Dalton Magna, Dalton Parva,

Dalton Brook.

Main Photo Content Jonathan Dabbs

Dalton History 1900

1905 to1926 James Henry Steeples Joe Catherine Arundel were licensee’s of the Grapes Hotel, Dalton Brook. I am informed that the Steeples built the Rotherham Empire. Apparently the money taken at the bar of the Grapes Hotel was thrown into a bathtub which was placed behind the bar. Two men were hired to remove the money several times throughout the day and take it to a strong room. Local legend has it that when one of the Steeples children was very ill the roadway was lined with bark to deaden the sound of passing vehicles. Terry Steeples was the manager of the Rotherham Empire in the 1950's and 60's and was responsible for bringing some of the rock n roll singers of the day like Craig Douglas to Town

In 1905 John Chesworth moved to Dalton from Leigh Lancashire with his family, they lived at Doncaster Road, and sold sweets from the back door of their house . They also sold hot chips and served them through the window of the house, making this the first chip shop in Dalton.

1909 Further tram stops were requested for Dalton to reach Whinney Hill due to the usage by local miners.

1910 Some of the Tradewell family of Dalton Magna emigrated to Canada, the Tradewell's were well known Joiners and Carpenters and the trade was carried on with several family members becoming Joiners and Carpenters in Canada. In this period at Dalton Brook J. H. Whittaker and Co had a Outfitter and pawnbroker Shop complete with the traditional three brass balls suspended above the doorway. Next to Whittaker's was J. H. Lambert who had a Tobacconist, hosiery, and smallware shop.

Followed by F. H. Eling's Brook Bakery, In 1901 I found Frederick Eling  33 Yorks Sheffield Sheffield Brightside Bierlow Baker
Ellen Eling  33 Yorks Sheffield Sheffield Brightside Bierlow  
 Frances Eling  1 Yorks Sheffield Sheffield Brightside Bierlow  
 Lily Eling  6 Yorks Bradford Sheffield Brightside Bierlow  
 Winifred Eling  8 Yorks Sheffield Sheffield Brightside Bierlow  
 Albert Eling  9 Yorks Sheffield Sheffield Brightside Bierlow and next to the Bakery Frederick Arthur Westbrook owned the Pharmacy. In 1901 Frederick Westbrook  19 Yorks Sheffield Yorkshire Hoyland Nether Chemists Assistant
 Joseph Westbrook  44 Yorks Bradford Yorkshire Hoyland Nether Painter
 Maria Westbrook  44 Yorks Sheffield Yorkshire Hoyland Nether.

In this early part of the 20th century the local trades etc. for Dalton were listed as.

William Ash Farmer Brecks Dalton Parva

George Burden Farmer and machine owner Dalton Magna h Rawmarsh

Dalton Main Collieries Lim. colliery Proprs Silverwood Pit Thrybergh

William Eyre Farmer Dalton Magna

Mrs. Priscilla Foulds Farmer and shopkeeper Dalton Parva.

George Giddings Postmaster and Parish Clerk Dalton Parva

Re. William Allison. M. A.  The Vicarage Dalton Parva.

Horace Kemp Schoolmaster

Robert Longden Farmer Dalton Magna

John Longdin Farmer and Butcher  Dalton Magna and Rotherham.

Mrs Geo Makin Farmer Flanderwell

Robert Marsh solicitor Rotherham h Dalton Parva

Samual Marsh Farmer and Hay and straw dealer Dalton Parva

Benjamin Moody Midland Railway stationmaster Rawmarsh h Aldwarke

Frank Morley Quarry Owner Dalton Magna

Joseph Osbourne [ William and Son ] h Northfield house Dalton Lane

W. Osbourne [ William and Son] h Wickersley

Osbourne William and Son quarry owners Jenkins wood

Mrs. Harriet Oxley Mill ho

Mrs Elizabeth Purden Farmer Flanderwell

Edward Spencer Farmer Woodlaithes

Joe Steeples Victualer Grapes Hotel Dalton Brook

Charles Tradewell blacksmith, joiner, wheelwright, and Farmer Dalton Brook

Ezra Trickett farmer Manor ho

John Wadsworth and Sons quarry owners Woodlaithes h Wickersley

John William Walker Farmer Dalton Parva

John Ward and Sons quarry owners Woodlaithes h Wickersley

John Williamson Farmer Dalton Magna

Wm Wright Farmer Aldwarke

  1914  "THE GREAT WAR"  1918

With the advent of the first World War many local men enlisted in the Armed Forces, there is a tribute to these men of Dalton, Thrybergh, and Ravenfield   LESS WE FORGET

