sweetdexter   10 #1 Posted April 26, 2016 I am just reading this book,'Road to Wigan Pier' Orwell mentions Sheffield a lot. One chapter talking about the deplorable housing condition mentions caravans in Sheffield. From the description little more than chicken coops holding as many as 6 people,this would be between 1930-1940 I could not find any trace of Orwell's references to caravans in Sheffield. Does anyone know if these existed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
TORONTONY Â Â 10 #2 Posted April 26, 2016 I am just reading this book,'Road to Wigan Pier' Orwell mentions Sheffield a lot. One chapter talking about the deplorable housing condition mentions caravans in Sheffield. From the description little more than chicken coops holding as many as 6 people,this would be between 1930-1940 I could not find any trace of Orwell's references to caravans in Sheffield. Does anyone know if these existed? Â Re caravans, maybe he was referring to the pre fab estates of which there were many around the Sheffield area Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
retep   68 #3 Posted April 26, 2016 I am just reading this book,'Road to Wigan Pier' Orwell mentions Sheffield a lot. One chapter talking about the deplorable housing condition mentions caravans in Sheffield. From the description little more than chicken coops holding as many as 6 people,this would be between 1930-1940 I could not find any trace of Orwell's references to caravans in Sheffield. Does anyone know if these existed?   Cambridge ground? Penistone Road opposite Morrisons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
bazjea   10 #4 Posted April 26, 2016 Re caravans, maybe he was referring to the pre fab estates of which there were many around the Sheffield area  As far as I am aware the prefabs were first erected after 1945 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
TORONTONY Â Â 10 #5 Posted April 26, 2016 As far as I am aware the prefabs were first erected after 1945 Â Yes, they were a post war thing, I believe ,I got my wires crossed with the dates. Although I was born in 1945 and don't remember them being put together LOL:D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
stpetre   12 #6 Posted April 26, 2016 (edited) Yes, they were a post war thing, I believe ,I got my wires crossed with the dates. Although I was born in 1945 and don't remember them being put together LOL:D  The prefabs were built to house bomb damaged families of W.W.2 so 1945 sounds right. Perhaps he was referring to the 'Munition Worker's Huts' that were deplorable conditions (and were rid of in the 1930's') they were in Tinsley and the Grimesthorpe / Petre Street vicinity. They weren't just demolished, they had to burn them down ! Edited April 26, 2016 by stpetre Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Elmambo   25 #7 Posted April 26, 2016 The Chris Hobbs site has a lot of information on Orwell's visit to Sheffield http://www.chrishobbs.com/orwellsheffield1936.htm  I like the reference to the "pot banks" - really cementation furnaces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
davebrmm   10 #8 Posted April 26, 2016 Cambridge ground? Penistone Road opposite Morrisons.  there were a few all travellers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
stpetre   12 #9 Posted April 26, 2016 The Chris Hobbs site has a lot of information on Orwell's visit to Sheffield http://www.chrishobbs.com/orwellsheffield1936.htm I like the reference to the "pot banks" - really cementation furnaces.  Thank you Elmambo, Wallace Road (Neepsend/Parkwood Springs) apart from the people, wasn't exactly housing Utopia either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
retep   68 #10 Posted April 26, 2016 there were a few all travellers  My mates father was born there he wasn't a traveller, although quite a few were. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
stpetre   12 #11 Posted April 26, 2016 My mates father was born there he wasn't a traveller, although quite a few were.  Are we talking about Gypsies (and those Caravans) who weren't exactly Sheffield . Yorkshire or English indeed even British ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sweetdexter   10 #12 Posted April 27, 2016 The prefabs were built to house bomb damaged families of W.W.2 so 1945 sounds right. Perhaps he was referring to the 'Munition Worker's Huts' that were deplorable conditions (and were rid of in the 1930's') they were in Tinsley and the Grimesthorpe / Petre Street vicinity. They weren't just demolished, they had to burn them down !  I will have to look into Munition Workers Huts,they sound like what Orwell was describing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...