Dore to Door internet edition

Book Reviews - Spring 2001

Boxing in South Yorkshire - Hathersage, Images of the Past - Hathersage Reviewed - Hathersage Remembers - Water Mills and Furnaces on the Yorkshire Dearne and its Tributaries - Abbeydale Hamlet, with a guide to the Industrial History of Sheffield - Abbeydale Hamlet - The Guide Stoops of Derbyshire - Heghlegh Then and Heeley Now

There can be few Sheffield people who are not aware of the boxing successes of Herol 'Bomber' Graham and Prince Naseem in recent years. In fact these are just the latest in a succession of famous and not so famous heros of the ring who have sprung from South Yorkshire. A new book by Ronnie Wharton titled Boxing in South Yorkshire sets out to record these heros from 1890 to the present day starting with George Cornfield Sheffield's first boxing idol born in New Cross in 1872.

Each of the 28 boxers covered warrants their own chapter which sets out their introduction to the sport, their careers and achievements. As a role call of honour it will bring back memories of some of the great names and characters of boxing especially to those that follow the sport of kings. Boxing in South Yorkshire is published by Wharncliffe Books price £9.95.

Many villages were prompted by the new Millennium to look again at their history and record it through public events, in stone and in print. Few can have done more than Hathersage who produced three books, a map, built a new garden, gave a mug to every child under 16, produced a play and adopted a hospice overseas. Hathersage, Images of the Past, is a unique photographic record of the village and its people, with deep captions to each of its pictures. Fashion, weather and daily life are all captured from the turn of the old century up to the 50s. Published by the Hathersage Millennium Group price £6. The other publications include: Hathersage Reviewed - a snapshot of the village in the year 2000 (Domesday Book II) £2.50; Hathersage Remembers - personal recollections of times gone by £2.50; and Hathersage - a map and pictorial guide to the village. More details and copies from Sue Clendon on 01433 650 863.

Early industry in South Yorkshire was founded on water power, with every stream and river harnessed to the full before the age of steam began. Around Dore we can see the remains of weirs, dams and wheels, all of which can make for fascinating study and provide a guide to local history, industrial development and engineering principles.

Dore resident Tom Umpleby's grandfather ran a water powered corn mill on the Dearne below Barnsley. It is not perhaps surprising then, that after a career in the iron and steel industry, his archeological studies led him to research into water power and a study of its development along the Dearne and it's tributaries. The results have recently been published in Water Mills and Furnaces on the Yorkshire Dearne and its Tributaries.

Dating from the Domesday Survey to their rapid decline in the 19th century, some 75 mill sites are identified, corn mills, textile mills, paper mills, wood sawing and mineral crushing. Detailed research has revealed their siting, structure and history of use, although sadly there are often few visible remains today, apart from the gem of Worsbrough Mill, now a working museum.
For anyone living in the area, interested in watermills, archeology, industrial or family research, the books 250 A4 pages are a mine of information and detail, setting mills in their historical context, detailing their physical construction and subsequent use. There are chapters on each section of the Dearne catchment area, with maps showing each site, followed by a description with key dates, copies of old maps and reference sources. The book is completed by a comprehensive glossary of terms and index. The book is a credit to the efforts of its author and a valuable contribution to our sum of knowledge on the subject. It is published by Wakefield Historical Publications, tel: 01924 372748, price £35 + p&p.

The CD Rom does have some real advantages over the printed word, and these are no more evident than with Abbeydale Hamlet, with a guide to the Industrial History of Sheffield. This new CD Rom brings together a mass of information on the Hamlet and Sheffield history using text, photographs, animations and videos to illustrate the development of the Abbeydale Works from the 12th Century to the present day.

Abbeydale Hamlet is one of a number of works on the river Sheaf, which like other Sheffield rivers was used extensively for water-powered manufacture, until the introduction of steam power and modern factory systems. This CD Rom sets the Hamlet in a physical and historic context and then guides you through the buildings and manufacturing processes. From tilt hammers to fine scythes, all is explained and illustrated along with the human context and the origin of phrases we still use today such as "keeping your nose to the grindstone".
There is a time line, dictionary of terms and a picture gallery which covers other water powered sites in the area. Together this makes the CD a comfortable way to begin to understand the crucible steel industry, an excellent preview to the site itself or a valuable study vehicle. For anyone interested in the hamlet and the industrial history of Sheffield it is a must and it is sure to make you realise just what a historic asset we have on our doorstep.

Abbeydale Hamlet, the CD Rom, was designed and developed by Ann Sheward and John Garth, long standing members of ASWAT (Abbeydale and Shepherd Wheel Action Trust) and is available price £24.95 from the city's industrial museums, Sheffield Scene, Waterstones and destination Sheffield.

Before the enclosure acts and the coming of Turnpikes, travelling in moorland Derbyshire was a risky business, especially in winter. In an attempt to improve matters, a government act of 1697 instructed JPs, for the first time, to order the erection of guideposts or guidestones in moorland areas.

Howard Smith has now produced a second revised edition of his book The Guide Stoops of Derbyshire, which provides the most comprehensive guide to the location (incl map references) and appearance (drawings) of these stoops. The stoops are fascinating features in their own right and searching for them will also encourage some healthy and rewarding rambles in some of the areas' most beautiful countryside. The Guide Stoops of Derbyshire is available direct from the author on 258 8054 price £5.50 incl p&p.

Heeley shares more in common with Dore than you might think at first glance, with a boundary on the Sheaf, early use of water power and Meersbrook, like Limb brook, forming the boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia. It was a grant from the Millennium Awards which enabled the well established Heeley History Workshop, to produce its new book Heghlegh Then and Heeley Now.

The book looks at different aspects of Heeley and life within it over the years. Pubs, churches, sport, shops, transport and much more is covered with an abundance of quotes from residents and extracts from past publications. Maps, pictures and even an ariel photograph help illustrate this delve into history. As for Heghlegh, this is just one variation in the spelling of Heeley, which gets its name from Heah Leah, meaning, woodland clearing.

Heghlegh Then and Heeley Now is available direct from Pickard Publishing on 275 7222 price £5.99.