The Life and Recollections of Joseph Fearnehough (1939 - 1915) - Sheffield

From The Sheffield Independent dated Monday 10th May 1915

FEARNEHOUGH - On May 9th at 22, Birkendale View Joseph Fearnehough age 75 years, the eldest son of the late Joseph Fearnehough of Birkendale Sheffield

and the following Wednesday 12th May 1915 Joseph Fearnehough was buried in Sheffield's General Cemetery. The interment began at 2.00pm.

A LINK WITH OLD SHEFFIELD

By the death of Mr. Joseph Fearnehough which occurred yesterday morning at 22 Birkendale View, Upperthorpe, Sheffield has lost a well-known figure, and one which was closely associated with the Sheffield of 50 or 60 years ago.

Mr. Fearnehough was born in 1839 at Waterloo Houses a block of buildings situated by the side of the River Don near Neepsend which in later years was damaged by the Sheffield Flood and had to be demolished.

The firm of Messrs. Fearnehough had been engaged in the saw and scythe industry in Sheffield and Derbyshire for centuries. Deceased was a partner in the firm of J. Fearnehough and Sons up to ten years ago when he retired forom business. He was educated at Hibblethwaite's School in Paradise Square and his playmates were such well-known Sheffield men as Walter and Percy Rawson, H Holland, C.F. Innocent, William Gillett (late Chief Superintendent of Police). Mr Gillett is now the only surviving member of that group.

For many years Mr Fearnehough was secretary of the Springvale Conservative Association in which position he did a lot of hard and useful work for the cause. He was always a staunch supporter of the Party and was one of those that introduced Mr. Stuart Wortley to political life in Sheffield.

About half a century ago when the "rattening" troubles were agitating Sheffield Mr Fearnehough suffered severe outrages at the hands of the men on several occasions though he was able to bring a considerable amount of evidence before the Commission which was appointed to inquire into the outrages. In conjunction with the late Sir William Leng of The Sheffield Daily Telegraph he assisted in exposing many of the perpetrators of the outrage.

In later years Mr Fearnehough interested himself in the quieter walks of life and he took and interest in public works. He was a member of the Hunter Archaeological Society and had a large collection of cuttings relating to Sheffield. In 1914 he contributed articles to The Sheffield Daily Telegraph on old Sheffield and was always considered an authority on such matters. He was a director for several years of the Economical Building Society. His wife pre-deceased him about eight years ago, and he leaves a son and three daughters.

In his "Recollections of Sheffield" Mr Fearnehough said that when he was a boy the town finished at St Philip's Church. From Upperthorpe where there were a few old cottages and a few more modern houses on the hill, and which was at that time considered to be a rather aristocratic neighbourhood to Wadsley, there was nothing but fields apart from the hamlet of Walkey. Neepsend in those days was so beautiful that it was later termed the " rural paradise." When he was 15 years old he went to live in Prospect Road - now called Pickering Road, Parkwood Springs. All around there were cornfields surrounded by old Park Wood in which game were preserved. Mr Fearnehough re-collected the introduction of the railway to the town and also the commencement of the Sheffield bus service

The Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated Thursday 28th May 1914 carried an expanded version oh his recollections

And the following is the article from the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 23rd May 1914 which details the recollections of Joseph's father also called Joseph

 

NOTES

1901 Census

Name Joseph Fearnehough
Relation to Head of Family Head
Age Last Birthday 61
Sex Male
Profession or Occupation Saw Maker
Condition as to Marriage Married
Where Born Yorkshire Sheffield
Address 22 Birkendale View Civil Parish Nether Hallam Town or Village or Hamlet Sheffield Ecclesiastical Parish St Phillips Parliamentary Borough or Division Hallam
County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District Sheffield Administrative County Sheffield
Ward of Municipal Borough or Urban District Nether Hallam

1911 Census

Name Joseph Fearnehough
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Condition Widower
Gender Male
Age 71 Estimated Year of Birth 1840
Occupation Retired Saw Manfr
Employed Yes Working at Home No
Place of Birth Sheffield Yorkshire
Enumerator Information Address 22 Birkendale View Sheffield Parish Ecclesall Town Sheffield
Type of Building Private House Number of Rooms Seven Inhabited Yes
Reference RG14PN27732 RG78PN1588 RD509 SD2 ED12 SN104 Administrative County Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District Ecclesall Bierlow Registration Sub District Ecclesall West Central Enumeration District 12

Joseph's Parents

Sheffield General Cemetery

Hannah FEARNEHOUGH
Wife of Joseph Fearnehough ,Sawmaker, Alma House,Birkendale View,Upperthorpe age: 53, buried: 2 May 1865

Joseph FEARNEHOUGH Saw Manufacturer, 28 Birkendale age: 89, buried: 23 Feb 1898
burial no: 31269 grave no: SS 66
death date: 19 Feb 1898
burial date: 23 Feb 1898
age: 89
cause of death:
description: Saw Manufacturer
birthplace:
residence: 28 Birkendale
minister: William Cutts
burial type: unconsecrated

Mary FEARNEHOUGH Widow, 28 Elm Cottage, Birkendale View age: 85, buried: 12 Sep 1905

Arnold FEARNCHOUGH Son of Joseph Fearnchough, Saw Manufacturer, 73 Upperthorpe
age: 17m, buried: 12 Nov 1879

Eleanor Mabel ? FEARNEHOUGH Wife of Jos Fearnehough,Saw Manufacturer, 22 ?? age: 58 ?, buried: 6 Nov 1906

burial no: 26665
grave no: B2 28
death date: 02 Nov 1906
burial date: 06 Nov 1906
name: Eleanor Mabel ? Fearnehough
sex:
age: 58 ?
cause of death:
description: Wife of Jos Fearnehough ,Saw Manufacturer
birthplace:
residence: 22 ??
minister: Sydney Smith
burial type: consecrated


Hannah FEARNEHOUGH
Wife of Joseph Fearnehough ,Sawmaker, Alma House,Birkendale View,Upperthorpe age: 53, buried: 2 May 1865

Joseph FEARNEHOUGH Saw Manufacturer, 28 Birkendale age: 89, buried: 23 Feb 1898

Mary FEARNEHOUGH Widow, 28 Elm Cottage, Birkendale View age: 85, buried: 12 Sep 1905

 

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