Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 16^th January 2025

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., G.C., A.H., M.G., M.L., C.M., D.M., J.P., K.P.

Our first meeting of 2025 took place upstairs and included:

1. Welcome & introductions to two new members who joined us this evening

2. AC: discussed maps and plans relating to forthcoming group visit to Fullwood Hall grounds to investigate the reason for a local belief that there was once a ‘tunnel’ between Bennet Grange and Fullwood Hall; investigation of Fullwood Hall field to be arranged for later this month (AC)

3. DA shared copies of a colleague’s photos and press clippings relating to his family who lived in Fulwood in the 20^th century; these included:

• Percy Lawson & Edith Hancock c.1930
• Golf Cottage at top of Crimicar Lane
• Ocean View Guesthouse
• Fullwood Show early 1940s

4. Maps/documents/discussion relating to development of housing on School Green Lane

5. Group split into discussions around various topics including:

• Scissors, Paper, Stone project
• Whitham Road and its development/links to Crookes Rd and Fulwood Rd
• Fulwood Spa
• Local streams, brooks and underground waterways and their impact on Fulwood’s suburban landscape – land slippage etc.

6. JB & AC’s visit to Sheffield City Archives earlier in week which included a look at:

• Plimsoll Letters Patent
• various items from the Fairbank Collection

7. KP will follow up re transfer of Fulwood Church archive to Sheffield City Archives. DM/JB to follow up re passing Fulwood Society documents to Sheffield City Archives after AC has completed cataloguing them

8. Next meeting February20^th at Broomhill Library

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 19^th December 2024

Present: J.B., A.C., M.L., C.M., D.M., J.P., K.P.

 Our final meeting of 2024 included discussion of:

1. FHG’s social media and agreement to continue with website
2. Developing links with other local groups, how they’re organised and comparison with FHG
3. Whiteley Green area including Whiteley Woods Hall, Stanley Royle and the ‘stone-roller re-used as a gate-stoop…likely used during the Victorian Period for agricultural purposes, such as clod-crushing, compressing soils prior to sowing, and smoothing grasslands’ Pp.43-4 Porter Valley Landscape History Final Report. Ardron Unified Landscape Assessments. April 2004. https://www.fopv.org.uk/shop?Category=Reports
4. Maps of the area dating to 1960s which the National Library of Scotland has added to their database recently
5. Sheffield City Archives’ recent acquisitions: A Volume of Maps of the Township of Upper Hallam, Wm. Fairbank II, 1795 and Plans, Valuation and Descriptions of Houses, Warehouses and Workshops situate in the Township of Ecclesall Bierlow’, 1842
6. The Crookesmoor Racecourse and how it passed through the Broomhill Library site
7. D. M. shared several items he’d brought:
   1. Tradespeople in Sheffield, a directory of 1789; this sparked discussion of terms such as ‘anvilling’, hammering and smiths
   2. Walks in the Neighbourhood of Sheffield. Book published by Leader in 1830
   3. Report of the Sheffield Waterworks Failure Dale Dike or Bradfield Reservoir, May 1864; this included a record of the enquiry along with maps and diagrams

8. Next meeting January 19^th (tbc) at Broomhill Library
9. Proposed visit to Sheffield City Archive in January – tbc

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 21^st November 2024

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., M.G., M.L., D.M., K.P., J.P.

1. This was the first meeting to take place at Broomhill Library since the early summer and we began with a look back at events etc. over the last few months including:

• MG’s recent talk for the Ranmoor Society: Who Built St John’s Church?
• FHG stall at Fulwood shops which took place the previous Saturday 16^th
• Recent publication of KP’s book From Village to Suburb: A history of Fulwood between 1880 and 1940

2. We studied a set of BT maps of the area DM had brought dating from the 1950s/late 1960s:

3. There was discussion of the conduit, and its small stone ‘stiles’ which could have supported the waterpipes; here’s a link to Ranmoor Society notes on the conduit and Hidden Sheffield Walks may also have information
4. We talked about ethical issues associated with historical research
5. General discussion included:

• Comparisons between the trades of bricklaying and stonemasonry, from past and present perspectives
• A look at DM’s book Wall-to-Wall History: The Story of Roystone Grange. R. Hodges (1991)
• Styles of Sheffield church architecture
• Sheffield’s connection with the Titantic
• Scissors, Paper, Stone project
• Wills as historical sources

6. Next meeting December 19^th at Broomhill Library

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 21^st October 2024

Present: J.B., A.C., D.M., C.M., K.P.

