SPRING HILL - CROOKES, SHEFFIELD 1905
The above map is a section from the Ordnance Survey map of Sheffield West 1905. When you compare it with the map that was done fifty years earlier it is plain to see that the area had undergone a rapid transformation. Spring Hill in 1850 had just two properties on it, fifty years later it was lined with properties on both sides of the street.
There is another map that was drawn up at roughly the same time which shows the immediate area of Spring Hill in more detail
Spring Hill is on the right of the map below Ainsley Road. In the course of posting the information I was contacted by John Slater whose ancestors were closely associated with Spring House which is on the corner of Spring House Road and School Road. In fact. Spring House Road was built across the back garden of Spring House. A Purchase Deed dated 30th June 1899 states that Spring House was actually sold by William Fisher Tasker of the City of Sheffield, an accountant. It was bought by James (of 35, Granville Street, Hardware Dealer) and Harriet Johnson (his wife) and Warrington Slater. However, in the text it says "lately used and occupied therewith by the said Ellen Eadon" and the ground also includes "Spring View" aka "The Laurels."
John's great great grandfather was the Warrington Slater (1838 - 1907 ) mentioned in the purchase deed who for a few years between 1899 - 1902 lived at Spring House. The family business was the cutlery firm of Slater Brothers which he owned in conjunction with his brother Walter. However he diversified into the area of property development and built a considerable number of residential houses in the Crookes area - Warrington Road - Beehive Road off Crookesmoor Road (the beehive incidentally was one of the Slater Brothers trademarks) were developed by Warrington Slater as were houses on Cobden View Road, Stannington View Road, and School Road. In fact Fitzgerald Road may have been named after a Dublin based partner of his James Fitzgerald who, with Warrington, was the co-owner of Totley Bents Farm
From the information I have obtained Warrington Slater was also in partnership with James Johnson (see above). The latter bought the property for approximately £600 and Warrington Slater lived in it, his part of the partnership was to finance the housing development of the "Spring House Estate" Before moving into Spring House he'd lived elsewhere in the district. The 1881 Census shows that he was living at 50 Bower Road ( PRO Ref RG11 Piece/Folio 4627/49 Page Number 8 - FH Library Film 1342117) and that his occupation was Cutler. Later on he moved to Crookesmoor Road and after leaving Spring House he lived in School Road (the house he died in was numbered circa 110).
Fortunately Warrington's grandson Herbert Gregory Slater (1892 - 1978) recorded his memories and with John's kind permission I have posted a selection of them that relate to Spring House and Crookes to the site. They make facsinating reading and give a flavour of life in the area in the late Victorian period
An interesting fact that did emerge from the exchange of information with John was the changes that occurred with regard to property and road names in the area. Whilst Spring House Road does still exist it has been truncated. The section that ran through the gardens of Spring House is now called Ramsey Road whist the remainder of Spring House Road joins Ramsey Road with Lemington Street. Opposite the top of Ainsley Road is a house called The Laurels. Fifty years earlier the house was called Spring View and is marked on the map accordingly. I do not know a great deal about the history of the house beyond the fact that it was for many years after the Second World War a doctors surgery and after the practice closed down remained unoccupied for a few years. The house was eventually redeveloped in the early 1980's and is now a series of apartments. Incidentally on the corner of Ainsley Road and School Road is a property called Spring Villa. This became a family bakery that traded for many years under the name of Thomas Jewitt. and Sons.
Sadly Spring House was demolished many years ago, the land was redeveloped and even more residential housing erected.
I would really appreciate a photo/drawing of Spring House and so if anyone reading this can point me in the right direction I would be grateful |
As for Spring Hill, the list of persons residing there more or less mirrored the returns in the 1901 Census
Extract from White's Directory for Sheffield 1905
Note
Births Dec 1838 qtr Slater Warrington Sheffield Vol 22 Page 535
Deaths Jun 1907 qtr Slater Warrington age 69 Ecclesall Bierlow. Volume 9c page
209
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This page was last updated on 28/06/11 12:00