child. Parents won't have any control if silly laws like these are enforced.

Mind you we could send naughty kids to theyr'e rooms to play on theyr'e computers,DVD's play stations whilst they listen to there latest hi-fi or watch television. That'll teach em - they won't be bad again!!!!!!!!

Yep - things can only get better. Maybe.

Buchanan Road shops (Wordsworth Avenue end) have raised a petition objecting to a relocation into new buildings.

They want money to be spent on their existing premises.

Did you remember the house that exploded on Margetson Crescent, half way between the shops and the Wordsworth Tavern?

It was about 1970 (at a guess) when the area was being converted from Coal Gas to North Sea Gas.

A spark from an electric light switch ignited gas that had been leaking into the house all day.

We once went in the Beagle.

We didn't stay long.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Did you remember the house that exploded on Margetson Crescent, half way between the shops and the Wordsworth Tavern?

It was about 1970 (at a guess) when the area was being converted from Coal Gas to North Sea Gas.

A spark from an electric light switch ignited gas that had been leaking into the house all day.

I remember it - it was the last house before the catholic church

:confused: AND SO, THE HOUSES DISAPPEAR,
RETURNED TO FIELDS, THAT ONCE, WERE HERE.
IT'S A MYSTERY WHAT THE COUNCIL DO,
I KNOW NOT WHY, AT ALL, DO YOU?:help:

Originally posted by herbiegrass
:confused: AND SO, THE HOUSES DISAPPEAR,
RETURNED TO FIELDS, THAT ONCE, WERE HERE.
IT'S A MYSTERY WHAT THE COUNCIL DO,
I KNOW NOT WHY, AT ALL, DO YOU?:help:


Parson Cross will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and become the new Dore and Totley.


(lmao - I can't keep a straight face)

Originally posted by Saxon
I remember it - it was the last house before the catholic church

I remember that too!
I was dead jealous because they got a virtual new house from it. Full decoration in and out, new pebble dash, the works. It looked really posh.
The kid who lived there went to Colley School but I can't remember his name.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I remember that too!
I was dead jealous because they got a virtual new house from it. Full decoration in and out, new pebble dash, the works. It looked really posh.
The kid who lived there went to Colley School but I can't remember his name.

Hey Bushbaby, do you have twin brothers, one called Pete ?.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I remember that too!
I was dead jealous because they got a virtual new house from it. Full decoration in and out, new pebble dash, the works. It looked really posh.
The kid who lived there went to Colley School but I can't remember his name.

Warren ?

Hard to imagine that Parson Cross was well known for its wild deer.

Part of it was once known as the Deer Lands.

Deer Lands Farm was near Mount Tabor.

Hence the Deerlands Avenue of today.

Wordsworth and Southey were famous poets - who were Colley and Margetson ?

Originally posted by Unregistered
Parson Cross will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and become the new Dore and Totley.


like the manor will become the new fulwood!! :P lol

Hi unregistered.
The names of the streets fascinate me.
Who decides what streets are to be called what name?
I lived on Rokeby Drive,I can only think it was named after Rokeby Hall in N Yorkshire.
Holgate was the bishop of York,also Middlsbourgh F.C. has an 'Holgate End' Which i prosume was the name of a street i.e. Leppings Lane End

Originally posted by sweetdexter
Hi unregistered.
The names of the streets fascinate me.
Who decides what streets are to be called what name?
I lived on Rokeby Drive,I can only think it was named after Rokeby Hall in N Yorkshire.
Holgate was the bishop of York,also Middlsbourgh F.C. has an 'Holgate End' Which i prosume was the name of a street i.e. Leppings Lane End

Hi Sweetdexter,

I assume that the Council planning department choose the street names.

I seem to remember being told that post-1947 Parson Cross streets were named after people, mainly poets.

So who were Wheeta, Remington, Turie, Milnrow, Dugdale, Monteney, Adlington, Buchannan, Brailsford, Butchill, Greaves, Reneville, Morral, Knutton, Fulmere, Lytton, Falstaff and Lindsay?

I used to think that Parson Cross had been there forever when it was the centre of my childhood universe! It's difficult for me to picture most of it as farm fields in 1947 and ALL of it as farm fields in 1937 - but the current demolition of 900 houses is really changing the landscape back to something like it must have been.

Being able to actually see the Parson Cross Hotel directly from Chaucer School is really weird - that view never existed on the old 49 bus route from Bridge Street!

Going along Buchanan Road is even worse. It seems like every third block of four is missing. It's a bit like one of those strange towns Clint Eastwood is stuck in in the "Dollar" films.
For those of us born and raised on The Cross it has become quite alien.

It doesn't make sense.

What are they going to build in the random spaces ?

I have often wondered about the origin of the name, Parson Cross.
It obviously comes from the street at Wadsley Bridge, Parson Cross Road, but what was the origin of that name?
I recently read a book about the origin of street names in Sheffield, which says that Parson Cross Road was originally called Parson Crosse Layne, and is mentioned in a survery from the 1650s, but the source of the name remains a mystery.

Can anybody throw a bit more light, or will it be a mystery forever.....??

Walter is still around, he's in Deerland's nursing home now which is on Margetson Road.

The house that exploded on Margetson - wasn't it the Warrens who lived there?

A lot of the streets were named after people in literary fields but also after artists.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I have often wondered about the origin of the name, Parson Cross.
It obviously comes from the street at Wadsley Bridge, Parson Cross Road, but what was the origin of that name?
I recently read a book about the origin of street names in Sheffield, which says that Parson Cross Road was originally called Parson Crosse Layne, and is mentioned in a survery from the 1650s, but the source of the name remains a mystery.

Can anybody throw a bit more light, or will it be a mystery forever.....??

Parson Cross Road does not appear on maps of 1855, let alone 1650, although Parson Cross School does appear.

The road from what is now The White Horse to The Ritz (now Southey Green Road) was known as School Lane.

The Ritz area (built 1937) was known as Toad Hole.

The rest of Southey Green Road, from The Ritz to the Southey roundabout where The Magnet pub used to be, was called Toad Hole Lane in 1855.

The Magnet pub (now demolished) was built on a site occupied by another pub in 1855 called the Travellers Inn.

Parson Cross Turnpike (where people paid a toll to use the road) was situated at the junction of Foxhill Road and Halifax Road in 1855, just above Wadsley Bridge railway station.


Click Here for a map of the area in 1855. (http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldmaps/servlet/RawImageServlet?application=oldmaps&command=omStartup.sh&operation=large&save=OFF&imageList=/datar/raid6/40york1/ep1/40288001.TIF&projParams=33 32767 2 9 6377563.3959999997 0.0066705398 1.0000000000 0.0000000000 -1.0804866552 53.9620170593 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 0.0000000000&westTM=432383.0&eastTM=434617.0&southTM=390751.7021755439&northTM=392248.2978244561&zoomLevel=6&winWidth=2666&winHeight=1786)

A teacher at Fox Hll school in the 1960's told me that Parson Cross was named because it was the area where the two parsons from seperate villages used to cross paths with each other as they walked to their respective churches each day.
Don't know if there is any truth in this.

Originally posted by hillsborough
A teacher at Fox Hll school in the 1960's told me that Parson Cross was named because it was the area where the two parsons from seperate villages used to cross paths with each other as they walked to their respective churches each day.
Don't know if there is any truth in this.


Interesting - I wonder . . .


We were told various origins . . .


There was a Parson whose name was Mr Cross - or Parson Cross.

Someone slapped the Parson - the Parson was Cross.

A Parson placed a cross on Halifax Road to remind travellers that the Lord is with them on their travels.

Incidentally, the Parson Cross map posted two posts ago should show an enlargement symbol if you leave your cursor on the map for a few seconds.

ALL the houses on Buchanan Road between Adlington Road and Buchanan Drive have now been demolished. It looks pretty strange.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Interesting - I wonder . . .



ALL the houses on Buchanan Road between Adlington Road and Buchanan Drive have now been demolished. It looks pretty strange.

:clap: it's a big improvement , you can see where all the chavs are hiding :suspect:

Originally posted by fridgeman
:clap: it's a big improvement , you can see where all the chavs are hiding :suspect:


I wish I knew what a chav was. :suspect:

I left Parson Cross in 1965 when I got married.
We had the reception at the Greyhound.

I lived on Pollard Avenue until 1965 when I married. I remember school pals, Roger Wall, John Rawson, Jimmy Crossley Ann Shaw all who lived in and around pollard. used to be an electric sub station known as power house we played round as kids. The ritz cinema was our local flicks and we all used to go on the club trip from southey wmc, the chara's used to line up all the way down southey hill and we would swap tickets to get on same chara as your pals.

Originally posted by Madgeca



We all used to go on the club trip from southey wmc, the chara's used to line up all the way down southey hill and we would swap tickets to get on same chara as your pals.


We did the same thing with Wadsley Bridge WMC.

But all I remember is being sat next to someone with stinking boiled egg sandwiches. Funny how some things stick in your mind as though they happened only last week.

Are there any notorious people from the Cross ?

Originally posted by Unregistered
Are there any notorious people from the Cross ?

:heyhey: yes , everyone who lives up there :P

Originally posted by Unregistered
Are there any notorious people from the Cross ?

David Blunkett

Pete and Ben Howe - cycle speedway aces and part time Kings o' Cross.

Bush Baldwin Senior Ledger Worth Quince Fieldhouse Howe Howell Sadler Naylor Self Warren Platt Ganley Thompson Wood Crapper Chafer Knight Moor Colton Pashley West Shaw Roberts
Cain Dempsey Jubb Peace Bloomer

I think they all lived on or near Wordsworth Ave in the Sixties.

senior and knight still live up there if i'm not mistaken (could the senoir be joe or even jack) both frequent the southey social club,jacks retired and joe ,well he's just joe a local character lol

Originally posted by Unregistered
Bush Baldwin Senior Ledger Worth Quince Fieldhouse Howe Howell Sadler Naylor Self Warren Platt Ganley Thompson Wood Crapper Chafer Knight Moor Colton Pashley West Shaw Roberts
Cain Dempsey Jubb Peace Bloomer

I think they all lived on or near Wordsworth Ave in the Sixties.

