My Mum lived at the lower end of Gray Street and went to Pye Bank School during WWII.

As I keep telling her how marvellous SF is for stories and bits of history I thought I'd ask if anyone here has memories of the area at that time or of Rock Street where my father lived. I know he used to go on about the barrage balloons up there, firewatching and so on.

Mum's maiden name was Joyce Green and she'd love to know if there are any of her schoolfriends around on the mighty tinterweb!

My Aunt lived on Gray Strret, she is called Joan Green.
Although that was later when the maissonettes where built.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
My Aunt lived on Gray Strret, she is called Joan Green.
Although that was later when the maissonettes where built.

Was she from around there originally? I know Mum's family were bombed out of their house in the war.

There is a picture in tonights star, dosn't give year. Its a group of children from pye bank school on a school trip. Get her the star and let her look, hope she will recognise someone.
I went to pye bank but years later.
peppermint

Cheers Peppermint!

No probs, let us know if she does recognise someone.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Jozafeen
Was she from around there originally? I know Mum's family were bombed out of their house in the war.
We all come from Fowler Street originally so yes you could say we came from that area.


Peppermint can you email me a pic of that shool trip by any chance, sorry did not read this until Boxing day.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
We all come from Fowler Street originally so yes you could say we came from that area.


Peppermint can you email me a pic of that shool trip by any chance, sorry did not read this until Boxing day.


no probs..When I have been to father inlaws to pic it up (hope he hasnt thrown it.) i will scan it and email it. Iin the next few days.

peppermint

Had word he still has it, will do it for you tomorrow:thumbsup:

I started at Pye Bank Infants in '38. I lived in Fox St, thats the one below Gray St. I guess I'd be about seven years old when old Adolf came after us, that'd be about 1940, just before Christmas. You'll all remember blitz night (or nights). A bomb was dropped on the old gardens opposite the school just behind a couple of houses. It wrecked the houses and blew all the windows out of the school, all the kids were dispersed to other schools or into peoples front rooms in small classes. I went into a front room with about a dozen others for a start until the powers that were found me a place at Pitsmoor School, near the Toll Bar.
The names I remember from the front room days were, Wilf Durham, Ray Walker, (Fox St). Rex Naylor, (Grey St). A girl, surname Candlemass (Rock St). Shirley Brown,(Fox St). Betty? Theaker,(Fox St).

Cycleracer
well couldn't email it, then got to thinking other might like to see it.
click on link for Pye Bank school trip (year?)

http://www.ntlreview.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/home2.htm
hope the picture brings back memories for someone.

Peppermint

Peppermint, do you know when this picture was taken.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
Peppermint, do you know when this picture was taken.

Sorry paul it didn't say

all that it said was under the pic

I started at Pye Bank School in January 1942 and left in July 1948. Is this about the time you were looking for ?

When I started at the school, the front of the building, facing Andover Street, was still being repaired from the damage caused by a bomb in the Blitz. This had destroyed several houses on the other side of the street: houses that backed-up to the Old Gardens.

There were two girls in my classes (1945-1948) who I think lived on the lower section of Grey Street. One was called Linda - can't remember her last name - and the other was called Janet Hodgitt(?)

After leaving Pye Bank, I never went back. I only ever met about two or three lads who had been in my classes, and that was all before 1960. Nothing since.

Not meeting people is hardly suprising for I haven't lived in Sheffield since 1965 and only make occasional visits .

Regards

My Grandma Fox lived at the corner of Gray Street and Andover Street just below Pye Bank School. My parents had the next house down Andover Street. I was 4 years old at the time of the Blitz, sheltering in the cellar of the house during the bombing (which was too close for comfort!) We had to live downstairs in the house for months afterwards with no slates on the roof.
A family from Gray Street were killed when their Anderson shelter was flattened by a bomb.
The bomb craters in the "old gardens" later became a playground for us kids.
I went to Pye Bank School from 1941 to 1947. The headmaster was Mr. Speight (who had to cane me on two painful occasions). I remember some of the kids' names - Alan Bradley, Barry Meach, David Smith, Albert Morley, Roy Bentley, Shirley Emmett, Marion Greaves, Eileen Marriot, Josie Buccieri and Pat Brown. Another friend, Frankie Hewitt, was given the job of ringing the school bell in the mornings, as soon as this was allowed again after the war.
I have only happy memories of Pye Bank School (apart from the cane), and the "old-fashioned" teaching methods gave me a good start in life.

