Undertakings 49 - final.pdf

7/27/2019 Undertakings 49 - final.pdf

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The newsletter of the

Sheffield General Cemetery Trust

Edition 49 S e p t e m b e r t o

D e c e m b e r2 0 1 3

RESTORATIONOFHISTORICCHAPELTOGOAHEADSheffield General Cemetery Trust is

delighted to announce that it has

been awarded capital funding for

the repair and restoration of the

Cemeterys Nonconformist Chapel.

It has won funding though theArchitectural Heritage Fund (AHF)

from the Challenge Fund for Historic

Buildings at Risk, a capital fund

supported by the Andrew Lloyd

Webber Foundation and English

Heritage, which is specifically aimed at securing Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings in

the UK.

Additional grant funding has been awarded by WREN (Waste Recycling Environment

Ltd) under their Heritage Fund programme, which together with a contribution from

Sheffield City Council will enable this significant building to be removed from the Eng-

lish Heritage At Risk list and bring it back into use for the people of Sheffield.

The Nonconformist or Dissenters Chapel stands in the centre of Sheffield's General

Cemetery. After the Cemetery was closed for burials in the 1970s this handsome GradeII* listed building stood neglected for many years. Now the Sheffield General Cemetery

Trust and South Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust are working together to bring it

back to life.

This remarkable building, designed by Samuel Worth and opened in 1836 is in classical

style enhanced with elements of Egyptian architecture. It has a commanding position,

within the beautiful listed landscape of the Cemetery, looking over the Porter Valley toBroomhill and beyond. Once restored and refurbished it has great potential as an

educational, arts and cultural venue.


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Cllr Isobel Bowler (Cabinet Member for Culture Sport and Leisure at Sheffield City

Council) said Many congratulations to the Cemetery Trust for securing this major grant

funding. I am delighted that this special building will prevented from deteriorating

further and restored back into use. The General Cemetery is a hidden gem in the City

and once restored this building will encourage more people to come and visit it

Ian Lush, Chief Executive of the AHF, commented: Pre-Victorian Cemeteries are animportant part of our social history as well as having the potential to provide significant

community facilities. The grant from our Challenge Fund will help the Trust to restore

this important Chapel among the top 6% of listed buildings in England and give it a

sustainable and viable future for the people of Sheffield.

Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, said: Were delighted to support the restora-

tion of Sheffield Cemeterys Chapel and look forward to seeing the project progress. AtWREN we are dedicated to making a real difference to peoples lives by awarding

grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK. It is so im-

portant to protect significant historical sites such as the chapel to ensure that they can

be appreciated by future generations.

For further details please contact Mike Pye, Lead Trustee on 07944939340, or Mike

Clarke, Trust Chairman 0114 230 6908 or email us at [email protected]. Keep up to

date with news about the restoration at gencem.org/nccby Mike Pye, Trustee

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALPlease note the membership period is from the 1st January to the 31st December and

costs 8 per person per year if your membership is renewed before the end of this

year you will get the following year included. Your 8 goes towards supporting the

work of volunteers, improving the landscape as a safe and enjoyable place for people to

visit and supporting the work of volunteers carrying out burial research and helping the

public in their family history research.

NEWSLETTER DELIVERYWe offer the newsletter in electronic form. If you wish to receive it this way rather than

by post then please email us at [email protected]. Receiving the newsletter electroni-cally reduces our printing and postage costs, with the savings going to support volun-

teer and running costs.


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This project has been funded by theGeologists Association through their Curry Fund

geologistsassociation.org.uk

CARVINGTHE STONE SPIRALThe stones of the Stone Spiral and those sitting outside the Gatehouse are representa-

tive of the many used in the Cemetery for its buildings, monuments and gravestones.

On the same day as some of our upcoming events you will find stonemason Steve

Roche carving in to the stones their type, provenance and age. Visit rochestone.co.ukto see more of Steves projects and see gencem.org/events.php for upcoming events.


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GERMAN LINKSThere are several people of German origin inthe cemetery, but one of the most imposingtombstones belongs to the Hiller family (H163-4) with its prominent pillar and, intrigu-

ingly, the quotation Ernst ist das lie-ben (Life is serious Schiller), carved inGothic script beneath the name of LouisHiller. Louis died in 1870, but despite antiGerman feeling generated in the two worldwars, the stone miraculously remains un-damaged. Also in the grave are his wife, son,and several grandchildren, all born in York-shire.

