Does anyone know about hospital that used to be on Pomona Street? it is now a school any info appreciated. :thumbsup:

Seems a bit strange to me , to be honest ! I went to Pomona St. school in the late '40's ----early '50's and it had always been a school , I think . I remember the old Pomona Street pretty well but I can't think where there could have been a hospital .
However ! I don't know when Rabone Chesterman's was built and if you go back to the 19th. century , maybe there was a hospital on that site ?
Good luck in your search and I would be genuinely interested to find out IF a hospital was once situated on the ,"Old Pomona ' !

Yes Porter Croft school, that is on Pomona Street was definatley
a Hospital but I dont know any info about it,
The School was called Pomona Street years ago.
I used to work at Rabone Chestermans Before it became Norwich Union, Im sure the date is still on the archway stating when it was built I will have a look on Monday on my way to work. :thumbsup:

Stellstar ,

Thanks for your info.
A genuine surprise about the hospital; I wonder if the school was a hospital , temporarily , perhaps ? In the 1st. or even 2 nd. World War ?
The reason I ask that is the architecture of Pomona St. School was identical , I think , to a lot of schools that were all built in the late 19th. century ; so I imagine it was built originally as a school , at any rate .
Also , I was there forabout 4 years and we lived nearby but I can't recall anybody referring to the school as once being a hospital -------but if it had been a long time previous to 1950 , maybe even the locals had forgotten !
Do you remember Chesterman's hooter ? It used to go off at about 3 minutes to 1 p.m to warn the staff to , "clock on" or come out of The Prince or Rising Sun , maybe ?
Apropos of nothing -----we used to play marbles , after school , in that little space between Chesterman's and the school . I think it's still there now-----after 55 years !

Originally posted by Fareast
we used to play marbles , after school , in that little space between Chesterman's and the school . I think it's still there now-----after 55 years !

There is a gap between the buildings, but it's now a Norwich Union car park! ;)

I agree with the comments about the school building; it certainly does resemble many other schools of that period, and I'm pretty sure it would have been built as such.

Try having a look on www.picturesheffield.co.uk , there is a photo of the old Rising Sun and the Rabone Chesterman building from years ago!

When the terraced houses next to the Old Pomona were demolished, the Old Pomona was left untouched for a time. In the side wall was found a wooden door behind the paneling in the pub. This once had been a door to the orchard and had been bricked over and hidden by the property next door.
The figure of a clergiman (circa 1700s was seen from time to time making its way from the bar area and through the wall at the point where the door was. A good local was the Old Pomona and I enjoyed the pleasure of the very last pint served there before it was closed and demolished.

Kristian ,

Thanks for info.
We actually used to use the heavy metal , "slabs " for the marble games . The sewer blokes had to prise them open to descend into the depths . The handle they used formed a sort of hollow with a hand-grip across the middle . Our game , was to roll a marble each towards the hole . The one who got nearest would then roll all the marbles and start trying to flick them in the hole . If he got one in he had another go .......and so on . Then we would go in order of who had been next nearest .....and so on . I wonder if they still play it the same now ? Or if anyone still plays marbles on the street at 8 and 9 years of age .
To be more exact about where we played -------as you walked down Pomona on the right , the school would be on your right , of course , and as you got to the end of the school wall , there was a little gap of about 4 or 5 feet , with the metal slab and then Chesterman's building would begin .
Anyone who went to Pomona in those days will remember Messrs. Wragg , and Renshaw and Miss Havenhand and the dreaded Miss Lofthouse -----also the shale football pitch behind the school which was murder on the knees -----and the ball always going in the River Porter !

1925 Kelly has it as an Elementary School

1901 Board School

1879 houses

I wonder if this helps. I believe that the Jarrow March passed through Sheffield, and Pomona Street School was used as an aid and rest centre for the marchers, treating sore feet etc and feeding them. Does that ring any bells with anyone?

I used to work at Rabones and would often go to the Rising Sun for a drink at lunchtime, as soon as the hooter went off there would be a mad dash to get back to work on time.
Im still not sure when the school was used as a Hospital though,
Im going to have a browse at pictures that Kristian mentioned.
Thanks for your help everyone.
:thumbsup:

Originally posted by stellstar
I used to work at Rabones and would often go to the Rising Sun for a drink at lunchtime, as soon as the hooter went off there would be a mad dash to get back to work on time.
Im still not sure when the school was used as a Hospital though,
Im going to have a browse at pictures that Kristian mentioned.
Thanks for your help everyone.
:thumbsup: Following up my comment, have a look for pictures indexed under 'marches' as well.
Algy

Found some more info by teaching staff at Porter Croft School,
you are right it was built as a school first then used as an Hospital.
Im intrigued now so Im going to look at the links that you have provided.
Keep posting if you have any more info though cos Im really interested in this subject.
Thanks.:thumbsup:

Wasnt the hospital time to do with convalescing soldiers after the first world war?

My friend was the headmistress there (IIRC) in the 1940's, but she passed away a couple of years ago so I can't ask her.. :(

PT

Yes you are right PT,
I asked one of the teaching staff, and she said that it had been
a convalescing Hospital.
:thumbsup:

In WW1, the nearby Teacher Training College on Ecclesall Road (and along Collegiate Crescent ?!) was used as a Base Hospital, mentioned here (http://www.army.mod.uk/212fdhosp/history/) .

It seems possible that the school was used for the convalescence of patients from there. I would guess the school, being the closest to the College would already have had close links to it in peace time.

