George H. Lawrence died 13th December 1940 Sheffield

I came across this piece of Sheffield History purely by chance. In fact I have had reasons to be grateful to George on many, many occasions in the past with realising it. George started out as a newspaper seller but went on to become one of Sheffield's most successful razor blade manufacturers'. The company's main works were known as the Laurel Works and were situated on Nursery Street in Sheffield (see below)

As far as I can ascertain this used to be the site for the Sheffield Children's Hospital (East End). The hospital started off in The Wicker in 1893 before moving to Nursery Street (between Johnson Lane and Johnson Street) in 1913. It moved again when the building was sold in 1931

As a result of his success in business George became a generous benefactor to many local causes, paying for

2.The open air swimming pool and bowling green in Hathersage, Derbyshire.(1936)

3. George paid to put the first roof on the kop at Sheffield United's Shoreham Street end - George was a director of Sheffield United Football Club. And that is where I'm grateful to George!

4. Following the 1914- 1918 war Sheffield not only financed the building of twelve houses in Bapaume, (The Somme) for those in need but also the Lawrence School - l'école Lawrence. The school was named after George who had helped finance its construction. One small plaque on the wall commemorates the opening of the school on 9 July 1939 and a second plaque near the door gratefully recognizes the generosity of Mr. Lawrence and the citizens of Sheffield. The building is no longer used as a primary school but a small museum on the first floor contains the Sheffield Roll of Honour and boxed cutlery presented by the Lawrence's to each of the schoolchildren in 1939

5. In her excellent book - Hathersage In The Peak - A History, Barbara A Buxton notes that Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence as residents of the village, had become local benefactors, planning and funding leisure areas near the Memorial Hall. Apart from the open air swimming pool mentioned above, George was responsible for the bowling green that opened in 1934 and replaced an earlier one at the George Inn. Tennis courts were also added. When a Methodist Chapel was planned Mr Lawrence offered £5,000 to assist the building fund and his wife funded the purchase of a church organ. The chapel opened on 30th December 1939 and there is marvelous photo of the occasion. George and his wife are on the front left

George also played a major role in Sheffield Newspapers War Relief Fund as well as being heavily involved in Millhouses Cricket Week. Soon after the outbreak of the war, he and his wife Elsie made a contribution of half a million francs to pay for canteen facilities for French troops.

On the night of December 13th 1940, George set off from his home in Hathersage, Derbyshire and drove to the works in Nursery Street, Sheffield. He brought with him food hampers and drink for the employees at the factory that night. The air-raid meant that the staff had to make for the shelters in the works. It was whilst in one of the shelters that George and some of his employees died. It received a direct hit from a German bomb. I have been told that such was the force of the explosion, the carbon steel strips that were used in the manufacture of razor blades, were blown across the road and draped the tower of the Holy Trinity Church (nowadays called the New Testament Church of God). It looked as though the church was covered in tinsel.

The following information of the casualties that night is taken from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

Name:	LAWRENCE, GEORGE HERBERT
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Civilian
Regiment/Service:	Civilian War Dead
Age:	52
Date of Death:	13/12/1940
Additional information:	Husband of Elsie Lawrence, of Belmont, Hathersage, Derbyshire. Died at Laurel Works, Nursery Street.

Initially, I was able to trace four other civilians who died alongside George at the Laurel works that night. They were married couples John and Elsie Beresford, and Arthur and Edith Hussey.

Name:	BERRISFORD, JOHN REDFERN
Regiment/Service:	Civilian War Dead
Age:	33
Date of Death:	13/12/1940
Additional information:	of 83 Southgrove Road, Ecclesall. Son of Mrs. C. Berrisford, of 38 Bradfield Road; husband of Elsie Winifred Berrisford. Died at Laurel Works, Nursery Street.

Name:	BERRISFORD, ELSIE WINIFRED
Regiment/Service:	Civilian War Dead
Age:	33
Date of Death:	13/12/1940
Additional information:	of 83 Southgrove Road, Ecclesall. Daughter of Mrs. Neil, of 6 Findon Street; wife of John Redfern Berrisford. Died at Laurel Works, Nursery Street.