Louis was born and brought up in KnzelsauWrttemberg, Germany. The river Kocher

flowed through the town which was surrounded by hills covered in vines and fruittrees. Yet two cousins on his fathers side left this idyllic spot for Sheffield and in 1832,on a visit home, persuaded Louis and his brother George to come too, which Louis did ayear later when he was 21, leaving an older brother to take over his fathers business.

Sheffield was growing rapidly as the industrial revolution accelerated and many Ger-mans from that region came to the north to set up as pork butchers, realising that thisurban boom created a market for prepared meat. Each immigrant, once established,served as a conduit for others, providing opportunities to other young Germans asapprentices or servants. Thus brothers John (BB 94) and Henry (W 149) Hiller camefirst, each setting up as pork butchers; from 1851 John was in Market Street and Henryin Wilkinson Street. By 1845 their cousin Louis was established at 36 South Street,Moor, and his younger brother George had a shop at Barkers Pool, Fargate. Later Louisleft South Street for his son, John Frederick, his only child, to develop, while he himself

moved to Broad Street, Park before retiring to Nether Edge with his wife, Fanny.

Louis was a well respected pillar of the community: a sermon occasioned by his death,which could be purchased for twopence, was entitled: For he was a good man. ActsXI, 24. We are told he was not a perfect man, he had his failings and infirmities but[he was] a good man Good in principle good in purpose good in practice. Louiswas attached to Eyre Street Chapel, taught at the Sunday school, conducted the sing-ing, and later become a deacon. He was exceedingly kind and generous to poorer

members of the church none asking in vain if [he] could possibly grant the request.He also became the treasurer and was frequently called upon to advance large sums ofmoney, which he always did most liberally and cheerfully.

Ernst ist das lieben


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It must therefore have come as a dreadful shock in 1867 to find himself named as thethief arrested for stealing 11 flitches of bacon , in the Sheffield and Rotherham Inde-pendent, a clear case of mistaken identity. An exasperated Louis wrote to the editor:I am exceedingly obliged to you for inserting a small paragraph in the local news ofyesterday, to correct the impression that I am the Louis Hiller who is connected in the

above robbery. The Louis Hiller charged with the offence did live in South Street Parkand is no relation of mine, and I do not know I ever spoke to him.

If you had put in your Mondays paper South Street, Park instead of South Street,Moor, it would have saved me from a great deal of unpleasantness which I shall haveto bear for some time to come.

Your paper is widely circulated, and I am well known, both by name and also my char-acter. I have been asked and even charged for the sad offence of which I am innocent.

Yours truly, Louis Hiller

Louis son John Frederick, a volunteer organist at Eyre Street Chapel, proved a worthysuccessor to the pork butcher business in South Street. In The Centurys Progress:Yorkshire Industry and Commerce 1893, John is given a long and approving entry.Established in 1826 (presumably by Henry, with whom Louis first went into partner-ship), it was a large, attractive, single fronted shop with storage and slaughteringhouses at the rear remarkable for their perfect cleanliness. His hams were

pronounced by connoisseurs to be without equal and he had a good reputationthroughout the country for his polonies, sausages and pork pies. Thanks to the ParcelPost he sent large quantities every week all over the UK, including London.

John and his wife Annie had six children. Their youngest child Bernard died as a baby(H163) and their eldest son Carl also became a pork butcher. But this generation beganto explore other ways of making a living. Johns second son Walpole became a solicitorand set up business in Sheffield, which was continued by his son Lippe. Walpolesobituary describes him as a solicitor and all round sportsman famed for football, beingtwice selected to play for Derbyshire. He was a founder member of the Sharrow CyclingClub and a well known swimmer. He is buried in I 76 with his second wife. The thirdson, Clement Percy (H163-4) became a silversmith, and his son, who was killed in theFirst World War, a mining engineer.

By 1907 there are no pork butchers with the name of Hiller listed in the directories. Itwas work which had enabled the first generation to establish themselves in theiradopted country, but succeeding generations were able to make other choices.

by Shirley Baxter - Volunteer Burial Researcher and Gardener

Photo by Michael Skillington


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THE CATACOMB CATASTROPHE

Last winters hard weather took its toll and in spring part of the Catacomb wall (a Grade

II Listed Building) collapsed and another longer section bulged dangerously by the main

path. Temporary fencing was erected to restrict access to the unsafe structures, but it

was not until mid July that Kier, acting on behalf of the Council, got a contractor on site.It then became clear that a proper repair was not intended, merely a temporary shor-

ing up of the unsafe structures. That work is now done but at great cost to the amenity

of the area and the character of the Cemetery (a Grade II* listed landscape).

