Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevhim, with his healthy and ruddy cheeks surrounded by snow white whiskers and a cheery smile, was like encountering a breeze from the moorlands. It gave you a tonic for the day; it put you in a good humour. Such men as he are like sunshine in a back alley. William Corbitt and George Wright were both meninterested in the artistic side of their business and to them in a great measure we owe our School of Art.
James Clifford Morgan, head of Morgan Macauley and Waide, undertook the bulk of the travelling himself. A good speaker with a commanding presence, one can imagine he was a valuable asset to the firm.
John and Richard Corker were both practical men at at their trade, having had many years experience at the Effingham Works.
AN EARLY STRIKE
In spite of prosperity and constant work at these firms, discontent arose, resulting in a strike about the year 1883. A trades union organiser, Hadyn Sanders, came to Rotherham and founded a branch of the Stove Grate Workers’ Union. The operatives were a thrifty and industrious class, many possessing their own houses in various parts of the town, but chiefly in Eastwood View, Clifton Grove und Lister street. The strike lasted many weeks, during which time work of a special character and for which Rotherham had practically the monopoly, was diverted to Scotland, and, I believe, has never been fully recovered.OTHER INDUSTRIES
Other important works were those of Armstrong & Co. of Brinsworth, manufacturers of tyres and axels. These works are now carried on by John Baker and Co. Ltd. The Rolling Mills at the Ickles, the forerunner of Steel Peech and Tozer, were only in their infancy. They later became the property of Hampton Ratcliffe and Co., and were floated into a limited liability company which, unfortunately, came to grief. Henry Steel, a patron of horse-racing, acquired the property and founded the firm of Steel, Peech and Tozer.Another wheel,tyre and axle works, situated on the Rawmarsh and Greasbro roads, and perhaps the largest in the town,belonged to Robert Owen. The firm employed many workpeeple, whose thirst evidently required much quenching. Probably there were at this period more public-houses in the district of Rawmarsh and Greasbro’ roads than in any other area of the same size in the town, the licences having been granted to meet the demands or requests of Owen’s employees. It is easy to recall the Pig and Whistle, Plough Inn, Sun Inn, Wagon and Horses, Crinoline Bridge Inn, and others occupied by Solomon Jones and William Leng. I believe five of these have now been closed.
These works were dismantled in the seventies. I remember when the Effingham Brass Works were built, the caretaker gave in his notice before he had worked a week, his reason for leaving being the noise caused by the clanging of the large hammer used at the Axle Works, which, he said, kept him awake at night. He was persuaded to give it a longer trial, and remained with the firm tohis death although he admitted he nearly gave in another notice when the works were dismantled and the noise ceased. He had then become so accustomed to the noise that he had difficulty getting used to the silence.
BRASS INDUSTRY
Another important industry of which the town had reason to be proud was the manufacture of all kinds of brass fittings for use in connection with steam and water. The first maker of water taps, James Payne, owned a small factory in Water Lane. Peter G Chrimes, a plumber in the town, patented an improvement in these taps, and for the purpose of manufacturing them, founded the firm of Guest and Chrimes. Originally the works were on the site now occupied by the Markets. These premises were eventually found inadequate for dealing with their growing trade and a large modern factory was erected outside the Local Board area.Other brass works rapidly sprang up, the next being the Millmoor Works of William Heaton, an employee of Guest and Chrimes. Another of their employees, Sam Howe, also started a small shop in Neatby's Yard, taking » next
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