Thanks for all your comments so far - I'll have to drag Mum back to look at them all as I keep forgetting to pass all the info on when I visit her!

Didn't know Josie Buccieri went to Pyebank. Do you remember the Naylor family kids, Rex and Pete, they lived just down the 'rocky' end of Gray Street, be more or less opposite your Grandma'. The name Emmet rings bells though, did she have an older sister called Norma? Truth to tell, she had two mates, Jean Goult and Ann Duty, and good old Speighty had to give me the 'stick' one time for putting carbide in their inkwells.
I quite liked Speighty though, he had a humorous turn of phrase that appealed to me even then.
I remember a kid called Raymond Bairstow, trying to get out of doing PT by saying he had a bad heart. Speighty looked at him and said, ' Poor old Bears toe.' Well I laughed like the proverbial drain, the only kid that did really, everybody else just sniggered. I think I was his only real audience, didn't stop him caning me though.

Hi, Texas.
Regarding Josie Buccieri - Her parents had a shop on Rock Street. I don't know if they were bakers, but I often went to their shop to get my Grandma's bread. It was a lovely golden loaf, shaped like a flattened rugby ball, but even "ordinary" bread was better in those days.

Has everyone finished with the pic of the school trip? as I am going to take it off the server if you have.

Must have been a lot of familes call Green on Gray St as my mothers maiden name was Kathie Green but i dont know of a Joyce or a Joan in the family?

Must have been a lot of familes call Green on Gray St as my mothers maiden name was Kathie Green but i dont know of a Joyce or a Joan in the family?

Was your mother's married name Noble by any chance?

If so then my mum Joyce and her are cousins, though she'd know mum's elder sister Dorothy better as apparently they were in the Civil Defence together. She also had another sister, Nora.

Was your Grandmother also Kate and the local tailoress and dressmaker? My mum remembers her very well for her ability to look at any outfit and copy it so lots of Pitsmoor girls were decked out in London fashions you couldn't even buy in Sheffield at the time!

Hi Jozafeen
All your information is correct apart from the fact my mother was an only child

Hi Jozafeen
All your information is correct apart from the fact my mother was an only child

Sorry - possibly my poor grammar. Dorothy and Norah were my mum's older sisters.

Hi Jozafeen
I have old photos of the civil defence crews but the only person i can put a name to is my mum ( reading your your mail again it makes more sense now )
and i do recale an Aunty Dorothy and Aunty Norah and a cousin whose name escapes me ( bad memory ) possibley Elaine?

Who's asking for Joan Green on Gray Street.
She is my Aunt.....

My Aunt lived on Gray Strret, she is called Joan Green.
Although that was later when the maissonettes where built.

Hi Paul
Sorry the Greens in my family were on Gray St well before the Maissonettes not long after the war.

Hi Paul
Sorry the Greens in my family were on Gray St well before the Maissonettes not long after the war.
Hi syrup.
I always thought that the bottom side of Gray Street was fields before the maissonettes were built.
I lived on Andover Drive, can you tell me what stood there before it was built.
Where the school is I always thought it was just fields but someone mentioned once a castle or large house stood next to the school where the multi storie flats stood.

Hi syrup.
I always thought that the bottom side of Gray Street was fields before the maissonettes were built.
I lived on Andover Drive, can you tell me what stood there before it was built.
Where the school is I always thought it was just fields but someone mentioned once a castle or large house stood next to the school where the multi storie flats stood.

do you mean this castle?
http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=s05926
cos the notes say Part of Tower House which was situated between Pyebank, (later known as Pitsmoor Road) and junction of Gray Street and Fox Street

and of course, you'll well remember this:-
http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=u01765 (sadly all gone, now... :( )

PT

Plain Talker, I like the second picture which shows Pitsmoor Rd and looks like it has just been built, I noticed the car pound on the right which at first I thought it may be the enterance to Stanley works, but on closer inspection is to close to the road.
I think it may be the builders pound where they kept all the materials which was certainnly taken in the 60s around 1963/64.