In 1919 men like George Highton came from Wigan Lancashire to start work at Silverwood, he was a faceworker. Working at Silverwood was to become a family tradition. George was followed into the mine by his son William who started work there in 1923, he was a faceworker. Georges grandsons William Highton started in 1946 he was a tail gate ripper, Ken Highton started in 1950 he was a heading worker ,Phillip Highton started in 1964 he was a faceworker. In 1969 Georges great grandsons who were William Highton who started in 1969 as a fitter, John Highton started in 1971 as a faceworker,  followed by the last Highton to work at the mine Peter Highton who was a faceworker. The family resided in Dalton

1931 Brian Anderson  was born in Norwood street Dalton I am not to sure when the BUGHUT was built in Dalton, but Brian  remembers "Charlie Higgins the bowler hatted manager. I always used to take the weekly pawn to Whitaker's pawnshop next to the Bughut on a Saturday morning and hope to catch him warming his backside on the fire in the pledge office and sometimes get a complimentary ticket from him The barber in the shop at the bottom of Whinney Hill was Percy Lindsey. His wife did the job during the war . I think Percy went in the army. Regarding the shops at the bottom of Whinney Hill. During the 30s the bottom one was owned by Mr Wainwright (grocer) he also had  a chicken farm on Magna Lane, the next up was Pillings (butchers), the next was Atkinsons Mr Wainwrights son-in-law (greengrocer) he had a chicken farm in the old water filter beds on Magna Lane. Next was Moseleys Fish and Chip shop. The row of shops was broken by Arundel Avenue. Jimmy Townsend JP owned the cobblers shop but most of the work was done by Sam Ash a little fella that smoked a clay pipe. Mr Townsend lived in Arundel Villa at the back of the shop. Fred Wolf had the dairy in the yard of Arundel Villa Fred Wolf in 1901 was 19 years old born in Sheffield Yorkshire living at Ecclesall Bierlow No Occupation. Next came Clara Griffens Clara Griffin in 1901 was 7 years old born in Rotherham West Riding Of Yorks living at Rotherham
(grocery) Then Mr and Mrs Head (post office), next was Cartledges (newsagent), Percy Lindsey (barber) then the fish and chip shop I think the name was Maskell. In most of those names and their customers there is a story to be told. by today's comparison people in general seem to lack character.

My dad worked on Wainwrights chicken farm and he would tell the itinerant (tramp) workers who did odd days work on the farm to put the odd egg they pinched in the neb of their cap as Wainwright would want them to turn their pockets out. At the end of the day Wainwright would give them the Half Crown pay, tap them on the head and say I'll Sithee Lad. I don't think the word bored was in the dictionary in those days. The area was full of characters. A bloke with no legs who went like a racehorse with the aid of a bar stool to the Grapes. He would periodically change it for a new one when it got worn down to about a foot high".

Pat Freeman nee Wroe writes: My Great Grandma & Grandad had the chippie (I think it's now a chinese) same side as the Grapes Hotel they were known as Skellams, and used to sell a penneth of chips and a penneth of fish. Also living in this house was Haglingtons (Mum's Mother and Dad). Skellams used to run buses to the pit (charrabangs) my Dad (Jim Wroe) nicknamed Lat (because he was thin) used to be the conductor.

Geoff Walker tells us that his father "James Walker and his siblings were sadly orphaned which resulted in James just a baby at the time being raised by his oldest sister . This sister  married John Henry Stubbings, and they were founders of the shop business at the top of Dalton Lane which for a lot of years later was run by their daughter Mable and her husband Jimmy Edwards, I believe the business has only recently closed."

For you boxing fans a Curley Casey of  Dalton Brook had three total bouts when he boxed in the 1920s http://www.prewarboxing.co.uk/boxer%20lists/C%20list.htm

1930's Charlie Higgins manager of the Bughut.