Reminiscences of Old Sheffield; Its Streets and Its People (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter ix. The Old Haymareet--The Wicker--The Nursery--Bridgehouses. Present--Messrs. Twiss, Leighton, Everard, Wragg, Leonard and Johnson. Period--A. D. 1874. leighton: Before the Old Haymarket was used for the purpose that its name denotes, a cattle market was held there. That, in 1786, was removed into the Wicker. There it remained until 1830, when it went to its present site between the river land the Victoria Station road. Leonard: Wonderful changes have taken place during the last few years at the top of the Old Haymarket, in the way of opening it out, first by way of Jehu lane (Commercial street) to the bottom of Norfolk street, and then by demolishing the buildings in the corner to make the new road to the Midland Station. And here we come upon the newest and latest location of the General Post Office. We have found its changes to be many. Wragg: Yes, the Nag's Head is an old hostelry that has disappeared to make way for these improvements. It was once kept by the Heatons, one of whom became a barrister. He was employed in Harwood and Thomas's warehouse, as a clerk or manager. Some dispute arose, and, regarding him as their servant, they gave him his dismissal. But he claimed to be a partner, and he had so well studied law and had secured for himself so strong a legal position, that in a law-suit the firm lost, and had to compromise the matter for a large sum. Leonard: Do you know what is said to be the origin of the name Jehu lane? The tradition is, that when Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Sheffield for imprisonment at the Manor, this lane was the main road, and through it she had to pass. The streets had not been planaed in expectation of such things as coaches rolling through them, and the lane astonished the Queen's coachman...