Describing the Appleyard’s connection with the Owlerton Parish Room following investigation of this photo from Stanley’s albums:
I first posted this photo on the Sheffield History Chat forum asking for help identifying the location of the photo. Edmund, on the forum, replied on the original post and confirmed the image is North East corner of St John the Baptist Church, visible from Sedgly Road. The reply includes this Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/QQT7LF4RnmS4v1fo7
In addition Edmund quotes from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph Wednesday 31st October 1906. The article below the headline OPERETTA AT HILLSBOROUGH describes a performance of the operetta “The Wishing Cap,” by W. Smyth Cooper. The article names Mr. J. W. Marriott, the choirmaster and refers to Owlerton Church. Amongst the performers named were Mr. Marriott, Mr. F(rank) Appleyard, and Mr. Stanley Appleyard. In addition “a chorus of farm hands” presumably other senior members of the Owlerton Church Choir.
An initial search for the location of the photo above has thrown up Frank and Stanley’s involvement in the operetta “The Wishing Cap” at the Owlerton Parish Room.
Owlerton Parish Room- where was it?
The 1901 and 1911 census records the Appleyard’s living at 16 Manvers Road and Owlerton Parish Church is less than a mile to the east of Manvers Road but where was the “Owlerton Parish Room”? Other newspaper references included the location as “Storth Road” but that no longer features on current maps of Sheffield. Location finally traced from 25inch maps (from National Library of Scotland site). It turns out that the Parish Room was on the site of the War Memorial in Forbes Road (now Christ Church Walkley). The location is shown Side by side georeferenced maps viewer – Map images – National Library of Scotland (nls.uk)
It would have been a 2 minute walk from 16 Manvers Road to the Owlerton Parish Room – via Walkley Lane and the path of Forbes Road (shown as Storth Road on the earlier map).
Owlerton Parish Room- the history from Sheffield Daily Telegraph
Earliest found reference 15th October 1886 : a letter from ‘ONE WHO HOPES SOMETHING WILL BE DONE’ writes ‘Owlerton parish … has no Sunday School rooms’ and goes on to suggest ‘Queen’s jubilee could not be better celebrated than by helping forward Church and Christian work in the poor parishes of Sheffield, but I think that any scheme Church extension should include and place first on its programme the erection of Sunday schools in those parishes which are now without them.’
The article 8th December 1894 begins: The Lord Archbishop York visited Sheffield Yesterday for the purpose opening new Parish Rooms at Owlerton. The Old Malthouse was used for many years for Sunday school purposes, but the rapidly increasing population rendered the accommodation totally inadequate, and it became an absolute necessity to provide a more modern and commodious building. It was hoped that the new premises would be built of stone, but the funds available did not justify this expenditure, and a galvanised iron structure was decided upon. A site in Storth Road adjoining the Vicarage, and near the tram terminus, was purchased, and on this Mr. James Lee, of Manchester, has erected Parish Rooms,….
There is a large room, 70ft. by 35ft., capable of holding about 500 people, four good-sized class-rooms, a kitchen, and a lavatory. The interior is lined with pitchpine, stained and varnished, the lighting and ventilation are good, and the place heated by hot water pipes…
Sheffield Daily Telegraph timeline for the building
- 15th October 1886 – need for Sunday school for Owlerton
- 25th February 1892 – Announcement of concert at Montgomery Hall in aid of funds for Owlerton Parish Room etc
- 8th December 1894 – Owlerton Parish Room opening
- 27 February 1906 – Concert Owlerton Parish Room
- 27th April 1906 – report of production of “The Wishing Cap” at Owlerton Parish room
- 31st October 1906 – report of second production of “The Wishing Cap” at Owlerton Parish room
- 22nd May 1924 -Announcement of Owleron Church Jubilee Bazaar at the Owlerton Parish room
- 21st Sep 1925 – Foundation stone laid for Owlerton Church War Memorial
- 15 April 1926 – Announcement of opening of Owlerton Church War Memorial – with photo
Links:
- Frank Appleyard
- https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19061031/121/0004#
- Side by side georeferenced maps viewer – Map images – National Library of Scotland (nls.uk)
- Sheffield History Chat – Sheffield History – Sheffield Memories
- Owlerton Church Choir – Senior members 1906 – Sheffield History Chat – Sheffield History – Sheffield Memories
- https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_02/511909352_StJohnfromSedgleyRoad.png.c992a5a63e5d8481ebfe85a5091d9c24.png
- https://goo.gl/maps/QQT7LF4RnmS4v1fo7
- https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/148337