I'm a Bush (surprise surprise!!) as mentioned above.
Mom (Angela) is still on the go. She's 88 and lives in sheltered accomodation near Hillsboro Park.
Lots of the listed names ring bells:-
Seniors, Baldwins and Ledgers were all family friends, and I knew many of the other families on the list.
A personal email from any of them would be welcome.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Pete and Ben Howe - cycle speedway aces and part time Kings o' Cross.

Pete was also a brilliant musician and songwriter. Parson Cross's answer to John Lennon. "King of the Saucepans" was one song which sticks in the memory.

Other cycle speedway aces were:
Terry Wilson, Pete Lee, John Bush, Ray Burns, Tony Kane, Johnny Fountain, Graham Hoole, Tony Gill, Malc Cooper and Johnnie Beaver.
They formed two teams between them, Eagles and Devils.
John Bush (my brother) was Yorkshire Champion in 1969. He still has the Silver Sash

PS Ben Howe's real name was Ken

Originally posted by twinky1
I always thought it was at the end of Colley Road, where the P.Office is.

Post code S5 includes Parson Cross - S35 includes Ecclesfield and I think anything past the post office (not behind it) is S35.

Unless anyone else knows different!!


the boundry between s5 and s35 are from colley road p/office to the high greave pub on barnsley road as i grew up on tunwell ave (parents still live there) and sis lives on st michaels road and her p/coad is s35 yet my mums is s5.

tunwell was one time classed as ecclelsfield but now it class as new parsoncross area

Originally posted by spinny
the boundry between s5 and s35 are from colley road p/office to the high greave pub on barnsley road as i grew up on tunwell ave (parents still live there) and sis lives on st michaels road and her p/coad is s35 yet my mums is s5.

tunwell was one time classed as ecclelsfield but now it class as new parson cross area



I would prefer to say ''Ecclesfield''


It has more snob value and less car insurance costs.

Originally posted by Unregistered
I would prefer to say ''Ecclesfield''


It has more snob value and less car insurance costs.


funny that one unregistered as my mum says the same.no mater how many people ask her were she lives when she goes to buy things or is on the phone she always still says eccelsfield.. never classed it has parsoncross

I'm not sure if Parson Cross has any precise boundaries that are drawn up on a map.

It's also very confusing finding out where exactly it meets Sheffield Lane Top, (if that is an area) Longley, Southey, Wadsley Bridge and all around the Forty Foot pub.

Hiya Sandy !.. I moved to Parson Cross ( Lindsay Avenue) in 1939 and lived there for 21 years. It was a fabulous area and during the war, as kids we went to Lindsay Road school. No yobbos at that time and I had quite a few mates living close by. We cycled a lot to various places and played a lot in Longley Park visiting the open air swimming pool on a regular basis during the summer.
In winter, when snow was on the ground, we sleged down Lindsay Avenue from top to bottom.
There no buses in our road at the time. We had iether to walk to Sheffield Lane top to catch the tram, or to Southey Green Road for a bus.
We used to play in a large field adjacent to Lindsay Avenue/Ingelow Avenue. It was great.
Parson Cross is much different nowadays

I lived on the cross for 40 yrs till last year when my property was demolished,that was on mansell road.
Before that I lived at my parents house on buchanan road near the shops at the school end,We did not have much monet in those days but we had a great community spirit which sadly is being lose now the estate is being demolished.
My local was the Parson Cross Hotel and colley club was good at weekends.
As for the Tavern yes its still going strong,and long may it continue.
I do miss my old estate but you have to accept change dont you?
Cross people = salt of the earth.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by royjames



I do miss my old estate but you have to accept change dont you?

Cross people = salt of the earth.:thumbsup:


I don't think that we knew anything else back then.


Hopefully today's parents will make their children realise that respect for a good education will help them escape the working class poverty trap.

Too many children still come home to bread and jam for tea and an exciting evening hanging around on the shops.

Originally posted by royjames

I do miss my old estate but you have to accept change dont you?
Cross people = salt of the earth.:thumbsup:

I'm quite sure that most people accept change if it is carefully thought through, and if there is a distinct end result which works to the advantage of those involved.
What worries me is that I'm not sure that those lovely guys at the Town Hall have a clue about planning. If they did they certainly wouldn't be putting a hotel that nobody wants (according to "The Star") between The Peace Gardens and The Winter Gardens or whatever it's called. After twenty years of the egg boxes it was nice to get a decent view, and now it's gone.

Has anyone seen a plan about The Cross and what it is going to end up like? I did notice an announcement that there are (yet more) plans to invest a small fortune in The Manor. I reckon it's time S5 got a bit of that.

You're spot on about salt of the earth though..

Where the houses have been demolished they have put about four inches of topsoil.

Now the plots are already begining to get overgrown with weeds and it looks like the wilderness.

Last Sunday a tractor was ploughing the weeds in.

What a mess.

Originally posted by hutch
We lived at 7 Hillside ave from 1946 to 1953 I remember sledging on a curved piece from a anderson shelter from the top of Tunwell knowle down to the jews cemetery what was then Blind lane [Colley road] The makeshift sledge held about 8 small kids The german and italian prisoners of war made us wooden toys etc for cigarettes, We mixed freely with them no problems after they were freed many stayed here One of them was Karl Suck a friend and neighbour, I remember a large deep lime pit unfenced something to do with plastering the new houses I think it would be considered dangerous now.
Oh well happy days despite no phone or car or tv and little money oh and sweets on ration.

I went to live on Colley Road in 1948/9, I believe it was No.118, it was the latest batch of new Council Houses, the pavements were still being laid, there was a spare patch of land next to our house which lead down to 'the fields' which the drain ran through (ah happy days - jumping the streams!) There was another patch of spare land across the road which was a short cut to the shops at the top of Wheata Road.
I remember the Synagogue at the bottom of Colley Road. We later went to live in Tunwell Avenue. I'd never heard of Tunwell Knowle before you mentioned it, now I know where the names Knowle Road and Tunwell Avenue came from. I don't remember any P.O.W. in the area though.
I have a very old 'Geographia' map of Sheffield which I would love to be able to date. Parson Cross is named on the map, but there is no sign of any houses in that area at all. Although The Manor Estate had been built there was no sign of building at Arbourthorne either, which is where I lived as a toddler, although we lived on City Road when I was born.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Where the houses have been demolished they have put about four inches of topsoil.

Now the plots are already begining to get overgrown with weeds and it looks like the wilderness.

Last Sunday a tractor was ploughing the weeds in.

What a mess.

They are bulldozing Parson Cross???? How much of it is going? I'm shocked!

Originally posted by Freda
They are bulldozing Parson Cross???? How much of it is going? I'm shocked!


900 houses . . .


. . . mainly 2 bed houses that people don't want.

Whereabouts are they bulldozing? and what is going up instead? Have any of the Council houses on Parson Cross been sold off to the tenants over the years?

Have read on another thread reference to 'Parson Cross College', is this what used to be known as Colley Road Secondary School?

Originally posted by Freda
Have read on another thread reference to 'Parson Cross College', is this what used to be known as Colley Road Secondary School?


Yes.


But I understand that it will close in the near future, along with Loxley College on Myers Grove Lane.

A new college is being built alongside the Owlerton Speedway and Dog Track.

Another college is also being built on the site of Firth Park Grammar School, Barnsley Road, that was demolished last year.

The top part of Chaucer School, Halifax Road end, has closed and moved to the bottom, Wordsworth Avenue end.

Originally posted by Freda
Whereabouts are they bulldozing? and what is going up instead? Have any of the Council houses on Parson Cross been sold off to the tenants over the years?

Wordsworth Avenue, Buchanan Road and Crescent, Adlington Road and up towards the Magnet (which was demolished ages ago)


Several houses have been bought, which just left the crap behind to deteriorate even faster. Any private houses in the demolition area have been compulsory purchased.

I don't know what the future plans are, but somebody must know.

Five Mile House, Bardney, Southrey, Stixwould, Woodhall.

Many fishermen from the Cross will remember those places on the River Witham in Lincolnshire from the 1960's.

They boarded the 6am train at Wadsley Bridge Station every Sunday, hoping for a good day's catch.

It all started to come to an end when Doctor Richard Beeching, chairman of the British Transport Commission, published The Beeching report on March 27th 1963. Many rail lines were axed across the whole of Britain.

It was argued that these lines did not even pay for their maintainence costs and that the new motorway network was ''the way ahead.''

Nothing now remains of Wadsley Bridge station.

Originally posted by Unregistered


Nothing now remains of Wadsley Bridge station.

I seem to remember through the 70s, that they used to open it up on FA Cup Semi-final day. The idea being that one set of fans could come through it and poulate the Lep Lane end, while the opposing fans came through The Midland and went on The Kop. Hopefully this would avoid an unruly clash.

This has triggered a further memory. On semi final day, cars would park all the way up Wordsworth as fas as Margo shops !!
Eee them were the days...

Anyone remember Meynell road school 1950s and 60s...Teachers I remember, Mr Bramhall,Mr Flemming ,Mr Salt woodwork ,Mr Hemming school master,also Mr Johnson he took us for football .Sometimes the games didnt finish till 8 or 9 oc .He was a real favourite .As I remember chemisty class consisted of wheeling a mobile chemistry lab on a trolly into the prefabricated classroom consisting of bunson burners and a few chemicals One time Mr Johnson was showing us an experiment ,Forgot hed turned on one of the bunson burners ,two or three minutes later lit a match... all the class were in stiches as he stood there with his eyebrows and sloppy joe jumper smouldering.There was also a Mr Plant.Im not sure but I think he took the lads for gardening ...what else... Also does anyone remember in the 50s .Coming up Halifax road Wadsley bridge after the matches at Hillsbro.a lad in a invalid carriage being pushed by about 10 or so fans . Can you see that happening today?
And does anyone remember Saturday matinees at the Ritz .Mr Jackson playing the accordian amongst all the pandemonium.All the cheering for the cowboys and booing for the indians .What a great time we had.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I seem to remember through the 70s, that they used to open it up on FA Cup Semi-final day. The idea being that one set of fans could come through it and poulate the Lep Lane end, while the opposing fans came through The Midland and went on The Kop. Hopefully this would avoid an unruly clash.

