At Firth Park underneath the Wharncliffe Hotel was Wigfalls showroom where I and a large gang of kids from Shiregreen Junior school saw a television for the first time in 1951...at 4 pm after school we all ran down to see this new wonder..The programme we watched was a childrens show called "Puck of Pooks Hill"...another childrens show I remember was called "Billy Bean and his wonderful machine"( anyone still remember Yoohoo the Cuckoo??) The TV was a brand new 9 inch
square screen job with a sort of purple glow..No salesman or staff ever asked us to leave co's they knew that we would all go home and pester our parents to buy one ...Question is Wigfalls still there????.

Wigfalls had a number of shops throughout sheffield. Im sure that Wigfalls disappeared from the streets of Sheffield in the late 1980's. I was under the impression that Wigfalls had been bought out buy the Dixons / Currys Group.

Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it!

Originally posted by roth ghost
Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it!

Nah much earlier than that about late 80's I would say, Dont remember "Wiggies" still going on in the 90's

found some pics of the Wigfalls fire.... www.barr94.freeserve.co.uk/past.htm

Originally posted by roth ghost
Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it!

Yes, I remember their store in Fitzi Square.

The building was roughly where the Superdrug/bookies are, now.

My mother bought her hoover, and an English-Electric brand single-tub washing machine which had an electrically powered mangle on the top from Wiggies, on the weekly, when I was a tot. I remember the chap who used to call, each week for the payments. Uncle Tom, me and my sister called him.

oh, yes, I also remember the redd-ish speckled carpet that they sold her for our living room. I also remember that they supplied 2 different pieces, as the living room was extremely long, and , my goodness! The row that ensued when it was discovered that one pipece was "Bedroom Quality" (IE not such a hardwearing quality) and the other was "Living-Room Quality". After a couple of months of use, you could see how badly the bedroom quality piece was wearing, compared to the living room quality piece.

With regard to the old buildinigs that used to be in Fitzi Square, I also remember the classic cinema, too which was just at the inner side of coopland's current site, on the corner of the square and Commercial street.

PT

Wigfalls definately closed in 1970s on Bellhouse Rd, it is now Lloyds chemists, ed note: a visiting friend from Firth Park area says he was in the old showroom underneath, ( this used to be the ballroom before that) a number of weeks ago, it is now a second hand store room full of junk. He was there to photograph the old murals on the wall, some signs of which still exist.
I don't think any of Bellhouse would still be recognisable to timbuck if he came back. ps: re Grey Cats group, the drummers name was Dennis Loveday.

Did Wigfalls have a place on Rutland Rd about half way up?

?

In the 20/30s it was the Royal cycle works, Wigfalls built cycles [Wiggies gas pipes we called them dont know why]

I was working on Angel st when the Wigfalls shop was burnt down saw the roof fall in i think it was 1984.

According to my dad the bicycles were called Wiggies gas pipes because the frames were constructed out of heavy tubing (hence the name Gas Pipes) and were not as light weight or as good quality when compared with an equivalent Raleigh bicycle.

Mega Monty

I think your dad is pulling your leg! The name was Wigfalls the family name!

Don't worry i'm 33 and only until last year my dad still told me there was a father christmas!

Arn't they nice! (parents)

Originally posted by foxy27
Did Wigfalls have a place on Rutland Rd about half way up?

I am not sure about them being at Rutland Road, I think you're right, Foxy, they were on Rutland Road, but I am a bit hazy in my memory of that.

I know that they had a factory-type building in the triangle of land between Spital Hill, Verdon street, and Rock Street, on the side of the hill overlooking the Wicker Arches, which stood derelict from at least the early/mid eighties (If I have my facts right)

What I do remember is a school-age lad being either killed, or very seriously hurt, at least, in that derelict building, about fifteen or so years ago. He and a friend were trespassing inside the building and (IIRC) somehow managed to fall down one of the lift-shafts or over the edge of one of the half-demolished floors.

PT

wigfalls were on rutland road, they had there head office there and accounts department, you used to have to wait about a week for credit clearence, not like now (instant credit) maybe if it was the same now as it was then people would have more time to cool off about a purchase and the average persons debt would be lower!

I do remember 'wiggies' and I'm not sure but think they had a warehouse on Shalesmoor - it's now an apartment block and a restaurant. Am I right or am I confusing it with something else?

