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Social History of Broomhill, as recorded by past and present residents
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John Hobson and Taptonville Road
In
1850, Scissor manufacturer John Hobson purchased the fields that would become Taptonville Road
and planned the development of the road, placing his own family home, Tapton
Elms, in prime position on the highest ground at the head of the road.
The Hobson family were an important force in the development of
Sheffield University and their influence on one of Broomhill's finest
streets is still visible today.
Read this article by following this link |
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Joshua Spooner and Hallamgate Road
The Spooner family had a farm at Hallamgate long before Broomhill was
developed and they prospered from land deals, river rights and water
works throughout the 19th c property boom. No time for philanthropy
here though; the family were misers whose avarice and disputes over
inheritance shocked the upright citizens of Sheffield.
Read this article by following this link |
John William Pye-Smith and the Congregationalists
The
death of the late Town Clerk of Sheffield leaves a wide gap in the civic life
of the city; a gap that will not easily be filled. He had the strings of the
municipal government of Sheffield at his
fingers’ ends ready for the pulling. Few are acquainted with the difficulties
that beset the work of a Corporation that is entrusted with the responsible
task of governing a community of three hundred and fifty thousand people, but
Mr. J. W. Pye-Smith was one of the few. (from his Obituary in The Times, 8 Sept 1895)
Read about these former Broomhillies by following this link |
 
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Frances Darlington, 1947 - 2010
Seen in the centre of this picture, standing next to councillor Shaffaq
Mohammed, at the opening of Victoria Park in Broomhill during 2009.
Frances lived nearby and was one of the driving forces
behind the creation of this community park. John Birtwhistle, standing
on the right in this picture, has written a tribute to Frances, who
will be greatly missed by all who knew her in Broomhill.
Read John's tribute by following this link |
Lenie Wilson, Memories 1857-1941
Lenie was the youngest daughter of George Wilson, owner of the Sharrow
snuff mills. Lenie recorded her memories of childhood in Broomhill in
1941, when she was 84 years old. She was born in one of the houses in
'The Mount' (pictured). Her family moved a few years later to
Tapton Hall on Shore Lane, which is now the Tapton Masonic Hall. Her
memoire provides a fascinating glimpse of the life of one of
Sheffield's wealthy families in the early years of Broomhill.
Read Lenie's memoires by following this link.
Thanks to Elizabeth Hoult for rescuing this memoire after finding it in a piano stool purchased at an auction! |
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