Name:	HESSEY, ARTHUR
Regiment/Service:	Civilian War Dead
Age:	39
Date of Death:	13/12/1940
Additional information:	of Laurel Works, Nursery Street. Son of Arthur Ellis Hessey, and Fanny Hessey, of 25 Horner Road, Abbeydale; husband of Edith Hessey. Died at Laurel Works, Nursery Street.

In April 2007, a local historian kindly supplied me with the FULL list of those who died alongside George at the Laurel Works that night

After the war, the site was cleared and eventually the works were partly rebuilt. The business continued until the early 1970's. However the business may have been in a decline for a long time before it ceased trading. Cheaper imports from abroad and the increasing use of electric shavers would certainly have taken their toll. In 1972, the Laurel Works were occupied by not only Geo H Lawrence Ltd, but by I Grunwerg, cutlery manufacturers and Wm Nodder. and Co, cutlers. Two years later the only occupants were I Grunwerg, cutlery manufacturers.

The above photograph was taken early on 3rd June 2007 and shows the now derelict works. I believe that a planning application has been submitted that will no doubt involve the demolition of the works and with it, another piece of Sheffield's heritage. The second photograph was taken at the same time and shows Johnson Street. It looks as though the planners and politicians of Sheffield City Council are finishing off what the Luftwaffe started sixty five years ago!

On 23rd December 2007 I made an unplanned visit to the Parish Church at Hathersage, where I was amazed to find the following memorial grave in the churchyard.

1. The same person who gave me the additional information on the casualties also informed me that at some time in 2006 there was a small exhibition at Sheffield Town Hall devoted to George.

2. Hathersage Open Air Heated Swimming Pool, Oddfellows Road, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S30 1BU Tel: 01433 650843

A 33m x 10m heated open air swimming pool is situated next door to Rock Lea outdoor centre. Usually the water temperature is around 82-84 deg F. The pool surround has changed little since being built in 1936 and still has the original veranda and bandstand with a beautiful grass lawn to sunbathe on. Open April to September

3. George was the son of John and Martha Jane Lawrence nee Thompson They were married in the June quarter of 1888
Lawrence John Francis - Thompson Martha Jane Sheffield Volume 9c Page 706

Civil Parish: Ecclesall Bierlow
Ecclesiastical parish: Eldon Street County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England

Registration district: Ecclesall Bierlow Sub registration district: Ecclesall Bierlow ED, institution, or vessel: 7

Household Members:
Name Age
Beatrice E Lawrence 6/12
George H Lawrence 2 (Born 5th October 1888)
John F Lawrence 24
Martha J Lawrence 21

Household:

Source Information: Dwelling 8 Cleveland Place Census Place Nether Hallam, York, England
Family History Library Film 1342116 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4622 / 106 Page Number 36

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Robert THOMPSON Head M Male 43 Sheffield, York, England Stove Grate Grinder (Ironmgr) (Others 21.8)
Mary I. THOMPSON Wife M Female 43 Manchester, Lancashire, England
Herbert THOMPSON Son U Male 18 Sheffield, York, England Stove Grate Grinder (Others 21.8) (Ironmgr)
Lilly E. THOMPSON Daughter U Female 13 Sheffield, York, England Scholar
Martha J. THOMPSON Daughter U Female 10 Sheffield, York, England Scholar
Gertrude THOMPSON Daughter U Female 8 Sheffield, York, England Scholar
Rose A. THOMPSON Daughter U Female 3 Sheffield, York, England
Beatrice THOMPSON Daughter U Female 1 Sheffield, York, England

Berrisford	Elsie Winnifred - 33 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 83 Southgrove Rd
Berrisford	John Redfern - 33 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 83 Southgrove Rd
Davies	Frederick William - 47 yrs - 12 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 34 Springhouse Rd, Crookesmoor Injured 12th died 13th Royal Infirmary
Green	Madge - 24 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 10 Grimesthorpe Rd-Daughter of Joseph Henry & Ellen Elizabeth Green,
Hessey	Arthur - 39 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 25 Horner Rd
Hessey	Edith - 38 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 25 Horner Rd
Kendell	Nora - 23 yrs - 13 Dec 1940 - Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived 20 Belper Rd - Wife of Dennis Kendell
Lawrence	George Herbert - 52yrs - 13 Dec 1940 Laurel Works Nursery St	Lived at "Belmont" Hathersage owned Laurel Works