I think it might have been West Bar - not sure what that area is called but it's one of the two - Shalesmoor/West Bar

Useless bit of information but my gran worked for Wigfalls. It was definatly taken over by dixons/currys because my nan gets a discount in all dixon/curreys stores.

Originally posted by roth ghost
Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it!

That happened in 1984 around April time, I know this because I was working in the TRUEFORM shoe-shop at the top of Waingate for a couple of weeks as a Trainee manager directly before I went to work at the same in Oswestry in Shropshire.

We watched the blaze from outside the shop.

Wigfalls on Bellhouse rd. When I was about 8 or 10 or something, i won 10shillings in their colouring competition. I remember it was a picture of a woman and a fridge. Never won anything since. Mom and dad used to swear by Wigfalls. Telly was rented from there.

I thought Wigfalls were bought by Granada, because we used to rent a television from them at that time, and our contract transferred to Granada.

However, the following (boring) document from the competetion competetion says that Wigfalls were bought in 1988, by (the then) Dixons Group.

http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1990/fulltext/272c2.pdf.

I don't understand why Granada took over our telly rental!

Originally posted by foxy27
Did Wigfalls have a place on Rutland Rd about half way up?

Yeah because I think that burnt down too!!

Originally posted by Timbuck
At Firth Park underneath the Wharncliffe Hotel was Wigfalls showroom where I and a large gang of kids from Shiregreen Junior school saw a television for the first time in 1951...at 4 pm after school we all ran down to see this new wonder..The programme we watched was a childrens show called "Puck of Pooks Hill"...another childrens show I remember was called "Billy Bean and his wonderful machine"( anyone still remember Yoohoo the Cuckoo??) The TV was a brand new 9 inch
square screen job with a sort of purple glow..No salesman or staff ever asked us to leave co's they knew that we would all go home and pester our parents to buy one ...Question is Wigfalls still there????.
when i was a lad in the war years it was a dance hall before wigfalls took it over

Originally posted by roth ghost
Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it!

wasn't it the classis cinema that was on fire? i used to visit the indian restaurant below it and was gutted when it was demolished

I worked for Wigfalls briefly in the mid seventies.
We were based at the Rutland Road site - there were some offices here but there was quite a big storeroom/workshop where new tv sets and hi fis were tested. From here they would be delivered right across the region.
I can't remember them all, but there were Wigfalls showrooms right across Sheffield.
There was one on the Moor, one in Fitzallan Square and one on Exchange Street.
The outlaying ones I remember were Darnall, Attercliffe, Firth Park...maybe one at Hillsborough? not sure about that.
There was a big workshop at Mowbray Street where, I think, most of the tv engineers worked.

Oh! One on London Road too!

Mullet, the Wigfalls at Hillsborough was on the corner of the street where the Hillsborough Kinema was, just off Middlewood road (or is it still Langsett road at that point?) My parents bought me my first bike there, a Phillips Kingfisher!

Originally posted by mullet
Oh! One on London Road too!

the "Wiggies" shop on London Road was in the building which now houses the Surfing supplies shop.

I may have mentioned this before, but I can clearly remember the red, flecked carpet that my mother bought from Wiggies, for our living room, when my parents moved into their first home, after four years of lodging with my father's parents.

I also remember that the suppliers had to send two pieces of carpet, because the living room was so large.

My mum went absolutely bananas, after the carpet had been lain for a couple of years, and had been "walked on" for a while, because it had become obvious to all and sundry that the two pieces of carpet were of different qualities.

One of the pieces was "bedroom quality" the other was "living-room quality". the bedroom-quality piece wore really badly, and was not up to the task of being in a living room. The difference was really pronounced, and my mother had a huge dispute with Wiggies about getting the carpet replaced.

I also remember the other purchases m mother made, from Wiggies. She bought our first Hoover Junior vacuum cleaner from them, on the weekly payments, and we also had a yellow-y cream coloured, single-tub washing machine; an english-electric brand, with an electrically powered mangle to get the water/suds out of the laundry.

