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Down by the side of TJ Hughes..George Street.

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Forgive me...I have only lived in Sheffield for 18 years....and I must have walked down George Street hundreds of times and ONLY today do I notice the lovely building that is now the NSPCC drop in centre. It's obviously an old bank...the architecture is beautiful. Does anyone know any more about the history of this building.

 

Also on this tiny road are, a now closed and derelict, Sheffield Banking Company...again, lovely architecture. If you peer through the dirty windows you can see a large clock with no hands. What is the history of this building and the Sheffield Banking Company???

 

And on the corner is a little building...it has a plaque outside which faintly reads Sheffield Flatware Company Limited, Registered Offices. Again does anyone know anything about this place.

 

Also....I am certain these buildings would not have stood alone...there are the more modern building of the Cutlers Hotel and TJ Hughes on one side. What was there before those buildings...were they in keeping with the Banks mentioned above.

 

I am intrigued. What a lovely little find in the centre of Sheffield :D

 

Can anyone help me please???? :help:

Edited by julado

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The building that was until recently the NSPCC drop-in centre (they moved out on 1 July according to a notice on the door) is No 35 George Street and it was, I think, built either as a bank or insurance offices. An occupant in the 1891 census return was a bank manager, William Douthwaite, and his family. Local directories for the early 1900s show the Alliance Assurance Co. there, also other offices, but don't mention a bank as such.

 

What I can say with certainty is that, when I started work for the Midland Bank in 1970, the building had become the Regional Head Office of the Midland Bank (purely for administration, there were no public banking facilities as such).

 

I quite agree it's a lovely building, as is also the former Sheffield Banking Company's building opposite, for which Greybeard provided the link to an interesting account of its history. In the 1970s this was one of Sheffield's three largest branches of the National Westminster Bank (the others being the current NatWest bank on the corner of George Street, and another branch at No 1 High Street, most of which which is now Lloyds TSB). The lower part of that building was, until the 1940s, a branch of the Midland Bank - it's funny how banks sometimes swop buildings..:)

Edited by hillsbro
Update after visiting George Street and seeing the notice on No 35!

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According to the Pevsner guide the NSPCC was indeed the Alliance Assurance offices (1913).

 

Apparently the banking company building was originally Georges Coffee House (1793). This building is now part of a complex of flats that includes the adjacent Venetian Gothic building and actually links on the 3rd floor to the buildings on high street above Mcdonalds and Boots.

 

The empty building looking onto George Street was recently granted planning permission for a restaurant/bar. Check the council website for the drawings.

 

http://planningdocs.sheffield.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseThumbnail.do;jsessionid=BD5306BFCAD7523D86FD09F6129900B7?councilName=Sheffield+City+Council&appNumber=09%2F01166%2FLBC&docid=366064

Edited by Fogey

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The building that was until recently the NSPCC drop-in centre (they moved out on 1 July according to a notice on the door) is No 35 George Street and it was, I think, built either as a bank or insurance offices. An occupant in the 1891 census return was a bank manager, William Douthwaite, and his family. Local directories for the early 1900s show the Alliance Assurance Co. there, also other offices, but don't mention a bank as such.

 

What I can say with certainty is that, when I started work for the Midland Bank in 1970, the building had become the Regional Head Office of the Midland Bank (purely for administration, there were no public banking facilities as such).

 

I quite agree it's a lovely building, as is also the former Sheffield Banking Company's building opposite, for which Greybeard provided the link to an interesting account of its history. In the 1970s this was one of Sheffield's three largest branches of the National Westminster Bank (the others being the current NatWest bank on the corner of George Street, and another branch at No 1 High Street, most of which which is now Lloyds TSB). The lower part of that building was, until the 1940s, a branch of the Midland Bank - it's funny how banks sometimes swop buildings..:)

 

To elaborate somewhat on Hillsboro's post, the Sheffield Banking Company, founded in 1831 and whose Head Office was 16 George Street, merged with the National Provincial and Union Bank of England in 1919. As a result of this, the branch became known as 'Sheffield Bank Office' and was one of the Nat Pro's most prestigious offices in the country with a plethora of highly valued customers. The N P & U B of England was renamed National Provincial Bank in 1924 and remained as such until the merger with Westminster Bank which was legally effective from 1st January 1970. The interior of the bank was sympathetically decorated to highlight the magnificent ceilings and mahogany counters. At it's busiest in the early 1960's, some 120 staff members were based there and the service was excellent. Gone are the days regrettably. Notable names who worked there in their early days were Patrick McGoohan the actor who was also at The Playhouse on Townhead`Street and the opera singer Peter Glossop who sang with Sheffield Operatic Society in his spare time before they both made the big time.

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Its sad that the beautiful buildings of Sheffield tend to get ignored while concrete and glass monstrosities are swooned over, at times I think its the Kings New Clothes syndrome that the Council are suffering from.

Edited by lazarus

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Sheffield council, while being pretty good about most stuff, apart from too much street furniture, have always allowed sound buildings that they wish to get rid of to decay for a few years and then sweep them away. I believe it is something to do with the fact that many years ago when Sheffield first became Labour the new socialist council decided to sweep away all traces of Sheffields past, in the form of it`s buildings at any rate. They are still doing it now.

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does anyone remember the Pace Hotel down there. I once went to a christmas party there and without doubt it was one of the best meals I can ever remember:D

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Sheffield council, while being pretty good about most stuff, apart from too much street furniture, have always allowed sound buildings that they wish to get rid of to decay for a few years and then sweep them away. I believe it is something to do with the fact that many years ago when Sheffield first became Labour the new socialist council decided to sweep away all traces of Sheffields past, in the form of it`s buildings at any rate. They are still doing it now.

 

It would certainly explain the state of buildings like the old post office and old town hall.

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Just to be fair to the Council :) I don't think any of those building have ever belonged to the Council .. with the possible exception of the Old Courthouse which was passed to the Judiciary and then sold on into private hands many years ago afaik.

 

You can blame them for many things, but those specific buildings? Probably not.

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Sheffield bank office was the National Provincial Bank.

I worked there in the 1950's & met my wife there.

It was the largest NatPro office in the North before the bank merged with the Westminster Bank which used to be on High Street.

The Manager at the time was Mr Burrons & the assistant was Mr Dagleish.

I wonder how many of the members of staff are still around?:|

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Just to be fair to the Council :) I don't think any of those building have ever belonged to the Council .. with the possible exception of the Old Courthouse which was passed to the Judiciary and then sold on into private hands many years ago afaik.

 

You can blame them for many things, but those specific buildings? Probably not.

 

Sheffield Council has(I believe) the authority to order the owners to make repairs to a listed strcuture.

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