The college was also used as a hospital in WW2 judging by the reference to Belgian refugees on this page (http://www.shu.ac.uk/cgi-bin/news_full.pl?id_num=PR717&db=05)

Hugh

I been looking into family history. My grandmother lived in a place called Agnes Square. It is supposed to have been in that area around 1910. Any idea?

I can't find an Agnes Square, though other people know the area better than me. It may be the name for a group of houses within a street, too small to appear on the maps.

Can you tell us your Grandmother's name and any other information you have about her that may help to find her?

Hugh

There used to be an ,'Angus Square ' just off Summerfield Street , very near the Ecclesall Road end i.e. near the bottom of Pomona Street .
I would guess that disappeared in the early '60's , maybe even earlier . It sounds as if it could be a mix-up or a variation on ,'Agnes Square '
Just for the record , nearby , there was Soho Street , a cul-de-sac , with a church at the end ; Davy Lane which ran between Harrow St. and Renton St. , which themselves ran between Ecclesall Road and Napier St .The Earl Grey pub stood at the corner of Ecclesall Road and either Renton or Harrow Streets . Can't remember which now !
A good few of my pals from Pomona St. School lived in that little area -------the river , Middleton's Fish and chip shop and a fair few pubs ----------nice area ! All car show rooms or computer Houses now , I believe .

Many thanks. The 'Agnes Square' could be the 'Angus Square. I got the name from the 1901 Cencus. Following the count in other streets around this is the area.
My Grandmother name of Ada Hazel is down a the owner of a sweet shop. The Daughter of Mrs. Hazel (widow) the head of the family.
She later in 1901 married my Grandfather Aurthur Barron. They had a sweet shop on Netherthorpe Road. Not sure if this is the one mentioned in the cencus.

From White's 1919/20 Directory...

31 Netherthorpe Place
BARRON Arthur Edwd confectionr

Angus Square is listed under Summerfield St, but only a chimney sweep makes it into the street directory.

Arthur was listed here also in 1911 - Directory on-line at the historical directories site (http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/b1.asp)

Going back to the 1901 Directory (on the same site), Mrs Ada HAZEL is listed at the same address!

Picture s18257 at PictureSheffield (http://www.picturesheffield.com/database_search.php) claims to include no. 31. (put the ref in the bottom space, just above the search button).

Hugh

Originally posted by Fareast
There used to be an ,'Angus Square ' just off Summerfield Street , very near the Ecclesall Road end i.e. near the bottom of Pomona Street .
I would guess that disappeared in the early '60's , maybe even earlier . It sounds as if it could be a mix-up or a variation on ,'Agnes Square '
Just for the record , nearby , there was Soho Street , a cul-de-sac , with a church at the end ; Davy Lane which ran between Harrow St. and Renton St. , which themselves ran between Ecclesall Road and Napier St .The Earl Grey pub stood at the corner of Ecclesall Road and either Renton or Harrow Streets . Can't remember which now !
A good few of my pals from Pomona St. School lived in that little area -------the river , Middleton's Fish and chip shop and a fair few pubs ----------nice area ! All car show rooms or computer Houses now , I believe .


Fareast
On the Old Maps web page if you look in the area there used to be a Soho Brewery there but there is also someting with what looks like Pamona gardens nearby. The writing is not too clear when enlarged, at first I thought it said infirmary

Originally posted by Fareast
There used to be an ,'Angus Square ' just off Summerfield Street , very near the Ecclesall Road end i.e. near the bottom of Pomona Street .
I would guess that disappeared in the early '60's , maybe even earlier . It sounds as if it could be a mix-up or a variation on ,'Agnes Square '
Just for the record , nearby , there was Soho Street , a cul-de-sac , with a church at the end ; Davy Lane which ran between Harrow St. and Renton St. , which themselves ran between Ecclesall Road and Napier St .The Earl Grey pub stood at the corner of Ecclesall Road and either Renton or Harrow Streets . Can't remember which now !
A good few of my pals from Pomona St. School lived in that little area -------the river , Middleton's Fish and chip shop and a fair few pubs ----------nice area ! All car show rooms or computer Houses now , I believe .


Fareast
On the Old Maps web page if you look in the area there used to be a Soho Brewery there but there is also someting with what looks like Pamona gardens nearby. The writing is not too clear when enlarged, at first I thought it said infirmary

Many, many thanks.
I have a picture dated around 1910 showing just the sweet shop. This shows the whole, dare I use the word, parade.

Agnes or Angus square is a way from this though.

I also have some old postcards sent to my Grandfather which call the area Port Mahon. Seems an odd name for a suberb of Sheffield.

Again thanks

Has anyone contacted the school itself ? when i worked there a few years ago the school was celebrating its centenery and they had details of the use of the building and i am sure it was at one point used as a hospital or medical building.

It also makes sense for the school to have been used as a hospital in view of the presence, just across the Porter, of the General Cemetery, where there are indeed some WW1 soldiers buried who died of wounds or illness after returning from the front. Many families probably could not afford an expensive funeral and that would be the nearest and most convenient option.

And incidentally, there may well have been an orchard there, as Pomona is the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards. For information see:

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Thread/119486

Seems that as a placename it is very widespread, as a search on Google reveals!

Hi playman I also worked at Porter Croft when it celebrated Its centenery, I still work there the school was used as an Hospital during the war. The school has just had a revamp and look's really good, I probably will remember you from when you worked there,
were you a supply teacher?

No i ran the after school club.

Right,did you work with Liz and Sara?
I work in the after school club on Wednesday's and also cover other days when someone is off.