This has triggered a further memory. On semi final day, cars would park all the way up Wordsworth as fas as Margo shops !!
Eee them were the days...

Was that the last time they used the station? I'm sure I remember it been used for football in the late 80's as well. I seem to recall two double headed class 20 loco's pulling up.

The Hillsborough ground was way ahead of most other grounds in the 1960's and 70's - then they did a typical Sheffield thing, sat back and let the rest overtake them.

Same thing goes for the team itself.

I can't understand why football was such a big part of my life - paying out my hard earnt money to maintain other people's lavish life style.

Not anymore.

Originally posted by burnttoast
Does anyone remember in the 50s .Coming up Halifax road Wadsley bridge after the matches at Hillsbro.a lad in a invalid carriage being pushed by about 10 or so fans . Can you see that happening today?



Did it have pedals like a bike for his hands ?

That takes me back to the days of Springett, Johnson, Megson, Eustace, Swann, Kay, Wilkinson, Fantham, Layne, etc., but more like the mid 60's.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Did it have pedals like a bike for his hands ?

That takes me back to the days of Springett, Johnson, Megson, Eustace, Swann, Kay, Wilkinson, Fantham, Layne, etc., but more like the mid 60's.


It did have pedals that he worked with his hands......his name was Don and he used to come into Hillsborough park and watch us playing football in the late 50's early 60's. I think he lived on Donovan Road behind the Five Arches pub.

Originally posted by RoyalRegular
It did have pedals that he worked with his hands......his name was Don and he used to come into Hillsborough park and watch us playing football in the late 50's early 60's. I think he lived on Donovan Road behind the Five Arches pub.


That reminds me of a bloke who used to cycle around sharpening knives and scissors. His pedals drove the shapening wheel somehow..

When I was a kid, I sometimes used to wander around the Jewish Cemetery on Colley Rd. There was a Synangogue there too, but this has now gone.
After a recent visit to the graveyard, I was wondering why these would have been on The Cross, or Ecclesfield as I guess it then was. (1920's??)
Was there a significant Jewish population in the area at this time?

Originally posted by Bushbaby
When I was a kid, I sometimes used to wander around the Jewish Cemetery on Colley Rd. There was a Synangogue there too, but this has now gone.
After a recent visit to the graveyard, I was wondering why these would have been on The Cross, or Ecclesfield as I guess it then was. (1920's??)
Was there a significant Jewish population in the area at this time?


omg i use to wonder around they too..they use to be a story about a witch and a wolf that was burried there...it use to be a creepy place to walk past,i know the graveyard still there but i just moved back to this area and it been the 1st time i walk past it in ages..i make me laff now of all the scary storys we use to hear,i rember we had to close our eyes and count to 10 then run so no ghost get us lol..

things u do when u young hey

Don was a regular fan at the matches and we used to push him all over Hillsborough. He was a lovely guy and never complained, I can remember him being wheelchair bound from the mid 50's. The Jewish cemetry ran along the back of Parkwood Springs and was a big story in the Star in the 60's as there was a spate of serious grave robbings. Quite serious, as many bodies were dissinterred and the graves left in a terrible state. We used to go to the penknife tip to try and salvage blades to make into knives and always steered clear of the cemetry.

I was rather upset and disappointed when I first learnt that most of Parson Cross had no history, well not before 1947 anyway.

I've always had a soft spot for Ecclesfield and history shows how isolated Ecclesfield must have been before there was a Parson Cross, Shiregreen or Chapeltown to surround it.

It makes me wonder why the very first settlers were attracted to Ecclesfield in the middle of nowhere. It must have something to do with the fresh water that flows down from the hills, which was later dammed at the bottom of Church Street.

If you know, let me know.

This is a good site - may take a bit of searching but you may find the answer.
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/servlets/DirectMap2?easting=435500&northing=392200&county=10yorks401

Dean Marshall and The Deputies were in the early 60s
Barry Marshall
Pete Jackson
Roger Jackson
Richard Holroyd &
Raymond Hind

Pete,and his band The Hillbillycats play at the Upperthorpe Hotel the last Friday in the month.Well worth a visit.

Couple of comments. I drove the 110 route in 1963. It went past the roundabout, for a little ways, then made a left turn up a hill, turned around just at the bottom, then went back to Bridge Street. It was the 110 all the way, I remember the 79 went up Halifax Road to Grenoside at that time.
I remember all the teachers at Meynell, plus Mr Molineux, Mr Swindon (metal work) and Mr Postlethwaite.
I left Meynell Road in 1954. Also went to Foxhill junior school from 1944 to 1950.

Originally posted by oldtimer
Couple of comments. I drove the 110 route in 1963. It went past the roundabout, for a little ways, then made a left turn up a hill, turned around just at the bottom, then went back to Bridge Street. It was the 110 all the way, I remember the 79 went up Halifax Road to Grenoside at that time.


I'm not sure where you mean.

Originally the 110 came from Bridge Street, via Gibraltar Street and Penistone Road, turned right at the Wednesday ground onto Herries Road South, (under the Five Arches) left onto Wordsworth Avenue and right up Donovan Road alongside the Forty Foot pub.

It went over the roundabout at the Magnet pub (now demolished) up Southey Hill and right down Adlington Road.

It then went fully around the roundabout at the junction of Deerlands Avenue and Adlington Road and headed back to town up Adlington Road.

Sorry, I've forgotten the street names (it's been 42 years!) The 110 did go the way you said, I am talking about after the bus went past the Magnet, it went down the steep hill to Wordsworth, then went onto Colley road (I think that was the name) then turned around. It never turned into the 79, it stayed 110 the whole time.I don't know if it was different after that, I left Sheffield in 1964, never been back!

Hi Oldtimer,I too went to Foxhill for a short time in the 40s,The 110 Went down Adlington,round the island at Deerlands down Holgate to Colley Rd down Colley to Colley Crescent up the Crescent then turned around to head back.
In a earlier time the terminus was at the bottom of Adlington.
I live in Ontario but have gone back a few times

Hey, sweetdexter. I went to Foxhill from the nursery school in about 1944 to when I passed the 11 plus in 1950. I remember a Mrs Charlesworth and a very old lady who lived on Southey Green Road, (both my teachers) but I don't remember much else. I did a year at Firth Park Grammer School, then went to Meynell Road for three years.
BTW, I was in Ontario in July last year for my daughter's wedding, did you see me?
I have lived in Edmonton, Ab since 1965, as a matter of fact, in 7 days it will be 40 years!

I wish my parents had gone ahead with a plan to move to Australia in the late 1950's when it cost just £10 to go, but for some unknown reason they decided not to.

As I result I have always been a proud Sheffielder but if I'm honest and I take away my biased view, I'm sure that there are many more places of opportunity than Parson Cross and the like.

Australian visitors would never even think about a move to Sheffield.

I should have flown away long ago.

YES I REMEMBER MEYNALL ROAD SCHOOL, I LEFT
SCHOOL IN 1955 AGE 15, WE COULD HAVE BEEN
IN THE SAME YEAR.

DO YOU REMEMBER MR FAIRHURST, MR FULARD, AND
MR BUNTIN.

MR JACKSON WHO PLAYED THE ACCORDIAN LIVED
ON THE SAME STREET AS ME, THAT WAS DOE ROYD
CRESENT

Originally posted by irene
YES I REMEMBER MEYNALL ROAD SCHOOL, I LEFT
SCHOOL IN 1955 AGE 15, WE COULD HAVE BEEN
IN THE SAME YEAR.





Mansel always used to thrash Maynall at football !


Monteney had a lot of hooligans !

Originally posted by sandy
l live in parson cross now and loooking for people who lived here and went to school here
as im in a local history group
and we would like people to tell us they story as how parson cross used to be
so we can make a memory box to take around the local schools and the old people homes in sheffield
I was born at 23 Southey Hill 1942,the youngist of 10 but i only new 8 mom lost two boys before i was born, so i am sure some of you know some of my brothers and sisters, we lived at the top of the hill across from Norhlands ?and the nursing home. I can still see now one of the nurses driving around in one of those little buble cars, the one that you sat one behind the other, i don't recall what make it was, i lived there untill i was 16,then we moved to Hackenthorpe. I used to go to Southey Green Secondery School, that was the only school that i ever went to,i left in the summer break of 1958. When i left i was in class 4c,i was also a prefect I would love to hear from anyone that was in my class. In the last year that i was their i was going out with a girl that was in class 4b,i think her name was Maureen Slater, she left school the same time as me, she lived on Deerlands Ave.,just up the road from the roundabout that the 110 bus turned around, if anyone knows where she is i would like to get in touch with her again,i have some long overdue explaning to do. At the back of her house was a large farmers field, what ever hapend to it, did it get build on it?.
I remember going to the shops at the bottom of Southey Hill, if i remember corectly there was a chippy,a green grocers,a meat shop and a fishmonger at the end of that block there was another shop i no they sold sweats but don't recall what else, and round the corner was the co-op and across the road was Kaye's sweat shop, are they all still there ? or have they been pulled down too?
I was very surprised that they were nocking down so maney houses and schools.
I have not been around Sheffield since 1974
when i moved to Canada with my wife and four kids and we have not been back. My wife lived on Tunwel ave Ecllesfield her name was Allison, her dad past away some time ago but her mother is still living she is in her 90's.

Originally posted by Wyatterp



I think her name was Maureen Slater, she lived on Deerlands Ave, just up the road from the roundabout that the 110 bus turned around. At the back of her house was a large farmers field, what ever happened to it, did it get build on it?.

I remember going to the shops at the bottom of Southey Hill, if I remember corectly there was a chippy, a green grocers, a meat shop and a fishmonger at the end of that block there was another shop i no they sold sweats but don't recall what else, and round the corner was the co-op and across the road was Kaye's sweat shop, are they all still there or have they been pulled down too?

I was very surprised that they were knocking down so many houses. I have not been around Sheffield since 1974
when I moved to Canada with my wife and four kids and we have not been back.

Not sure which field you mean, if it was bordered by Deerlands and Adlington, it was made into parkland with a small community centre. If it was bordered by Deerlands and Holgate it was used for housing.

