I think thats how they spelt his name..my Great Aunt claimed that he once stared at her,through her kitchen window..I don't know much about this chap exept that he was a notorious Victorian Sheffield criminal.
Can anyone fill in the details????

is'nt he buried in Eccsall church graveyard?

Eccelsall,sorry for the error

must get the spelling correct or change my fingers ECCLESALL

Charles Peace born in the centre of Sheffield in 1832 Was a law breaker all his life imprisoned a number of times,
The murder was commited at 959 Ecclesall road a Mr dyson was shot and killed Charles peace was hanged at Armley jail Leeds
on the 25/Feb /1879. books have been printed about his life which was very eventfull he having lived in other parts of the country,

If I recall my history correctly, there was a murder on Psalter Lane, just round the corner from me, that Charlie Peace committed.

As I undertand it, CP shot (or otherwise killed) the bloke, who was the husband of the woman whom he was having an affair with. he lay in wait in the outside loo, and murdered the hubby.

he also shot a policeman, (IIRC) who tried to capture him after this incident. (PC Nicholas Whalley)

He escaped custody in a very dramatic way. He was being escorted to the prison, by train, he gave the gaolers the slip, and leapt out of the window of the speeding train, and made his way to (temporary) freedom.

He was recaptured, and was later hanged for his crimes.

The story goes that he was an excellent violinist.

re the comment about him being buried in ecclesall churchyard :- as i unerstand it, a convicted criminal who was executed would not be accorded the privilege of being buried in"hallowed" ground.he would most likely be buried within the prison walls

PT

My mother as a young girl lived in a house at the rear of the shops near the public house on Leopold Street.

The back of the house had a slop kitchen and was all whitewashed with 'Bug Blindinding". The rear of the house was virtually in the yard of the new Orchard Square.

I believe in those days the address was Orchard Lane although it is a few yards away from the remains of todays Orchard Lane.

Maybe the road was altered when the original Barkers Pool was altered after the new Town Hall was built.

When they were developing the square I watched them pull down the kitchen to build shops that front into the square.

She told me that the rear of their house and the slop kitchen featured in the old silent movie that was made about Charlie Peace.

I have seen the film and Charlie scrambles out of the window onto the kitchen roof and away. He is followed at the window afterwards by a thwarted constable waving his truncheon.

She recollected that people used to come to look at the back of the house and even asked to come inside to have a look around.

There used to be lots of articles and old newspaper cuttings about Charles Peace on the walls in the public bar side of the Banner Cross pub. They may still be there, but it is a long time since I last visited that particular establishment.

[Edited thread title as his name is 'Peace' not 'Pease']

Nomme

Sorry everyone I mean't 'Bug Blinding' (Limewash)

This house was never used by Charlie Peace, it was only used in the film.

The incident was supposed to be a house at Banner Cross.

Sorry if I misled anyone.

every year there was a play on in sheffield called THE STIRINGS IN SHEFFIELD it used to be about charlie peace
I think, anyone know if it still is acted at any theatre?

Originally posted by kath
every year there was a play on in sheffield called THE STIRINGS IN SHEFFIELD it used to be about charlie peace
I think, anyone know if it still is acted at any theatre?

I'm not sure that 'Stirrings In Sheffield On A Saturday Night' (by Alan Cullen incidentally) was anything to do with Charles Peace was it?

The last professional production of this play that I remember was the revival by Sheffield Crucible in 1992, though I bet it's something that am-dram companies produce reasonably regularly.

In fact, I've just done a quick Google search and found this info from the Retford Little Theatre (phone 01777 702002)...

THE STIRRINGS IN SHEFFIELD ON SATURDAY NIGHT
By Alan Cullen
14th - 22nd May 2004, 7.30 pm

It's hard to believe that the doors of the theatre building first opened as many as 20 years ago (April 1984). To celebrate this significant moment in RLT's long history, we have chosen "Stirrings" because we are asked so often and by so many to revive it, and because it has a "cast of thousands".

A lively and entertaining musical documentary, blending comedy, drama, melodrama and music hall styles, "Stirrings" charts two historical stories: the troubles of the saw grinders union in the cutlery trade, and the coming of gas to the streets of Sheffield. The show has been revived times many in its native city, but, as a piece of theatre, its appeal is much wider than that and, like "Oh What a Lovely War", it never fails to get the audience laughing, crying, singing - and thinking.

Charles Peace was born in Angel Court Sheffield on 14th May 1832, the son of a local shoemaker. Peace started his career of crime as a pickpocket, his favourite pitch being the Sheffield Fairground. In his spare time he was a popular musical entertainer, playing a number of instruments. he could also sing and often gave recitations.
His first appearance in court was in 1851 when he was charged with housebreaking. In 1854 he was sentenced to 4 years penal servitude on another charge of burglary, being charged in conjunction with his sister and another woman.
he was released from gaol in 1858 and in the following year he married a widow, Mrs Hannah Ward.
Peace then moved to Manchester and while lodging there he and another man burgled a house. For this crime he was sentenced to six years penal servitude.
Released on 'Ticket of leave' in 1864 he returned to his wife in Sheffield and assisted at her small shop in Kenyon Alley.
Here Peace made picture frames and for a while kept out of trouble.
Finding his workshop too small he moved to larger premises in West Street, but after a while business declined and Peace giving up the shop, moved with his wife to Manchester. While there he was again convicted of burglary and at court in 1866 was sentenced to seven years.
In August 1872, he was once more released on 'Ticket of Leave' and he returned to Sheffield to live with his wife in Orchard St. Three years later they moved to a semi-detached house in Brittania Road, Darnall, which was situated next door but one to a house occupied by the Dyson family. Peace then fell in love with Mrs Dyson which naturally caused trouble. In July 1876 after peace had insulted Mr Dyson and threatened his wife, Dyson took out a summons against him. A warrant was then issued and Peace left hurriedly for Hull where he opened a small cafe. He returned to Sheffield in October 1876, and found the Dysons had moved to a house in Banner Cross Terrace.
Visiting the house on 29th Nov he entered and shot mr Dyson in front of his wife. Peace then ran away across the fields which are now the Greystones Estate. A warrant was issued for the arrest of peace for murder and thus began a remarkable period of the man's life during which he achieved great notoriety. Naturally the press widely publicised the hunt for the murderer and Peace's likeness appeared on 'wanted' notices all over the country.
Peace had meanwhile settled down in Hull, using a disguise which inclided an artificial left hand, made by himself, to cover two of his fingers which were missing. His white beard was shaved, he dyed his hair and adopted spectacles. This disguise was so effective that he lived for a time at the home of a police sergeant. Later he moved to London, living there with his wife and a mistress. At night he carried on his life of crime by burgling houses in the South London area. One night he was caught robbing a house and while attempting to escape he shot a policeman.
He was caught and was remanded at Greenwich Police Court on 10th october 1878. Peace gave his name as John Ward, but on the 6th November he was identified in Newgate as Charles peace. Thirteen days later he was sentenced to penal servitude for life at the Old Bailey. The Sheffield Police then took steps to bring Peace to trial for the murder of Mr Dyson and these being successful Peace was sent under escort by train to Sheffield. On the journey he made an unsuccessful effort to escape by leaping from the speeding train, a jump that caused him a number of injuries. On 24th Jan 1879, Peace was committed for trial to leeds Assizes. There he was found guilty of murder and was hung at Armly Gaol on 25th February. So ended the life of a man who was to be remembered by the Sheffield folk for many years afterwards.
The story of his crimes was told over and over again, extracts of his life were re-enacted on the stage and even a very early silent film was movie was made of some of his more daring escapades. Embellishments were naturally added and the crimes of 'Charlie' Peace became a Sheffield legend.