PT

I came home to Sheffield on leave from the RAF at Christmas 1962, and got a job for a few weeks at Proctors. They had a furniture store across from city hall, and a trucking division at the bottom of City Road. One of the runs I did was delivering TV's from a large building on one of the steep streets that went down to Hillsborough corner. A little vague on names and exact locations! I think the street was Hoole, or Goole, street.
Went around to a few mining villages with the repaired TV's. It was the first time I had ever seen abject poverty!!! Dirty houses, dirty people, especially the kids! It was an eye-opener for me, I have never forgotten it! Made me realise what my council house on Browning Road was, I had always thought we were poor. Not even close to these unfortunate souls!
I have seen a few so called 'poor' Indian Reserves here in Western Canada, these people also live in poverty, but that is all relative. Here in the Edmonton area, 'poor' is when you only have four or five channels on your 23 inch colour TV, and your car is 10 years old! What I saw that day in 1962 has stayed with me all these years, I NEVER bitch about having no money after pay-day, I have more than these folks have ever had, and I am grateful for it!O.K, I'm done! (Forgot to mention, I think it was Wigfalls I was delivering the TV's for!)

Was wigfalls a furniture shop ? my sisiter and I worked at two furniture shops in town in the 50/60s, all was sold on the HP.

we had to enter every payment in big ledgers by hand, climb up ladders to get them down of the shelfs, lots of people got the sack there as it was so easy to steal money, every payment was paid in cash.

Some girls use to enter their own payments in the books and hadn't paid a thing on them.

Wish i couls remember the name of the furniture shops, it'll come to me as soon as i click repy !

Originally posted by poppins
Was wigfalls a furniture shop ? my sisiter and I worked at two furniture shops in town in the 50/60s, all was sold on the HP.

we had to enter every payment in big ledgers by hand, climb up ladders to get them down of the shelfs, lots of people got the sack there as it was so easy to steal money, every payment was paid in cash.

Some girls use to enter their own payments in the books and hadn't paid a thing on them.

Wish i couls remember the name of the furniture shops, it'll come to me as soon as i click repy !
i remember one jays ont moor or pinstone street

The Wigfalls in Fitzallen Square sold furniture,it was in the basement, thats where the fire started.
My Mum was working in the shop when the fire started.

Originally posted by foxy27
Did Wigfalls have a place on Rutland Rd about half way up?

Wigfalls definitly had a place on Rutland road it was more or less opposite Rugby Street and was gutted by fire a long time ago they also did have a place near spital hill as said it was the left hand side of the hill going down from the bottom of verdon street before the railway arch that lead down to nursery streetr

my first bike came from wiggies. It was down on attercliffe road. The shop is still standing but has been different things over the years. this must have been in the 1950 s. There was also one in Darnall and my mum rented a washer from them,not many people bought them. The Tally Man came for the money each week. \He would probably be muggedtoday!!!!!

Maggi, do you remember the tallyman's name? was it Tom?

the wiggies man who came to our house was called Tom. IIRC he lived somewhere down Darnall way.

PT

Wigfalls had two places on Rutland Road, one above the brickyard, and one on the other side, near Stanley Works.

At Firth Park underneath the Wharncliffe Hotel was Wigfalls showroom where I and a large gang of kids from Shiregreen Junior school saw a television for the first time in 1951...at 4 pm after school we all ran down to see this new wonder..The programme we watched was a childrens show called "Puck of Pooks Hill"...another childrens show I remember was called "Billy Bean and his wonderful machine"( anyone still remember Yoohoo the Cuckoo??) The TV was a brand new 9 inch
square screen job with a sort of purple glow..No salesman or staff ever asked us to leave co's they knew that we would all go home and pester our parents to buy one ...Question is Wigfalls still there????.

Wigfalls is long gone both from Firth Park and within Sheffield.

I have lived at Shiregreen for some 15 years and it hasn't been their in my time. I only recall Wigfalls at Fitzallen Square.

I bought my first transistor radio from Wiggies, my grandma took me to the store on Shalesmoor I think it was about 1968. Did Wiggies have a repair shop in the Wicker somewhere behind the old arches?. Also got my first record player from the shop on Bellhouse Road.