If you mean the shops near the Magnet pub, they are still there but struggling to survive. The pub itself has been demolished.

A lot of housing has been demolished because they were difficult to rent out. Many were standing empty and attracting vandals - now there is nothing to vandalize.

I too used to live on Tunwell Avenue and I've been racking my brains to remember an Alison - I'm wondering if her second name was West? Did she have a sister Lynne? Lynne was a friend of mine, would be interesting to know how she is now.

wyatterp, does this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/wharncliffe/Copied278.jpg) bring back any memories? If my memory serves me well, bottom of Southey Hill just below Dryden was a bakers, now a cafe. Across the road, chip shop changed to a green grocers in the 60's now a pizza shop, next door chemists now a phone shop, then Davys store and butchers shop, now a clothing factory, then it was the fishmongers which opened directly onto the pavement, now a clothes shop, then the sweet shop on the corner which is now a chemists.

The co-op is still around the corner, next door the hairdressers and then what was Kirks shop, still a shop, still sells everything.

Across the road was Kays sweet shop (big yellow enamel sign) now a carpet shop and next the library (new one built in the 70's). Do you remember the lampost wiith the big clock on so the buses left on time?

Southey Club still there, Magnet gone, site left empty and next to it now a chip shop and a gym and you're back where you started.

So many people out of work but the co-op on Margetson Crescent is always advertising for an assistant.

Weird.

If you went to Colley School at Parson Cross, you may wish to sign their guestbook.

Click here for the Guestbook. (http://pub41.bravenet.com/guestbook/show.php?usernum=3469275151&cpv=1)

Hi Pietro
forgot the bakers, should have rememberd that one, my sister-inlaw used to work there and i used to go for free buns when the boss was not looking, she also worked at the haidressers before that.
I remember the clock because i was looking at it as i was running for the bus, boy the number of times it pulled away just as i got there. Graham Wyatt

Originally posted by Freda
I too used to live on Tunwell Avenue and I've been racking my brains to remember an Alison - I'm wondering if her second name was West? Did she have a sister Lynne? Lynne was a friend of mine, would be interesting to know how she is now.

Alison is the last name, my wifes name is Valerie.

pietro

that picture sure does bring back memories, if you stand in the road to the right of the church and cross over Southy Hill you would go into our drive

Click for The Magnet pub (now demolished) (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/u03352.jpg)

Click for The Magnet pub] (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s22023.jpg)

Click for The Travellers Rest that pre-dated The Magnet on the same site. (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s07049.jpg)

Click for The Ritz Cinema (now boarded up, awaiting possible conversion into flats) (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s21370.jpg)

Click for The Forum Cinema on Herries Road (later The Essoldo Cinema and now a supermarket) (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s21367.jpg)

Looking up Southey Green Road from alongside The Ritz (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s19612.jpg)

Mount Tabor Church - Southey Hill / Wordsworth Avenue (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/u03370.jpg)

Batchelors Factory - much vandalized (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/u03338.jpg)

Wordsworth Avenue from inside The Ritz, towards Ecclesfield (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/t00047.jpg)

The Wordsworth Tavern (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s22027.jpg)

The Beagle, Knutton Crescent (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s22015.jpg)

Margetson shops (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s17806.jpg)

Southey Hill damage in World War II (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s01084.jpg)

Southey Hall Farm - half way up Southey Hill before it was demolished to make way for housing (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s06313.jpg)

Deer Lands Farm - at the junction of Wordsworth Avenue and Southey Hill (looking up Southey Hill) before it was demolished to make way for housing (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s00621.jpg)

Wadsley Bridge Station - now demolished (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/t01537.jpg)

Wadsley Bridge Station - now demolished (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s14758.jpg)

Anyone remember my dad, Phil Eastburn? or any of the Eastburns, there was 5 of em, 3 boys and 2 girls! they lived on Colley Crescent til the end of the 60's I think, then moved to a new little house down Abbey Lane.

Unregisterd - thanks for those pics - very interesting!

Can any one remember the Hoylands ??? Lived on Wordsworth Ave 1955 up to 1961 ...Sam & Nellie son Ralph and daughters Doreen and Celia.

Originally posted by Bella06


Can any one remember the Hoylands ??? Lived on Wordsworth Ave 1955 up to 1961 ...Sam & Nellie son Ralph and daughters Doreen and Celia.

There was a family called Hoyland who lived on Remington Road in the late sixties, but probably not the same family. I think they had twin boys, one called Melvin who would be about 55 now, and an older brother Keith who ran the Shakespeare pub at Hillsborough Corner in the 80's.

Hi Pietro

I remember that picture too. I went to Southey Green School from 1959 - 1963. (Teachers I remember: Miss Tarpy, Mr Howe, Mr Gowers, Mrs Carr, Miss Needle, Mr Cooper, Mr Wadham, Miss Martin) Along with a couple of others I used to go to church there on Sundays. This was the price I paid to get out of the house one evening a week to go to choir practice. I would be about 13 years old and had my first kiss (peck) outside (at the front) one night. Called him Keith Watson.

I remember all the shops especially Mr Kirk and his sisters who all lived in the house adjoining. My Mom's friend once went in and Mr Kirk climbed up to one of the higher shelves and on coming down he caught his wig on a nail and it sent it skew wiff. It was years before she could go back in. He also would put peoples names in the window who held him money.

I went to Lindsey Infant & Junior School prior to Southey
Teachers I remember from there: Mrs Hanson (Nursery), Miss Bassett, Miss Vine, Mrs Wright, Mr Crossley. Mr Lovett

I also had some very happy years at the Lindsey Road Youth Club until about 1967?68.

Originally posted by Travann
Hi Pietro

I remember that picture too. I went to Southey Green School from 1959 - 1963. (Teachers I remember: Miss Tarpy, Mr Howe, Mr Gowers, Mrs Carr, Miss Needle, Mr Cooper, Mr Wadham, Miss Martin) Along with a couple of others I used to go to church there on Sundays. This was the price I paid to get out of the house one evening a week to go to choir practice. I would be about 13 years old and had my first kiss (peck) outside (at the front) one night. Called hiKeith Watson






I went to Lindsey Infant & Junior School prior to Southey
Teachers I remember from there: Mrs Hanson (Nursery), Miss Bassett, Miss Vine, Mrs Wright, Mr Crossley. Mr Lovett

I also had some very happy years at the Lindsey Road Youth Club until about 1967?68.
I left scool in 1958 and remember most of the teachers, Mr. Cooper, did he have the nickname ''Boris'' ? , i remember one of the teachers did but not sure which one.

Graham

Hi Pietro

Yes, his name was 'Boris' complete with a bold head and spectacle. He was rather fond of giving the boys the cane if I remember.

Sorry meant to say
Hi Graham
Getting tired now

Originally posted by Travann
Sorry meant to say
Hi Graham
Getting tired now

Yes i thought that was him ''black Borris'', i remember we went to the Isle Of Man 40 of us that were leaving that year 1958 and him and one of the women teachers were suposed to look aftwer us but instead spent most of the time in the bedroom.

Are those were the days!

Graham

travann says; My Mom's friend once went in and Mr Kirk climbed up to one of the higher shelves and on coming down he caught his wig on a nail and it sent it skew wiff.

Hi travann, until I read that I had completely forgot about the wig.
Was'nt it a jet black wig, looked very strange on a man of his years but looking back now, everyone seemed old to me then.

The one lasting memory of the shop was the smells , a mixture of spuds , packet tea and sweets.

Carrier bags made from brown paper with string that cut into your fingers ???


...... kids won't believe it.

Co-Op Divvy number - it was as familiar as your midddle name

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Co-Op Divvy number - it was as familiar as your midddle name

and we've still got divvy's serving us (move down please)

Originally posted by Wyatterp
Yes i thought that was him ''black Borris'', i remember we went to the Isle Of Man 40 of us that were leaving that year 1958 and him and one of the women teachers were suposed to look aftwer us but instead spent most of the time in the bedroom.

Are those were the days!

Graham

We once caught Mr Furniss in the cupboard of the science lab with a Miss Bourner. all the boys thought she was lovely. She dressed very modern much to Miss (Battleaxe) Revill's annoyance. I wonder what they would have done with the kids of today - they'd probably be in permanent therapy.

Originally posted by Travann
We once caught Mr Furniss in the cupboard of the science lab with a Miss Bourner. all the boys thought she was lovely. She dressed very modern much to Miss (Battleaxe) Revill's annoyance. I wonder what they would have done with the kids of today - they'd probably be in permanent therapy.

I wonder if Miss Bourner is the teacher we had in the last year, don't remember her name but do remember what she looked liked, would wear low cut tops and short scirts, then sit on the front of her desk with her legs crossed.
Thats torcher to a 14 year old boy.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Unregistered
[B]Mansel always used to thrash Maynall at football !


Yes but did Monteney produce any good players
like ALBERT QUICKSALL who played for SHEFFIELD
WEDNESDAY and GEORGE BROWN who played for
CHESTERFIELD .

Originally posted by irene



Yes but did Monteney produce any good players
like ALBERT QUICKSALL who played for SHEFFIELD
WEDNESDAY and GEORGE BROWN who played for
CHESTERFIELD .


Quicksall was a very gifted local. Wednesday are missing the likes of him these days.

Great player old Albert. Got a few caps as I remember.
(5, I think)

Not wishing to be pedantic but his name was spelt Quixall

Yes I remember Albert ..He lived just accross from me ..On Saturdays he used to walk down to Hillsbro...On his way have a kick about with us kids then off to play against some of the best players this country has ever had...We used to jokingly call him big head...he was a great header of the ball..nice fella (our Albert):)

Some people believe that his energy came from eating muffins.

I agree with them.

Originally posted by Wyatterp
I wonder if Miss Bourner is the teacher we had in the last year, don't remember her name but do remember what she looked liked, would wear low cut tops and short scirts, then sit on the front of her desk with her legs crossed.
Thats torcher to a 14 year old boy.

All I can remember about her is that she was quite petite and had short auburn hair. But I can't think of anyone else that were would fit the bill between 1959- 1963

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Co-Op Divvy number - it was as familiar as your midddle name Co-op no 72724 the things you remember!

