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January 2011 Newsletter

Cancelled Meeting
Apology
Tea and Coffee
The new Dronfield Heritage Trails & Miscellany
Averil Harper Smith
Walter Havenhand
Donations
Sheffield Assay Office Visit
The Cruck Barn, Church Street
Review of Past Activities
High Street
New Planning Officer
A Dronfield Sword Dance?!

A Happy New Year to all our members and friends. We hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas despite the awful weather. Let's hope it doesn't return!

Cancelled Meeting

We apologize for having to cancel our 9 December meeting with Maureen Taylor but we felt it could be dangerous to travel with the snow and ice around. We tried to let everyone know by website, telephone, notice boards and Radio Sheffield and hope that you received the message in time. Luckily Maureen has agreed to speak again for us on Thursday 30 June 2011 about "An Elizabethan wardrobe revealed". As we are not having an exhibition in June we managed to book the Peel Centre on the last Thursday in the month for her talk.

Apology

Unfortunately, I stated the incorrect name of our auditor who died last year. As you know his name was John Potts and not Platts as I stated in the last newsletter. I again apologize for the error.

Tea and Coffee

We are still trying out the new way of tea and coffee being given to you at the start of our meetings. Bear with us for a while and let's see how it works out. Thank you. We still need your help either with tea and coffees or as a member of our committee. Please give your name to the secretary when you volunteer. We need YOU!!!

The new Dronfield Heritage Trails & Miscellany

We have plenty of the new Town Trails for sale. They can be bought at our meetings at the cost of £5.00 for the two and they are presented in a handy plastic wallet. The latest Miscellany for Autumn/Winter 2010/11 is now on sale and can be purchased from various retail outlets in Dronfield and at Old Dronfield Society meetings.

Averil Harper Smith

We are sorry to report the death of Averil Harper Smith on 3 January 2011 in Leicester General Hospital after undergoing a major operation.

Averil maintained a strong interest in Dronfield, where she had lived for many years. Her father, Mr. Thomas, is well remembered as a mathematics master at Henry Fanshawe School, and her mother set up the first girl-guide company in Dronfield.

She was a schoolteacher and a further education tutor; history, art and architecture being her main areas of interest. Averil regularly corresponded with us and has contributed several articles to the Dronfield Miscellany. She will be sadly missed.

Walter Havenhand

We are also sorry to report the death of one of our oldest ex-members who has recently died at the grand age of 94. Walter will be remembered by society members as a master at both Dronfield Junior and Gosforth Secondary School. He was keenly interested in Dronfield and wrote numerous articles for the miscellany. His many friends will sadly miss him.

Donations

We have been very kindly given a lap-top which the society will use to record and show items held within our archives. Thank you.

We also wish to thank Albert Lockwood of Weston-Super-Mare for his generous donation of £100.00 for the ODS. Albert may be some miles away but he hasn't forgotten us!

Sheffield Assay Office Visit

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel our visit to the Sheffield Assay Office on 27 January 2011, but this has been re-scheduled for Friday 8 July. Please contact the secretary if wish to come along.

The Cruck Barn, Church Street

As reported in the Dronfield Civic Society newsletter of Autumn 2010 it seems there are plans afoot to develop the barn for residential purposes and that the owner, Mr. Gary Singleton, will at some time be submitting a planning application. It appears at last there is the beginning of a plan to secure the future of this important historic building. English Heritage has surveyed the barn and are currently updating the listing description.

Review of Past Activities

On the 23 September 2010 Godfrey Holmes gave us a fascinating talk "Discovering the alleyways and passageways of Derbyshire." He led us from village and town showing some little known tracks to others that had been used constantly over the years. During his talk he showed many interesting photographs of his alleyway/passageway collection by slide show. Some of his photographs were beautiful and enjoyed by all.

Ann Brown gave her talk on "The New Dronfield heritage trails" on 25 November 2010. It was unfortunate that the weather was rather wild that night and numbers were down. However, the members and friends who braved the weather enjoyed the talk about both walks which Ann gave in great detail.

High Street

Last autumn the BBC ran a series on High Streets. For some of our members this series must have triggered memories of the people and shops on our Dronfield High Street. Can you remember Belshaw's grocery store, Styan's bakery, Brough's wool shop or Shentalls grocery store? We would like to hear from you about any other shops known to you and also any photographs you may have showing the names of the shops. We have been trying for months to obtain a photograph of 'Shentalls', perhaps this time someone will find one! If you have any information or photographs you would like to donate please bring them along to our next meeting. If you wish to keep your information/ photos we will copy any information/ photos and return your property to you. Thank you.

New Planning Officer

A new planning officer, Lisa Walton, has been appointed to cover N.E Derbyshire. We have been in contact with her as she will have the responsibility for conservation in our area. Lisa will be informed and shown which building or features of interest she needs to be aware of in our area.

A Dronfield Sword Dance?!

Have you ever heard of a sword dance that was performed as a New Year custom in Dronfield?!

If you own an old photograph of an unidentified troupe dressed in black and white hussar-style uniforms and carrying swords or musical instruments you could play an important role in tracing the history of a unique local tradition.

I am undertaking research into the Sword Dance currently based in Handsworth, Sheffield. My family connections with the custom extend over a century; my father being Captain for over forty years.

The origins of English sword dancing are unknown, but evidence suggests this particular linked style of performance has been active and widespread in northern counties since at least the early 1600s.

Locally there developed an unusual sword dance for eight performers and accompanying musicians. Evidence indicates dance activity in the Handsworth area since at least the 1850s, yet recent research has discovered a newspaper account which hints at a possible Dronfield connection prior to this!

It is suggested that a local family, the Rhodes, were 'carriers' of the custom and were living in Dronfield from at least 1820-45. Joseph Rhodes married Diana Walker in Dronfield Church in 1825, when both he and his father, George, were Master Tailors.

By the 1870s, Joseph and his family were living in Handsworth Woodhouse. His son, also Joseph, was at this time the Leader of the Sword Dancers! So did they, as the newspaper account indicates, bring the dance with them from Dronfield to Handsworth? The plot thickens!

Has a sword dance team ever visited the pubs and 'big houses' in Dronfield? I would welcome any feedback in the hope that information may be sourced to help answer this interesting question!

Do you recall seeing a photograph, a book reference or newspaper article describing such a local festive tradition - perhaps there may be a connection with the Tup or Old Horse mumming plays?

I am particularly interested to contact any Rhodes family members who may be undertaking genealogy research and who recognize Joseph (1800-1862) and Diana Rhodes.

A Dronfield connection would be a significant piece to add to a very interesting historical puzzle!

If you may help in any way I would be very pleased to hear from you. Thanking you!
John Pitts johnpitts@tiscali.co.uk