News - Plaque unveiled to mark start of new Blitz trail (Sheffield)

SEVENTY one years ago to the day that bombs started raining down in a blitz which destroyed huge swathes of Sheffield, a plaque was unveiled to mark the start of a new trail highlighting key sites hit during Hitler’s raids.

The plaque was unveiled at the entrance to Atkinsons department store on The Moor, which was destroyed in the Luftwaffe blitz during World War Two.

The ceremony formed part of a Sheffield Blitz and 1940s day held on The Moor yesterday, aimed at giving an insight into life in the 1940s when Hitler’s bombers targeted towns and cities up and down the country.

Memorabilia was displayed to offer a glimpse into the way of life in the bygone era. Military vehicles were also on show and actors re-enacted scenes from the past.

An Anderson air raid shelter was also part of the exhibition and air raid sirens sounded to mark the 71st anniversary of the start of the blitz and to create a sense of what life was like during wartime Britain.

German bombing maps showing Hitler’s targets in Sheffield were also on display.

Atkinsons - Sheffield’s oldest independent department store - has been chosen as the starting point of a new educational trail of key landmarks from the Blitz after the original Victorian building was flattened by bombs.

The attack also destroyed most of The Moor, which was not re-built until 1960.

Nearly a fifth of Sheffield, numbering 40,000 residents, were left homeless in the raids in December 1940, with more than 2,000 killed and injured.

Terry Deary, creator of the Horrible Histories series and author of Put Out The Light, set in the Sheffield Blitz, unveiled the plaque.

He also fronted BBC1’s Sheffield -The Forgotten Blitz documentary.

Sandra Barley, liaison manager for The Moor, said: “It’s a real honour to be unveiling the first Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail plaque and to get someone of the calibre of Terry Deary to do the honours is fantastic.”

Author Neil Anderson, who wrote Sheffield’s Date with Hitler: The Story of the Blitz, said: “Despite the weather there was a lot of support for the Blitz and 1940s Day and it was good to see all the children there taking an interest.

“It is important for younger people who do not remember the Blitz to find out about it. The new trail will also really help.”

The first Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail plaque has been paid for by Atkinsons and The Moor Retailers’ Association in partnership with The Star and Brassfounders.

Ten sites have been proposed for the trail so far, including war graves and bomb sites.

From: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/plaque_unveiled_to_mark_start_of_new_blitz_trail_1_4052655

Event - Sheffield marks WWII bombing with plaque on The Moor

A plaque to mark the Sheffield Blitz will be unveiled in the city later.

The plaque will be placed on The Moor, at Atkinsons department store, which was one of the sites in the city which was completely demolished during WWII.

The creator of Horrible Histories, Terry Deary, will take part in a ceremony to mark the occasion.

More than 660 people were killed and large parts of the city flattened during heavy bombing between 12 to 15 December 1940.

The plaque is the first in a series to be unveiled across the city.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-16130324

Event - First Blitz memorial plaque in place (Sheffield)

The unveiling of the first plaque on a new Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail is set to be one of the highlights of a Sheffield Blitz and 1940s day to be held on The Moor this weekend.

Terry Deary, the creator of the multi-million selling Horrible Histories series and author of Put Out The Light, set in the Sheffield Blitz, has been lined up to do the unveiling during the festival which will take place on Sunday.

The plaque will be sited at the entrance of Atkinsons department store.

Its original building was completely flattened, as was much of The Moor, on the night of December 12 and 13, 1940. Atkinsons remained a bombsite until the existing building was opened in 1960.

The Sheffield Blitz and 1940s Day is free and runs from 11am until 3pm, with the unveiling ceremony taking place at 2pm.

Nearly a fifth of the city was left homeless after two Luftwaffe raids in December 1940 that killed and injured more than 2,000 people.

The centre liaison manager for The Moor, Sandra Barley, said: “It’s a real honour to be unveiling the first Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail plaque and to get someone of the calibre of Terry Deary to do the honours is fantastic.”

