Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
back « «Whenever Earl Fitzwilliam’s hounds were out George somehow managed to secure a mount and cut as gay a figure as most. His brother Fred, managed a branch shopon Masbro' Bridge . Of a different temperament, Fred stuck closely to his work and eventually acquired the business, and later removed into Effinghamstreet. After about 6 years hard graft he retired a few years ago, highly respected.by all who know him. He is now one of Rotherhams octogenarians.
Sammy Oldfleld’s neighbours were Ann Hinchliffe and Son, stationers and printers, and the best known booksellers of those days. They were the founders of the Rotherham and Masbro' Advertiser, which they printed at the Caxton Works, in the Churchyard. These works were afterwards acquired by Henry Garnett and Co., Limited, the present proprietors of the Advertiser. Ann Hinchliffe, a very old lady, was considered a smart and canny business woman.
Another barbers shop owned by Henry Jubb, came next to the Crown Hotel, at the time when Richard Chatham was the 'genial boniface'. This hostelry extended across what is now Moorgate Street, an archway dividing the hotel proper and the vaults and a tap room. This entrance led into a large fold yard, in which were a number of stables, extending as far as the cattle market, one side of the yard being bounded by the back of the tallow chandlery belonging to Thomas Wigfield.
WIGFIELDS
Next door came Henry Wigfields drapery and tailoring establishment.A good story used to he told about Michael Hall, the manager of this business. Describing his abilities to a Wesleyan minister and a customer, Mr. Wigfield said his manager was very systematic and di scriminating , and kept a list of all his patrons under various headings according to their trade or profession. The minister, calling at the shop on business, asked to see this list. Amongst the names of ministers of religion he found the name of the common hangman, Askern. of Maltby, Asked to explain. Hall said he didn’t know what profession to put Askern under, so he put him amongst parsons.
Thomas Wigfields carried on a grocery business next door to his brother Henry. His premises, with the tallow chandlery, where all kinds of candles in tallow and wax were manufactured, extended to the High House Inn.
Then came the surgery and residence of Dr. Hubert Henry Birkett Wilkinson. At the corner, where the Empire Theatre now stands, a public house, the Cross Daggers, flourished under the managemewnt of Mrs. Bakewell, assisted by her son, 'Soldier' Bakewell, a character in his day and full of - as the irish would say - devilment. It will be remembered by many, that a long controversy took place some 15 years ago respecting the removak of this license to Canklow Road.
To approach High street from Moorgate, there were, for foot passengers acquainted with the narrow courts and passages that lay between the cattlemarket and High Street several alternative routes such as the Three Cranes Yard, Snail Hill, and Barkers Yard., but for vehicular traffic there were only two roads; via Ship Hill or by way of Mansfield Road and along Wellgate.