Category: history

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Can you solve the riddle of Morecambe and Wise in Lodge Moor?

The Plough, Sandygate Road
Could Eric Morcambe have stayed near The Plough on Sandygate Road in 1953?

In 1953, Ernie Wise of Morecambe and Wise fame, and his wife Doreen camped in their converted Bedford bus at a petrol station in the Lodge Moor area of the city. This occurred when Morecambe and Wise were appearing in the pantomime Dick Whittington in Sheffield.

Eric Morecambe and his wife Joan had rented a house nearby and possibly, the petrol station in question was as close to them as it was practical to park a single decker bus. The question is, which petrol station?

Opinion seems to favour Sandygate Motors next to The Plough on Sandygate Road but others have been suggested.

Local artist Michael Dolby is searching for the answer for a project which he is contributing to.

Mr Dolby said: “It is one of those things that have become part of local folklore, many people have heard a variation of the story but, other than the bare fact that Ernie Wise or Doreen Wise have said in two biographies that they camped in a bus at a Lodge Moor petrol station little else seems to be certain. It would at least be nice to know and commit it to local history record.”

If anyone has any information on this, Michael would welcome an email to michaeldolby1954@gmail.com.

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Residents enjoy Crosspool history walk

Crosspool history walk
Crosspool history walk

Over thirty people walked the streets in drizzly conditions on Wednesday evening this week for the Crosspool Chronicles history walk led by Jan Milward and Lindsey Beagles.

The event was arranged so that people working during the day had opportunity to attend an evening repeat of the original history walk which took place during Crosspool Festival week.

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Crosspool history walk on Wednesday 2 September 2015

Crosspool History Walk
The Crosspool History Walk at this summer’s Crosspool Festival

A guided history walk of Crosspool will depart at 6.45pm from St Columba’s church on Wednesday 2 September.

The walk is led by Jan Millward and will take in historical places of interest in the Crosspool area with interesting stories about the people who lived and worked in the area. It’ll take about an hour and a half, finishing near The Plough pub on Sandygate Road.

Crosspool Chronicles

If you’re interested in Crosspool History then there are still a few copies of the Crosspool Chronicles walking guide available from local outlets while stocks last.

The walks cover Crosspool, Sandygate, Lydgate, Bell Hagg and Tapton Hill right back to 1695, looking at who lived here and where and what they did. There are lots of old photos and stories to enjoy.

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Interactive marker posts installed along the Rivelin valley

New information posts in the Rivelin valley
New information posts in the Rivelin valley
New information posts in the Rivelin valley
New information posts in the Rivelin valley
New information posts in the Rivelin valley

A series of marker posts have been installed along the Rivelin valley, giving visitors an even greater insight into the river’s industrial, natural and artistic heritage.

Walkers with smart phones can scan the QR code on each post to unlock photos, videos and information related to each location, including any connection to John Ruskin.

The posts were put in by Rivelin Valley Conservation Group volunteers. If you’re interested in sponsoring a post for £200 then contact the group directly.

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Guided walk on Tuesday 30 June – plus Crosspool Chronicles walking guide available now

Crosspool Chronicles walking guide available now
Crosspool Chronicles walking guide available now

A guided history walk of Crosspool departs from St Columba’s on Tuesday 30 June at 10am.

If you’re interested in doing the guided walk but can’t make Tuesday morning, we would be prepared to arrange an additional evening walk sometime in the next few weeks. Please email lindseybeagles@gmail.com if you’re interested.

Meanwhile, Crosspool Chronicles, the guide to walking round Crosspool and reading about the people and places in times gone by, is for now on sale at the price of £2.50.

You can pick up a copy from Crosspool Pet Supplies, Bamforths, Charisma and Cocker and Carr estate agents in Crosspool as well as at the Crosspool Summer Fair (if there are any left!)

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Guided history walk around Crosspool on Tuesday 30 June

A guided history walk of Crosspool will depart at 10am from St Columba’s church on Tuesday 30 June.

The walk is led by Jan Millward and will take in historical places of interest in the Crosspool area with interesting stories about the people who lived and worked here. It’ll take about an hour and a half.

And if you don’t fancy the official history walk, get yourself a copy of Crosspool Chronicles walking guide, which will be on sale at the street market on Sunday 28 June and locally throughout festival week.

The walks cover Crosspool, Sandygate, Lydgate, Bell Hagg and Tapton Hill right back to 1695, looking at who lived here and where and what they did. There are lots of old photos and stories to enjoy.

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Hallam Chase returns to Crosspool on Tuesday

Runners competing in the 2012 Hallam Chase
Runners competing in the 2012 Hallam Chase

Tuesday evening sees the historic Hallam Chase return to Crosspool, an annual fell race organised by Hallamshire Harriers and hosted by Hallam Cricket Club.

At 8pm on the Tuesday evening after the second bank holiday in May, runners set off from Hallam football/cricket club’s Sandygate ground, go down Den Bank through the Rivelin Valley and up to Stannington church, before returning by the same route. The run 3¼ miles long, with 800 feet of climb.

In 2014 Michael Twigg took first prize. The record time of 19 minutes 42 seconds was set in 1968 by Trevor Wright.

Find out more on the Hallam Chase and Hallamshire Harriers websites.

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Hallam FC Youdan Cup featured on Antiques Roadshow

The world's oldest football trophy
The world’s oldest football trophy

Hallam FC was mentioned as part of a feature on Sunday night’s Antiques Roadshow on BBC1.

The Crosspool football club was featured as the TV programme looked at a mid-Victorian jug that turns out to probably be the oldest football trophy in the world. It is also known as the Youdan Cup.

Club historian Phil Farnsworth explained more about the 1866 trophy – and found out that its £50,000 insurance is not enough to cover the cup’s real value.

Watch Antiques Roadshow (feature starts 39 minutes in)

Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow – click to watch the Hallam FC feature