The turret is interesting to and wonder if it stood at the top of Foxhill between Rock St and Fox Street on the corner of Gray Street.

Plain Talker, I like the second picture which shows Pitsmoor Rd and looks like it has just been built, I noticed the car pound on the right which at first I thought it may be the enterance to Stanley works, but on closer inspection is to close to the road.
I think it may be the builders pound where they kept all the materials which was certainnly taken in the 60s around 1963/64.

The turret is interesting to and wonder if it stood at the top of Foxhill between Rock St and Fox Street on the corner of Gray Street.

yes, that second photo definitely looks as if it was taken in, perhaps, the late sixties, because the flats and maisonettes certainly do look "all shiny and new", don't they?

The maisonettes were quite roomy, and were not too badly thought out, as well as being very convenient to get to town. It's a pity the area got that bad reputation, and folk wouldn't live on there. the area went to rack and ruin.

I remember you and jt mentioning that you lived on Andover... my house (well, maisonette), 20 yrs ago was bang smack beneath the first high-rise, opposite the community centre on andover drive. I moved off there just as they had cleared the high-rise for demolition,

Hi Jozafeen
I am Nora your cousin, my mum was your mums sister Nora. I was a bridesmaid for your mum. I met you once when you were very young at a seaside resort, you were with your mum and dad.


PS. excuse me for using my husbands user name

Nora
nee.Armitage

Hi syrup.
I always thought that the bottom side of Gray Street was fields before the maissonettes were built.
I lived on Andover Drive, can you tell me what stood there before it was built.
Where the school is I always thought it was just fields but someone mentioned once a castle or large house stood next to the school where the multi storie flats stood.

Hi Paul
I left Gray St in 1951 when i was 3 years old i cant remember any of it but i do believe the council was a long time before they demolished them i have outside photos of the family home and a photo of the castle that my late mother took when she was a child but it does look like the one on the sheffield site from a different angle ( it is very poor quality )

Hi Jozafeen
I am Nora your cousin, my mum was your mums sister Nora. I was a bridesmaid for your mum. I met you once when you were very young at a seaside resort, you were with your mum and dad.


PS. excuse me for using my husbands user name

Nora
nee.Armitage

My word - hello!

I've seen you in your bridesmaid dress today as this thread has brought back some very good memories for my Mum.

She's been telling me how glamorous your mum and her sister were thanks to their aunt's tailoring skills and how they were known as 'The Green Girls' like local celebrities!

It's so nice for me discovering relatives I didn't know I had too :)

Plain Talker, I like the second picture which shows Pitsmoor Rd and looks like it has just been built, I noticed the car pound on the right which at first I thought it may be the enterance to Stanley works, but on closer inspection is to close to the road.
I think it may be the builders pound where they kept all the materials which was certainnly taken in the 60s around 1963/64.

The turret is interesting to and wonder if it stood at the top of Foxhill between Rock St and Fox Street on the corner of Gray Street.


Hi Paul,
I lived on Fox Hill in the 40's & 50's, the Tower House as it was known, was higher up the "Old Gardens"on a line with Fox Hill right on the top, it was reached by a lane of sorts from,( which was then) Pitsmoor Rd. opposite the Marshall Tavern,
regards

if you mean the old building, peeking out from behind the high-rise flats, I'm afraid that was the roof of the school at the top of Andover Street.

if you mean the old building, peeking out from behind the high-rise flats, I'm afraid that was the roof of the school at the top of Andover Street.



Sorry Plaintalker, but you're way out. About 1/4 mile I reckon. This house was demolished long before the flats were built or the estate!

If you stood at the top of Fox Hill looking in a direct line with the Hill up to the "Owd Gardens" it was right on the top overlooking Pitsmoor Road / Marshall Street.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l304/Telegonus/Tower.jpg

Sorry Plaintalker, but you're way out. About 1/4 mile I reckon. This house was demolished long before the flats were built or the estate!

