Illustrated Guide to Sheffield
Pawson & Brailsford - 1862
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
GENERAL INFIRMARY.
This handsome building and most valuable institution is situated at
the end of Shalesmoor, near St. Philip's Church. It was erected by
public subscription, and was opened in 1795. In 1841 extensive additions were made, at a cost of about £6,000. It is now a most efficient
charity, accommodating about 150 patients, who are wholly provided
for within the house, and giving medical aid constantly to an average
of about 650 out-patients. Outside the entrance door to the Infirmary
there are two figures, representing Hope and Charity, which are interesting because they are believed to be the very first effort, literally of
the " 'prentice hand," of the great sculptor Chantrey. Within the
building there is an excellent bust, by Chantrey, of Dr. Browne, who
was mainly instrumental in the original establishment of the instituion. There are also a copy of the bust, by Chantry, of Rev. J Wilkinson, the original of which is in the Parish Church, and a marble bust, by Mr. Edwin Law, of the late Mr Thos. Rawson, of Wardsend, with other portraits and busts of individuals of local celebrity.
PUBLIC HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY.
This institution is situated in West-street, and the front of the
building has a most elegant and tasteful appearance. It is of red and
white brick. The institution was originally established as a Dispensary only, in 1832. Subsequently, as the town grew, the want of
another infirmary became felt, and in 1857 a project was started for
establishing a hospital at the Dispensary, not in competitition with the
existing Infirmary, but to provide for wants which that institution
could not wholly supply. Mainly through the efforts of Dr. J. C. Hall,
sufficient money uas obtained during 1857 and the t- o following years
to carry out the undertaking. Accordingly the building was reconstructed so as to provide accommodation for about fifty beds. The
dispensary and hospital are now carried on simultaneously at the institution, which has proved to be of great utility in cases of seriousaccident occurring on that side of the town.
HOLLIS' HOSPITAL.
This institution was founded in 1703 by Mr. Thomas Hollis, a
merchant residing in London, but a native of Sheffield. He was an
earnest Nonconformist. He purchased the first Dissenting meetinghouse in Sheffield, called New Hall, together with the adjoining house,
which he converted into dwellings for sixteen poor widows. Though
the chapel has disappeared, the almshouses remain, in what is still
called Newhall-street. The trust property is yearly,- increasing in value.
Besides 7s. per week each paid to sixteen women, stipends are also provided for various Dissenting ministers and schoolmasters in the locality .
DEAKIN INSTITUTION.
This is a very valuable charity, the benefits of which are extending
considerably. It was established by Mr. Thomas Deakin, merchant,
who, at his death in 1849, bequeathed £3,000 to found an institution
for the benefit of unmarried women who need pecuniary help and who
believe the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as taught by the Church of
England. It was left on condition that another £3,000 should be
raised and added to it for the same object. This was accomplished in
1851, and the fund is still increasing year by year. The annuitants
now receive £20 per annum each, and they are selected from all parts
of England; but they must not be less than forty years of age. The
annuitants are elected by those who subscribe to the fund. The funds
of this excellent charity now amounts to about £10,700. At present
twenty persons are receiving annuities, and two more are to be elected
at the annual meeting in October, 186~. The Archbishop of York is
president, and Mr. A. Thomas, of Bank-street, solicitor, is honorary
secretary.
SHREWSBURY HOSPITAL.
This charity was founded in 1616, by Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury.
The building formerly stood adjoining the Lady's bridge, and subsequently occupied the site of the existing Corn Exchange and
Haymarket; but this structure was pulled down in 1827, and the
present buildings in the Norfolk-road (opposite the Cholera Monument) were erected. They comprise (with the spacious grounds adjoining) a series of almshouses not to be surpassed in the kingdom,
for convenience, comfort, healthfulness, and handsome appearance.
The property belonging to the charity has greatly increased in value,
and the recipients of it are very liberally treated. The patronage is
vested in the Duke of Norfolk. There are dwellings for twenty men
and twenty women. Each of the men receives 10s. a week, and each
of the women 8s. a week, besides which there is a periodical allowance
of coal and clothing. There are also twenty out-pensioners who receive
6s. a week. There is a chapel and a commodious house for the
governor and chaplain, the Rev. J. Stacye, M.A. In the original bequest it was directed that the charity should be for such as had " seen better days, but had been reduced by misfortune."
HANBEY'S AND HADFIELD'S CHARITIES.
The first of these charities arises from property bequeathed by Mr.
Thomas Hanbey in 1796. Besides a sum devoted to the maintenance
of six boys in the Charity School, there is an income of about £150
a year, which i~ employed for the annual distribution of clothing and
money to poor aged housekeepers, who must be respectable members
of the Church of England. This charity is under the management of
the Cutlers' Company. Emulating the example set by Mr. Hanbey,
Mr. Samuel Hadfield, as a Nonconformist, entertained the idea of providing the same benefit for his poor Dissenting brethren that his predecessor had for members of the Church. Mr. Hadfield expressed this
determination to his brother, Mr. George Hadfield (one of the present
members for the borough). When he died the bulk of his property
was left to Mr. George Hadfield; but there was no provision for the
fulfilment of his charitable desires. Mr. George Hadfield, however,
scrupulously carried out what he knew to be his brother's intentions,
and set apart £3,000, the interest of which is annually distributed, after
the manner of Hanbey's Charity, to " all classes and denominations
excluded from the benefits of Hanbey's Charity by reason of their not
being members of the Church of England." The charity is under the
control of the Cutlers' Company and the Mayor and aldermen for the
time being. There are some other minor bequests distributed among
the poor of the town, besides which there are
THE WITHERS' PENSIONS
A charity which has just been established by the late Miss Withers,
who in her will bequeathed £10,000 to the founding of a charity in
commemoration of her late brother, Benjamin Withers. It is provided
that the trustees of the fund are to keep in good repair the monuments
in St. Paul's Church of the Withers family, and to divide the annual
income in pensions of £10 each among widows or single women in reduced and needy circumstances, members of the Church of England,
and of the age of 50 years or upwards. The trustees are to meet
annually on the 26th October, the anniversary of the birthday of the
late Mr. Withers, in order to elect the pensioners for the ensuing year,
those of the past year being eligible for re-appointment.
INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
An institution for the support of blind persons has been originated by
Miss Harrison, a lady noted throughout this neighbourhood for her
Christian munificence. It is situated in West-street. It is entitled
the North of England Institution for the Blind, and is partly self-
supporting and partly maintained by subscription. The persons assisted are taught such trades as they can carry on without the use of
the eyesight, such as basket and mat-making, &c. The produce of
their fingers is purchased from them at a certain rate, and is disposed
of at the shop in West-street at fair market prices. About twenty
blind persons are maintained in this way.
LICENSED VICTUTLLERS ASYLUM.
This institution, which is in connection with the Sheffield and
Rotherham Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society, is intended for the
residence and support of members of the society, or their widows, who
need such help. It is a neat building situated within view of the Midland Railway, on the way from Masbro' to Sheffield. It is near Grimesthorpe, about three miles from the town. It was commenced in 1848,and was erected at a cost (with land) of £2,487. There are residences occupied by two widowers and five widows; and to each dwelling is attached a plot of garden ground, the whole area comprising
4.5 acres. Each unmarried person receives £15 a year for life, and each
married couple (when there are such inmates) £22 a year. It is intended to establish, in connection with this building, a school for the orphan children of licensed victuallers.
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Last modified on: Saturday, 9 September 2000