From A Popular History of Sheffield by J Edward Vickers.

Thanks 'Playman' for putting the record straight. I will have to check the address of my old Mums place.

I thought it was Orchard Lane but I may be wrong and secondly it may have been Charlie's address although I do know that the silent film was filmed there.

Incidentally, there used to be a story in Buster comic in the late sixties about a 'lovable Victorian rogue' called, you guessed it, Charlie Peace. Unfortunately I can't find any images of it on the web and I'm not sure if I still have any copies of the comic featuring this character.

I've long wondered why they chose that name for a character in a kids' comic.

Re Charlie Peace. I think it was on Psalter Lane on the right side going up the hill there were about 3 terraced houses and on a paving stone outside was a carving of, I believe, a horses head. I was told this was done by Peace looking busy whilst Ole Bill was searching the locality. I could take you there but memories of road names are a bit dodgy. It was just left of a crossroad. Psalter Lane, I think, ran off to the left and the houses were on the right. Anthony

Anthony is correct about the carving on the doorstep of the cottages on Psalter lane ,These cottages where called (The Saltbox Cottages) opposite college & just above junction with Hunter House rd. up to the 1960's as i remember they where owned by a Miss Brown,
there is a picture in the libraries Sheffield collection listed under cottages
I do have a photo of these cottages and it is signed by Miss Brown who lived there, after her death the council in all there wisdom decided to pull these down,but i can remember the step with the horses head carving on it ,as my memory serves me it was the middle cottage where it was carved,
The cottages also had an orchard at the back and those where the sourest apples one could ever find i remember being chased By miss Brown many times with my mates who went scromping these apples,
As i was told these cottages where a toll house for the Salt being brought in to Sheffield hence the name olde english Psalt box cottages, in my posession i have a bowl that came from Charles Peace's house in Sheffield apparently my Great Grandmother was a friend of his family. But sadly have no more information about his.


RGDS S.F.

The house that the Dysons lived in is still there but its now a shop. Its situated just down from the Banner Cross Hotel. The passage way where Mr Dyson was shot is still there also.The Dysons house is the next to last in the terrace past the passage way.
There was a bullet mark on the lintel accross the passage way where Peaces first shot hit but as to it still being there I dont know.A full account of his crime is in the book "The Sheffield Murders" by David Bentley and it is well worth buying.

Originally posted by soggy
As i was told these cottages where a toll house for the Salt being brought in to Sheffield hence the name olde english Psalt box cottages, in my posession i have a bowl that came from Charles Peace's house in Sheffield apparently my Great Grandmother was a friend of his family. But sadly have no more information about his.


RGDS S.F.

Soggy, you are correct about Psalter Lane being named for the salt...

Apparently, that was the route into Sheffield from Cheshire where salt was mined.

There was, as I understand it, some confusion, hundreds of years ago about the naming of the lane...

The the salt connection was misinterpreted as being "PSALTER" as in the prayer book of psalms (A psalter) and the extra letter (P) was added.

This was never rectified, and over the course of many many years, the "PS-alter " thing just sort of "stuck".

PT

Ah , Charlie Peace. He used to live a few streets away from me and I always thought he was a shifty looking character even before he shot poor old Dyson.;)

Come on Ned 1879.. I know you don't look 125 years old, but you might have done a few years back.

Har, har! Nice one:D

I was told that he evaded the police may times by the use of disguise and the fact that he was double jointed.

He could change his appearance radically by disjointing his jaw or his arms giving him a totally different appearance.

I believe there are a set of pictures in existance which show his different facial looks.

Maybe someone can confirm this?

Pop T

Yep Pop, I heard that about his ability to dislocate his joints too.
Is that how he managed to get out of the train window?

"The Stirrings in Sheffield on a Saturday Night" brings back great memories for me. It was the last play (in fact the only play) I saw at the Playhouse, and it was the first play I saw at The Crucible.
My favourite bit was when the drunk guy was wandering around Hereford St ( in his stupor it became Elephant street) talking to himself. It was a lovely view of Sheffield's history, even if the rose tinted specs were extra rosy.
I often scan the final to see if any AmDram productions of it are taking place, but don't recall seeing any for years.
Are there any more Plays about Sheffield?

I have started my family history. My great grandfather P.C. Walter Golding helped arrest Charles Peace in Blackheath in 1878.

I did a search for Charlie Peace which your site was one of the results. The site mentioned the Banner Cross Pub which had articles and old newspaper cuttings about Charlie Peace.

Is this pub and newspaper still there, anyother information would be brill.

Best wishes, and all the best in the Fa cup

eric

he lived at a house on Ecclesall Rd just down from the pub - was having an affiar with a married woman who lived nearby and in a tussle with her husband he killed him. Then fled the city and was later caught and hanged. The pub and house are still there as is the alleyway near the pub where he killed the man.

Postscript - is there some footy on tonight or something then?:heyhey:

try this link http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/detective/ABookofRemarkableCriminals/chap2.html

ericgolding

For some time there was a wanted poster for Charles Peace for sale upstairs in the antique emporium on Broadfield Road.

I thought it maybe of interest for you to take a look if it is still there.

Happy Hunting

if you take a look at the Sheffield Star shop or even Gt / WHS Smith newsagents for that matter you'll find plenty of books about the Sheffield of bygone days, my gram used to have loads which i used to borrow and there's one in particular about all the gangster elements of sheffield which meant that it rivalled Chicago statistically wise re: law and order, different gangs and plenty about Charlie Peace, but it did include lots of info about the police officers involved.

Thanks for the help

Eric

A book by David Bentley - "The Sheffield Murders 1865-1965" gives a good account of the Charles Peace murder.

J.

He also made it into a cartoon strip. I have an old Buster annual from 1970 with him thrown forward in time.

If I get the chance this weekend I'll dig it out and scan it in.

my dad did our family tree years ago and has always told me Charles Peace was my great great great grandad, although ive never found this out myself.

