Thorpe Pubs

[Howard]

Richard in his front page, makes mention of that Thorpe is served by 5 pubs, just to add to this, is the fact that this is a very much reduced number, from when the population was much lower. Amongst the pubs no longer with us, are "The Victoria" sited where Thorpe Street becomes Wentworth Road, 1 "New Inn" at the top of Thorpe Street, nr the painted roundabout, the 2nd opposite Barley Hall Pit. Opposite Yates paper shop again on Thorpe Street, was "The Foresters", pulled down for road widening, wonder why it's never been done? Moving up to Hesley Bar virtually alongside "The Ball", was "The Gate" probably deriving it's name as this was a Toll Road used by drovers moving livestock from Rotherham livestock market over the Pennines and was usually the first overnight stop on this journey, being about 4 to 4.5 miles from Rotherham a good days travel from the market. In the dip at the bottom of the "Common" or Brook Hill, was a further pub "The Tunnel" which probably got it's name from a brick lined tunnel, which was located behind the cottages numbered between 20 and 30 Brook Hill, in the quarry, this site now contains new housing, hope they don't dig too deep in their gardens. The village also had a WMC located just above the paper shop on Thorpe Street, on the left hand side, the single storey building is now converted to housing, but still visible. You didn't have to walk far for a pint.

[rwgoddard]

Don't Blacksmiths Arms in and Horse & Tiger in Brookhill; Hague's shop in Hesley Lane was often known as the "beeroff".

I was born in the top bungalow that was formed from the "Club".

[Howard]

Lo Ron,
The Blacksmith's has gone it's now housing, the Tiger is still there, along with the Masons, Lion, Ball, and Sportsman, and the Travellers on Cowley.

[Tom Doncaster]

Don't Blacksmiths Arms in and Horse & Tiger in Brookhill; Hague's shop in Hesley Lane was often known as the "beeroff".

I was born in the top bungalow that was formed from the "Club".

Are you saying that the bungalows opposite Sough Hall Avenue were "converted" somehow from the club building? An old photo of Hesley Lane - from the top of the hill looking east - makes it look as if the working men's club occupied the site of nos 1 & 3 Thorpe Street (the paper shop and house next to it).

[HesleyAdmin]

Tom,

Is there any way the old photo's could be added to the site?

[Howard]

Don't Blacksmiths Arms in and Horse & Tiger in Brookhill; Hague's shop in Hesley Lane was often known as the "beeroff".

I was born in the top bungalow that was formed from the "Club".

Are you saying that the bungalows opposite Sough Hall Avenue were "converted" somehow from the club building? An old photo of Hesley Lane - from the top of the hill looking east - makes it look as if the working men's club occupied the site of nos 1 & 3 Thorpe Street (the paper shop and house next to it).

Yes that's exactly what he's saying, the Club was the single story building, now 2 bungalows. I too would like to see the photo that makes it appear the Club was sited on the Paper shop if possible?

[Tom Doncaster]

The photo in question - a view down Hesley Lane eastwards is a postcard from the 1920's and is reproduced in a book "Changing Times" by Joan and Mel Jones. A copy can be had from our community library but not immediately as I have it out at the moment! The working men's club opened in 1922. It’s existence was relatively short. It was said it never prospered after the General Strike of 1926. It closed sometime in the 1930's - 1938 is the date I have for the bungalows which now occupy the site.

[Tom Doncaster]

Regarding old photographs - the problem is getting hold of them - and then there is the question of copyright. Copyright on photos lasts for 70 years after the death of the owner or even longer if the copyright has been transferred to someone else. Don't be impressed - I am quoting information which is readily available on the net!!