From: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/first_blitz_memorial_plaque_in_place_1_4044205

A SHEFFIELD Blitz walk is being created with the backing of The Star as a permanent educational resource and memorial to the victims of the Nazi bombing raids.

But we want you to tell us which landmarks should be highlighted with plaques and if you have a blitz story we can record.

Adolf Hitler’s Luftwaffe devastated Sheffield but failed to break the spirit of its people.

The city endured nine hours of intense bombing during Operation Crucible on Sunday, December 12, 1940. The Moor was one of the worst-hit areas with department stores Atkinsons, Redgates and Roberts Brothers all destroyed.

It was followed by further bombing raids three days later and altogether 2,000 people were killed or wounded, with 40,000 left homeless.

A Sheffield Blitz Memorial Fund has now been launched to remember the sacrifices and its first aim is to create the walk, to be called the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail.

Future plans include an audio tour, featuring historians and people who lived through the blitz telling their stories.

It is being spearheaded by Neil Anderson, author of Sheffield’s Date With Hitler, along with Mike Wild, founder of Sheffield Wildlife Trust and co-founder of the Five Weirs Walk.

Ten sites have already been proposed for the trail and the first plaque will be on the side of Atkinsons store at The Moor’s Sheffield Blitz event on Sunday, December 11.

Jointly funded by Atkinsons and The Moor Retailers’ Association in partnership with The Star and Brassfounders, the plaque will be unveiled by Horrible Histories series creator Terry Deary, who fronted BBC1’s Sheffield The Forgotten Blitz documentary and wrote Turn Out The Light, a novel set during the Sheffield blitz.

All profits from a King Mojo night with Peter Stringfellow, Frank White, Dave Berry and others, at The Leadmill on Wednesday, November 23, are for the fund.

Neil said: “Plaques will mark war graves and help to educate people about the impact of the blitz, what the city and its people went through.”

Donations can be made to the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Fund via Nat West account no 52118665 and sort code 54-41-47. Cheques made out to the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Fund should be sent c/o ACM Retro, The Grange, Church Street, Dronfield, Sheffield S18 1QB.

Which sites should have a plaque and why? Also let us know if you lived through the blitz and have a story we can record. Email you full name, age and contact details, with Sheffield Blitz Trail in the subject field to staronline@sheffieldnewspapers.co.uk or post to Sheffield Blitz Trail, Digital Editor, The Star, York Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 1PU

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/sheffield_blitz_memorial_trail_to_honour_victims_1_3959562

Article - Castle site is opportunity (Sheffield)

Sheffield Castle offers a once-in-a-lifetime park opportunity, rather than another set of hoardings and abandoned land.

As a founder member of the Five Weirs Walk Trust can I congratulate Ron Clayton for his enthusiastic work and Prof Dawn Hadley of Sheffield University’s Department of Archaeology for drawing attention to the image of Sheffield’s long destroyed castle, which has now been presented to the Lord Mayor, Coun Dr Sylvia Dunkley, herself a historian (Aug 1).

Given the probable demolition of the markets site and the risk of long-term delays as on The Moor, could the area not be turned into a park with some preservation and reconstruction as we see in English Heritag’e sites where grass and walls and good interpretive boards and film bring the past alive?

There are archaeological finds that could be displayed as in the Jorvik museum at York, which was long hidden and is now a major tourist attraction.

If, in the long term, rebuilding does take place the remains could form a well illuminated ground-floor arts area with buildings above.

With sensitive new building the old Shambles could be redeveloped as an interesting street by the River Don, rather than merely a fume-ridden traffic hazard.

Our riverside should be cherished .

There are examples like this in Venice, Rome and Ediburgh for example.

Some sensitive reconstruction could make the junction of the Don and Sheaf a memorable place to relax in the city centre and give a focus for what is a marginalised area.

It could link Victoria Quays to the rest of town.

Michael Sam Wild, Sheffield

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/letters/castle_site_is_opportunity_1_3657456