Ringinglow Ramble Part II

October’s meeting took the form of fieldwork around the Ringinglow area, building on our first Ringinglow walk in June. Our main focus was the mines and quarries of the area. Throughout our walk, DM referred us to the report From Cairns to Craters: Conservation Heritage Assessment of Burbage (Bevan, B. 2006. Moors for the Future) which contains information relating to features we looked at. See also Friends of the Porter Valley’s publication Mining and Quarrying in the Porter Valley – Delving into the Past (Peter Kennett, 2006) which provides details of most of the features we looked at.

1. We met at the layby opposite the Norfolk Arms where we began by looking at AC’s copy of Burdett’s 1791 Map of Derbyshire
2. We headed west towards Sheephill Road, passing the site of the old Weigh House and weigh bridge – see notes from June’s Ringinglow Ramble
3. We took a short diversion over the stile on Sheephill Road and into Barberfield and the Limb Valley to revisit the site of former mines and remains of spoil heaps (see Bevan, 2006). We discussed the alignment of the Roman Road between Brough and Templeborough, how it may well have run across this area and recent archaeological work on this – a focus for a future walk.
4. After returning to Sheephill Road, we crossed over to the Houndkirk Road which leads to Stanage Pole. A couple of hundred metres along the track, (what3words) there are a number of embedded stones which appear to have a range of marks cut into them, one of which is a benchmark-type symbol. It was suggested that this could be connected with the military, who were active in this area during WWII.
5. After following the boundary of Lady Canning’s Plantation round to the northwest, we crossed Ringinglow Road and followed the track leading north to Brown Edge Quarries. Immediately to right of the footpath, we passed the sites of bell pits which were obscured by the heather and bracken. We heard about scars in the land left by peat workings and the remains of Kelly’s House, all of which lie to the west side of the footpath. For information on Kelly’s House, see AC’s December ’23 post on this website: Ringinglow People: Henry Kelly
6. Heading up to Brown Edge, we passed the site of a WWII bomb crater.
7. We then dropped down over the edge and walked in a roughly westerly direction towards Brown Edge Quarries. On the way, AC pointed out possible boundary stones marking the former Derbyshire/Yorkshire border. See Alan’s Substack piece ‘Searching for Knaves’ to find out more.
8. We reached the Brown Edge quarry complex, ‘the most extensive in the [Porter Valley]’ (page 6, Kennett, 2006). It dates from at least 1715 and was still in use in the early twentieth century when Henry Hancock was the owner. The different types of stone extracted were suitable for various aspects of building such as walls, roof tiles, flagstones and paving stones. AC discovered what may have been a quarrymen’s shelter in the rock as well as an intriguing hole which seemed to have been built into the turf.
9. A rainbow led our walk back to the layby along Ringinglow Road
10. Next meeting November 21^st at Broomhill Library

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 19^th September 2024

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., M.G., M.L., S.L., D.M., C.M., K.P., J.P.

September’s meeting took place at Fulwood Church where we looked through the church’s archive. This included documents, photos, publications dating from the 19^th century to recent times.

Takeaways from the evening:

• Surprise at the range and extent of the material which gave an insight not only into the church, but also the history of Fulwood as a whole – and so the importance of preserving this archive (it’s to be deposited in Sheffield Archives)
• The materials gave an insight into local attitudes, concerns and priorities e.g. the vicar’s report of 1880 and from 1919 there were descriptions of strikes at the end of the war
• General consensus that the archive contains fascinating material and it would be good to look at it again in more detail.

Documents of note included:

• The church accounts which indicated the connection which existed between Fulwood Church and Ranmoor St. John’s, in spite of tensions existing between the two:
  • Both vicars in the 1890s were Freemasons and on good terms
  • In the 1890s many donations to Fulwood were made from those who rented pew sittings at Ranmoor e.g. James Dixon and Frederick Thorpe Mappin
  • Both churches have windows donated by Freemasons containing Masonic symbols
  • Despite the different church traditions between them, they both seemed to have been supported by the same people to a significant extent
• The recipe book of 1935 which contained not only interesting recipes but also two essays which define very clearly the evangelical nature of Fulwood worship
• The photo albums which contained a number of interesting images: e.g. picture of the vicarage (where Newfield Court apartments stand), view down Brooklands Avenue towards Brookhouse Hill which predates the Co-op/photos of remembered schoolteachers
• 
• The record of the church’s missionary work in the 1960s/70s
• The national (church) school log book
• 1946 record of the contents Fulwood Road’s Guildhall when these were being donated to the church
• Documents relating to the 20^th century development of St Luke’s on Blackbrook Road e.g. with use of a hut from Redmires Camp, the need for permanent premises as the suburb grew
• 
• Information relating to chapel at Ringinglow

Next meeting tbc

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 15^th August 2024

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., M.L., K.P.