If you stood at the top of Fox Hill looking in a direct line with the Hill up to the "Owd Gardens" it was right on the top overlooking Pitsmoor Road / Marshall Street.

no, capricorn,I'm absolutely bang on target:- considering I lived opposite the school, and "under" the high rise, on the top of Andover, I know how close the old school and the high rise flats were to each other, and that chimney, and roof peeking from behind the high rise is DEFINITELY the school, and not the "tower house thing".

look a bit closer.

http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=u01765

my son went to that school. The 1960's houses, and the maisonettes are all down, now, the school is about the only thing standing on that estate, now, and it's in a sorry condition.

The smaller, dark tower of maisonettes that stands on its own in the picture, sticking up fronm the paler maisonettes is below the right-hand high rise block, where the rounded-roofed houses ends, (not the multi-blocks of paler coloured ones) is directly opposite the steps that led down between the 240-odds (along from the Chip Shop) andover st, and those steps ran from beside the school, down toward the maisonettes.

the school nestles behind the middle block, peeking out from either side of that block. the chimneys stick out on the right, and the angle of the roof of the school sticks out on the left.

no, capricorn,I'm absolutely bang on target:- considering I lived opposite the school, and "under" the high rise, on the top of Andover, I know how close the old school and the high rise flats were to each other, and that chimney, and roof peeking from behind the high rise is DEFINITELY the school, and not the "tower house thing".

look a bit closer.

http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=u01765

my son went to that school. The 1960's houses, and the maisonettes are all down, now, the school is about the only thing standing on that estate, now, and it's in a sorry condition.

The smaller, dark tower of maisonettes that stands on its own in the picture, sticking up fronm the paler maisonettes is below the right-hand high rise block, where the rounded-roofed houses ends, (not the multi-blocks of paler coloured ones) is directly opposite the steps that led down between the 240-odds (along from the Chip Shop) andover st, and those steps ran from beside the school, down toward the maisonettes.

the school nestles behind the middle block, peeking out from either side of that block. the chimneys stick out on the right, and the angle of the roof of the school sticks out on the left.


Plaintalker,
Look we're talking about two entirely different things here, I hadn't seen the photo you were referring to until just now, and you are spot on it is the School roof in the photo.
I was talking about another building, which would have been, from where you lived, down the bottom end of the Old Gardens but on the top, if you can understand my directions. This building was demolished in 1959 so it might have before your time. If you click on the Photo Bucket link at my last post you'll see what I mean. I lived on Fox Hill from 1936-1964.
Regards

I started at Pye Bank Infants in '38. I lived in Fox St, thats the one below Gray St. I guess I'd be about seven years old when old Adolf came after us, that'd be about 1940, just before Christmas. You'll all remember blitz night (or nights). A bomb was dropped on the old gardens opposite the school just behind a couple of houses. It wrecked the houses and blew all the windows out of the school, all the kids were dispersed to other schools or into peoples front rooms in small classes. I went into a front room with about a dozen others for a start until the powers that were found me a place at Pitsmoor School, near the Toll Bar.
The names I remember from the front room days were, Wilf Durham, Ray Walker, (Fox St). Rex Naylor, (Grey St). A girl, surname Candlemass (Rock St). Shirley Brown,(Fox St). Betty? Theaker,(Fox St).

Hi,

You mentioned Wilf Durham, is he related to Rita? My dad Michael Darling and my uncle Keith Darling remember her. They were at Pye bank from 1942ish to 1953,

Lisa

Regarding Wilf Durham. The family lived at the top of Fox St, just below a wood workshop of some kind, name of Carters. He went to Pye Bank infants the same as me, but after the bomb blast across from the school, like I say, we were farmed out into front rooms of ordinary houses for a while with the teachers.
What would be our ages at the time, 6 or 7? Anyhow I remember he did have some siblings younger than himself, so it's possible one or both could've been girls and one could've been called Rita.
He also had relatives who lived in cottages opposite the Forum cinema. That's going back a bit. I kind of lost touch with him after the 'front room' period. I used to sit in the seat next to him and copy his answers when we were doing sums. I still think that's why I've always been rubbish at Maths, not because he was bad, but because I was too idle to work my own brain.
I saw him once more, perhaps mid 50's, he'd got quite snobby by then.