Originally posted by burnttoast
Yes I remember Albert ..He lived just accross from me ..On Saturdays he used to walk down to Hillsbro...On his way have a kick about with us kids then off to play against some of the best players this country has ever had...We used to jokingly call him big head...he was a great header of the ball..nice fella (o
ur Albert):)


You must have lived on Doe Royd Cresent because
I used to live just across the back gardens from him.
So many days aweek he used to borrow my push bike
to go training on .

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bushbaby
Great player old Albert. Got a few caps as I remember.
(5, I think)

Not wishing to be pedantic but his name was spelt Quixall [/QUOT E]


Sorry about the spelling ,your right it is QUIXALL

Originally posted by Travann
All I can remember about her is that she was quite petite and had short auburn hair. But I can't think of anyone else that were would fit the bill between 1959- 1963

Travan
I left school in 1958 so may be she quit befor you started.

B&C (Brightside & Carbrook) #63751

We also had a S& E (Sheffield & Ecclsall #) but don't remember that one.

Graham

Name: Albert Quixall

Birthdate: 09/08/1933

Birthplace: Sheffield, England

Transferred from: Sheffield Wednesday, September 1958, £45,000

Debut for Manchester United: 20/09/1958 v Tottenham, Hotspur (H) 2-2 (League Division One)

Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Oldham Athletic, September 1964, £7,000

I MOVED FROM SHEFFIELD IN 1965.I USED TO LIVE AT 176 CHAUCER ROAD RIGHT OPPOSITE THE SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS. I WENT TO YEW LANE SCHOOL . I HAD A SISTER CALLED CAROL ROCK . I REMEMBER MY UNCLE BEING A FOREMAN AT BASSETS SWEET FACTORY AND GETTING BROWN BAGS FULL OF SWEETS.
MY FATHER WAS A SHEFFIELDITE AND DROVE A LORRY FOR CHARLES ALEXANDRA OF ABERDEEN AND ALSO A SCRAP LORRY FOR A A BRAMHALL (ALBERT) MY OLD DAD WAS IS FIRST DRIVER AND I AM AFRAID THE SCRAP METAL GOT THE BETTER OF HIM AND HE WAS SACKED. WE HAD A GARDEN FENCE BUILT OF FISH BOXES AND ALWAYS HAD ONE OF THE BEST BONFIRES DUE TO THE CONSTANT STOCK OF OLD BOXES. I REMEMBER THE BEADLE PUB I USED TO GO ACROSS MY BACK GARDEN TO GET TO THE PUB AND GET A BOTTLE OF LEMONADE AND LIME AND A PCKET OF SUNPAT CHOCOLATE RAISINS. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TRIPE MAN AND PIKLET MAN ON A SUNDAY AND WAITED AT THE CORNER FOR THE BIG RED WALK IN LORRY OF ;PLUMBERS MOBILE LORRY; MY AUNTY LIVED UP THE TOP OF MANSELL CRESCENT HER MARRIED NAME WAS BARKER AND SHE HAD 5 KIDS CAROL MARGARET FORGOT THE OTHERS. WE USED TO GO DOWN TO A OLD DERELLECT CINEMA IN CHAPLETOWN AND GET PIGEON EGGS FROM THE ROOF HOW WE NEVER DIED I DONT KNOW. ALWAYS WAITED FOR THE SNOW TO COME SO WE COULD GO ON OUR HOME MADE SLEDGES SOMEWHERE NEAR ECCLESFIELD MY SLEDGE AS YOU HAVE GUESSED WAS MADE OF FISHBOXES. WHAT A STINK. I AND A FEW MATES USED TO GO TO HILLSBOROUGH TO SEE ALL THE INTERCITIES GAMES STILL GOT THE TICKETS FOR THE NEW STAND WHEN THEY PLAYED BLACKBURN ROVERS.(5/-) AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER SANTOS OF BRAZIL PLAYING THERE WITH PELE,GARRINCHA,DIDI,GILMAR AGAINST THE WEDNESDAY WHO HAD SWAN SPRINGETT LAINE,KAY FANTHEM. WE USED TO GO ON THE MOORS CAMPING FOR A NIGHT WED C..P OURSELVES.

PARSONS CROSS TO ME WAS A GREAT MEMORY AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON IT WERE A SPECIAL BREED I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH E FEW ON FRIENDS REUNITED. ROY BILLARD WAS ONE BUT I REMEMBER PETE PEDLER WHO USE TO LIVE UP BY THE FOX PUB I THINK. I HAVE LIVED IN LONDON SINCE THEN NOW (56)YEARS OLD BUT TALK COCKNEY BUT I CAN STILL SAY A FEW REAL SHEFFIELD SAYING ESPECIALLY GIORE AND WHEN I GO TO YORK MY ACCENT COMES OUT. PARSONS CROSS A FOND MEMORY
BEST WISHES KENNY ROCK

Originally posted by ROCKYONE
I REMEMBER THE BEADLE PUB -


Kenny,
You'll be pleased to know that "The Beagle" is still a very fine watering hole and if you follow this link you will find a lovely foto of it, pretty much as you remember it I guess

http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/s22015.jpg

Originally posted by Unregistered
Yes I remember John - I think his mother worked there too.

You're right, the Wordsworth Tavern was knocked down later than 1966. I just know that it was definately still standing in that landmark year, due to the World Cup. It may have come down in 1968 but both pubs were standing alongside each other for a short period.

I only knew the Tanner Hop by that name although I never actually went. I seem to remember going to Youth Clubs at Monteney, Colley and Meynall Schools at various times, followed by that horrid ''in between period of limbo'' when you are ''too old'' for Youth Clubs and ''too young'' to get in a boozer with any confidence. We probably hung around Margetson Shops, bored stiff and being a nuisance - not much different from kids of today, although we did have The Ritz cinema on Saturday mornings!

Probably the first ''underage'' pub we got in was the Ball Inn at Ecclesfield. Old Arthur and Maud Smith never asked our age and it was a case of ''out of sight - out of mind'' in the back room. We then progressed to the Tankard (now the Stocks) run by Trevor who never spent a dime on the place but we loved the jukebox.

The Griffin was also on the go (now closed) with toilets plumbed in by numerous bits and pieces of plastic fittings that the Landlord had obviously nicked from the Public Works Department at the rear of Margetson shops, where he also worked!

In the early 70's the place to be was the Shiregreen Hotel with live bands on Friday and Saturdays. The place was just heaving with people. The greedy brewery ruined it by obtaining a late night extension. The neighbours were plagued by late night noise and got the licence removed - it was never the same again after that.
Hey i used to work in griffin met my hubbie craig tobin there can`t believe its shut down , well actually i can i live in oz now but am coming home next month everyone says i`ll be shocked . most of houses been knocked down and stuff.

:o :o :o THALL BE SHOCKED AREIGHT NOWT ARDLY LEFT AT AREA , all the characters vanished, parson cross rest in peace. :( :(

Some people say Parsons Cross.


It's Parson Cross.

Of the 700 Parson Cross homes identified for demolition, some 600 have now been demolished and the rest will go in the next few months.

A rebuilding program of nearly 900 homes is due to start in different locations on The Cross between March 2006 and March 2008.

A copy of the Master Plan is available for viewing at the Tennants Association Office, 130 Buchanan Road, and interested parties should call in and take a look at the future.

Originally posted by helentobin
Hey i used to work in griffin met my hubbie craig tobin there can`t believe its shut down , well actually i can i live in oz now but am coming home next month everyone says i`ll be shocked . most of houses been knocked down and stuff.

The Griffin landlord was Eddie Housley who also had a pub in Chapeltown. The Griffin was really too small to be viable. Whilst it was very busy at the weekend it was dead in the week and often didn't bother opening.

To say that ''most of the houses have been knocked down'' is a bit of an exaggeration but it's still a weird sight when you drive past empty plots where houses once stood throughout your childhood.

can you view these changes on line?

Originally posted by Freda
can you view these changes on line?


No - I don't think that the Master Plan is online.

Is there going to be a Parson Cross festival this year?

Originally posted by Unregistered
Some people say Parsons Cross.

It's Parson Cross.

Even some of Sheffield's buses list it as Parsons Cross - the one which goes up Prince of Wales Rd and around Gleadless (49?) often shows the errant 's'.
Makes my blood boil!!

Freda says: can you view these changes on line?


Freda is this what you're looking for, I found this by accident while searching for something else, various masterplans.

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/planning-and-city-development/planning-documents/background-reports/southey-owlerton-masterplans

Be interesting to see if its anything like the finished project.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Even some of Sheffield's buses list it as Parsons Cross - the one which goes up Prince of Wales Rd and around Gleadless (49?) often shows the errant 's'.
Makes my blood boil!!


I wish I knew what made the Parson cross or who made the cross for the Parson. And when.

Since childhood, I've had an image in my mind of a religious cross stuck in the mud near where the White Horse pub is, in 16-oh blob.

But that's pure fantasy, probably from when I first discovered where Parson Cross Road was.

Less than 70 years ago the whole area, from the Five Arches bridge and Wadsley Bridge to Ecclesfield, was farm land and forest with the odd farmhouse scattered here and there. That's before Deer Land became Deerlands.

Doe Royd was there, as a farm house, but god knows what a Doe Royd is.


.

The origins of the name are lost in the mists of time, but it is quite evident that "Parson Cross Rd" at Wadsely Bridge, is older the Parson Cross itself, so I can only guess that the estate got its name from the street.
I dunno what a Doe Royd is either. Sounds heraldic!!

Originally posted by Bushbaby
The origins of the name are lost in the mists of time, but it is quite evident that "Parson Cross Rd" at Wadsely Bridge, is older the Parson Cross itself, so I can only guess that the estate got its name from the street.
I dunno what a Doe Royd is either. Sounds heraldic!! Doe Royd was a poet or a writer of some sorts .If you notice a lot of the estate was named after poets or writers eg Wordsworth.Chaucer.Browning.Meynell.etc.:thumbsup: Not sure where Parson cross came from though.