August’s meeting was to take the form of a walk-through of the Heritage Open Days tour but due to the wet and chilly weather, it took place under cover at the Rising Sun.

We produced a plan for this year’s guided walk – Sporting Fulwood (14^th September):

1. Old Fulwood Road:
   1. AC historical background
   2. 4/Blacksmith’s Arms/Hammer & Pincers – bowling green?, location for sporting competitions – pigeon shooting and venue for Hallamshire Hunt annual dinner in April 1863
   3. Before construction of ‘new’ section of Fulwood Road – field behind pub used for sports
   4. 1854 ‘capital cricket club’
   5. 1860 Hallam FC
   6. Willow Football Club 1886
   7. Porter Valley sports at Forge Dam, Wire Mill Dam, Jacob’s Ladder: boating – e.g. 1963 rescue Neville Haigh & Dick Hill (DM), model boats (F. Soc newsletters), swimming. skating (see 1938 film footage Yorks. Film Archive) & Sheffield Independent 5th February 1912 .  skiing (Yorks Film Archive footage from 1938 & F. Soc newsletters from 1970s/80s and C.M. recollections)
   8. Health Authority Sports facilities, tennis courts, old hut

2. Move onto Fulwood Road, near to Guild Hall for view across road of site of former sports fields:
   1. Works grounds: Joseph Rogers (cricket ground), Cornish Works, Dixons 1920s, DA’s recollection re great grandmother’s brothers playing cricket at Round Stubbin – could have been within current churchyard? DM’s aunt – hockey
   2. Transport provided by firms
   3. Motivation for this – avoid Communism, drink and preparation for war
   4. FC&SSCC: Fulwood Church & Sunday School Cricket Club
   5. Key roles of church and pubs in supporting participation in sports
   6. Brooklands Avenue tennis club

3. Cross road to verge at bottom of Stumperlowe Hall Road to walk between two former sports grounds and note former Bowling Green House

Google Maps 2024

4. Turn left into Slayleigh Lane and to Fulwood Sports Club
5. Walk up to Hallam Grange Lawn Tennis Club: ML
6. Review – incl. social/political aspects:
7. Changes over time: reflecting changes in demographic/population as Fulwood moved from rural community into suburban – inclusivity/exclusivity
8. Handouts? Maps? Laminated images to show/share?
9. Next meeting 19^th September: meet at Broomhill Library for debrief and plan ahead – walks, meetings, projects and events

Record of meeting 20^th June 2024

Present: J.B., A.C., M.L., D.M.

Ringinglow Ramble Part I

For this summer solstice evening’s meeting we explored aspects of Ringinglow. AC has written four pieces about Ringinglow which are available on the FHG website – see reference list at end of these notes. The area has been known/recorded as ‘Ringin Lowe, Ringing Lawe’ and ‘Ringinglowe’, (see Harvey, 2001 for etymology and Crutch, 2023 for ancient historical background). Until around the early 20^th century, this was an industrial as well as farming area. It included quarries, mines, a wire mill and Copperas House.

1855 (click on image for link to map) Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland https://maps.nls.uk/

1898 Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland https://maps.nls.uk/

1924 (click on image for link to map) Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland  https://maps.nls.uk/

1947 (click on image for link to map) Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland https://maps.nls.uk/→

1. We met at the layby opposite the Norfolk Arms; tractors were passing frequently between Sheephill Road and Hangram Lane as they transported hay – a process which had been going on from early that morning. Go back a hundred or so years and this would have been a similar scene on a dry June evening, but with horses pulling the hay wagons: Hall, 1974 contains photos of early twentieth century haymaking at Bole Hill Farm land and Brown Hills Field
2. We looked for evidence (e.g. boundary walls, types of vegetation) of the Weigh House which used to stand at this corner (Crutch 2023)
3. We also considered the evidence of mining and source of the Limb Brook in Lady Canning’s Plantation and the ‘Ring of Firs’ a little further west from the Ringinglow cross roads (see Hall 1974 and Crutch 2023)

Firs and bulge in wall 1855 and present

           Google Maps

1855 map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland https://maps.nls.uk/

4. We then walked round the corner onto Sheephill Road and crossed the stile into Barberfields to look at evidence of coal mining, the remains of Copperas House and other features: DM pointed out the spoil heap and referred us to FoPV report August 2006; AC shared maps and information; there are remains rail tracks but we didn’t explore that far