Its very interesting finding a thread by his capters relatives lol

Msbehavin
Charley Peace didn't live at Banner Cross. He'd met the Dyson's at Darnall where they and he had lived before. He'd started up some sort of relationship with Mrs. Dyson [I don't think anyone so far on can now tell if it was a sexual one or not ].
Anyway , he became a bit obsessed with her and ,presumably , this was the reaon the Dysons moved. Somehow Peace discovered where they were living and went round there on the night of the murder. I don't know if he was still in Darnall at that time.As far as I can recall from his biography , he'd been born just off High St.
The inquest on Dyson's death was held at the other end of Psalter Lane , at the Stag .
Quite a character----after eating all his breakfast on the morning of his execution , he complained that the bacon had been too salty ! The least of his worries , I should have thought.

Try the Fire & police museum at West Bar roundabout.

In the cells, there is loads of information about a local murderer, and i think it's Charles Peace.

The museum is only open Sundays/bank holidays, but if you ring them first, they should be able to confirm if the info they've got is about Charles Peace. (0114 2491999)

Everything so far on this thread seems to ring a bell that it is Charles Peace.

This is a little late in the day,but i have only joined the site today.

Charlie peace lodged with the dysons on brittania rd, darnall.

The row of houses were there in the 70's but were demolished and the darnall library now stands on the site.

As a child we were warned to behave or charlie peaces ghost would get us.

I remember a lot of tales about charlie,I am not sure how historically true they are but darnall was a very close knit community but they make interesting tales in the telling.

best wishes
sisterloui

......there used to be 'Charlie Peace adventures' in something like Victor or Valient comic years ago - was this the same Charles Peace or is it just a coincidence?

G

Grantham,

I would guess it was the same.
Charley Peace is still talked about and I suppose , going back a bit , he was as notorious as , say , the Krays or , before Peace, Dick Turpin.
He had a lot more adventures after leaving Sheffield----mainly I think in Hull , Manchester , Nottingham and , finally London [ Peckham area]. In Manchester , I believe he shot a policeman and escaped. Three Irish brothers were arrested for the crime and one of them was on trial for the murder. It's said that Peace was in the public gallery , in disguise , and watched the young man get life imprisonment. Later , Peace said that if the Irish lad had been sentenced to death , he , Peace would have confessed ! [Oh Yeah ?]
After getting caught doing a burglary in Blackheath , Peace , who was living under a false name [naturally] was recognised and was brought to Sheffield to face trial for the Dyson murder. On the way here , round about Kiveton , he jumped through the train lavatory window , badly hurt himself and was quickly re-captured. He spent quite a lot of time in the old police cells which used to be on Water Lane and hanged semi-publicly at Armley Prison.
They did a play about Peace at the old Playhouse theatre on Campo Lane in the late '60's and Dave Bradley played Peace---he played the religious "fanatic" in the recent t.v. production of "Blackpool"

I remember my grandma telling me about him. When she was a little girl she lived in the house that he had lived in at Darnall.

The reason it took so long to get Charlie was because he could dislocate his jaw thus giving him a different look. He had done this when arrested and a policeman who looked through the spyhole in the cell door saw him re adjust his jaw back and then recognised him as The Charlie Peace who was wanted in Sheffield

I believe that Charlie Peace and his wife(?) lived in the old vicerage on Industry Road at Darnall when he first met Mrs Dyson

Although research has shown that we wasn't related to Charlie, it must have been terrible to have the name of 'Peace' around that time. My Mom was called Edith Elsie Peace, there was also Rose, Lily, Arther, William, Annie and Caroline. I think there was some that died young as well. When my Mom needed her birth certificate when she retired at 65 (1972)we saw that she and her two witnesses (Rose & Arther) all signed their names as 'Pearce'. My Mom said they were so ashamed of the name. I've still got the certificate.

Good look with your search.

:) :) :)

mrsnoo:-

Also if I remember rightly from the book I read about him , he had darkened his compexion with some kind of concoction and whilst he was on Remand it began to wear off and that too aroused the suspicions of the warders.
In general , he was gifted at disguising himself----and at playing the violin !----Quite a character , to say the least.

My Grandma who lived on the Manor and Darnall used to tell me that her mother once hid him in their loft. Don't know how true it was though

I also thought that Charlie Peace lived — certainlly in his burglary years — in a cottage at the junction of Ecclesall Road with Psalter Lane. The house was actually on Psalter Lane.

I have started my family history. My great grandfather P.C. Walter Golding helped arrest Charles Peace in Blackheath in 1878.

I did a search for Charlie Peace which your site was one of the results. The site mentioned the Banner Cross Pub which had articles and old newspaper cuttings about Charlie Peace.

Is this pub and newspaper still there, anyother information would be brill.

Best wishes, and all the best in the Fa cup

eric
The DYSONS house is still there on ECCLESALL ROAD but it is now a Estate Agents the house is the second one of the two that make up the shop. The alleyway where Peace shot Mr Dyson is still there too at the side of the BANNER CROSS pub.

I also thought that Charlie Peace lived — certainlly in his burglary years — in a cottage at the junction of Ecclesall Road with Psalter Lane. The house was actually on Psalter Lane.
Hi Peter you are correct re; his address in psalter lane. ARTHUR

I was always under the impression he lived in a row of cottages at the end of Psalter lane and Eccleshall Rd.

Re: Charles Peace. He was hanged at Armley Prison 25/02/1879. I have a copy of his death certificate. It gives as cause of death: 'Hanging by virtue of a sentence of law'. There was also an old B/W film about him made decades ago.

Hi Eric Any relation to an Eric Golding lived on Alderson rd

go to search and type in charles peace a thread already exists which will give you information

Sorry to be a bit of a wet blanket [ and apologies if I'm wrong ] , but I'm sure Charlie Peace never lived at Banner Cross . The Dysons had moved away from Darnall , as Peace was becoming a nuisance ------virtually stalking Mrs. Dyson .
Peace travelled to Banner Cross on the night of the murder and later fled across the fields that are now Greystones .The inquest was held at the Stag , at the other end of Psalter Lane . Mrs. Dyson went to live in America and after various other adventures all round the country , Peace was caught at Blackheath in London [ doing a burglary ] and the rest followed .

You are right Fareast, Peace never lived at Banner Cross. In addition the alley way above the pub is not where the shooting took place. The site of the shooting was on the lower side of the houses, a narrow entry which is now gone.
Siren

I have started my family history. My great grandfather P.C. Walter Golding helped arrest Charles Peace in Blackheath in 1878.

I did a search for Charlie Peace which your site was one of the results. The site mentioned the Banner Cross Pub which had articles and old newspaper cuttings about Charlie Peace.

Is this pub and newspaper still there, anyother information would be brill.

Best wishes, and all the best in the Fa cup

eric
The Sheffield Playhouse did a play about Charlie Peace, I cant remember the title for definite, but it might have been the one they did called 'Stirrings In Sheffield on Saturday Night', or it might have been another one entirely and that might have just been about the Sheffield Grinders uprising. I'm sure somebody on here will know.

