Photos of the Past – Tibshelf

The following photos show Tibshelf as it was prior to Second World War and indeed earlier. Photographs of the village as it now, and which will be posted on the site later will show how much, or how little Tibshelf has changed.

This is the bridge on High Street which carried the main road over the Great Central Railway line from Sheffield to Nottingham. It effectively divided the village in two giving rise to the names Bottom End and Top End for the northern and southern ends of the village respectively. The residents are known as Top Enders and Bottom Enders. The building to the left is the old vicarage, with railway workers cottages to the right. The Parish Church of St. John The Baptist can be seen in the distance.

Another view of the Parish Church, this time from the less common northern aspect. Judging from the style of the clothes, this would appear to have been taken before the First World War, and certainly before the churchyard boundary wall was moved further back. Note the high wall with a gate in it on the left of the photo, and the old vicarage in the background. The pair of red brick semi detached houses does not appear to have been built at this time. The wooden building,, now the home of Steve Kerry’s electrical appliance business is there. I think its use then may have been the meeting place fot the Royal Ancient Order of Buffalos. The little lad couldn’t stand nonchalantly in the middle of the road today, and be safe. The modern day photograph displays a lot more greenery despite the loss of the two large trees in the centre. The old Vicarage has disappeared, but the gable end of the brick semi can just about be seen. The stone cottage is hiden by the tree on the extreme right of the photo.

Another view looking towards the Church from over the bridge.The old Church Hall can clearly be seen peeping out just beyond the row of terraced houses. This was the centre of Village social life, providing a home for many village organisations, and hosting the Saturday Night dances, and the Church Youth Club. What no one realised was, that being all wood, it was an immense fire risk, but we survived.

This is a photos taken from the otrher side of the bridge, and from a higher vantage point….the top of the church tower. Prominent in the picture is the old vicarage, and adjoining buildings. Judging from the car in the centre of the picture, a Ford Zephyr Zodiac Mk. III, the photo was taken some time after 1962 when those cars first appeared. Just visible in the distant top left is the vast expanse of roof to Tibshelf’s cinema, the Savoy.

Photograph courtesy of Ivan Brentnall.

Chesterfield Road, as the name implies, is the main road out of the village (one of five) to Chesterfield some 8 miles to the north. The nearest building on the left was a small shop selling bread, cakes and sweets, amongst other provisions, and was affectionately known as “Waggies” after the proprietor, Mr. Wagstaffe

High Street again, this time a little further south than in the first picture. The buildings on the left are now demolished, a house having been built on the site in the 1950s. Similarly the gable end and the buildings immediately beyond, have also been demolished. The building in the distance is the Wheatsheaf Hotel, whilst in the distance, the Parish Church can just about be seen.

Known locally as Rock House Corner, this is the junction of High Street at its southern end, and where it becomes Doe Hill Lane, with Alfreton Road. The picture was taken in the 1930s/40s after work had begun on the road widening scheme. Rock House Farm can be seen just on the right of the picture.

Rock House Corner again, this time a much earlier picture showing how the road was cut through the rock

One of the once seven watering holes in Tibshelf can be seen in the background, the White Hart, which stands at the junction of Chesterfield Road to the left, and Mansfield Road. This part of Mansfield Road is now called High Street,. with the former now starting at the road junction with Chesterfield Road. The bus is going to Underwood some10 miles to the south. The buses still stop here.

The White Hart again, this time with the view point a little further south, and slightly to the west, showing Mill Farm and the associated buildings, long since demolished.

Mill Farm, full on, from then, Mansfield Road. The house still remains, but all the out buildings have long since disappeared. Originally a steam driven corn mill, I believe. A pond once stood on this site, presumably to provide the water for the mill.

Taken from outside the Savoy Cinema which stood next door to the “Slap & Tickle” public house. The farm buiilding to right has disappeared, the site now being occupied by a late 20th century bungalow.

Another view of High Street, probably taken just before or just after World War II. Certainly prior to the widening of High Street because there is no footway on the left hand side of the road. Note the open highway drainage channel. Croft’s the Chemists original shop still stands. It was also a provisions and grocery store then, as well as an agricultural supplier.

Tibshelf Parish Church prior to its remodelling at the turn of the 19th century. It was then dedicated to SS Peter & Paul, and Tibshelf’s feast day is still those saints’ day, June 29th. Thats when the wakes used to set up on the old Co-op Field opposite the Post Office, where the flats and the Village Hall now stand.

Taken from just below the old telephone exchange, this is Sunny Bank probably in the 1950s. The road was unmade then, and continued right up to the ponds, known then as “The Rezzer”. Originally owned by St. Thomas’ Hospital, the properties were eventually owned by the Blackwell Rural District Council who demolished them as unfit properties. They would have ben occupied by the miners’ who worked at the “Bottom Pit”, the slag heap of which can just be discerned in the distance.

Prospect Terrace once stood where the new Staffa Health Centre is located. All that remains in this view is the stone retaining wall. The Off License was owned by the long serving Chesterfield F.C. centre half, Dave Blakey, who incidentally, played more games for Chesterfield FC than any other player.

Taken on 6th May 1935, the photograph is of the open air service held on the Sports Ground on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King George V. The chimnies of the original houses on Sunny Bank can just be seen in the background.

Judging by the fashions, this photograph was probably taken before the First World War. This part of High Street was then known as Staffa Street, the view point being just above the Tibshelf Equitable Co-operative Society’s main shop. opposite the infants’ school. All these buildings remain today, although some have changed, and not for the better, needing to combat the scourges of crime and vandalism.

This view of Staffa Street was probaly taken just before, or just after the Second World War. The “Co-op Field” on the left was undeveloped then , but once a year it was the scene of much fun and merriment, when the Wakes came to town.

An aerial view of High Street just below the bridge. The Derwent Drive/ Peveril Road estate isn’t there so it has to be pre-1955. Also missing are the council bungalows on Back Lane. The little cottage which was dated around 1627 was replaced by a modern bungalow many years ago. It would have probably been a Listed Building had it survived the demolition madness of the 50’s through to the 70’s.

A very early photograph taken outside a new looking “Wheatsheaf”. What was the parade for? Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, King Edward VII’s Coronation, King George V’s Coronation, Victory Parade at the end of the First World War, Whit Sunday Walk, Carnival? Any ideas? Please let us know.

No historic photographic record of Tibshelf would be complete without an image of what is probably the best known building in the village after the Church. Judging by the fashions on the posed residents, this photograph probably dates back to the 1920s at the very latest. Until very recently, the cottage which dates back to the 1600s, only had thatch to the front of the roof, the rear being pantiles. It is one of only three Listed Buildings in the village.

Town Farm house on High Street. A few years ago, the chimnies were removed,much to the detriment of the appearance of the house. They have since been put back and Town Farm House has been restored to its former glory.