Old Fairgrounds and Circuses

[peterw]

I have not read all the replies to this thread so my apologies if the two following sites have already been mentioned. Before the war a large strip of land, on the left, looking down, as you walked up the LNER Station Approach had stood empty for many years. During the war, steel output intensified and the land was used to store ingots (I seem to recall those working in the steel rolling mills referred to them as billets?) approx.six feet long and four to six inches square. Morale was almost as important as steel production so each Christmas the land was cleared to make way for a Christmas fair.

 

There was a similar parcel of land by the side of the railway, on the left-hand side of Staniforth Road. The railway passed under a bridge across Staniforth Road, where twice a year before the war the land’s only purpose seemed to have been to herald the arrival of John Farrar’s Fair. For a while my father was a steam traction engine driver, and albeit this was before my fifth birthday, to follow the entire fair (the big rides went to their pitches first, and vice versa on leaving) it was quite something to follow its trail along Attercliffe Common then, aided by a traffic-duty constable, swing the locomotive, plus three purpose-built, all-wood living trailers and occasionally one small caravan almost to the opposite pavement before making the single arc that would clear all obstacles to arrive on the correct side of Staniforth Road.

 

I seem to recall it was achieved to rapturous applause from an appreciative audience who followed the first traction engine to its final destination, and did so for nothing more than to witness the mind-bending event all over again, with but one slight difference. On that second occasion, to a much larger crowd the driver, usually a Scot by the first name of Peter, was required to swing again to the opposite side of the road, then turn sharply to the left to pass, with only inches to spare, through the space left by an open five-barred gate!

 

Bear in mind that those were the days with no television and no local radio. The Sheffield Star always carried a picture of the event, but it was a ‘still’ and was no match for the real thing.

 

I have not mentioned that my father drove a traction engine for John Farrar during the early to mid-1930s. Later in life when he lived in a caravan the only ornament to grace its few shelves was a scale model of a similar class of traction engine. The only other thing worth a mention is that I was named Peter in remembrance of that show-stopping Scot whose well-polished steam locomotive shone like a new pin.

 

I could tell many stories about Peter, but on another day or another thread, perhaps. I am almost sure (although I know it is impossible) that Peter and his employer’s traction engine deserved each other. On the one hand he kept her looking good and standing out in a crowd. On the other hand, when he needed extra power, like a diesel engine she gave it to him …*again … and again … and again.

[mh01]

eyup MH, would that be andrew swallow who married tony marshalls sister, tony was in the same class as me in infant and junior school. and i used to see swallow regulaly when i worked for dick rowding at the breakers ( ecc ) on station road through the 80,s swallow used to have a yellow sherpa van which he towed behind a jcb.

eyup mate thats right, andy swallow, he worked for percivals (william)

[mh01]

I have not read all the replies to this thread so my apologies if the two following sites have already been mentioned. Before the war a large strip of land, on the left, looking down, as you walked up the LNER Station Approach had stood empty for many years. During the war, steel output intensified and the land was used to store ingots (I seem to recall those working in the steel rolling mills referred to them as billets?) approx.six feet long and four to six inches square. Morale was almost as important as steel production so each Christmas the land was cleared to make way for a Christmas fair.

 

There was a similar parcel of land by the side of the railway, on the left-hand side of Staniforth Road. The railway passed under a bridge across Staniforth Road, where twice a year before the war the land’s only purpose seemed to have been to herald the arrival of John Farrar’s Fair. For a while my father was a steam traction engine driver, and albeit this was before my fifth birthday, to follow the entire fair (the big rides went to their pitches first, and vice versa on leaving) it was quite something to follow its trail along Attercliffe Common then, aided by a traffic-duty constable, swing the locomotive, plus three purpose-built, all-wood living trailers and occasionally one small caravan almost to the opposite pavement before making the single arc that would clear all obstacles to arrive on the correct side of Staniforth Road.

 

I seem to recall it was achieved to rapturous applause from an appreciative audience who followed the first traction engine to its final destination, and did so for nothing more than to witness the mind-bending event all over again, with but one slight difference. On that second occasion, to a much larger crowd the driver, usually a Scot by the first name of Peter, was required to swing again to the opposite side of the road, then turn sharply to the left to pass, with only inches to spare, through the space left by an open five-barred gate!

 

Bear in mind that those were the days with no television and no local radio. The Sheffield Star always carried a picture of the event, but it was a ‘still’ and was no match for the real thing.

 

I have not mentioned that my father drove a traction engine for John Farrar during the early to mid-1930s. Later in life when he lived in a caravan the only ornament to grace its few shelves was a scale model of a similar class of traction engine. The only other thing worth a mention is that I was named Peter in remembrance of that show-stopping Scot whose well-polished steam locomotive shone like a new pin.

 

I could tell many stories about Peter, but on another day or another thread, perhaps. I am almost sure (although I know it is impossible) that Peter and his employer’s traction engine deserved each other. On the one hand he kept her looking good and standing out in a crowd. On the other hand, when he needed extra power, like a diesel engine she gave it to him …*again … and again … and again.

william percival bought john farrars machines when john retired. john farrar was also commended for his distinguished service by the showmans guild of great britain

[willybite]

Billy Smart's Circus came to Sheffield (Devonshire Green, I think) early November 1961.

 

i remember but it was chipperfields circus it was 1960. on devonshire ,broomhall, fitzwilliam, chester and eldon streets these would hire the locals to help put up the big top, they had a boxing booth at one time , one of the boxers was eric ludlam, another i knew his face but can't put a name to him.

Edited May 3, 2010 by willybite

[mickx123]

the earliest i can remember used to be opposite the white horse at Wadsley Bridge,early forties,

[skyline]

eckington fair was good on fields off fanshaw road near the west end pub,loads of houses there now..

[Jim Hardie]

i remember but it was chipperfields circus it was 1960. on devonshire ,broomhall, fitzwilliam, chester and eldon streets these would hire the locals to help put up the big top, they had a boxing booth at one time , one of the boxers was eric ludlam, another i knew his face but can't put a name to him.

 

I remember attending and falling in love with the beautiful trapeze artiste. She fell and died (in practice I think) a short time after the circus had left Sheffield. Very sad.

[JACK HEWITT]

Here's one more site no one has mentioned i seem to remember it only coming twice around the late sixties i recall the fair was on land cleared by slum clearance situated on MOOR st between Clarence st and Ecclesall rd i remember on the first occasion it arrived being short changed by one of the ride operators and an argument started between us both then being knocked unconscious by someone from behind with a cosh someone informed the police as you would expect all involved vanished when the fair returned the following year a few friends and myself attended and lets just say justice was done thank God for the NHS HAPPY DAYS.

[Texas]

Mention has been made, a few times, of the fairground at the end of Blonk Street. I can certainly remember it when I was very young back in the 30's. Like peterw said, it became a billet yard for, I think, Osborne's.

Recently I read a piece about the building of Victoria Station in 1850 and mention was made about the station 'overlooking a fairground'. It makes it a very old site and I wonder if the fair was a permanent attraction at one time.

[raquel1]

Just browsed through quickly but didn't see anyone mention the fair that used to come to Stannington, It was on a big piece of land just off of Wood Lane. If I remember rightly the land belonged to the Clayton family. The fair came a few times I think but then the land was sold and it is a housing estate now. I always wanted to go to the fair when it came but my mum wouldn't allow it.