:) The wiggy's down firth park is where I rented my 1st vhs recorder in 1983. It was , check this one out, 429 quid to buy AT THAT TIME and like a muppet I rented it for 2 and half years at 30 quid a month. I supppose you to pay for the development and all that but you can get one for 30 quid now! Philips had the cd tech then too but were rubbished. ps they did offer it to buy for 40 quid after I cancelled my rental

I think a classmate of mine started work at Wigfalls in 1954.Brian Cork

There was also a Wigfalls just a little higher than the Royal Infirmary on the opposite side of the road. My first wife rented a radio from there to listen to Radio Luxenburg. It was three old shops knocked into one big one.
I’ve noticed somebody casually mentioned Jays furniture store which stood somewhere at the top end of The Moor. How it survived as a business I do not know. I think it was the Sheffield Star that found out that at least one of their wardrobes was made from old tea chests! It had ‘Malaya Tea’ stamped across the inside back!

Just for information. Wigfalls was taken over by Dixons in 1988.

Cheers

Ben

Wigfalls head office was located on Rutland Rd. opposite Stanley Tool works. Their T.V service department was on Mowbray St. In the 50's and 60's over 45 service technicians were employed, repairing mostly T.V. sets and radio's that Wiggies had rented out.

Retail outlets were in almost every major shopping area of the city as well as Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and other close towns. Plus they had a very large catalogue order business. Where did it all go?

I've been reading this thread with some interest as I worked for Wigfalls for 9 years.Not many people know that infact Wigfalls was country wide.They had shops around Birmingham,Bristol and on the south coast and went under a number of names (Blanchard's on Infirmary Road for instance).

I remember Blanchards on infirmary road very well, my mother used to take me in there in the 60's as a small child.

I remember the deep dark wooden counters that they served you at, and I seem to remember they had that whizzy chute-thing with the cannisters for the money that usexd to shoot around the shop.

I also seem to remember that there was an office-y type room at the top of the central flight of stairs. I may be wrong...

But I am very surprised, to find that Wiggies owned Blanchards, I never knew that!

PT

I used to work for Wigfalls. It would have been around 1970/71. I worked in the "accounts" office as a punch card operator. These offices were situated under the wicker archers. All I remember of the job was that I "in-put" information and also checked the work of others. Crikey.......I can't even remember much of what I actually "in-put" except that it was electrical equipment and peoples accounts. I suppose it was "hire-purchase" stuff. Boring anyhow.
I do remember seeing wigfalls shops all over the place but I couldn't for the life of me tell you where.

There was also
Wigfalls tailor's & shoe shop West bar

There was retep,my father worked there for 20 odd years.It was just like walking on to the set of ''Are You Being Served''.All dark wood and tapes round necks as I remember.

Was it a man named Fisk who was manager, made it even more like are you being served.:D

Sorry can't remember mate,it seems ironic that the shop was next to the ''doss house''.When the shop closed my dad went to work at Wiggies Walker Street which was by the way an old flour mill.

I got my first bike from Wiggies on Hillsborough (where Halifax is now) when I was about 5 or 6. It was a blue three wheeler with white mudguards and an extentable chrome handle on the back with a knurled knob on the end. I think the reason for this was to stop the tricyclist (ie me) from scooting off, but I used to let my dad push me with it.

I also remember Wiggies at Hillsborough having loads of stuff pinched. In the late 60's/early 70's, a van pulled up outside the shop on a Thursday afternoon (half day closing) and some blokes got out dressed in white smocks. They must've broke in and proceeded to load the van through the shop's front door while shoppers just walked past oblivious of the daring crime in progress!

My Grandad worked as a salesman & manager at Wigfalls from immediately post war to the 80's in various branches, Fitz sq, Hillsborough, The Moor etc. Wouldn't mind hearing from anyone who may have worked in these branches & who may have known him.

My dad worked there in the early sixties as a tv repairman. He then trained to be one of the first colour tv engineers in the country but took his skills to Radio Rentals. Wigfalls loss!

I am not sure about them being at Rutland Road, I think you're right, Foxy, they were on Rutland Road, but I am a bit hazy in my memory of that.

I know that they had a factory-type building in the triangle of land between Spital Hill, Verdon street, and Rock Street, on the side of the hill overlooking the Wicker Arches, which stood derelict from at least the early/mid eighties (If I have my facts right)

What I do remember is a school-age lad being either killed, or very seriously hurt, at least, in that derelict building, about fifteen or so years ago. He and a friend were trespassing inside the building and (IIRC) somehow managed to fall down one of the lift-shafts or over the edge of one of the half-demolished floors.

