IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Matlock Road, SHEFFIELD, S6 3RQ

By the junction of Slinn Street and Matlock Road - looking beyond to The Don Valley.

In the city of Sheffield there is much friendly rivalry between supporters of the city's two professional football teams. In "The Princess Royal" it appears that Wednesdayites are predominant - hence the not-so-subtle insult of a United sticker on the toilet seat in The Gents.

Historic pub on Matlock Road, Steel Bank. Undergoing conversion into dwellings.

This Grade II-listed former Roman Catholic chapel - with school rooms beneath it - was built in 1872, whereas the residential reformatory, beyond the chapel - but attached to it - was opened in this former boarding school building i.e. "Howard House" but renamed St Joseph’s. Later, between 1887-1931, the premises became a residential “Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls”. Even later still later, after a period of closure, it reopened in 1934 as St Joseph’s House for Mentally Handicapped Women and Girls, receiving referrals from across Gt. Britain. By this time additional buildings had been added on site. In 1971 its management was assumed by the Sheffield Health Board, although the Sisters of Charity continued to staff it. In 1974 however, the nuns withdraw their services at the time that the more stringent regulations relating to meeting the educational needs of individuals with learning difficulties came into being. These facilities closed permanently in 1983 and these buildings are currently occupied by a Buddhist community. (See also: http://saintjosephshome.weebly.com/download-the-booklet.html) The South Yorkshire Housing Association hoped to convert the chapel into apartments but the planning authorities determined that it should remain in use as a religious establishment. The housing association were however, granted permission to build numerous houses on this site, the front doors of which now face the chapel.

In 1861, a Roman Catholic reformatory was opened here in what at first sight seems to be an extension to this former chapel. In fact the chapel - with school rooms beneath it - was not built until 1872. The residential reformatory was opened here in this former boarding school building, "Howard House" and renamed St Joseph’s. Later, between 1887-1931, the premises became a residential “Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls”. Still later, after a period of closure, it reopened in 1934 as St Joseph’s House for Mentally Handicapped Women and Girls, receiving referrals from across Gt. Britain. By this time additional buildings had been added on site. In 1971 its management was assumed by the Sheffield Health Board, although the Sisters of Charity continued to staff it. In 1974 however, the nuns withdraw their services at the time that the more stringent regulations relating to meeting the educational needs of individuals with learning difficulties came into being. These facilities closed permanently in 1983 and these buildings are currently occupied by a Buddhist community. (See also: http://saintjosephshome.weebly.com/download-the-booklet.html)

This Grade II-listed former Roman Catholic chapel - with school rooms beneath it - was built 1872. However, a residential Catholic reformatory, at the opposite end of the chapel, preceded it, opening in 1861 in a former boarding school building called "Howard House". Later, between 1887-1931, the St Joseph's school premises became a residential “Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls”. Still later, after a period of closure, it reopened in 1934 as St Joseph’s House for Mentally Handicapped Women and Girls, receiving referrals from across Gt. Britain. By this time additional buildings had been added on site. In 1971 its management was assumed by the Sheffield Health Board, although the Sisters of Charity continued to staff it. In 1974 however, the nuns withdraw their services at the time that the more stringent regulations relating to meeting the educational needs of individuals with learning difficulties came into being. These facilities closed permanently in 1983 and the buildings are currently occupied by a Buddhist community. (See also: http://saintjosephshome.weebly.com/download-the-booklet.html). Although the South Yorkshire Housing Association were refused permission to convert the chapel into apartments, they were allowed to build a several rows of houses on the site, many of which have their front doors and windows facing the chapel.

These steps lead down from Heavygate Road to Fir Street ... and up again! The building to the left is the two-storey toilet block ... so over the years many a desperate lady would have been glad of these steps to get down to their loo! Image Image Image

The door to the Ladies - situated on the lower level - is just visible behind the Ivy. The Gents is up top on Heavygate Road. This is well described by J G Harston in his linked picture ... see ... Image Image Image

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, which are not visible in the picture. The Heavygate toilets are particularly interesting in that they are a two-storey structure. Visible is the top floor, the male toilets. The female toilets are in the lower floor, accessed from Fir Street down the steps at the side. In the picture is a student filmcrew who were making a documentary about public toilets in Sheffield.