Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.

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MARKETS AND FAIRS.

Unquestionably Rotherham had both markets and fairs long before Sheffield, the most popular and active being those held in the open air. Every Monday the cattle market was crowded and frequently over flowed into Mansfield road. Such licensed houses as the High House, Cross Keys, Black Swan. Butchers’ Arms, Grapes, in Snail Hill, and the Rose and Crown in Quarry Hill, did a roaring trade. Cottagers in the Crofts also shared in the general prosperity, having to meet the wants of the frequenters of this popular market. Every Whit Monday a fair for horses was held, the horses being shown mostly in Moorgate. It was difficult to get through the crowd who attended to see animals put through their paces. In the spring of each year a number of entire horses paraded before the assembled farmers and breeders.

On the first Monday in December there was a special show of horses, cattle and sheep, and also a cheese fair in the Market place. A pig market used to be held in Bridgegale in front of the Old Bear, afterwards known as the Volunteer Inn.Leter this was transferred to Frederick street near the gas offices. Mv recollection of this market goes back only to the time when, it was held in Wellgate in front of the Pack Horse Inn, in the days when Serjeant Jacques was licensee. In front of the Cleaver and the Mail Coach carriers carts were allowed to stand for the sale of garden produce. Every Friday night these, joined by farmers wagons and loaded with vegetables etc., provided a small wholesale market in the street. ‘I’he obstruction to traffic became so great that the Corporation were equipped to summon a number of the carriers. I believe the bulk of the townspeople were against the action taken. Petitions were presented to the Council requesting the summonses to be withdrawn, and a large protest meeting was held in the Drill Hall. The summonses were eventually withdrawn, and for a time this miniature market continued. The congestion of traffic became so great that the Corporation were compelled to stop the practise.

T' STATTIS

Formerly there may have been some justification for this annual upheaval in the town. To all the villages surrounding us this was a feast day and holiday. This fair always brought our country friends to Rotherham, the streets being crowded from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Farm servants by the score, wearing suits of joskin, and others in holidaycolours or Sunday black, were to be seen lining the pavement in Rotherham High street waiting for the farmers to engage them. The stalls and booths often extended front the top of High street to Effingham square and thence to the fair ground itself. The site now occupied by the College street bank was then vacant land and afforded a fine site for some of the booths. Effingham street and Water street (the latter formerly ran behind the waterworks) were also packed with shooting galleries, etc. In fact, the streets seemed to be given over to the merrymakers for the time being. Thousands came from Sheffield to patronise the carnival. and everywhere the holiday spirit prevailed.

Many of the shows were well worth a visit, Wombwell’s menagerie, which usually located itself in Effingham square, being undoubtedly the best. There were waxwork and ghost shows or phantascope, Holden’s marionettes, the usual fat women, and other freaks and monstrosities and prodigies. Wooden horses driven by steam went round and round to the accompaniment of the Old Hundredth on a barrel-organ. Carte-de-visite studios and peep-shows furnished us with views varied and interesting, some claiming to show spicey views, which were generally found to be disappointingly innocent. A local bazaar, owned by Mr. Donaldson and usually occupying the pavement alongside the Old Town Hall in Effingham street, attracted parents requiring toys. etc., for the little people. Thimble riggers and gentlemen on the makes offered purses with a golden sovereign inside for the sum of one shilling each. Add to all these the gingerbroad stalls. appliances for testing physical strength, spirometer blowing, galvanic batteries, refreshment booths for hot peas and hot pies, and you have a medley difficult to beat. At the bottom of Wellgate there usually gathered men whose street rhetoric, from a slightly elevated position, attracted a crowd. To sell purses and give away shillings was their object. Alongside would be a seedy-looking individual professing acquaintance with medicine and holding forth on the virtues of his all-cure pills. In High street could be heard singers, accompanied by a harp and violin, bawling out in vulgar strains snatches of indecent songs. Holden’s marion ettes, on the other hand, provided an innocent and an amusing exhibition. These marionettes furnished us with as much, if not more, enjoyment than many of the more pretentious and costly performances.                 » next

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