The Crookes Forum has researched the history of Crookes Shops. The Heritage Lottery Fund supported People’s History of Crookes Shops brought together volunteers and residents to tell the history of local shops.
Read the oral history transcripts and summaries
The project was led by the Forum and co-ordinated by heritage interpreter Bill Bevan of inHeritage. Five volunteer historians recorded oral history interviews, researched Sheffield Local Studies Library’s collections and Picture Sheffield online photograph archive.
We held a Show and Tell at St Thomas’s Church in April 2015. Over 30 people attended to share their memories of Crookes’ shops.
Volunteers presented their work to an enthusiastic audience of 55 people at the History Roadshow, St Thomas’s Church in November 2015. The Roadshow included slide shows and stories of the Crookes shops in previous times, given by Margaret Palmer and Jane Armitage. This sparked the memories of long time residents and the curiosity of new residents and visitors. Stories of Leapers, the chemist and the Chinese laundry were of particular interest. Anne Marples (dressed in Victorian costume) gave a fascinating talk about shopping in Crookes in Victorian times, highlighting the fact that Crookes was well known for its rich growing soil. Many members of the audience stayed behind to chat and reminisce.
The project culminated in a two-week Street Museum in ten participating shops from the 14th November 2015. Thank you to all of the shops who hosted displays – A Better Fit, SJ Adams Insurance, AgeUK, Crookes Hardware, DS Print, Hillsborough Electrical, Safar, Sainsbury’s, Salon de Cafe, Urban Pantry.
Crookes Forum 