Originally posted by burnttoast
Doe Royd was a poet or a writer of some sorts .If you notice a lot of the estate was named after poets or writers eg Wordsworth.Chaucer.Browning.Meynell.etc.:thumbsup: Not sure where Parson cross came from though.

You're right about the other guys, fine poets everyone of them. But I don't think Doe Royd was in their company.

If you do a Google on "Doe Royd", a surefire way of tracking down even the most elusive of subjects, it returns only references to the Sheffield 5 street. It doesn't seem to have any other sources.

The mystery remains...

I have a very old map of Sheffield, but haven't been able to date it yet. There is no sign of the Parson Cross Estate, but there's an area called Parson Cross and Parson Cross Road. The Southy Estate had been built tho', but no sign of Industry on Penistone Road, or The Wednesday Football Stadium. It would interesting to find out what year it was built, as I would love to get even an approximate date for my map.

Deerlands Avenue was apparently named after Deerlands Farm, which used to be there, Doe Royd Lane was already there, so one can only guess that there is a connection between DOE Royd and DEERlands

Pietro - thanks for the link - most interesting :-)
Freda

Originally posted by Bushbaby
You're right about the other guys, fine poets everyone of them. But I don't think Doe Royd was in their company.

If you do a Google on "Doe Royd", a surefire way of tracking down even the most elusive of subjects, it returns only references to the Sheffield 5 street. It doesn't seem to have any other sources.

The mystery remains... Yes thanks I may be wrong.I lived on Doe Royd and always thought it was so,but cannot find a link.The only thing Ive come up with is a Royd in the old days meant a clearing,and it was known that deer roamed the area so Doe Royd:confused: :cool:

Originally posted by Unregistered
The Griffin landlord was Eddie Housley who also had a pub in Chapeltown. The Griffin was really too small to be viable. Whilst it was very busy at the weekend it was dead in the week and often didn't bother opening.

To say that ''most of the houses have been knocked down'' is a bit of an exaggeration but it's still a weird sight when you drive past empty plots where houses once stood throughout your childhood. work
I worked there in 1997, the manager at the time... forgot his name but he was a bit of a fly by night did me out of my tax!!! i then went to work for martin and carol in the ball. That was alrieght, Martin was fun to work for what with his cajun chicken on a sunday for the footballers. Ball supposed to have gone down hill since they left. My hubbie says it was best 20 years ago before they did it up in those dark colours and fancy chairs.

Originally posted by helentobin


I then went to work for martin and carol in the ball. That was alright, Martin was fun to work for what with his cajun chicken on a sunday for the footballers. Ball supposed to have gone down hill since they left. My hubbie says it was best 20 years ago before they did it up in those dark colours and fancy chairs.



Yes, Martin and Carol made The Ball into a really great place. I was sorry to see them leave when they took over a pub at Thorpe Hesley.

Originally posted by Unregistered
The Griffin landlord was Eddie Housley who also had a pub in Chapeltown.
It's the "Coach and Horses" In Chap.
Eddy has also started a double glazing business.

Originally posted by Unregistered


:o @ those photos near the Ritz, so clean and tidy looking way back then. Now it's just depressing looking, completely run down and dirty. It's the first time I've seen any old photo's of the surrounding area where I live, thanks for those pictures Unregistered. I may go down there next week and snap some modern day shots for a side by side comparison.

Oh, and hello everybody. :clap:

Originally posted by Logic3
:o @ those photos near the Ritz, so clean and tidy looking way back then. Now it's just depressing looking, completely run down and dirty. It's the first time I've seen any old photo's of the surrounding area where I live, thanks for those pictures Unregistered. I may go down there next week and snap some modern day shots for a side by side comparison.

Oh, and hello everybody. :clap:

Hello.

I hope you take some snaps of the demolished houses, particularly

Wordsworth Ave/Deerlands Ave
Buchanan Road/Adlington Road
Buchanan Road looking up Falstaff Road and Crescent

I wish I had a camera.

...and don't forget to post a link to them ;-)
I feel much too cheerful - I need something depressing lol!

Supertram should be extended to Parson Cross.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Hello.

I hope you take some snaps of the demolished houses, particularly

Wordsworth Ave/Deerlands Ave
Buchanan Road/Adlington Road
Buchanan Road looking up Falstaff Road and Crescent

I wish I had a camera.


I went out with camera in hand this morning to snap away, but when I got home to upload the photos were total junk, quality wise. Maybe some corrupt data on the memory stick, who knows, but I will try again later in the week.

:clap:

So, here are a couple I managed to salvage running them through Adobe Photoshop. :thumbsup:

DELETE THE SPACE AFTER http:

http: //img235.echo.cx/img235/749/436000043cl.jpg

This one is me standing on Collinson Road, across from Southey Green School, looking over to Launce Road.


http: //img211.echo.cx/img211/8404/436000052lh.jpg

This is still on Collinson Road looking at the remains of Falstaff Road and Cresent - the houses on Murdock have gone too.

Apologies for the quality. The retake shots will be better, I promise. :P I will also have more photos of all the areas.

Originally posted by Logic3


Apologies for the quality. The retake shots will be better, I promise. :P I will also have more photos of all the areas.


I look forward to them.


I couldn't live in one of those isolated houses.

A couple for you here.

Falstaff Crescent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/wharncliffe/Southey055.jpg

Symons Crescent.
[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/wharncliffe/Southey054.jpg

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Unregistered
[B]Supertram should be extended to Parson Cross.


What's Supertram? and where does it go?

Originally posted by Wyatterp
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Unregistered
[B]Supertram should be extended to Parson Cross.


What's Supertram? and where does it go?

Supertram is a modern light rail system that runs on tracks alongside the roads - much like the trams of yesteryear.
It runs from City Centre to:
Meadowhall
Middlewood
Malin Bridge
Herdings (Gleadless)
Halfway

I think that's all except to say it's a superb system and ought to be extended city wide

I have noticed recently that many of the Sheffield buses follow a colour-coding scheme for the routes. I spotted “Olive Line” for Gleadless and “Claret Line” for Totley, so was interested in what colour Parson cross would be allocated - then I found out

“Brown Line”

I ask you…now even the bus companies have a bias against S5. How inspired are you to get on a bus which follows the Brown Line? Not very I guess.
Couldn't we at least make it Beige?

Originally posted by Wyatterp



What's Supertram? and where does it go?


http://www.supertram.net/

sorry for not reply so long loved all the story
would like to thanks ever body and if you know some more please post then

I remember in 1966, a poor family living near the Wordsworth Tavern got behind with their rent.

In the morning the family were evicted and in the afternoon some Council workmen arrived.

They removed the whole bedroom window and dumped all the remaining old beds, carpets and old wardrobes in the front garden to be taken away.

How publicly humiliating. I'm sure it couldn't happen these days.

My dad lived in Parson Cross and i'm going to hand over to him now.
--------------------------------------------------

I'm Paul, lived on Colley Avenue next door to Ray Hind, Pete Green and next door to them Geoff Green (no relation though).

I went to Colley school and left in 1959. My best mates were Jeff Woods, John Naylor, John Nicholas and Trevor Earnshaw.

My brother used to be in Dean Marshall & The Deputies playing rhythm guitar, left before they became Jigsaw though.

Hi Paul, Iwonder if you knew any of the Butler family who lived on Colley Road at 108? Ray remembers us, he and I are in touch now but sadly can't actually remember him from those days - I left Colley Road to live on Tunwell Avenue when I was 10 or 11.
Freda

hello lwas wondering if l could use some of these storys
for when we go into the old peoples home
as you know l belong to parson cross history group

Are you having a laugh Sandy??????
But then again, I supose you just might be going into an old people home.......
What sort of stories are you looking for?

anything about parson cross in the pass l dont mind what you telll

You're welcome to any of mine Sandy...

You really started something didn't you?

bushbaby
your storys are great
but would like a name to the storys o even a e mail adress
if not we would have to call you bushbaby

I never saw a Black person on Parson Cross before 1970.

A great memory I have of growing up on the cross, is of the wide selection of Youth Clubs I was able to attend.
Living in the epicentre, close to the junction of Wordsworth and Deerlands, I had easy access to Mansell, Meynell and Colley YCs. All fine institutions in their own right,
During my early teens, in the late 60’s and into the early seventies, I could go to a club each weekday evening, and often did, meeting many of the same people at all three.

My favourite, and the one at which I felt most at home, was Mansell. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, myself, and the crew of guys who were my best mates, would go up for a game of table tennis or darts, and maybe even a go on the pinball.

There was a disco, consisting basically of a sqare room with bench seats and tables. The walls were painted black and the fluorescent strip lighting was ultra-violet. It also had (didn’t they all?) a mirror-ball, which spun frenetically in time to the heavy beat of the ultra loud music. You couldn’t hear yourself smoke but boy it was great fun. Occasionally they would play a medley of WW2 singalong songs (“My old man said follow the van” that kind of thing) and we would all sing our hearts out – inserting a few dirty lyrics whenever we could. Then it was back to Creedence or Blood Sweat and Tears.
It was a geat place for boys and girls to mix in comparative safety, and I know of one couple, still living on the cross, who met aged 14 at Mansell YC. They’ve now been married 32 years. (Jeez!)

The team who ran the club (Len, Jackie and others) were all in their thirties and were really dedicated people. I know they got paid but it wasn’t a huge amount, and they did often go beyond the call of duty, training the football team and running guys to and from games.
The Saturday Youth Clubs League saw some very passionate football, and the rivalry between even the three clubs I was a member of, was intense. Losing to Colley meant a long walk home along Remington, and when we at Mansell won that league one year, we celebrated in style with a disco party at the club. We even got Pete Howe’s band to come and play a session for us. (see separate threads for info on Pete)

Like many people, I despair at the behaviour of teenagers today, and I can’t help but feel that the disappearance of these places is a contributory factor. I think we were just as badly behaved potentially, but thanks to Youth Clubs our aggression was controlled, and we were able to direct our energies elsewhere. I’m also quite sure that reintroducing these academies would go a long way to reversing behavioural trends. Sure, this would have a number of implications, not least of which is cost, but it deserves at least to be considered.