This is a little late in the day,but i have only joined the site today.Charlie peace lodged with the dysons on brittania rd, darnall.
The row of houses were there in the 70's but were demolished and the darnall library now stands on the site.
As a child we were warned to behave or charlie peaces ghost would get us.
I remember a lot of tales about charlie,I am not sure how historically true they are but darnall was a very close knit community but they make interesting tales in the telling.
best wishessisterloui
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
hi sisterloui
you are wrong i am sorry to say, but charlie lived opposite the library on the site where morrisons once was. i think it was 41 brittania road but lost that bit of info; [of the number.], and charlie did not live with the dysons as the dysons lived in a house just above charlie.and as for the houses there was nothing, it was a few years later when morrisons was built. to the best of my knowledge the houses were there in the 60's but gone in the early 70's as there was an entery which used to go thro to catley road.

I'd love to know anything about this nasty Sheffield legend who was apparently a multiple murderer, burglar and bigamist active in the mid 1800s. I know a couple of TV programmes were made about him but I can't find much information about him at all. There's a small book about him in the Central Library but it's tiny and it's cobbled together by a journalist in 1880 so I'm surprised I can't find anything more up to date. I know the following from the old book: He was hung in the late 1870s after a crime spree that lasted over 20 years and stretched from Sheffield to Hull, Kensington and possibly Manchester. I know he lived in Attercliffe and he murdered a man near the junction of Psalter Lane and Ecclesall Road. I know he worked at a watchmakers on West Street and used to burgle round there.
Anyone have any family legends or other info about him?
He's got the first exhibit in the Scotland Yard Black Museum so I'm sure there's a book about him waiting to be written should anyone fancy the task.

There's a chapter on him and his history in the 'Tales from the Black Museum' book, which may be available from some libraries.

I can't quote from it (I've slept since I read it you know) and unfortunately the copy that I read is now no longer in my possession, but it's a start.

He wasn't a very nice man, you know ;)

Hi

The best book I've come across on Charlie Peace is called

King of the Lags: the Story of Charles Peace. by David Ward

There are currently 11 copies of the book available on

http://www.abebooks.com/

He went to the school on Paradise Square, the building with the balcony attached, before his crime spree.

He shot a man dead in one of the ''gennels'' in between the little row of cottages just below the pub at Banner Cross (up Ecclesall Road).
The last time I was in Sheffield the houses were still there.

There's already a thread on this in ' Sheffield History & Ex-Pats ' , somewhere , with quite a lot of info. .

sorry, last post to get my minium posts in!

Sheffield Fire station Museum has quite a lot of articles about him including the cell he was cept in before transfered to Leeds.:thumbsup:

my dad traced our family back to him :)

hes my great great great grandad....i think

A search on Google disclosed over 20,000 hits!

I believe the Police Black Museum has the fold-up ladder he used in some of his exploits, and maybe more articles associated with him

Forgot to add that a 15-minute film made by the Mottershaw Brothers of Sheffield (early film pioneers) was about his transfer by train to prison and showed his escape through a window--it is said to be the very first example of a stunt ever filmed and was probably done by the actor himself.

This is all great. I did search for a previous thread but couldn't find one. Thanks for the tip about the book. My previous research indicates that he shot the husband of a woman he was stalking in a gennel at the end of Psalter Lane, a few yards from the Gilders garage on Eccy Road South. I know he used to do robberies dressed as a woman, I know he was a successful enough criminal to rent a large house with a stables in Kensington, I know he shot a policeman. I saw the black and white film, they showed it in Millenium Galleries.
I know it's awful but I do find him interesting. There's a Peace Guest House at the entrance to Endcliffe Park and I wonder if it's connected?

Any connection is doubtful, I think they display a dove on their notice so I think it has more to do with an ethical stance than with any reference to our famous criminal.

I can confirm that there is no connection there- my family were regulars at the guest house when I was at Uni, and it's definitely 'peace' in terms of olive branches, rather than connection to the murderer.

I remember being told that Charlie Peace lived not that far from where I am now- somewhere at Darnall- where he first met the people(The Dysons?) he ended up in trouble with.

All good. I know he lived in Darnall/ attercliffe. I'd love to know a bit more about his childhood. Was he an orphan?

he once escaped police whilst in custody & the black bull pub(inn) at aughton.

Hi, there was a British film [about 90 mins] made about his escapades in 1949 with Michael Martin Harvey. It was a pretty low budget affair, but fairly atmospheric.

cheers rick

i found this , by using that info
:)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0175514/

only just occured to me to search for charles peace on imdb

theres a book, A Book of Remarkable Criminals
free on project guttenburgs site to download
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/446

which i believe mods......is legally available books? before you get yer knickers in a twist :)

When the Fire/Police museum first set up their display I was contacted and asked if I could supply them with a railway signal arm. Apparently when he jumped from the train (somewhere near Brancliffe Junction) he was knocked out when he hit a signal post and was then re-captured!

When the Fire/Police museum first set up their display I was contacted and asked if I could supply them with a railway signal arm. Apparently when he jumped from the train (somewhere near Brancliffe Junction) he was knocked out when he hit a signal post and was then re-captured!

?? THE signal arm?

or just any old signal arm?

Any old signal arm I'm afraid.

Any old signal arm I'm afraid.

ah seen
just so they can show, this is what helped capture old charlie, rather than the actual one

Where would you get a old copy of the film.:confused: :thumbsup:

ive been looking on my torrent sites...nowt :(
specifically a public domain one with lots of free legal old films...not on there either :(

ive been looking on my torrent sites...nowt :(
specifically a public domain one with lots of free legal old films...not on there either :(Me too there must be somewhere with a copy.

Hi, the 1949 film is probably public domain in America, but we unfortunately have more complicated, and less specific, copyright laws than theirs. The last time I saw it was from an old 16mm print I had. It's possible one of the many individuals selling PD videos on the net may have it. I vaguely remember that the actor playing him did resemble Peace.:hihi:

Hi, the 1949 film is probably public domain in America, but we unfortunately have more complicated, and less specific, copyright laws than theirs. The last time I saw it was from an old 16mm print I had. It's possible one of the many individuals selling PD videos on the net may have it. I vaguely remember that the actor playing him did resemble Peace.:hihi:

ugly then? :P

No, Mel, not a handsome chap! Though he was the son of a 'theatrical knight', I've just read ...I think I'll see if I can find my film...He probably won't look anything like him, after this!!

I think if you visit the Police Museum you may find some stories and pictures there West Bar Fire and Police Musem

Hi there everyone. I just joined this forum, and I want any info on Charles Peace I can get. I am directly related to him. My grandmother was raised by one of his siblings. Her own mother was a Peace, and when she died my grandmother was sent to live with her aunt and uncle of the Peace family. Back then a single father was at a loss to raise a child alone. He is most assuredly an interesting character. He is still featured in one of the tussauds wax museums somewhere in the north country, although I am unsure where. I have been trying to get a picture or something of his gravesite. I am so intent on learning what I can, that I am leaving Canada tomorrow to go to England and will be visiting Leeds to see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any other tidbit of info, no matter how small you think it is, I would love to hear of it. Just keep in mind this is a Canadian who is making her first ever trip to the beautiful UK. If a place is a town please say so, or if a suburb of a town, etc. I am really looking forward to this trip of discovery. Also a chance to see a place I am sure is very different from my native Canada. Hope to hear back from anyone who can add to the story.