PT

bloody hell PT you have just jogged my brain big time...the lad your talkin about was good friend of mine at school...tryin to remember his name...but it wont come to me.he and another friend went messing in wigfalls and saw a jar of cherrys on a ledge in the lift shaft and he tried to get them and fell in.he didnt die but was seriously hurt.broke both his legs really badly and was never the same again.i remember my mum and dad waking me up when i was about 10 years old and saying "get up theres a building on fire" so we walk over to wigfalls and there was a big crowd of people stood at the bottom of verdon st watching it burn.

Myuncle showed me a book on Pitsmoor recently and in a photo dated 1978, there's a double-fronted Wigfalls shop on Spital Hill roughly about where the Mangla is now. I know things change quite swiftly but given their prevalence at the time, we moved to Pitsmoor in 1980 and I've no memory of a Wiggies on Spital Hill at that time. I remember the one at Firth Park from childhood, and I think it was still there when we moved to Firth Park in 1984.

Wigfalls was bought out by the dixons group, I think it was 1999! can any-one remeber the fire at the bakery at fitzallen square that disdroyed the Wigfalls building at the side of it! My mother was in the shop at the time it caught fire and she told us all afterwards that she had to run for her life along with other traders .....

I worked for Wigfalls when I first left school at the offices on Walker Street at the bottom of the Wicker. This was in 1978. Anyone who worked there then on this forum?

When i left school in 1978 i worked as an apprentice carpet fitter. I worked for a sub contract carpet fitter who did work for wigfalls in fitzallan square. Some of the houses we went in left a lot to be desired. I suppose it was all some people could afford at that time.

With regard to the Wigfalls takeover... Wigfalls was more successful than you might think...

In the late 70's, it was WIGFALLS which bought CURRYS! Currys was then chosen to be the name for the company, but in 1985 DIXONS bought 'Currys' and integrated the brand-name into DSG (Dixons Stores Group). The strength of the 'Currys' brand name again helped it's owning company when DSG decided to rename all its 'Dixons' stores as 'Currys.Digital' in 2006. May have the dates wrong... but the order is correct I think!

Wiggies at Firth Park!

Nice lady who managed the furniture part in the basement - Mrs Goddard.

I remember the murals - they were quite daunting for children, particularly since we were not as exposed to things as kids today - I remember one picture of a lady in probably Elizabethan style dress with shoes which curled at the front - scary or what!

My old piano teacher Miss Judge lived in thef irst house on the Crescent which you had to pass to get to Wiggies - we always left by the metal staircase at the side which came onto Beavercotes Road to go home - good times those childhood years.

Remember that wonderful bread from Elwoods and Pork Pie from Friedrich's - we always went to J H Watson's butcher - that wonderful Mr Foster - what a lovely man.

My dad worked there in the early sixties as a tv repairman. He then trained to be one of the first colour tv engineers in the country but took his skills to Radio Rentals. Wigfalls loss!


Delia,

What was his name.

I worked at Mowbray street early 60's.

Delia,

What was his name.

I worked at Mowbray street early 60's.

My dads name was Denton Burkinshaw. Alive and kicking and now living in Gorleston nr Great Yarmouth.

That happened in 1984 around April time, I know this because I was working in the TRUEFORM shoe-shop at the top of Waingate for a couple of weeks as a Trainee manager directly before I went to work at the same in Oswestry in Shropshire.

We watched the blaze from outside the shop.


I can remember just after the fire my mate and me wonering about going in and asking for a hifi unit with a smoked glass top:hihi:

Delia,

Yes I remember your dad, Great to know he is well. You may like to tell him the sad news that John Mosley died early this year and Peter Green has now retired.

JIGINC

John Gabbitas

Delia,

Yes I remember your dad, Great to know he is well. You may like to tell him the sad news that John Mosley died early this year and Peter Green has now retired.

