Head of First World War soldier

[shanes teeth]

It's been assumed to be a WW1 soldier, which is surely wrong, as the house was built well before 1914 !

As a young lad, used to throw snowballs at him !

 

Additions can be made after a house has been built!

[Fogey]

Rather disappointingly there are no answers in my book of Sheffield Curiosities by Duncan and Trevor Smith which simply says it is a mystery.

[waldershelf]

What makes you think its a WW1 soldier? Looking at the picture the subjects hair is too long and the hat is not even close to a WW1 British army pattern helmet, I think the search for who the subject is needs to be widened beyond WW1.

[HughW]

The location above the central ginnel suggests to me that this is intended to be a decoration for the whole terrace rather than one house in particular. It may have been the idea of the builder rather than a resident.

 

Hugh

[retep]

The location above the central ginnel suggests to me that this is intended to be a decoration for the whole terrace rather than one house in particular. It may have been the idea of the builder rather than a resident.

 

Hugh

 

Which is a possibility I remember demolishing houses on nearby Staveley Road with similar plaques, think they built them in to the new housing.

[Daven]

Hi Daven Many thanks for the suggestions which I will follow up although I have yet to discover how to access Sheffield electoral rolls. A learning curve I guess.

 

Regards.

 

Sheffield Central library on Surrey Street keep electoral registers going back to the last century.

 

---------- Post added 30-06-2014 at 19:30 ----------

 

Hi

Does anyone know the story behind the stone head of a First World War soldier (complete with helmet) which appears on the facade of a house (I believe number 99 or thereabouts) on either London Road or Abbeydale Road? I don't know exactly where London Road finishes and Abbeydale Road begins.

 

I have been trying for ages to get some information - even tried Central Library but with no luck. It's just so intriguing

 

Historybuff

 

Well I may have blown the WW1 soldier theory out of the water.

Looking at the 1911 census, Joseph and Margaret Gilday lived at 101 Abbeydale Road and they had 2 daughters Ada and Margaret May.

Arthur and Florence Fowler lived at 99 and also had 2 daughters Florence Ethel and Winifred. In other words neither couple had a son that would have been the right age to fight and die in WW1.

Back to the drawing board.

[historybuff]

waldershelf What makes you think its a WW1 soldier? Looking at the picture the subjects hair is too long and the hat is not even close to a WW1 British army pattern helmet, I think the search for who the subject is needs to be widened beyond WW1.

 

Must admit that I have not studied it close up. I first noticed it whilst idly looking out of a bus window. To me, it just has the appearance of a WW1 helmet so I made the assumption.

 

_______

[Daven]

If anyone is able to find out who built the houses we may find the answer.

[shanes teeth]

If anyone is able to find out who built the houses we may find the answer.

 

That name may be cast into the inspection chamber covers if they are still the original ones.

[retep]

waldershelf What makes you think its a WW1 soldier? Looking at the picture the subjects hair is too long and the hat is not even close to a WW1 British army pattern helmet, I think the search for who the subject is needs to be widened beyond WW1.

 

Must admit that I have not studied it close up. I first noticed it whilst idly looking out of a bus window. To me, it just has the appearance of a WW1 helmet so I made the assumption.

 

_______

One of the Staveley Road plaques is there on Nos. 20 - 22, I remember there being two of them, taken away I think by the museum or council to be rebuilt into housing in the area.