Hi there everyone. I just joined this forum, and I want any info on Charles Peace I can get. I am directly related to him. My grandmother was raised by one of his siblings. Her own mother was a Peace, and when she died my grandmother was sent to live with her aunt and uncle of the Peace family. Back then a single father was at a loss to raise a child alone. He is most assuredly an interesting character. He is still featured in one of the tussauds wax museums somewhere in the north country, although I am unsure where. I have been trying to get a picture or something of his gravesite. I am so intent on learning what I can, that I am leaving Canada tomorrow to go to England and will be visiting Leeds to see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any other tidbit of info, no matter how small you think it is, I would love to hear of it. Just keep in mind this is a Canadian who is making her first ever trip to the beautiful UK. If a place is a town please say so, or if a suburb of a town, etc. I am really looking forward to this trip of discovery. Also a chance to see a place I am sure is very different from my native Canada. Hope to hear back from anyone who can add to the story.

Hi
Unfortunately there is no grave site for Charles Peace, after execution persons convicted of murder were buried within the prison grounds. His body was recently moved due to alterations to the prison and its current whereabouts is not known. The prison is Armley jail in Leeds and is still used but you wont be allowed in.
The house where Mr Dyson was murdered still exists in Sheffield and that can be visited, the public house where the inquest into his death was held also still exists, there is rumour that Peace would meet Mrs Dyson in this pub.Are you staying in Sheffield when you get here. There is a museum in old Sheffield police HQ with articles on display once owned by Peace including his famous ladder, that can be visited on Sundays.
Hope this helps

Hi there everyone. I just joined this forum, and I want any info on Charles Peace I can get. I am directly related to him. My grandmother was raised by one of his siblings. Her own mother was a Peace, and when she died my grandmother was sent to live with her aunt and uncle of the Peace family. Back then a single father was at a loss to raise a child alone. He is most assuredly an interesting character. He is still featured in one of the tussauds wax museums somewhere in the north country, although I am unsure where. I have been trying to get a picture or something of his gravesite. I am so intent on learning what I can, that I am leaving Canada tomorrow to go to England and will be visiting Leeds to see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any other tidbit of info, no matter how small you think it is, I would love to hear of it. Just keep in mind this is a Canadian who is making her first ever trip to the beautiful UK. If a place is a town please say so, or if a suburb of a town, etc. I am really looking forward to this trip of discovery. Also a chance to see a place I am sure is very different from my native Canada. Hope to hear back from anyone who can add to the story.

you wont find his grave in leeds because he was buried in a unmarked grave within the walls of HMP LEEDS the plot where he is buried is about 20 yards by 20 yards at the rear of the hospital wing approx 50 prisoners are buried in the same place

This is a great deal of help. Although it is quite disappointing that there is no grave. Even murderers have family. Not that we sympathize with him, just curiosity of the family history. I am still looking forward to my visit to England. I will be staying in London and in Leeds. Never been over there before so I do not know how far apart places are, but if I can get to them I definitely will. Thank you for all your help.

Hi Everyone

I am currently writing up a history feature on Charles Peace and the murders he committed in the late 1800s. Can anyone confirm that the alleyway of the pub where he murdered a man is in fact Banner Cross Hotel on ECCLESALL ROAD?

Any information is much appreciated.

Thanks

Debs

Grantham,

I would guess it was the same.
Charley Peace is still talked about and I suppose , going back a bit , he was as notorious as , say , the Krays or , before Peace, Dick Turpin.
He had a lot more adventures after leaving Sheffield----mainly I think in Hull , Manchester , Nottingham and , finally London [ Peckham area]. In Manchester , I believe he shot a policeman and escaped. Three Irish brothers were arrested for the crime and one of them was on trial for the murder. It's said that Peace was in the public gallery , in disguise , and watched the young man get life imprisonment. Later , Peace said that if the Irish lad had been sentenced to death , he , Peace would have confessed ! [Oh Yeah ?]
After getting caught doing a burglary in Blackheath , Peace , who was living under a false name [naturally] was recognised and was brought to Sheffield to face trial for the Dyson murder. On the way here , round about Kiveton , he jumped through the train lavatory window , badly hurt himself and was quickly re-captured. He spent quite a lot of time in the old police cells which used to be on Water Lane and hanged semi-publicly at Armley Prison.
They did a play about Peace at the old Playhouse theatre on Campo Lane in the late '60's and Dave Bradley played Peace---he played the religious "fanatic" in the recent t.v. production of "Blackpool"



David Bradley is also the caretaker at Hogwarts School, Ask Harry Potter, he'll tell you.

I also thought that Charlie Peace lived — certainlly in his burglary years — in a cottage at the junction of Ecclesall Road with Psalter Lane. The house was actually on Psalter Lane.

Is that one of the pair of old stone semi's next to the estate agents that used to be a bank?

Hi Everyone

I am currently writing up a history feature on Charles Peace and the murders he committed in the late 1800s. Can anyone confirm that the alleyway of the pub where he murdered a man is in fact Banner Cross Hotel on ECCLESALL ROAD?

Any information is much appreciated.

Thanks

Debs

The alleyway does run between Psalter lane and Ecclesall Road, beside the Banner Cross pub.

I remember reading somewhere, that, in Peace's time the numbering ran differently along Psalter...

Today, the numbers run from the Cemetery Road end of Psalter, (sharrow head) increasing towards Banner Cross, and Guilders' car-garage.

In Peace's day, (If I remember what I read, correctly) the numbering started at Banner Cross, and increased, in the direction of town. (Which is why the house at Banner Cross,(BC) in which the "Peace incident" took place was something like number 19,or thereabouts).

I believe the woman with whom Peace was having an affair fled, with her husband, to the house at BC, then peace tracked them down and came after her.

There was some incident IIRC where Peace hid in the outside loo, and shot at the husband and at a police officer who attended. I cannot remember if one, or both of the men that Peace attacked died.

Have you tried the archived local newspapers of the time, in the local studies library at central library? the are (obviously) contemporary accounts, and may prove a goldmine of information for your research.

Hi there everyone. I just joined this forum, and I want any info on Charles Peace I can get. I am directly related to him. My grandmother was raised by one of his siblings. Her own mother was a Peace, and when she died my grandmother was sent to live with her aunt and uncle of the Peace family. Back then a single father was at a loss to raise a child alone. He is most assuredly an interesting character. He is still featured in one of the tussauds wax museums somewhere in the north country, although I am unsure where. I have been trying to get a picture or something of his gravesite. I am so intent on learning what I can, that I am leaving Canada tomorrow to go to England and will be visiting Leeds to see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any other tidbit of info, no matter how small you think it is, I would love to hear of it. Just keep in mind this is a Canadian who is making her first ever trip to the beautiful UK. If a place is a town please say so, or if a suburb of a town, etc. I am really looking forward to this trip of discovery. Also a chance to see a place I am sure is very different from my native Canada. Hope to hear back from anyone who can add to the story.

the only two waxworks I can think of, belonging to Tussauds, are the one in the seaside resort of Blackpool, on the north-west coast of England, or the reknowned Madame Tussauds in London. I remember there were many notorious figures in the dungeon-y bit (chamber of horrors?) including Crippen, and the acid-bath murderer (Haigh), I seem to remember Peace being one of the models.

