Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
«COMPARISONS
The Victorian type of tradesmen has gone. In the old days they lived on their premises, and personally attended to the requirements of their customers. Duties were not so readily delegated to others as they are in these days.Looking backwards, one misses the old familiar faces—people who, arrayed in nice clean aprons and alpaca coats, were there to welcome every visitor, the hall-mark of a good business man being courtesy and cheerfulness.
To be equipped as above described would now be considered bad form. I wonder why? Are the sons of to-day better than the old men of the past, who by such attentions made many friends, or is the apparently less assiduous procedure prcferable? Perhaps there is something to be said for both.
Tradesmen such as I have referred to stayed at home. There were no short or long week ends away from business. There were not so many fashionable hydros to tempt them; no seaside winter season; no festive restaurant no luncheons with ten minutes brainy talk and no golf. Fathers romped with their children; simple games were in vogue; and for those who could afford it reliable servants were available.
The opening out of Moorgate street in the seventies was the beginning or sign of improvements to come. I remember it was a difficult task, and to a large extent unemployed men were given work. My father, a member of the Corporation Committee who had it in hand voluntarily undertook the superintendence of the excavations and blasting of the rock. He was up every morning at six o’clock and on the job. We cannot imagine now what it was like when only Ship Hill was available for reaching the heart of the town. We can but regret that those in charge did not take a longer view in planning for the requirements of the future. Many thousands of pounds would have been saved and the town greatly improved.
OLD ROTHERHAM
It is difficult at this distant date accurately to develop a mental photograph of Rotherham as it appeared nearly seventy years ago. What were then country roads and pastureland, are to-day busy thoroughfares and residential districts. Old landmarks have gone; a new Rotherham has grown up.Moorgate was sparsely populated. From the Cattle Market to Moorgate Grove were only a few buildings, namely, South Grove House, the Grammar School since converted into villa residences), Collegiate Terrace, the Vicarage, a few villas at the top of Alma road, and Moorgate Hall. Tooker road Gerard road, and Mountenoy road were not laid out - they formed part of the grass fields that existed in this area.
The largest of these houses was South Grove House, in which resided Mr. Coward (uncle of Alderman P. Bancroft Coward). This was demolished some years ago to provide a site for the new Central Schools which bear the name of South Grove.
From Aldred street to Broom lane there were only the Toll Bar house and two cottages in the fields on the opposite side of the road.