JIGINC


John Gabbitas

Thank you JIGINC. I rang Dad and told him about the postings. He said that he would have a look at them on the Forum. He was amazed that after all this time someone remembered him, mind you he is one of those unforgettable types. Blessss. Keep Well. Delia

Hi JIGINC I dont rember your name but there were a lot of people in the tv room I stayed until `64 Any clue?
DeliasDad

Hi JIGINC I dont rember your name but there were a lot of people in the tv room I stayed until `64 Any clue?
DeliasDad

Hi,
Send me a PM and your Email address. Lets see what names we can remember.

jiginc

Hi I`m afraid my memory is not as good as it was but Coe (Albert I think) rings a bell, the manager I cant think of, John Freeman from my radio days
and a lad who was in a wheelchair. Not much to go on but maybe you can jog
my memory a bit. My e-mail is denton@burkinshawd.freeserve.co.uk Cheers for now Denton

Wiggies at Firth Park!

Nice lady who managed the furniture part in the basement - Mrs Goddard.

I remember the murals - they were quite daunting for children, particularly since we were not as exposed to things as kids today - I remember one picture of a lady in probably Elizabethan style dress with shoes which curled at the front - scary or what!

My old piano teacher Miss Judge lived in thef irst house on the Crescent which you had to pass to get to Wiggies - we always left by the metal staircase at the side which came onto Beavercotes Road to go home - good times those childhood years.

Remember that wonderful bread from Elwoods and Pork Pie from Friedrich's - we always went to J H Watson's butcher - that wonderful Mr Foster - what a lovely man. I remember that metal staircase I went down to the Warncliffe one night for a pint and parked my bike behind that staircase in the dark..When I came out somebody had pinched my back and front light.

Does anyone remember a break in at wigfalls some time in late 1968 or early 1969. Am trying to track down one of the people convicted - a Richard Wilkinson. (I think)
Any info on the incident would be much appreciated.
You can email me at paul@paultyree.co.uk
many thanks

Wigfalls was where Wyndsors Shoes is now on Infirmary Road - opposite Tesco. I remember going there with my mum. Blanchards was next door.

I thought Wigfalls were bought by Granada, because we used to rent a television from them at that time, and our contract transferred to Granada.

However, the following (boring) document from the competetion competetion says that Wigfalls were bought in 1988, by (the then) Dixons Group.

http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1990/fulltext/272c2.pdf.

I don't understand why Granada took over our telly rental!

Yes i remember Wigfalls changing to Granada.we ended up buying our rented set for £100, that was back in 1986/7 IIRC.

My Elder brother bought his first bikefrom"Wiggys" on Infirmary Rd,opposite the old Infirmaryl A "Wiggys"gas pipe cost £3 19 6 at a shilling a week 1935 that was. I bought a Piano Accordian from the shop 1939 on Attercliffe Common Forget the price Long time ago now

did wigfalls have a shop on gleadless townend ?

Yes, I remember their store in Fitzi Square.

The building was roughly where the Superdrug/bookies are, now.

My mother bought her hoover, and an English-Electric brand single-tub washing machine which had an electrically powered mangle on the top from Wiggies, on the weekly, when I was a tot. I remember the chap who used to call, each week for the payments. Uncle Tom, me and my sister called him.

oh, yes, I also remember the redd-ish speckled carpet that they sold her for our living room. I also remember that they supplied 2 different pieces, as the living room was extremely long, and , my goodness! The row that ensued when it was discovered that one pipece was "Bedroom Quality" (IE not such a hardwearing quality) and the other was "Living-Room Quality". After a couple of months of use, you could see how badly the bedroom quality piece was wearing, compared to the living room quality piece.

With regard to the old buildinigs that used to be in Fitzi Square, I also remember the classic cinema, too which was just at the inner side of coopland's current site, on the corner of the square and Commercial street.

PT
I am sure there was a restaurant under the cinema. The Old Bell Inn was in Fitzalan Square too. There also was a bank roughly where Cooplands is. The Yorkshire Bank at the top of Haymarket was the first Sheffield Head Post Office - before the one in Fitzalan Square was built.I remember getting a tram at Lane Top and getting off it in Fitzalan Square.

I worked in a furniture shop in the 60s, might have been a wigfalls, i forget, it was in the middle of town, i think it was near where Marks is now, they also had another one down the moor....back then everyone paid cash for their HP goods, every payment was posted into these big ledger books which we had to climb on the ladder to get to, pull it down, post 10 shillings,get back on the ladder, pull the next one down, I must have been in good shape back then :)

They did indeed bigbifter,it was a Dobsons shop. Another part of Wigfall's empire.