Last thursday I walked up a little "snicket" (as we say around here). It runs from Ecclesall Road - next to the Banner Cross pub - up on to Psalter Lane, a little cobbled track of about 100m.
I've known about this place for years and it was always mentioned as the place where Charles Peace was captured. On the map, all I can see is a "Marmion Road" which may or may not be the place. Anyone know more?

Last thursday I walked up a little "snicket" (as we say around here). It runs from Ecclesall Road - next to the Banner Cross pub - up on to Psalter Lane, a little cobbled track of about 100m.
I've known about this place for years and it was always mentioned as the place where Charles Peace was captured. On the map, all I can see is a "Marmion Road" which may or may not be the place. Anyone know more?

Hi
In the early 60s I worked on the art college and was told at the time that there used to be a couple of small houses at the brow of the hill opposite side to Omega, all that was there at the time was a kind of very small rock face, anyway i was also told Charles peace lived in one of them, not sure if it's true. I think he was caught whilst living in London, on the run after shooting a policeman.

Mod note: 4 threads about the same infamous character merged. Please search for threads before starting a new one.

We lived in one of those cottages - Salt Box Cottage - mentioned earlier - from 1964-67 - when they were pulled down under a slum clearance order - so much for local history! Our cottage - the middle one of three - was the one with the horse's head carved on the doorstep which all the locals told me had been carved by Charles Peace. Some said that he had lived in the cottage and I made enquiries at the local history section at the library in town. There was plenty of information about Charlie Peace in the archives plus some amazing old Wanted posters which we had prints made of and stuck on the walls; however, there was nothing to suggest that he lived in the cottage - maybe he simply lodged there temporarily at some time.
The stone with the horse's head disappeared as the cottages were pulled down and now there is just the rock face which used to be our back kitchen wall - you can see where the joists were fitted. The cottages were four hundred years old. They're illustrated on a very large picture of old Sheffield which is often on display in the Millenium Gallery - it shows people working in a quarry (now the art college) with animals scattered around - a very rural scene.

Last thursday I walked up a little "snicket" (as we say around here). It runs from Ecclesall Road - next to the Banner Cross pub - up on to Psalter Lane, a little cobbled track of about 100m.
I've known about this place for years and it was always mentioned as the place where Charles Peace was captured. On the map, all I can see is a "Marmion Road" which may or may not be the place. Anyone know more?

Marmion Road is Marmion Road, this road is at the "Sheffield" end of the row of shops before you get to the Pub, a proper road, whereas the "snicket" by the Banner cross pub is just the snicket.

The events that relate to Charles Peace took place in the area of the Banner Cross end of Psalter lane. (If I remember what I was told, correctly, the numbering ran differently back then. The low numbers where this event happened were at the Ecclesall/ Banner Cross end, rather than the Cemetery Road end)

I'ts typical that one of our most talked about famous sons was a murderer, however this is the case and is still very interesting. The 'Salt Box Cottages' post got me thinking that my wife's family who lived in the area from time in memorium would have been of great help information wise had they not have all died.

If any forum member has access to someone now in their 90's who lived or still lives in the area the residency status of Mr Peace might be able to be clarified.

the house where peace killed his lover's husband was definitely close by the little alley beside the Banner cross hotel.

At the city-end of Psalter Lane, there still stands the Stag public house, where the inquest into one of Peace's victims was held.

for some info into the peace case, see here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Peace

the house where peace killed his lover's husband was definitely close by the little alley beside the Banner cross hotel.

At the city-end of Psalter Lane, there still stands the Stag public house, where the inquest into one of Peace's victims was held.

for some info into the peace case, see here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Peace

It is what is now Saxton Mee estate agents and used to be a restaurant that suffered a fire. When it was converted from residential to commercial premises bullets were said to have been found embeded in the old plaster of one of rooms.

he wass from darnall and is the great great grandfather of a very close friend of mine

does anyone know anything about charley's family. did he have a brother called William?did they change their name?i am desperate to know about his family anyone help? i would be most grateful for any info cheers:help:::confused:

he wass from darnall and is the great great grandfather of a very close friend of mine
does your friends name differ from charley's?do you know anything about the rest of his family?

plenty about him on google if you wanna search
im his great great great grandson alledgedly

plenty about him on google if you wanna search
im his great great great grandson alledgedly

that's great, :)but i have been on google and looked at lots of other sites, i have enlisted the help of a historian :suspect:but because of the name change in my family i am having trouble getting any further.:rant: its his family ie brother's i am more interested, do you know anything about them. or any of their names its possible:huh: i am his great niece

see message re- Charley

im afraid i dont have any info about him at all tbh
my dad followed our family tree back so far but ive never really spoken to him about it.

the only thing i have is this scan of some newspaper cuttings i have
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL600/2588775/15796933/240631767.jpg

they dont give much away, just his wives first name, where he worked and where info maybe found
hope it helps / is interesting

thanks i seem to find a little info then hit a wall it was only by chance i found this site but cheers for what you have said

Hi there everyone. I just joined this forum, and I want any info on Charles Peace I can get. I am directly related to him. My grandmother was raised by one of his siblings. Her own mother was a Peace, and when she died my grandmother was sent to live with her aunt and uncle of the Peace family. Back then a single father was at a loss to raise a child alone. He is most assuredly an interesting character. He is still featured in one of the tussauds wax museums somewhere in the north country, although I am unsure where. I have been trying to get a picture or something of his gravesite. I am so intent on learning what I can, that I am leaving Canada tomorrow to go to England and will be visiting Leeds to see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any other tidbit of info, no matter how small you think it is, I would love to hear of it. Just keep in mind this is a Canadian who is making her first ever trip to the beautiful UK. If a place is a town please say so, or if a suburb of a town, etc. I am really looking forward to this trip of discovery. Also a chance to see a place I am sure is very different from my native Canada. Hope to hear back from anyone who can add to the story.

