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Commonside, SHEFFIELD, S10 1GD

Looking across Barber Road with Commonside heading away on the right. The jewellers at the top on the corner was formerly a bank.

19th Century public house and old coaching inn on situated on Commonside. Don't let the unsightly traffic lights and cones detract you too much from this pub which is one of the most atmospheric and unpretentious real ale establishments in the city. At the time of posting the current proprietors had also just celebrated their 30th anniversary at the helm.

The junction of the lower end of Commonside with Barber Road can be glimpsed in the distance. Herded animals, on their way to the former cattle market near to the former Victoria Railway Station, may well have been 'rested' in this area i.e. Common-side. (See: https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/16673-baaa/). "The Closed Shop" - a gastropub - is situated behind the photographer at the junction with Hands Lane.

It is said that the pub's unusual name came about in the late nineteenth century. Apparently, as a general grocery store, it sold ale which customers would sometimes consume while sitting on sacks. Gradually, it dawned on the owner that he could create a more profitable business if he CLOSED the SHOP and turned it into a public house.

Running repairs on Commonside! Externally the road is being resurfaced whilst internally the long-term management of the pub is in a state of flux. “The Closed Shop” - a gastropub - reopened in May 2017, after a period of being closed. This reopening proved possible because sufficient funding has been provided by the community, on a short-term tenancy basis, while a long-term lease is being negotiated with a Sheffield-based brewery. The premises began commercial life as a combined greengrocer’s and off-licence in the 1800s, before becoming a public house in the early 1900s. Commonside may have gained its title from the habit of herders ‘resting’ their animals on common land in this area whilst in the process of moving them from Stannington, Walkley and Crookes to the cattle market near the former Victoria Station in the city centre. (See: https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/16673-baaa/)

A stone's throw from the junction of Commonside and Barber Road, Walkley Lodge, and its newer and much larger wing - Moorend Place - now provide private residential accommodation for older disabled people.

As with many of the public toilets in Sheffield, these were built by Sheffield Corporation Tramways primarily to serve the tram drivers at tram termini. Consequently, they were male toilets. The council later built female toilets next door in the concrete structure just visible. The Commonside toilets are interesting in that they are built into the base of a hillside. They are essentially underground, and were constructed with bridge-building techniques. In the picture is a student filmcrew who were making a documentary about public toilets in Sheffield.

Is there a hillier city than Sheffield in Great Britain? I doubt it. These stone fronted terraces (circa 1900) are indicative of some of the city's hilly terrain.

Postbox No. S10 96. See Image] for context.