We discussed roads and tracks in the area:

1. important links between Derbyshire, Cheshire, Manchester and Sheffield
2. transportation of goods such as lead (Smeltings Farm nearby)
3. the evidence of Roman roads, the Houndkirk Road, Ringinglow as a turnpike road, how roads developed and became more or less significant (see Hall & Blackwell, 1972 pp 20-21 and Crutch 2023)

5. We retraced our steps over the stile and considered the buildings edging Sheephill Road

1. 1. Moor Cottage – formerly Moorcot/Moorcott- which was built on the site of Moorcock Hall in 1911, according to Hall, 1974, p. 38
   2. The Mission – formerly Ringinglow Church (Crutch 2023 and pages 39-40 of Hall 1974)
   3. The Round House (Crutch 2023 and Hall & Blackwell 1972, pp 20-21)
   4. The ‘low’ suffix of Ringinglow indicates a large pile of stones which could have been a barrow (Harvey, 2001); Crutch, (2023), suggests a site for these stones could lie somewhere between the present day Moor Cottage and The Norfolk Arms

6. We crossed Ringinglow Road and looked at evidence of the former wire mill; a resident of the cottage kindly showed us the outbuildings where the milling took place (see Crutch 2023)

We noticed the signs carved into the kerbstones on the corner of Ringinglow Road and Fulwood

7. Walking east past the Norfolk Arms, there is a Victorian wall letter box and by the car park exit there is the milestone CITY OF SHEFFIELD 5 MILES TO TOWN HALL; the reference to city dates the stone as post 1893; perhaps it replaced an earlier milestone which stood here when Ringinglow Road was a turnpike (1758 – 1825)

8. Next meeting/walk 18^th July – meet at Ringinglow layby 7pm for Ringinglow Ramble Part II

References

Crutch, A. (2023) Four Posts Giving a brief history of Ringinglow. Fulwood History Group. https://www.fulwoodhistory.uk/author/alan/

• Ringinglow Early Years
• Buildings of Ringinglow: The Chapel, The Round House and The Norfolk Arms, ‘T’ Ring o’ Firs’
• People
• Industry

Friends of the Porter Valley. (2006). Mining and Quarrying in the Porter Valley – Delving Into the Past. Friends of the Porter Valley. https://www.fopv.org.uk/product-page/mining-and-quarrying-in-the-porter-valley-delving-into-the-past

Hall, M. and Blackwell, R. (1972). The Mayfield Valley. Mail Graphic

Hall, M. (1974). More of the Mayfield Valley with Old Fulwood. J. W. Northend Ltd

Harvey, P. (2001).  Street Names of Sheffield; The stories behind Sheffield’s street names. Sheaf Publishing.

Record of Fulwood History Group Meeting 16/5/24

Present: J.B., A.C., R.F., M.G., M.L., C.M., D.M., J.P. & K. P. + 1

A Ranmoor Ramble : for this meeting we strayed off Fulwood territory

Link to 1906 map of area

We met at Ranmoor St John’s and heard about MG’s Scissors Paper Stone project

We then walked north up Ranmoor Park Road which included:

• site of Ballard Hall: named after Alderman Ballard: Chairman, National Co-operative Party; member of Sheffield City Council; Chairman, United Sheffield Hospitals, Board of Governors
• Ranmoor Parish Centre – Ranfall – in late 40s was Ranfall Nurses’ Home
• Impressive house at 16 Tapton Park Road
• Triangular green
• Where Ranmoor Park Road ends at ‘The Rigi’, which forms a cul-de-sac; discussed reasons for its name, its boundary wall

Left down Ranmoor Crescent which included DM’s explanation of inscriptions seen on telegraph poles

Onto Ranmoor Road – including discussion of remarkable drain covers

Ramble concluded at Ranmoor Inn.

N.B. Graham Hague’s piece from The Star 29/12/20 covers some similar ground

Next meeting/walk 20^th June – details tbc

Record of Fulwood History Group meeting 18^th April 2024

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., M.L., C.M., D.M., J.P. & K. P.

