This book takes you through the year day by day. The Sheffield Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, amusing and important events and facts from different periods of history of Sheffield. These events include matters of national importance, such as the coronation of George IV, as well as local incidents such as the Sheffield outrages and accounts of riots in the town. There are amusing incidents from the local newspapers – for example the punishments inflicted on young boys for playing ‘trip’ during Divine Service and an outbreak of people being bitten by ‘mad dogs’. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundred of snippets of information, it will delight residents and visitors alike.
Extract from the book
22nd April
1863. An uproarious meeting had been held last night at the Temperance Hall, Town head Street to consider the bill now before Parliament for closing public houses on Sunday. The meeting which was reported in today’s newspapers was called by the Mayor (John Brown Esq) in compliance with a most respectable signed petition bearing 1,045 signatures. The hall was crowded to excess and many were unable to be admitted. The bill introduced into the House of Commons asked that the sale of liquor be banned from 11pm on Saturday night to 6am on Monday morning. Rev Canon Sale stated that he had no objection to the working man slaking his thirst after work, but he was appalled the idea of men sitting and boozing all day on Sunday. Mr Burns declared his willingness for all pubs and clubs in the kingdom to close on Sundays. Mr John Unwin seconded the resolution stating that he was a tee-totaller, but they were not there to debate tee-totallism but a question of great social, civil and religious importance. The meeting threatened to resort into chaos, but when a show of hands was asked it proved that the majority were very much against Sunday closing. (Sheffield Times)
15th August
1876. A horrid discovery was made on this day at Sheffield Victoria Station, where it was reported that the body of a child had been found in the water closet connected with the third class ladies waiting room. The body of a male child was found in a frightfully mutilated condition as it had been cut into five pieces, the arms and legs having been severed at the joints and thighs. The child was thought to be nine or ten months old and to have been dead about two days before it was found. The body was found by a little girl who told her mother Mrs Louisa Barrow that she had seen a strange parcel on the floor of a water closet. PC Walker one of the station police unwrapped the parcel and found the remains of the child, which was covered in a piece of skirt of a black and grey material. The body of the child was removed to the town hall and the police began their investigations by speaking to witnesses. Another little girl Mary Ann Brownhill and a companion had also seen the parcel earlier and had rested their feet upon it, thinking that it was a hassock. (Sheffield Independent)