TheRedWizard Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 What are your favourite books about Sheffield history (or books that aren't history books as such but provide insights into what it was like to live in our city in the past)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggi Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 I think "Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers" by David Crossley is fascinating, if out of print Also wonderful, is "A Pub on Every Corner" by Douglas Lamb (blinking flip, also out of print). And then there's Fred Pass's 'Weerz me Dad?' and 'Weerz me Mam?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Somebody mailed me a copy of 'A Pub on Every Corner' many years ago. To my mind it's the only Sheffield history book worth having, a brilliant piece of work, you can trace out your own pub crawls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughW Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Somebody mailed me a copy of 'A Pub on Every Corner' many years ago. To my mind it's the only Sheffield history book worth having, a brilliant piece of work, you can trace out your own pub crawls. This book is useful, especially used in conjunction with Michael Liversidge's Sheffield Public Houses, but it has two drawbacks. First, there are lots of errors in the maps. Second, there is no index, particularly to the streets on the maps - I made my own some time ago. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 The Story of old Attercliffe - by Vine, G. R Sheffield in the 18th Century - by Leader, R. E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hennypenny Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 My favourite book is the one with the longest ever title :- "Recollections and reminiscences of the Dixon Family and other families in connection with them, with a brief sketch of some of the nobility, Gentry, Merchants and Tradesmen Sculptures, Poets Historians and Mechanics, Philanthropists and eccentric characters with an account of the rise and progress of some of the principal trades in the town of Sheffield and the Neighbourhood with a glossary of words and some old sayings and Maxims. A list of country feasts Wakes and statutes with an account of the customs prevalent at holidays and public occasions by Charles Dixon 1847. " It is in the Sheffield Archives, and I transcribed it some time ago. A lovely book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillsbro Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 For anyone interested in the Hillsborough area, Eric Leslie's beautifully illustrated "Oatcakes, Pikelets and Sarsparilla" and "Trams, Tiddlers and Tizer" are excellent in their description of life in a Sheffield suburb as seen by a boy growing up in the 1940s and 1950s. Otherwise, any of the recently-published books on Sheffield's history are highly recommended. For a photographic record of relatively recent times, John Wrigley's books "A .... Camera" (Walkley, Hillsborough etc.) are very good. More scholarly historical works have been written by such capable authors as Mary Walton and, more recently, David Hey. For notable Sheffield people of 100 years ago, I have the "Sheffield & District Who's Who" for 1905. It has photos and brief biographies of the local gentry, and a glimpse of Edwardian values is given by just by seeing "Who" is in and "Who" isn't. Hunter's large-format, monumental work "Hallamshire" (later editions extended by Rev. Alfred Gatty) is a detailed work, strong in genealogy. My old friend the late S. Roy Davey wrote some excellent historical books, published on a shoestring budget and rich in detail. A unique book of his is "Crossin' O'er", about Sheffield's bridges. Without this I wouldn't have known much about some notable bridges, and would never have heard of some that have disappeared, such as Portmahon Bridge (it crosses a stream than now goes underground in a pipe). A visit to the Local Studies Library can often bring surprises, at least in regard to the sheer volume of books on the history of our city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRedWizard Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 My favourite book is the one with the longest ever title :- "Recollections and reminiscences of the Dixon Family and other families in connection with them, with a brief sketch of some of the nobility, Gentry, Merchants and Tradesmen Sculptures, Poets Historians and Mechanics, Philanthropists and eccentric characters with an account of the rise and progress of some of the principal trades in the town of Sheffield and the Neighbourhood with a glossary of words and some old sayings and Maxims. A list of country feasts Wakes and statutes with an account of the customs prevalent at holidays and public occasions by Charles Dixon 1847. " It is in the Sheffield Archives, and I transcribed it some time ago. A lovely book Fantastic! My own favourites are probably Pollard's History of Labour in Sheffield, which is an absolute classic (and the first) of its type. Very different is Survivors of Steel City, by Geoffrey Beattie (Big Brother psychologist), a great pack of pen portraits which give a real insight into what it was like to live here in the '80s. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0701130318/sheffnet-21 There are many more too - list to follow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughW Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 A selection of books I frequently refer to - Illustrated Guide to Sheffield and Neighbourhood [1864] - Pawson & Brailsford [facsimile edition, Amethyst Press 1985 (paperback edition)] From Bailey to Bailey: A Short History of Military Buildings in Sheffield by Stephen Johnson 1998 (Stephen Johnson is always bringing out interesting pamphlets) Aspect of Sheffield 1 & 2 Wharncliffe Publishing. Edited by Melvyn Jones. Interesting articles on various historical subjects. The Lost Theatres of Sheffield Bryan D Hillerby Crookes: The History of a Sheffield Village (Out of Print) & Crookes Revisited Mesters to Masters: A History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire eds Clyde Binfield & David Hey Archives Photo Series - Central Sheffield compiled by Martin Olive Sheffield City Battalion (2006 Reprint) not books, but I use them so much they tend to fall apart: Alan Godfrey's reprints of old OS maps, mostly c1900-05 (available in the Local Studies Library and Sheffield Scene) Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRedWizard Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 I think Hey's contributions do stand out, although, I feel there is a lack of a cheap, accessible pocket guide to the city's history, particularly the city centre - this is something there were talks about initiating a couple of years ago but we didn't get it going (might do in hte future though). Other books and pamphlets include Moore's work and indeed anything by the Holberry Society and the people around it. On a similar theme, work by and about figures in the city's labour movement are of national significance, including by J. T. Murphy, Connole and others. Pollard's work on the outrages too. There are also a whole range fo academic texts which are worth searching out, including the plethora of MA dissertations and PhD theses at Surrey St. The centenary set of three volumes is also a, very expensive to own, must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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