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| Medieval stump cross on the edge of Stannington |
Sheffield is a hilly city.We are on the eastern edge of the Pennine Chain which is the spine of northern England. It is sometimes said of Sheffield that, like Rome, it has seven hills. Having visited Rome a few years back, I can say without question that our hills are not only bigger but have exerted a greater influence on our urban development.
Between the valleys of the Loxley and Rivelin rivers, upon one of the seven hills you will find the suburb of Stannington. Once a small farming community on the edge of town, it was finally absorbed by the city's tentacles in the mid-twentieth century. When you go up to Stannington, the air temperature drops a degree or two and it is invariably windy up there even when the air down in the valleys is still.
Close to each other there were once five pubs at Stannington - "The Crown and Glove", "The Rose and Crown", "The Peacock", "The Hare and Hounds" and "The Sportsman". It was sad to see that the last two have closed their doors forever and "The Crown and Glove" now has an ominous estate agent's sign on its gable end world - "For Sale or To Lease". The kiss of death.
Not long after Friday's eclipse, the skies cleared and sunshine broke through to illuminate the seven hills. I had a wander around Stannington. Typically, there was a stiff breeze. People who choose to live up there must be hardy folk. It wouldn't be for me. Gimme shelter.
Stannington pictures - "The Rose and Crown", Knowle Top Chapel, "The Crown and Glove", Christ Church, war memorial, VW camper van on Highfield Rise.
Click photos to enlarge
A bleak place caught at it's best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ade.
DeleteThe cross reminds me of the one we saw last year at Sharow:
ReplyDeletehttp://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.de/2014/07/scantuary-walk.html
You seem to be on a mission where abandoned pubs are concerned. It is sad to see them go, but I hope two having closed means more business for the remaining ones.
There's an area of Sheffield called Sharrow but with a double "r". The cross you snapped does look similar. There are many around England. I always wonder about them. Who made them? Why our forbears went to that effort and what happened around them. Mostly they stood taller than the two we are referring to.
DeleteIt's such a shame about the pubs. I'm surprised that the closings didn't cause an outcry. Great photos, as usual! :)
ReplyDeleteHow can you argue with economics? Nothing stays the same for ever and gradually people's social habits have changed. The pull of the local, independent pub isn't what it used to be Jennifer.
Delete"How can you argue with economics?" There's a good socialist statement for you.
DeleteI can't imagine what a Pie & Pea Supper is....
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me most about your buildings is the sameness of them. Seems like businesses here are more easily recognizable. I feel that I could drive by a dozen of your stone buildings and be clueless as to what business is inside. Do you have city centers similar to ours?
I have been in a few American city centres - e.g. Atlanta, LA, Boston, New York, Cleveland, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Seattle. They seem to be more about business than community. English city centres are still people-focussed with shops and markets. Poorer English people just don't have cars and come to city centres vis public bus, tram or train. As for pie and pea suppers - they make a great evening meal - especially if the meat pies and mushy peas are homemade. There'll be gravy and mint sauce too. That particular supper is a fund raiser for the church.
DeleteGympie the town I grew up in is a hilly town...far more hills than seven in dear old Gympie! :)
ReplyDeleteI smiled to myself when watching an episode of "New Tricks" last night wherein they were bemoaning the closing of pubs! I couldn't help but think about what you've written of late, Yorky.
"Gympie" sounds like the way you might feel after eating suspect seafood! "Oh dear I am feeling rather gympie today. I think I am going to be sick!"
DeleteWe were lucky enough to have a visitor to our mountain who was from Wigton and stayed a week with one of my neighbors. She even came to our Stitch & Bitch gathering! While we were talking about her allotment and chickens and ducks, etc., the subject of pubs surfaced and this lady thinks that the banning of smoking in pubs was the beginning of the end for all pubs in her part of England. Is that your opinion also?
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