I am sure there was a restaurant under the cinema. The Old Bell Inn was in Fitzalan Square too. There also was a bank roughly where Cooplands is. The Yorkshire Bank at the top of Haymarket was the first Sheffield Head Post Office - before the one in Fitzalan Square was built.I remember getting a tram at Lane Top and getting off it in Fitzalan Square.

there was, indeed a restaurant in the "cellars" of the Classic cinema.

My dads name was Denton Burkinshaw. Alive and kicking and now living in Gorleston nr Great Yarmouth.

Hi Delia I used to work with your dad in the "Radio Room" at mobray street, my name is Mick Smith don't know if he remembers me but i do him.

well,wiggies was there in firth park when i left in 1986,,,,
kept goin till bout 87 i think,,

Hi Delia I used to work with your dad in the "Radio Room" at mobray street, my name is Mick Smith don't know if he remembers me but i do him.

Yorkyman I have sent you a PM

jiginc

Wigfalls was a family business. started by Henry in Infirmary road selling bikes I think.
I served an apprenticeship in the service depot in Mowbray Street service was sold to Servicepoint and the Servicescope and then to Ganada in late 80s

Henry Wigfall had no sons, and his daughter married into a family named Morell who eventualy took over the running of the company.

I remember the Fitz Zq fire and help with the refit - i think they had a fire sale from the loading bay at the bottom of the steps in the corner of the Sq

Great Shame the Wigfalls named died - it was a fantastic place to work full of characters - it was part of the fabric of the city

we have a wigfalls gramophone

If all the ex employees were to list on the Wigfalls site on Friends Reunited, we would be able to 'chat' there. I worked at the Mowbray St. service depot 1957 - 1963


Yorkyman I have sent you a PM

jiginc

Nah much earlier than that about late 80's I would say, Dont remember "Wiggies" still going on in the 90's

found some pics of the Wigfalls fire.... www.barr94.freeserve.co.uk/past.htm

My next-door-neighbour was manager of Wigfalls at Firth Park, until he was made redundant when the shop closed down in 1988.

Throughout the 80s the police were frequently fetching him out, during the night, after the latest robbery. Old Jack was relieved to see it shut - and so was I :mad:

I worked in the offices of wigfalls on the wicker an old building, then they redid it. I worked with the men who collected and a other officer called Mr Millett.

In about, 1966

Wigfalls was a family business. started by Henry in Infirmary road selling bikes I think.
I served an apprenticeship in the service depot in Mowbray Street service was sold to Servicepoint and the Servicescope and then to Ganada in late 80s

Henry Wigfall had no sons, and his daughter married into a family named Morell who eventualy took over the running of the company.

I remember the Fitz Zq fire and help with the refit - i think they had a fire sale from the loading bay at the bottom of the steps in the corner of the Sq

Great Shame the Wigfalls named died - it was a fantastic place to work full of characters - it was part of the fabric of the city

Sorry to disagree but it was Henry Wigfall & Son Ltd. The son used to come round the shops turning off lights and drove an old jaguar car. He must have been 80.

Sorry to disagree but it was Henry Wigfall & Son Ltd. The son used to come round the shops turning off lights and drove an old jaguar car. He must have been 80.

Hi when were you at mowbray St, I was there 1958 onwards.

my dad worked for wigfalls in the 60s his name was gordon butterley, anyone remember him?

Hi Are you sure it was Wigfalls and not Hoover Ltd

yes it was he worked for hoover inside wiggies,

No we both worked for Hoover Ltd as sales/service reps but we did most of our sales through Wigfalls as they did rental. Is he still alive and kicking as it many years since. Did he live on Blackstock Rd or am I getting it wrong?

John

sadly my dad died two years ago, but he told us many stories of his days working for hoover.

my mum and dad lived in sheffield 2 ,park hill area. my mum wondered what your surname was, dad used to talk about a friend called john .

you are right of course idjel ! Henry had a son so i guess it was the son that had no lads to follow on
I do recall the Morrells taking charge of the compnay around the 70s / 80s - i joined as as an apprentice in 1972

My name was John Bishop and did a lot of sales for Wigfalls at Hillsborough & Firth Park shops.