Hi Sandy,
I lived on Lindsay Avenue from 1939 to 1960. It was great. Had a lot of pals living there at that time. We often used to go on the 'back fields' to play ( just below the old Lindsay Road school). Our 'gang' also went to Longley Park open air swimming pool during the summer.
Apparently its a bit different nowadays with house being wrecked and boarded up because people don't want to live there any more. gREAT PITY.

Originally posted by sandy
hello lwas wondering if l could use some of these storys
for when we go into the old peoples home
as you know l belong to parson cross history group
Just to say how great the history group are, they have been to Deerlands home and the residents (many of who have lived on Parson Cross for lots of years) really enjoyed all the memorabilia on display as well as talking about local history.

My Son..who plays in a band..went to Sheffield yesterday to Play a gig at Colley WMC..He was not impressed with the area around the club at all..What with derilict burned out buildings..
Chav's and graffity by the Ton..He says he was the only bloke in the area not wearing a baseball cap..But he says the Club was nice inside..Not at all the place I remember.

Does anybody know of a family on Parsons Cross, Housley is the surname, John eldest son this is in the 60`s he played football and cricket for local teams, he had a friend Alan who married Lynn think he lived on Sisey ave not quite sure thats right.

House demolition has created jobs.


Workmen are now walking over the derelict sites - litter picking.

Originally posted by Timbuck
My Son..who plays in a band..went to Sheffield yesterday to Play a gig at Colley WMC..He was not impressed with the area around the club at all..What with derilict burned out buildings..
Chav's and graffity by the Ton..He says he was the only bloke in the area not wearing a baseball cap..But he says the Club was nice inside..Not at all the place I remember. Good isnt it, you wear a baseball cap and your a "Chav" could you please explain to me what a CHAV is or supposed to look like?? as i wear a baseball cap, and live on the cross, near colley wmc, but i dont regard myself as a chav?? or are you the type of "normal" person that see's a individual and turns them into the "majority"???
normal people worry me.........................:suspect:

we really enjoyed our self at deerlands home
and would like to come back sometime
would like to thanks all the staff for there help and to all the people we spoke to thanks for the time they give us and to all our friends we made tell then we will come and see then

Remember half day closing ?


Twas a Thursday it twas.


Margetson, Wheta and Buchanan shops were like ghost towns after 1pm.

Even Doctor Bagon down by The Ritz had no surgery on Thursday evening.

Margetson Chip'oil used to only open two or three times a week in the late 60s, and instead of having a steady trickle of fresh chips, they used to wait until they ran out, then Mrs Lee would shout "More Chips!!"
At this point they would get the chipper out and begin the process of making some fresh. The tatties were poured in at one end, and as the machine kicked into life, sounding a bit like a Francis Barnett, something resembling a pile of albino slugs would slowly emerge from the other end and drop into a yellow bucket. Eventually, enough of these were produced to justify dropping them into the sizzling friar, kicking out enough steam to power a small train.
Of course, by this time the queue was nearly round to the Tavern, and kids were keeling over from starvation. The priest had to come over from Tommy More's and administer Last Orders to some of 'em.
Mind you, when the chips did eventually come, they were the best for miles around. (and Mrs Lee used to give me extra scraps 'cause she knew my mum). I used to soak 'em in vinegar, and they were that hot that I had to blow on 'em or they would burn my tongue

Originally posted by Unregistered
Remember half day closing ?

Twas a Thursday it twas.

Margetson, Wheta and Buchanan shops were like ghost towns after 1pm.

Even Doctor Bagon down by The Ritz had no surgery on Thursday evening.

My dad used to own the hardware shop on Margetson,which is where I grew up, and the half day closing on Thursday was to allow him to go to the warehouses/cash& carry to re-stock. In those days, there was no such thing as a delivery lorry.

I also remember the Lee's at the chip shop on Margetson - I used to play with the 2 sons, one of whom was called Martin but unfortunately I can't remember what the elder one was called but he was profoundly deaf. The only other kids on the shops were Jayne & Robert Hulley, whose parents used to run the butchers.

Originally posted by Unregistered
Remember half day closing ?

Twas a Thursday it twas.



And of course the Co-op (or "Stores" as we used to call it) also used to close at lunchtime on Saturdays, which I could never understand.

Bushbaby, Pete Howe was my mate in the 70s. We once spent a night in the cells together for drunk and disorderly. As you probably know, in those days it was a chargeable offence to drunkenly stagger in the street. The bingeheads of today would never be out of court if the same applied today. Pete's most famous composition was a song called "King of the Saucepans". Brilliant. He played guitar and piano.

Is he still alive? Anyone know?

Yes, he is.
I recently received an email from his nephew (Ken's son) who tells me that Pete now lives at the end of Wordsworth (not sure which end though) and is still as outrageous as ever.

Excellent, Bushbaby. Thanks for that good news. I was afraid Pete might have succumbed to the excesses of our youth.

Opposite the Forty Foot Pub, between Wordsworth Avenue and Halliwell Crescent, there used to be what to us as kids was a massive valley. It had loads of trees and a stream running through the bottom.

It was later used as a dump-it site where Council bin lorries used to dump all the household refuse, until it built up to the level where it is today. As the ground was too unstable for housing, it was made into a bit of a park.

All that area, (before Wordsworth Avenue was built in the 1930's and down to Herries Road and the Five Arches) provided a meagre living for several families as they produced charcoal for the steel industry from the trees in Scraith Wood.

At the junction of Adlington and Deerlands was a large cornfield which we often played in during the summer, when it was dry, and the corn grew past your head (except for Peapod, he could still see over it)

When it was harvested, a huge pile of straw was left behind, and that’s when the fun really started.
We would pile the straw up against the side of the powerhouse, and start leaping off into mid-air and falling onto a giant cushion of straw. There would be Superman flying leaps, forward somersaults, backward somersaults, and a whole myriad of airborne poses. Gymnastic prowess suddenly became the norm. Kids from all corners of the cross would magically appear and queue patiently to have their turn, shouting “Geronimo” at the optimum moment. Territorial issues were left to one side as we all made full use of this “Once a year” phenomenon. Even some Foxhill kids were allowed on. (Only a few though, and then only if they brought girls or fags with them!)

As it got darker, big kids would come and set fire to it, then Bill Moyer would leap into a pile of burning straw, pausing only to sniff back his hay fever before having another go. He would still be risking 30% burns when the fire engine came down Buchanan and we all scarpered back to our own niches, eyes watering and breath coming in heavy gulps.

I don’t see many cornfields today. It’s all Rape Seed. Can’t leap from 12 foot up onto that during harvest time, can yer?

Parson Cross shopping areas are a disgrace.

Margetson, Buchanan, Wheata, Wordsworth Drive, Chaucer and Lindsay.

I visited "The Cross" today..went to see a relative...Question, why dont the Council cut the grass verges? they make the place look really bad.

Originally posted by Timbuck
I visited "The Cross" today..went to see a relative...Question, why dont the Council cut the grass verges? they make the place look really bad.


Answer, Because it costs money and people complain about the level of their Council Tax.

I got to thinking recently about one of the great rites of passge which most boys (and quite a few girls) went through some time between the ages of 13 and 15.
I refer of course to “The Paper Round”. This was the first chance many of us had to top up our “Spendo” with a few bob, honestly earnt.
I went up Chaucer Rd and approached Mr Fogg (Harry to his friends and cheeky paperboys) shortly after my 13th birthday, and asked him if he had any jobs going.
“Thy art 14 aren’t tha?” I was asked.
“Cooerse I am” I responded, sucking on a woodbine for effect.
“Cum in Sunday morning then, and tha can be ’t spare lad - an don’t be late”

I was excited come Sunday, and got up as soon as it got light. This being July, that was well before 6 o’clock, but there was no way I was going back to sleep. I hunted around for matching socks (vainly as it turned out), ran a damp flannel over my face, and listened to the radio until 6:30. I then headed up the garden path and across three more shortcuts, on schedule to meet Harry’s famous bonus time. (In before 6:45 for six out of seven days got you half-a-crown bonus!!)

I skipped into the shop whistling Gershwin’s Foggy Day, only to be greeted by my new boss asking
“Who’er tha?”. I’d obviously made a good impression.
“Bushbaby! – tha genn me a job last week”
He gave a grunt of vague recognition and then got me to help him marking-up. This process entailed Harry shouting
“No 42. Observer”. I would then scamper round, pick an Observer off the pile, and write 42 on the front upper border. Harry knew the habits of the lads, and so we marked-up the rounds in the order the team came in.
The first was “Rocher”. This was a small private estate just off the top of Yew Lane, and due to their inflated incomes (I was off Wordsworth don’t forget) they all had Sunday Times’s, complete with all the magazines and supplements. That bag weighed a ton, and the delivery boy, Pod, split the load into two and waddled up Chaucer, paper bags criss-crossed around his straining neck, ready to face the rigours of schnauzers and French poodles.

The marking-up took us until 8 o’clock, as a steady stream of half-asleep kids came in, picked up their bags and set off for sleepy suburbia, or Mansell Ave as we called it. By half-eight there was one forlorn bag left, sat in the corner trying not to look sad. A card sticking out of it said “Deerlands” and it slowly became apparent that Syd, guardian of the Deerlands circuit, wasn’t coming in.

“Weere’s tha live Bushbaby?” I kinda knew what was coming
“Wordsworth”
“Well, tha should know Deerlands alreight. Does tha fancy tekkin sum pappers?”

And so, five minutes later I set off on my debut round.

And I absolutely loved it.

I felt really important making sure that Mrs Heyward got her Sunday Mirror, and delivering a News of the World for the Websters. I went up one side, towards Halifax Rd, detouring around the Mount for a single Sunday Post. I then came down the other side, and finished off with the last few on Wordsworth, my own house being the coincidental last stop. I had a quick cup of tea (still no-one else up) and listened to some more kitchen radio.
Harry had asked me to come back to the shop after I’d finished, and when I did, he gave me my first pay, sixpence for being marker-up and a bob for the round. He also winked at me and slipped me five parkies, then said
“See thee tomorra – an don’t be late”

I worked there for over two years, finishing off as head lad, which meant dishing out the Stars to the other guys, and working in the shop if they were short.
It was a great introduction to working life, and I’m sure helped me to appreciate endeavour, and indeed, its rewards.

