From the Archives of Grenoside & District Local History Group
Compiled by E Barton

We are privileged to have in our archives a fascinating collection of cuttings from local newspapers, compiled in the early part of the last century by Mr. T.W. Fulleylove, who was for many years the headmaster of the National School on Main Street (now used as St. Mark’s Church Hall). If you’ve ever wondered why the area at the top of Holly House Lane is also known as St. Helena, the following extract from a letter by Joe Beever, published on April 3rd 1927 will be of interest: George Helliwell’s grandfather built the row of houses now at the bottom of Holly House Lane, in the year 1800. He was a prosperous manufacturer of spindles, tongues, and ramrods, etc. He had some pottery burnt at the Bolsterstone Pottery with designs of the things he manufactured burnt in. There is a piece of that work in the hands of his niece or nephew. I tried to get this a few years ago for a gentleman who desired it to complete his collection of Bolsterstone pottery. In those days Holly House was at the top of the Hill Top Lane. Fifty-six years ago on 1st May, some men wished to learn quarrying and commenced to work at the same time as I did. Their wages were 2/6 per day to rise by 6d a day to 4/- in three years. They worked ten hours a day and 7½ hours on Saturdays. Even then they tried to get pleasure out of life, and on very hot days, after a few pints of beer, they would sit in a comfortable part of the quarry and sing a few songs. Two of these men, Charles Rider and Levi Gillott, lodged with Mr. and Mrs. Hardwick at Hill Top. Gillott’s favourite song was “Napoleon Crossing the Alps”, and in time the pair were christened “St. Helena Puzzle” and told to get off home to St. Helena (Hill Top). It was in this way Hill Top received its name “St. Helena”. Several people have since tried to tell me how for other reasons it got its name. Needless to say, I have smiled at them; they have been what are called “comers” to the village. Yours, etc., JOE BEEVER. Greno Wood Gate, Grenoside. (Fulleylove Newspaper Cuttings, volume 1925-28.)

The Birley Stone Just outside Grenoside, on the crest of the hill where Lane Head becomes Oughtibridge Lane, stands the Birley Stone. The bend in the road at this point is known locally as Jaw Bone Hill (although it is marked on the maps as Whalejaw Hill) and I have always wondered how it came to have this unusual name. Browsing through our Group’s library and archives has revealed no definite answer to this question, but many reported theories. It appears that during the nineteenth century a pair of whale’s jaw bones spanned Oughtibridge Lane, the archway formed being so tall that a loaded hay cart could be driven through it. Some say that the arch was erected to celebrate the end of the Napoleonic wars (i.e. around 1815), but there are no recorded details of when and where the arch was erected, or what happened to it afterwards. The following extracts from letters to local newspapers can only serve to whet the appetite: 29th March 1921 …I was told last year that part of one of the jaws was a gate post now at the old Stubbin Farm just at the bottom of Jaw Bone Hill on the Birley Road…

SARAH LOMAS Wharncliffe Side

25th February 1926 Jawbone Hill Sir – We should suppose that hundreds of Sheffield ramblers are familiar with Jawbone Hill, near Grenoside. This vantage point commands a magnificent view of the Don and Ewden valleys, and approached from Grenoside, it is in the nature of a surprise. We have even heard it favourably compared with the famous “Surprise” of Derbyshire. The Birley Stone stands out prominently on the summit of the hill (“Hunter’s Hallamshire” states that the Burleistan was there in 1161), and recently a piece of bone, six feet long and a foot or so thick, has been unearthed in the immediate vicinity. A fragment of this bone has been presented to the Wadsley Bridge Working Men’s Club, as illustrating a lecture recently given at the club’s Literary and Debating Society. Undoubtedly the relics are remnants of a whale’s jawbone which gave the name to the hill. Various opinions are held locally as to the significance of the jawbone, and it is wondered why and when it was placed there. Members of the Debating Society would be grateful for any expert advice on the matter, - Yours, etc.,

DEBATER.

The following is an extract from a report of a meeting of ratepayers held in Grenoside in May 1933. Among the issues debated were the bus service to Grenoside, and the provision of street lighting. Bus Service Mr J.F. Frost (Parish Councillor) said the matter of a ‘bus service for the upper parts of Grenoside had been “hanging fire” for a long time. The clerk to the Rural Council (Mr. J. Morton) had received a communication from Mr. A.R. Fearnley in which it appeared probable that ‘buses would run from Sheffield twice a day, up Salt Box Lane, along Main Street and down Norfolk Hill. Mr. T.W. Fulleylove emphasised the point that ‘buses were specially needed for ladies who had been shopping in Sheffield, so that parcels could be carried up the hill. A vote was taken on alternative time tables; (a) ‘buses from Sheffield to reach Grenoside about 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; (b) ‘buses to leave Sheffield for Grenoside at 4 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. The former time table was favoured by 25 votes to 22.

Street Lighting Mr. J. Firth wondered whether it was Grenoside people or people from London that were suggesting street lighting, and thought that at a meeting previously held the matter had been settled for ever. Mr. Worth proposed and Mr. Wingfield seconded that there be no street lighting, by electricity or gas. Mr. Fox, a representative of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company, was asked to address the meeting, and said the question of street lighting should receive a little consideration. Many amenities of life depended on electricity, and those who had experienced its comforts used it increasingly. The adoption of street lighting would make Grenoside a better and safer place to live in, and it would enable a universal distribution of electricity which would practically put a supply outside every door. The scheme prepared by the Rural Council surveyor was in his opinion “somewhat lavish” and certainly too expensive for him to recommend to the ratepayers. It would mean a 1/- rate. When places were brought up to date, they generally became more wealthy, and he was sure that street lighting for Grenoside would be wanted sooner or later. Admitting that the cables would be “overhead”, Mr. Fox was asked whether he did not think they had already made Grenoside ugly enough. Another comment was, “There’s plenty to pay but now’t to pay it with.” Eventually the proposal of street lighting was turned down by an overwhelming vote, only two voting in favour.

Greno Chase 8th August 2003 saw the second running of the Grenoside Chase after its revival last year. The race used to be known as the Great Grenoside Steeplechase and it was the main event in a programme of races and other sports held in Grenoside for many years, with prizes on view at the Norfolk Arms. According to one of the books in our library (Yesterday in Grenoside, by Albert Goddard), in the early 1900s (perhaps 1930s/40s?) the route used to be as follows: starting from the cricket field on Whitley Lane, up Whitley Lane, across Penistone Road, up Norfolk Hill, across Main Street to Stephen Lane, straight on to Lane Head, over the top of Jaw Bone Hill, down Oughtibridge Lane to the watering trough at the right of the lane just above Bridge’s Farm, turn round and back over the same course and then once round the cricket field to finish. The road from the start on Whitley Lane up to the top of Jaw Bone Hill used to be packed with excited spectators. During this period, Jack Hardcastle was the only runner to win the race twice, other winners from Grenoside included “Young Tojjie” Burkinshaw and Joe “Muggins” Wilson. Joe’s brother “Chad” Wilson came second one year. A newspaper report of the race in 1955, when it was held in September, gives the winner as 12 year old Brian Travis from the Foxhill estate and has a photograph of him crossing the finishing tape in Main Street. In third place was Walter Hayes, also of Foxhill (the runner-up was not named). Brian won the Alan Denton trophy and a silver tea set. His elder brother, Ken, competed in the Grenoside Chase several times but was never as successful as Brian, his best placing being fourth.