HI, Only just seen this site, If you are related to Charles Peace, you will be related to me and my sister, Charles is our Gt Gt Uncle, His brother Daniel is our Gt Gt Grandfather- if you have any further information we could share what we have. you could contact us on our direct email if you wish...gillian_nicholls@btopenworld.com
Would like to hear from you
Gillian Nicholls(nee Curry-Peace) & Maureen Antrobus(nee Curry-Peace)- Stoke-on-Trent, England :)

that's great, :)but i have been on google and looked at lots of other sites, i have enlisted the help of a historian :suspect:but because of the name change in my family i am having trouble getting any further.:rant: its his family ie brother's i am more interested, do you know anything about them. or any of their names its possible:huh: i am his great niece

HI, Only just seen this site, If you are related to Charles Peace, you will be related to me and my sister, Charles is our Gt Gt Uncle, His brother Daniel is our Gt Gt Grandfather- if you have any further information we could share what we have. you could contact us on our direct email if you wish...gillian_nicholls@btopenworld.com
Would like to hear from you
Gillian Nicholls(nee Curry-Peace) & Maureen Antrobus(nee Curry-Peace)- Stoke-on-Trent, England

I can't believe this thread is still on the go after I started it over 3 years ago...I am knocked out with the reponse, and now!...recently I have discovered that a food product often eaten by "Geordies " in the North East of England (where I now live) is named after Charlie..It's called "Pease Puddin"..Amazing int it. :)

I can't believe this thread is still on the go after I started it over 3 years ago...I am knocked out with the reponse, and now!...recently I have discovered that a food product often eaten by "Geordies " in the North East of England (where I now live) is named after Charlie..It's called "Pease Puddin"..Amazing int it. :)

i hate to disappoint you, but the pudding of which you speak isn't named after the Mr. Peace of legend............................ and it's just dawned on me u were joking....... doh!

i'm not related to him btw!

Hi everyone, we are related to Charles Peace, he is our Gt Gt Uncle, his brother Daniel was our Gt Gt Grandfather. We are trying to find out more about their father John Peace, born in Newhall, Derbyshire 1782, he died in Sheffield in 1847. Their mother Jane Peace(widow Hadlington) born 1801, married John in Rotherham 10 Oct 1825.
We know that John was originally a miner and lost a leg in the an accident, he then became a lion tamer with Wombwells Travelling Beast Show(all literature state that he was a one legged lion tamer ha ha)

Can anyone help with any further information about John Peace or Jane Peace(Hadlington)

Thanks Gilly Nicholls(nee Curry-Peace) & Mo Antrobus(nee Curry-Peace) AKA Gillymo:help:

Does anyone recall this narrow passage just off Psalter Lane where is was supposed to be the place where the notorious Charles Peace killed a woman under the one gaslight that 'tried' to light the entry. A wonderful cobbled street that could just make you shiver as the tales of the dreaded deed were told.

The jennel runs from Psalter Lane down onto Ecclesall Rd right alongside the Banner Cross pub.

I've read that it was in fact the passageway beside Best Kebab that leads to the little car park behind the Banner Cross shops.

Which is right?

Nether Edge Wikipedia will inform you that Charlie Peace carried out the murder in the lane at the side of the Banner Cross pub. For many years there used to be a picture of him in the Banner.
I do not venture in there very often nowadays but it will give you something to look for if you venture up to that part of Ecclesall Road .

Just a further note that the lane is still cobbled and it was a man called Dyson rather than a woman who Charlie Peace shot dead.

Charlie was employed by my g-g-grandfather John Holmes in his Picture Frame manufacturing factory (Pond Street/Lane?). Charlie also used to enter the Holmes family house in Eccasall Rd in the middle of the night and raid the pantry (scared my g-grandma and her sisters!).

Was told that he used to be able to alter his skin colour, and avaided caputre by appearing as a coloured man.

The tools he used for picture frame manufacturing (and burglaring) have the initials JH engraved in them (for John Holmes' factory) and are in Scotland Yard.

Anyone know were I can find more information on the Picture Frame Factory?

Thanks for posting a reply about Charlie being empleyd by your g-g-grandfather John Holmes in his Picture Frame manufacturing factory -
Charlie used walnut oil to make his skin darker to avaid capture- I am sorry we do not know any more about the picture framing factory, but if we find anything we will let you know thanks gillian & Maureeen :)

He lived on britiannia road, darnall.... 2nd house from the library

Threads merged.

i know his great great grandson, good friend of mine, lives in darnall still

i can remember a comic strip called charlie peace but can,t remember what comic it was.

I have been told a little about the infamous Charlie Peace who terrorised the smog filled backstreets of Sheffield. Apparently he used to scale drainpipes and wait until his victim was passing underneath when he would drop a cast iron grate on to their head. His intention was to rob the victim and disappear into the night without the threat of being seen or detected.
It is said that some of his victims actually died from head injuries sustained and so he went on run from the police. I believe he operated down Attercliffe/Darnall area but to be fair that is only what my dad told me when I was a lad.What is true is that my dad went on to run the 'Black Bull' pub in Aughton, Nr Swallownest and I remember him telling the story of Charlie Peace to the lads in the taproom.
If you go on to the 'Black Bull - Aughton website it tells a story about Charlie Peace which mentions that he escaped from the police by jumpimg out of the pubs toilet window after they had stopped to use the facilities of the Black Bull.
I dont think that this story is true but you never know!!

The railways next and probably most momentous event took place on January 17th
1879 and involved one of the country’s most notorious criminals – Sheffield-born
Charles Peace.
A quick-witted and prolific burglar, Charles Peace graduated to the ultimate crime in
November 1876 when he murdered Arthur Dyson at the latter’s home in Banner
Cross. With a £100 price on his head, he went on the run and evaded capture for
almost two years. A burglary in London on October 10th 1878 did not go as planned
and in trying to make good his escape he shot and injured a police constable.
Following his arrest, he gave his name as John Ward and was charged with burglary
and attempted murder and sentenced to penal servitude for life. However, his true
identity soon came to light and he was taken from Pentonville Prison to stand trial for
the murder of Arthur Dyson.
On January 17th 1879, Peace was taken from Pentonville to King’s Cross Station where
along with two warders he was put on board the 5.15am train to Sheffield Victoria
which was due to arrive at its destination at 8.45am. Throughout the journey, he kept
making excuses to leave the train to visit the toilet whenever it stopped. To lessen the
hassle the two warders provided him with special bags which Peace could use and
then throw out of the window. Just after the train had passed Worksop, Peace asked
for one of the bags and the carriage window was duly opened for him to dispose of it.
Peace, with lightning agility, took a flying leap through it. One of the warders caught
him by the left foot. Peace hanging out of the carriage grabbed the footboard with his
hands and kept kicking the warder as hard as he could, with his right foot. The other
warder, unable to get to the window to aid his colleague, was making vain efforts to
stop the train by pulling the communication cord. For two miles the train ran on with
Peace struggling desperately to escape. At last he succeeded in kicking off his left shoe
and dropped onto the line. The train ran on for another mile until, with the assistance
of some gentlemen in other carriages, the warders were able to stop it. They
immediately hurried back along the line and there, near Kiveton Park, they found
their prisoner lying alongside the track, apparently unconscious and bleeding from a
severe scalp wound. A slow train from Sheffield was stopped to pick up the injured
man and he was lifted into the guard’s van where he asked them to cover him up as he
was cold.
By January 30th, a doctor pronounced Peace fit to face the magistrate, the
proceedings taking place in one of the corridors of Sheffield Town Hall. He was
committed for trial at Leeds Assizes on February 4th 1879 where he was found guilty
of the murder of Arthur Dyson and inevitably sentenced to death. Before his
execution on the 25th of February he made a confession to a priest and admitted to the
shooting of another police officer in Manchester on August 1st 1876. 18 year old
William Habron had been arrested and sentenced to death (later commuted to life
imprisonment) for the killing. Peace had even attended the trial, but had kept silent
thereby condoning a miscarriage of Justice. He was executed at Armley Prison on
Tuesday February 25th 1879, aged 47

info from the kiveton park and wales history society "railways around kiveton and wales"

About 20 years ago many members of my family undertook a family tree. I may have to go find it because I remember their being a massive argument when one person suggested our family was related to "Charlie Peace" - I had no idea why until reading this thread!!

