The selection panels on the above right will take you directly to the "Photographs" or "Features" sections of the Website, but for much more about the history of the individual areas which make up our district, click on the Archive tab above and browse away.

 

View a list of our Guest Speakers for 2012View a Map of the Stocksbridge District

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS JUNE 4^TH 2012.

The Stocksbridge & District History Society is pleased to announce that we will be occupying one of the stalls at the up and coming Diamond Jubilee celebrations to be held in the Stocksbridge Town Centre from 11 am to 5 pm on Monday the 4^th of June 2012.

Why not come along and enjoy the festivities and at the same time take the opportunity to learn a little about the history of the area.

We hope to have available for viewing an extensive archive of photographs and other material such as books local census information and much much more.

Take the opportunity to bring along your own photographs and any other items of historical significance, or perhaps just take the time to discuss past events experienced by you or your family members.

We hope to see you at the event, but above all enjoy the day.

 

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 Looking Back from 2012

So here we are in the year 2012 and what a year there could be in prospect, an Olympic year.

The United Kingdom has hosted the Summer Olympic Games on two past occasions, in 1908 and 1948.

But we are a History Society, so for the moment let’s look to the past and leave the future for others to report on.

Here is a list of some of the key events in the history of the district which took place in previous years ending in the number two.

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­1802 the Manor of Bolsterstone was purchased by John Rimington from Lord Melbourne.

1812 The wooden footbridge at Stocks Bridge was replaced by a stone carriage bridge, so vehicles no longer needed to ford the river.

1842 Samuel Fox arrived from Bradwell in Derbyshire, seeking premises to rent, to set up a wire-drawing business.

1852 The Paragon Umbrella frame was patented by Samuel Fox.

1862 Samuel Fox began to produce crucible steel, the company installed two 5-ton Bessemer converters, the process being the invention of Sir Henry Bessemer.

1872 the Reverend William Reginald Wilson, who was the vicar of Bolsterstone from 1867 to 1914, initiated the replacement of the Blands Chapel and seven years later the present Saint Mary’s Church was completed in May 1879 at a cost of around £7,000.

1872 Despite the early rivalry between the various places of worship, differences were resolved sufficiently to allow the formation of a Sunday School Union, after which combined Whitsuntide Processions were held.

1882 The Salem Chapel and the Ebenezer Chapel, united.

1892 Samuel Fox & Company Limited erected a Rail and Billet Mill.

1892 A peal of eight bells which were bought by subscription, were dedicated at Saint Marys Church at Bolsterstone.

1902 William Brooke left his father’s works to set up his own pipe manufacturing business at Pot House in Stocksbridge.

1902 The Stocksbridge Works Institute, later known as the Miners Welfare was founded as a reading room.

1912 Whilst the rest of the Country where considering the implications of the sinking of the Titanic and locals were celebrating  Barnsley winning the F.A. Cup both being one off events, (sorry Reds fans but we suppose there is always hope), the Works Canteen was opened, this would later become known as the Victory Club.

1942 At 6.20 pm on the 4th of November, Deepcar had a taste of World War II when a Lockheed Hudson light bomber, which had been converted for training duties, crashed close to the Fox’s tip at Deepcar.

I962 A new Gas supply was installed, connecting the area to the National Grid, as opposed to the service via the Henholmes Gas Works.

1972 Saw the end of the Steel Houses, which were the first Council houses to be built in Deepcar, they were being demolished to make way for Truman Grove to be built.

1972 The Dairy in Shay House Lane was demolished to make way for an extension to the school.

1992 On the 20^th of June, celebrations were held at the Sports Field, Bracken Moor to mark the 150^th  Anniversary of the foundation of the Stocksbridge Works.

2002  May the 2^nd the funeral of Father J. P. Callanan was held at the Saint Matthias Church, the only time the traffic in Stocksbridge has ever been completely held up, (If you don’t consider the normal everyday parking on Manchester Road), sorry we are only joking.

2002 The new Cooperative supermarket opened and the Miners’ Welfare building which was then used by the Stocksbridge Training and Enterprise Partnership celebrated its Centenary.

2012 Local Scout Troops celebrated 100 years of activities in the district.