Carolyn Howden

Memories of Totley Rise

Below is a copy of a postcard of Totley Rise. I'm not sure of the date but you probably have an expert on motor vehicles who would be able to recognise the car and the lorry etc. There are two ladies on the left wearing long dresses but the car and boy on the bike look more fifties? I expect there are lots of people living in Totley who will have the same memories as myself so I may be repeating what you already know. Anyway here goes. 

New paragraphI am sure you will know that the houses on Totley Rise were originally built to house the workers who built Totley Tunnel. They were never intended to be permanent dwellings. Working from Right to Left on the photo you will see Grattons Off License, then I think I remember a wool shop (not sure about that), next is the Post Office run by Mr and Mrs Jackson. I think I remember black hair was always pulled back in a tight bun and she wore glasses. It seemed to be a dark fusty shop, the counter was at the back on the right.

Restawhile Cafe advertisement, 1957

Somewhere around here was a cafe which was run by Eric Briers. He converted the upstairs into a coffee shop! I remember we had to climb up some incredibly steep, narrow stairs to a room at the front. I can't be certain which is which in the photo but there was Mr Tym's Butchers Shop and Mr Donald Chambers ran the Fish Shop.

Tym's Butchers advertisement, 1959

A little further down, Mrs Spring ran the Sweet Shop. She was a very pretty little old lady with beautiful pure white hair. She was always very kind and liked a chat. Lots of delicious sweets, particular favourites were flying saucers, sherbet dabs and Five Boys chocolate bars.

Spring's Sweet Shop advertisement, 1957

Roundabout here was the Fish and Chip Shop. I seem to remember lots of black and white tiles, the counter was on the right. It really was not the thing to be seen in a fish and chip shop and we only went in there very occasionally! There was then a line of houses which were still in use as peoples homes. 

John Bonner Newsagent advertisement, 1957

The bottom house in the row had been converted into a newsagents, cards and little gifts etc. This was run by John Bonner (I think his wife was called Mabel). Mr Bonner was a talented singer and actor and was a leading light in TOADS. (Totley Operatic and Dramatic Society). TOADS is a whole other story which I will save for another time. John Bonner also played the lead part of the king in the "King and I" at Sheffield Lyceum Playhouse. A highlight before Christmas was when John Bonner held a toy fair in the church hall at the end of Grove Road. We would go and assist to set out the wonderful new toys. It was great fun to be allowed to touch the latest toys!

The weekly baby clinic was also held in the church buildings. Entrance in Grove Road. At the rear of the Totley Rise houses and shops there was a very nasty muddy lane which ran along adjacent to the backyards. One of these yards was known as the "pig yard". It was unbelievably smelly and quite frightening. (Perhaps they slaughtered pigs there?) We only went down this dark, gloomy back lane if we were feeling really brave or had been dared to run round the back of Totley Rise.

The green grocer and the baker were opposite Totley Rise shops on the raised grassy hill near Stonecroft Road and Marstone Crescent. You went up some wobbly uneven concrete steps which you can see on the left of the photo. The main road had not been widened and you could see the attractive old bridge which crossed Totley Brook at the end of Grove Road. The bus stopped here, at the gates into the Church, for the journey to Pond Street Bus Station in Sheffield.

That is probably enough for now. I hope I have not repeated too much of what the Group already know. I will tell you about Mr Tilly the Lamp Lighter next time!

Mr Tilly, the Lamp Lighter

In about 1962, Grove Road, Totley Rise, was still lit by gaslight. I expect other roads were as well. Every evening Mr Tilly would arrive on his bicycle and go from lamp to lamp pulling a lever which ignited the street light. Mr Tilly was also a gardener and roses were his pride and joy.

Whilst rummaging through a box I found the page below from the Sheffield Telegraph date 25 May 1962.

It contains information which you might find useful. This cutting was probably kept because Cannon Hall in Butts Lane was owned by Margaret and Leslie Dawson who were great friends of my parents. They reclaimed Cannon Hall from dereliction and it really became a life's work and great passion to restore the old buildings and create a garden. Every time we visited the house the Dawsons would be working on a new aspect of the house and barns which they had discovered. For example, the original crock beams, an old fireplace and a secret staircase.

The Dawsons created a beautiful garden, using reclaimed stone and building all the stone walling. Leslie used many lovely old stone items from demolition sites.

On entering the house you were always met by the wonderful smell of woodsmoke from logs in the huge hearth in the sitting room. I remember the lovely stone fireplace, there was a worn round shape in the edge where someone had continually lent a poker. I spent many sleepovers at Cannon Hall. Tiptoeing across the creaking floorboards and snuggling into the huge oak bed. I found all this tremendously exciting and it has inspired my imagination and love of old buildings ever since.

Further on in the article there is a fascinating interview with Joe Marshall, where he describes the building of Totley Tunnel and Walter Ibbotson talks about the horse bus at Cross Scythes. Mrs Annie Holding proudly claims at the age of 84, to be one of the oldest ladies in Totley. These days 84 is not considered to be exceptionally old. Mrs Mollie Turner, aged 71, looks very ancient. It may be of interest to note that she was caretaker at the C of E School for 30 years. I wonder if their relatives still live in Totley? I wonder if anyone can recognise themselves in the school photos! It is a shame that the pupils can no longer look out on a "windswept panorama of the bleak moors constantly changing colour".

Next time, I thought I might describe the old wooden footbridge and the tadpole pond!

Carolyn Howden (Settle)