In the course of the work the ornamental bed by the wall was completely destroyed.

Quite unnecessarily, rubble, mortar and uprooted plants were dumped on the adjacent

Memorial Garden, burying and damaging the plants and soil there. Heavy metal fencing

was leant against mature shrubs and trees, damaging branches. The site was not left in

a clean and tidy condition. Adequate site supervision was not given by Kier or the Coun-

cil. Their officers accepted these faults when they met Trust representatives on site on

the 23rd August. The gardening volunteers were shocked and saddened to see their

work devastated.

The lack of care shown throughout this sad episode is symptomatic, we feel, of a gen-


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eral lack of commitment by the Council to the Sheffield General Cemetery. The Ceme-

tery is well used and much loved by residents and visitors, yet it does not even appear

on the Councils website list of parks and open spaces. The Councils contribution is lim-

ited to cutting the grass in the open area of the site, weed-treating the paths and some

tree work. The Trusts officers and volunteers do all the other work on the site including

planting and maintaining the attractiveMemorial Garden near the Gatehouse

as well as clearing overgrown vegeta-

tion around the monuments and paths

in the more natural areas (and much

more !).

The unsightly shoring up and fencing

remain in place. The shoring is neces-

sary for the safety of the public and the

listed structure, but we wonder just

how long this temporary solution will

remain - temporary solutions have a

habit of becoming permanent. In gen-

eral, we are anxious that the Council

does more to work with the Trust tohelp maintain the Cemetery grounds.

These points have been made in a let-

ter from the Trust Chairman to council-

lors and council officers.

by Jo Meredith and Jo Pye

RECRUITINGFOR TRUSTEESThe Sheffield General Cemetery Trust is looking to appoint new Trustees who would be

interested in helping develop the project for the restoration of the Non-Conformist

Chapel. Specific expertise in building projects, finance, business and events would be

helpful. Any interested parties should contact Mike Clarke (SGCT Chairman) at the

Cemetery Gatehouse (address on page 8) with a covering letter and CV.

Mike Clarke, Chair of SGCT


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This edition of Undertakings was edited by Alex Quant.

Contributors were Mike Clarke, Jo Pye, Jo Meredith, Mike Pye,

Michael Skillington and Alex Quant.

MUSHROOMS &

TOADSTOOLS

Sunday 20th October - 12.30pm - Ziggy and Steve will be

leading another fungal foray amongst the gravestones!

FREAKY FUNFORHALLOWEEN

Thursday 31st October - 3 to 5.30pm - Join in with making

Halloween lanterns, wands and masks at the Gatehouse. A funevent for children and families.

HISTORICAL TOURSunday 3rd November and Sunday 1st December at 2pm -

Learn about the residents and history of the Cemetery on this

regular guided walk.

AGMThursday 21st November - 7.30 to 9.00 - The Trusts Annual

General Meeting will be at the Lansdowne Chapel, Cemetery

Road, S11 followed by a Members meeting.

BUILDING &

ARCHITECTURE

TOUR

Sunday 24th November - 2pm - Andrew Whitham from the

South Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust will be leading a

walk featuring the Gatehouse and Nonconformist Chapel.

CHRISTMAS

WREATH MAKING

Saturday 14th December - 1 to 3pm - With childrens crafts

and free refreshments. All materials sourced from the

Cemetery site.

All our events are free to attend but we do

welcome donations. We provide free refreshments!

Unless stated otherwise, events start at the Cemetery Gatehouse,

at the end of Cemetery Avenue off Ecclesall Road, S11 8NT.

You can keep up to date with our events by visiting www.gencem.org/events.php

The Sheffield General Cemetery Trust, The Gatehouse, Cemetery Avenue, Sheffield S11 8NT

0114 268 3486 - [email protected] - www.gencem.org - Charity Number 1103158

The cost of production and printing of this newsletter issupported by The Co-operative Membership Community Fund

You can now follow us on Twitter @SheffieldGenCem

- UPCOMING FREE EVENTS -

Documents

Undertakings 49 - final.pdf