• Discussion around Fulwood Society documents over period 1970s-90s which are being looked through by group members: newsletters, letters, photos, press cuttings etc. E.g.
  1. Lost Dore – Fulwood Path 1977
  2. Wire Mill Dam boating (1975) & Hallam Ski Club Activities (1972 & 82) – useful for this year’s Heritage Open Days focus
  3. The 12” to a mile maps reproduced by society – AC shared one of these from c.1951; the number of sports grounds noted, even in the rural, farming outskirts of Fulwood; considered the possible reasons for this
  4. Fulwood Old Road coffee house and item relating to Hewlett 1895
  5. Richardson 1931 booklet History of Fullwood: page 5 recounts old route to Fulwood with suggestion that Birks Green was situated at Whiteley Lane; indicates fluidity of places and how they’re identified – a recurring theme

• Stumperlowe Hall in the 1920s was divided in two; discussion about use of land here and elsewhere in Fulwood and how it was sold off
• Historic England’s Missing Pieces project: see also link on FHG Facebook page; JP gave great example of a potential contribution to this,(house with listed railings on Taptonville Rd); each member of the group has much to offer to this and it’s a valuable way of recording valuable local information which can be used now and in the future – plug from JB!
• Fulwood History website – there seem to be two: KP has since clarified this
• Friends of Ecclesall Woods event on July 13^th to be held at café/Discovery Centre area: ‘What have you Found?’ JB asked for volunteers if anyone interested in covering stall for a couple of hours
• DA reflected on Ranmoor Society talk given by Catherine Warr on 16^th April: A Yorkshire Year: Folklore, customs and traditions and how the creation of folklore, myths and legends is a continuous process – the Mi Amigo story is an example of this; see also Hallam University’s Centre for Contemporary Legend
• DA reminded group about Fulwood Church archive: KP/DA to contact FL to arrange a meeting with group
• Organising walks instead of/in addition to indoor meetings in coming months e.g. on the trails of the Oak Brook and the Griffin Sick
• DM passed next batch of Fulwood Society documents on to JB and AC to look at over the coming month
• Next meeting: 16^th May 2024

Record of FULWOOD HISTORY GROUP MEETING 22^nd March 2024

Present: D.A., J.B., A.C., M.L., C.M., D.M., J.P. & K. P.

1. General discussion around trails, tracks, holloways, desire paths with reference to recent talk given on Packhorse Routes of the Rivelin Area by Melanie Fitzgerald of Heritage Highways; also discussed current measures taken to manage water around Hallamshire, Chorley Roads and Slayleigh area; local brickworks and quarries – see Ranmoor Historical Society notes for August 2022
2. AC shared Upper Hallam sections of Scurlfield’s 1986 reconstructed map of John Harrison’s 1637 An Exact and Perfect Survey of the Manor of Sheffield; many interesting features were pored over, e.g., Burnt Stones – theories around name relate to William the Conqueror and (more likely), that iron smelting took place in the area and Hell Hole – see page 54 of Hall’s More of the Mayfield Valley (1974); Link to Scurfield’s full article in the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol 58, pp147-173
3. AC shared Ronksley’s 1908 transcription of Harrison’s 1637 survey
4. JB asked group to add to FHG website post about Stumperlowe Mansions visit on 10^th March
5. AC shared map from early 19^th century(?) showing area around Ringinglow Road which fell into Derbyshire at that time
6. Brooklands Tennis Club – formerly at numbers 45/47 Brooklands Avenue; KP exploring history of site; led to discussion of newspapers/journalism, focus of articles and how this evolved over turn of 19th/20th centuries
7. CM shared article he’s written about Fulwood Skiing Club: he will send it to ML for publication on FHG website
8. HoD – sport and recreation in Fulwood 
   1. 1. Hallam Grange Tennis Club
      2. Fulwood Sports Club
      3. Brooklands Tennis Club
      4. Dixons’ and Rogers’ sports grounds opposite the Guild Hall
      5. Bowling Green House
      6. Old Fulwood Road – tennis courts and sports associated with Hammer & Pincers
      7. Forge Dam – skating, swimming and diving
      8. Wire Mill Dam – model boat racing; concrete blocks which were used to support staging for this are still in situ
      9. See Ranmoor Historical Society notes August 2022 for article on this subject

9. DM shared the collection of Fulwood Society documents he introduced in last month’s meeting; JB and AC borrowing them until next meeting

10. KP asked about stone markers he’d come across on a footbath leading between Cottage Lane and Ringinglow Road inscribed with letters SEO and EH; referred to as boundary markers on p. 99 of JB’s Dog Walks book – perhaps connected with nearby reservoirs; also curious markers embedded in field adjoining ‘Waggy’s Field’ on Whiteley Woods Road: https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/17938-anyone-know-what-this-is/?do=findComment&comment=155394 Any info on the purposes of these would be great

Next meeting: 18^th April 2024