I wonder if paper boys still get the same level of achievement?

I used to deliver for Jacksons.
They lived at the corner of Remington Ave & Remington Rd just across from Colley School.
My memories are not as elequent as Bushbaby's nor as memorable.
This was in 52-3 -4.
For 12/6 a week I delivered Morning papers and the Star.
Thursday was an extra round with the Radio Times.
Saturday was also an extra round with 'The Green Un'
Sunday I had to have a wagon to haul them around..
Then I had to collect on Friday night.
My round went from Margetson along Wordsworth to the house past Bushbaby's,back down the other side of Wordsworth ,Milnrow road and Milnrow Drive then both sides of Wordsworth up to Colley on one side and Margetson on the other.
I handed the earnings to my mother and she gave me back 2/6.
See the kids doing that today? Not likely.

This photo of the Fives Arches was taken in the 1920's before Herries Road and Parson Cross was bulilt.

Taken with back to the Sheffield Wednesday ground, a mere dirt path led under the centre arch to the farm lands of Parson Cross.

The Five Arches (http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/jpgh/t01585.jpg)

I'm sure they used to try poisoning the Kids of the Cross with cod liver oil tablets.

My friend Wriggo used to call "Castor Oil" - castrated oil.
And he wasn't being ironic.....

Throwin’ arrows

When I was about twelve we had a short lived but very intensive craze based around Throwin’ Arrows.

Kids of all ages would assemble at the "Cleveland" garage on Wordsworth, with their home made arrows, ready to see who could throw the furthest.

The arrow was in fact a cane, between two and three feet long, with a notch 9 inches from one end. This end was then split with two cuts, made at right angles to each other.
Using thin card (Sugar Smacks packet?) flights would be made by carefully folding squares of card, and then inserting them into the cuts in the cane. (Here’s one I made earlier). Two or three flights would be used, depending on taste and weight distribution. The gaps between the flights, and at the end, were then sealed with a good wrapping of sellotape.

At the other end (the business end) was a weight, and picking the right weight was an art. Knocking a small nail in (or even a big one) often sufficed, but these were the days when many of the kids were employed in craft engineering, and there were some very elaborate points turned, courtesy of EITB, which were then fashioned on to the arrows, rendering them quite lethal.

A piece of string or bootlace, with a healthy knot at one end, was then wrapped twice around the stick, just above the notch. The thrower would grip the sharp end, picking up the excess string in a few hand wraps, run across Wordsworth at full pelt, and throw the arrow down the field, using a kind of cricket bowling action. The string would act as a Bolas, and propel the arrow down as far as the bottom of Ray Burns’ garden.

Competition was fierce, and some of the older kids (upto 17 or so) could really make those things fly. Many of the cycle speedway riders (see elsewhere in this thread) were the dominant throwers, but a few younger kids also got a look in, as throwing style could be a real art form.

I don’t recall anyone ever getting hit by an arrow – the mind boggles at the mere thought – but those long school holiday days of 1968 were a memorable time of experiment and enlightenment.

Throwing arrows were pretty big in the late 70's too - nail in the end , see if you could get them to really fly on the brook - opp the Garage on Wordsworth - god only knows what would have happened if we'd have hit anyone...didn't seem too much a risk in them days..

Pete Howe lives on the estate on the hill at the hillsborough end of Wordsworth Ave - where Ken lives - I ain't got a clue.

Went onto the 'Cross' recently - its a shame seeing all the houses being ripped down and the land to be left to go to seed - prime site for any would be developer though (probably the councils plan) - I remember my grandad saying he remembers when all this was fields - seems its going full circle.

Originally posted by Internetowl



Went onto the 'Cross' recently - its a shame seeing all the houses being ripped down and the land to be left to go to seed - prime site for any would be developer though (probably the councils plan) - I remember my grandad saying he remembers when all this was fields - seems its going full circle.


Many of those demolished houses were wrecked by people who had no respect for neighbours, property, gardens or even themselves. In the end, many houses couldn't be rented out so they came under the big hammer.

When we moved onto the" New Parson Cross" just after the war .It was a new beginning for a lot of people.
Even though we did not have a 'pot to p**s in 'We were thrilled to have indoor toilets and baths.
Where it went off the rails I do not know.
Was it the influx of immigration?

Originally posted by sweetdexter
When we moved onto the" New Parson Cross" just after the war .It was a new beginning for a lot of people.
Even though we did not have a 'pot to p**s in 'We were thrilled to have indoor toilets and baths.
Where it went off the rails I do not know.
Was it the influx of immigration?

Why should it be? The majority of people on PX are native white.

thought they were being knocked down because they were too expensive to modernise?

On a seperate related issue - why is the council funding the repair and upgrade of private houses in Firth Park / Fir Vale yet struggling to manage to repair their own housing stock - its a disgrace?

Originally posted by Internetowl
thought they were being knocked down because they were too expensive to modernise?

On a seperate related issue - why is the council funding the repair and upgrade of private houses in Firth Park / Fir Vale yet struggling to manage to repair their own housing stock - its a disgrace?

Very simple - money comes to Councils for different purposes - and why are peopleliving in private houses so undeserving?

Originally posted by Internetowl


Pete Howe lives on the estate on the hill at the hillsborough end of Wordsworth Ave -


I guess you mean Donovan, up behind the Fourty Foot. Might pop round next time I'm up there

Originally posted by sweetdexter

Was it the influx of immigration?

Parson Cross's problems certainly can't be blamed on immigration, unless you count those families who came from Brightside Lane and Staniforth Road in the sixties.
Much of the trouble stemmed from the mass unemployment of the eighties, but even that shouldn't be used an excuse.
It seems reflective of a general breakdown in society, pandemic in many areas of Sheffield and beyond.
The turning point for me was Britain going decimal, and the education authorities getting rid of the eleven plus.

Bring back the half-crown!!

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I guess you mean Donovan, up behind the Fourty Foot. Might pop round next time I'm up there

No, right at the end - off Herries Road built into the hillside..
opposite the pond - which is still full of fish..

Slightly off topic, but has anyone driven along Buchanan Road recently?

In the places where houses have been removed the land is awash with colour from wildflowers.

It seems as though the ancient farmland on which the estate was built must have been full of dormant seeds and they are now coming up with a vengeance.

It looks really good and seems to be getting left alone to do its own thing.

Originally posted by saxon51
Slightly off topic, but has anyone driven along Buchanan Road recently?
In the places where houses have been removed the land is awash with colour from wildflowers.
It seems as though the ancient farmland on which the estate was built must have been full of dormant seeds and they are now coming up with a vengeance.
It looks really good and seems to be getting left alone to do its own thing.
I walk down Buchanan alot and i must admit it does look nice to see all the wild flowers, you also seem to notice the lay of the land more now, how it slopes down towards deerlands etc, I can now see from chaucer right across to the far end of parson cross park.

Originally posted by Internetowl
No, right at the end - off Herries Road built into the hillside..
opposite the pond - which is still full of fish..


That area all used to be woodland - Scraith Wood.

Originally posted by saxon51
Slightly off topic, but has anyone driven along Buchanan Road recently?

In the places where houses have been removed the land is awash with colour from wildflowers.

It seems as though the ancient farmland on which the estate was built must have been full of dormant seeds and they are now coming up with a vengeance.

It looks really good and seems to be getting left alone to do its own thing.


I noticed that - how beautiful - but I assumed that the Council had scattered a shed load of wild flower seed around to bring a bit of colour to the mess they have made.

I think its a real plan by the council - there was some posters explaining it on the shops at Margetson - didn't take much notice at the time - but it does look quite pleasant until the chavs tear them up with their motor bikes and scooters...

Originally posted by Internetowl


it does look quite pleasant until the chavs tear them up with their motor bikes and scooters...


Give them some rope - I've heard about hanging chavs.

hello turfittmar i also lived on wordsworth avenue.we first lived near the tavern. i remember the shops on margetson cres.being built i used to go to school at grenoside, because the local schools had,nt been built. when we moved further down wordsworth, it was into what were called the yellow houses. iwent to colley school.i remember all the shops on wheater road.one of the first shops was called the maypole. friends i had were anne coleman,georgie laycock,berly pease, margret rose.two of my sons in the 1980s had paper rounds for mr aldams.mr and mrs bellhouse moved to longley. weused to have a week off school in october it,s called half term now ,then it was called potatoe picking week. we used to go to the farms in ecclesfield for about 4 shillings a day.we really only went for the lads. they were very happy times.rock and roll had just started. the sun seemed to shine all of the 6 weeks holidays, or is it me getting old? i would love to hear anyone else,s stories. pollyann.

Originally posted by pollyann
[B]i had were anne coleman,georgie laycock,berly pease, margret rose.B]

Hi Pollyann.
I knew two members of the Pease family, Aubrey and Avril. Both lovely kids. It sounds like the same family.
What was the role of that big tower at the top of the hill next to St Paul's?

I was involved in the Parson Cross Festival around 1981. Anyone remember that? Not very festive really, not much happened and we didn't have much money, but I was supposed to be organising it! I didn't live there - it was one of those fill-in jobs you get when you're long term unemployed which, as you may know, wasn't unusual in Sheffield in the early 1980s. I met a load of nice people on the estate.

Avril Pease (now Bishop) owns what was Mr Aldams shop. She worked there for years then bought it when Mr Aldam retired.

Originally posted by pollyann




we used to have a week off school in october it's called half term now, then it was called potato picking week. we used to go to the farms in ecclesfield for about 4 shillings a day. we really only went for the lads. they were very happy times.



I'd forgot about spud picking week, we went somewhere up Grenoside but I've no idea where. The five bob or so a day was most welcome but the back ache for the following week was murder.

I did Spud week in 1967, up Salt Box Lane.
There were about six of us and we got ten bob for each half-a-day.
Bearing in mind that ten No 6 Tipped was 1/9 we were quids in. Enough fags to last till bonfire night

Originally posted by babyboom
Avril Pease (now Bishop) owns what was Mr Aldams shop. She worked there for years then bought it when Mr Aldam retired.

I remember she had a boyfriend call Trevor Bishop, so I guess she married him