Do you remember eric grant, lou godfrey, mike ray, my mum remembers those names.

Yes. I knew Eric Grant. When he left he opened a shop on Abbeydale Rd, and when he sold it I think he went to live in Spain. Godfrey I knew but I am not sure he was called Lou. Gordon was in Stan Hague's unit if my memory is right. I didn' know a Mike Ray. I think Gordon was pally with Stan Brockelsbury and it must have been him that lived on Blackstock Rd.

His name would be Tommy Breem or George Heathcote

mum thanks you for info and getting in touch. its lovely to talk about my dad, we all loved him so much .hope you are well .

In the 50's and 60's the power behind the company was in the hands of two brothers by the name Hearnshaw. Morell married the daughter of Henry Wigfall Jr. (as has been said) and probably as he was quite a bit younger, the company was eventually passed on to him.

From a large rental provider, to numerous retail outlets, as well as a mail order catalogue, I wonder if there is any part of the company still in existance.



Sorry to disagree but it was Henry Wigfall & Son Ltd. The son used to come round the shops turning off lights and drove an old jaguar car. He must have been 80.

Mrs Goddard (known to locals as Miss Smith) was married to Jim Goddard who managed the Spital Hill shop for many years

Geoff Millett was my supervisor, Bill Smith was my manager a better boss you could'nt want for. It was a pleasure to work for Wiggies. I was a collector for 14 years until I was made redundant.

my dad worked for wigfalls in the 60s his name was gordon butterley, anyone remember him?

I worked with Gordon Butterley but on Hoover Ltd. although we did spend most of our time selling machines for wigfalls making people we worked for them. Wigfalls took over the Hoover service as they had so many washers and cleaners out on rental that need servicing.

My next-door-neighbour was manager of Wigfalls at Firth Park, until he was made redundant when the shop closed down in 1988.

Throughout the 80s the police were frequently fetching him out, during the night, after the latest robbery. Old Jack was relieved to see it shut - and so was I :mad:

Are we talking about Jack Rudkin manager of Firth Park

I could not believe what I have just read about Peter Green. My dad worked for Wigfalls about 1953 I believe he was a manager, his name was Peter Green also George Crooks. I don't know which branch my mum left him after he had an affair with a clerk there. He died at 67 in 1997 in Australia.

Hi I worked for Wigfalls at Walker street & Rutland Rd approx 1980/81, recently went to a 60th birthday for a friend who kept in touch and met another 6 people who we worked with. It was a good reunion and some looked no different. Can anybody remember sisters Cath & Margaret, Mavis, Sue Gimshaw, Christine Hemmingfield & Peter, Ann Pryor, Wendy Dickinson, Sue Bradshaw, Flo Morris, Wayne & Christine Gleadhill, Tracey, Julia Rowe, Debbie Cannon.

I Remember your Dad We Worked For Hoover Ltd Around1960s 1970s He Once Lived On Park Hill Flats.

Sadly George Heathcote Passed Away Last Year, I Spoke To Pauline Is Wife Recently She Also Worked At Wiggys.

I too worked for Wigfalls and knew Pauline and George very well as they both were at Firth Park. I didn't know George had died until I saw Rose and Leo this Xmas when she told me. We were going for a meal during 2010 but didn't realise George was ill.

Yes my dad did live on parkhill flats, he loved working at wiggies.

Sorry to disagree but it was Henry Wigfall & Son Ltd. The son used to come round the shops turning off lights and drove an old jaguar car. He must have been 80.

We used to get the Grandson, Richard Wigfall, in our office at Mowbray Street. He was a young man and he had his eye on one of our office girls ..

At Firth Park underneath the Wharncliffe Hotel was Wigfalls showroom where I and a large gang of kids from Shiregreen Junior school saw a television for the first time in 1951...at 4 pm after school we all ran down to see this new wonder..The programme we watched was a childrens show called "Puck of Pooks Hill"...another childrens show I remember was called "Billy Bean and his wonderful machine"( anyone still remember Yoohoo the Cuckoo??) The TV was a brand new 9 inch
square screen job with a sort of purple glow..No salesman or staff ever asked us to leave co's they knew that we would all go home and pester our parents to buy one ...Question is Wigfalls still there????.

The shop front is still there on Bellhouse road,its a opticions now