About 20 years ago many members of my family undertook a family tree. I may have to go find it because I remember their being a massive argument when one person suggested our family was related to "Charlie Peace" - I had no idea why until reading this thread!!

It would be interesting if you could find details of your family tree.
My grandmother's second husband was named Peace and came from the Sheffield area, he would have been born around the late 1800's.
For some reason, certain family members do not seem too happy when I ask them about this relative.

The DYSONS house is still there on ECCLESALL ROAD but it is now a Estate Agents the house is the second one of the two that make up the shop. The alleyway where Peace shot Mr Dyson is still there too at the side of the BANNER CROSS pub.

There seems to be some confusion as to which alleyway was the one where the murder was committed. Some say the alleyway beside the Banner Cross Pub whilst others say the alleyway next to Best Kebab.

Does anyone have the definitive answer?

Congratulations Playman! Excellent. Just a thought - rumour had it that he once lived on Psalter Lane. Isn't that part of Banner Cross, if I remember correctly? We used to live on Banner Cross Road early 30's

Congratulations Playman! Excellent. Just a thought - rumour had it that he once lived on Psalter Lane. Isn't that part of Banner Cross, if I remember correctly? We used to live on Banner Cross Road early 30's

As someone commented earlier, the Psalter lane /Banner Cross link was to do with Peace's lover, and the location where he murdered her husband and the policeman who tried to apprehend him...

Hi, my name Michael Byrne, from Smethwick in the West Midlands. I am interested in Charlie Peace as my mother maiden name is Peace and there are a lot of Peace's in the West Midlands are, particularly Smethwick, Bearwood, and other West Midlands regions. Does anyone know of a connection to Charlie Peace and he West Midlands. probably a long shot. Thanks. Any e-mails to Engbyrne@hotmail.com. Thanks a lot.

Charlie Peace- Also known as rubber face (not sure why- will try and find out.) Was a window cleaner and burgler. He had a unique ladder for his trade- it folded down to a smaller size. It was in my great aunts cellar for years. It was a big thing when we used to go to her house to go and see it:D.
She 'lent' it to the police museum as an exhibit. Unfortunately it was never returned- I don't know how she got it in the first place however.
To my knowledge it is still there.

Incidentally, there used to be a story in Buster comic in the late sixties about a 'lovable Victorian rogue' called, you guessed it, Charlie Peace.

They must have carried on into the early 70s as I remember that comic strip well.

Didn't they turn him into a cockney though? I've also seen it claimed online that he began his criminal career in Manchester.

On the 1841 census Charles Peace is living on Bridge Street, he's aged 9 and living with his parents John aged 55, Jane aged 40, May aged 15, Daniel aged 12. It looks as though the census says his father John was a "beer retailer".
On the 1851 census he's living in Hull as a "Visitor" with widow Jane Peace aged 53 (presumably his mother who, incidentally was born in Hull). Charles' occupation is given as "Steel Roller".

Duffems

Charlie Peace- Also known as rubber face (not sure why- will try and find out.)
cos he was a great disguiser, he could mould his face into different "shapes"? not sure thats the word

The comic was THE BUSTER

cos he was a great disguiser, he could mould his face into different "shapes"? not sure thats the word

Gurning is the word your looking for.

I nearly killed myself outside those cottages. I had a bike made from bits from the scrapyard but it had no brakes, i could slow down by putting my foot on the front wheel. One day I set off from Fox House and was going like the clappers until I got to Psalter Lane where I shot across the road and up that hill just missing a tram and an old lady.

just got some photographs in a bunch i got from mi dads of my great grandad percy archibald bolsover who was charlies grandson, ill scan em in eventually

just got some photographs in a bunch i got from mi dads of my great grandad percy archibald bolsover who was charlies grandson, ill scan em in eventually


That would be interesting Mel :cool:

I've just read this thread through and the Wiki entry and found it all rivetting :thumbsup:



Cheers, Biggsy :)

Ickle

You asked why Charles Peace was called 'Rubber Face'.

It was because he had the ability to disjoint his limbs and his jaw.

By doing this he looked totally different.

By dislocating his jaw he was unrecognisable, also he dislocated his leg joints to become a cripple.

The police have a set of photographs of hoi in his various altered states.

He also lived in many different houses, I believe at the last count he had at least 9 addresses in Sheffield where he lived.

My family lived in a house on Leopold St which was formerly on Orchard Lane where he lived.

Happy Days! PopT

He played the fiddle @ the cocked hat public house in attercliffe close to where he was living at that time.

For people that don't know there is a Charlie Peace Heritage Walk on March 3rd 10 am and 2pm.
http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/dms-connect/search?dms=13&c1=front&feature=1006&venue=2160191

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Peace

My mate at work said there was a program on Radio Sheffield about Charles Peace on monday, I missed it :(

I had a look on Iplayer on the local Radio part but couldn't find any thing about it :mad:


Biggsy :)

My mate at work said there was a program on Radio Sheffield about Charles Peace on monday, I missed it :(

I had a look on Iplayer on the local Radio part but couldn't find any thing about it :mad:


Biggsy :)
It was just a five minute piece on Rooney Robinson's show about the walks, the lady who is organising it told me she was going to be on.:)

It was just a five minute piece on Rooney Robinson's show about the walks, the lady who is organising it told me she was going to be on.:)


Ahh!!


Cheers, My mate said he turned the radion on in the car and it had already started, he probably didn't realise it was only five mins long ;)


Cheers Biggsy :)

Ickle

You asked why Charles Peace was called 'Rubber Face'.

It was because he had the ability to disjoint his limbs and his jaw.

By doing this he looked totally different.

By dislocating his jaw he was unrecognisable, also he dislocated his leg joints to become a cripple.

The police have a set of photographs of hoi in his various altered states.

He also lived in many different houses, I believe at the last count he had at least 9 addresses in Sheffield where he lived.

My family lived in a house on Leopold St which was formerly on Orchard Lane where he lived.

Happy Days! PopT

PopT, his leg was crippled, anyway:- he was injured as a very young teenager, (13-ish) in an industrial accident. A red hot bar of steel came out of a press, and went through his knee.

He spent about 18 months recovering from it, in the Royal Infirmary.

He managed to learn to walk again, in such a way that you would never know it had happened, and was amazingly agile to say his knee was so badly injured.

You are absolutely correct about him being able to alter the appearance of his face. He also used walnut juice to darken his skin, as a disguise.