TOTLEY HALL

1950

11th September Totley College of Housecraft opened with 27 students

1951

December New dining room and catering kitchen opened.

1952

May First new training kitchens opened.

1952

November First University examination [normally at the end of year two of the course] owing to some disruption with building etc. we were allowed to defer the examinations until November of the third year

1953

January Highfield Hall of Residence opened, followed later in the year by

1953

14th July Official Opening of the College by Mrs Attlee

1957/58 Full inspection of the College in all aspects by a team of HMIs.

1958 Miss Cameron [first Principal] retired at the end of the spring term. Miss Metcalfe appointed Principal.

1963 First students to start the General Primary Teachers Course.

1963 First group of trained teachers to take a 1-year supplementary course in Home Economics.

1967 First men students [Primary Course]

1966/1968 Building on Lowfield site: teaching rooms, art studio, language laboratory, needlecraft rooms, lecture rooms, library, gymnasium, dining room, catering kitchen, staff and student common rooms, and Buchanan Hall.

1969 First students take a fourth-year course for the award of a B Ed

1972 Miss Metcalfe retired

Dr Banfield appointed Principal.

Amalgamation with Thornbridge Hall to form Totley Thornbridge

College of Education

1977 Sheffield City Polytechnic formed.

1992 Now Sheffield Hallam University

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLEGE AT TOTLEY

The Background

The background to the college was of course Totley Hall. It was described in the booklet published by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England dated 1954, as ‘the finest remaining building within the Green Belt”. It was bought in July 1944 by the City Council [see photograph]

At that time, just after the Second World War, there was a shortage of teachers of Home Economics and several colleges throughout the country were being opened offering teacher training in the subject. Totley Hall College of Housecraft was to be one.

It may be interesting to note some of the history relating to Totley Hall as researched

by our first English lecturer and written in the first college magazine dated 1951.

I quote from the magazine article here — the evidence of the Hall’s past is vague and contradictory. A newspaper

account of 1876 says that Totley Hall has long been known for its pure air than its gaiety, for its rum and milk than for the dryness to its antiquarian detail.

The Totley village of ancient standing appears in the Doomsday book of 1087 with the Saxon name of Totinglee or Tontenlee, the leah or forest clearing of Tota, probably a Saxon Thane. It was then held by the King’s Thanes and had a close connection with the abbots of Beauchief. Radulphe de Dore is referred to in 1382 as the Squire of Totley, and his descendants, the Barker family were connected with the property until the seventeenth century. The Arms over the fireplace in the entrance hall at Totley Hall are those of the Barker family, which seems to indicate that Edward Barker was living there in 1646 and might have been concerned with the building of Totley Hall in 1623.

There is an another account which identifies George Newbolt as the builder, and points to his initials over the front door with the date 1623. According to this history, the Hall was in the early seventeenth century owned by the Earl of Pembroke, for whom it was bought by his wife [of the family of the Earls of Shrewsbury] .His possessions in Totley were conveyed in 1630 to Stephen Bright for £1,850 which included the manor and six~ messuages, farms etc. together with the appurtenances for a corn mill in Totley, in the occupation of Edward Barker, gentleman.”

We have no more reliable news of Totley Hall until the late eighteenth century, when Andrew Gillimore, who died in 1791, left it to his niece Mrs Coke and it remained in the family for the next century. Rev. D'Ewes Coke at the beginning of the nineteenth century “took some pride in the old place and restored it with quaint furniture.” The owner in 1876, William Sacheverell Coke, lived in Nottinghamshire but his tenant F. Huntseems is said to have cared for it well. It was described in a newspaper article at that time as “one of those rambling old houses that grew rather than was built and is as irregular as the most erratic genius could desire”.

At this time, in 1876, the entrance was hung around with trophies of the chase and the instruments of the angler. It was furnished with a fine old dining table, oak chairs and a rack filled with pewter plates.

In the late nineteenth century it had been occupied by Mr Unwin Wing who made many alterations and added considerably to the building. It was then owned by William Aldham Milner. In the days of the Milners, the Totley children danced round the maypole on the lawn and crowned their May Queen. Miss Milner, a granddaughter [who was staying in Bakewell for a holiday] called to see us when the college had been open about ten years and she was very interested in the use being made of the Old Hall. She told me about the uses of the rooms when her grandmother lived there.

After the Second World War the Tozer family lived in the hall for a few years. Mrs Brian Johnston [nee Pauline Tozer] also called one day to see the changes in the old house.

and so in 1950 when Totley Hall College of Housecraft opened the Old Hall was used, at first as a residence for the Principal, two lecturers, some domestic staff and seven students, the ground floor housed the principal’s office, staff and students’ common rooms and a library. The inner hall was used as a dining room.

THE BEGINNING

I first saw Totley Hall in February 1950. I had been a lecturer at Leicester Domestic Science College since April 1943, working under an outstanding and far-seeing Principal and with an excellent head of department. I was very happy in my work and had learnt so much in so many ways during this time, but was it not time that I moved to pastures new? I had seen an advertisement for a senior lecturer at a new college that was to be opened in September, a Totley Hall near Sheffield. Should I apply? It was a difficult decision to make, and soon. Several new colleges were opening offering teacher training in Home Economics or Housecraft as it was called then. The decision was made for me in the verse of a hymn at Evensong on Sunday

Not mine but Thine the choice

In things both great and small

For Thou shall be my guide

My wisdom and my all.

On Monday morning I made an appointment to discuss the matter with the Principal.

Yes, she thought this was right for me and she would do all that she could to support my application. I lost no time in preparing my application, writing to referees etc. I heard nothing for some weeks but I knew that my references had been taken up. Eventually I was called for interview towards the end of February at the Education Office in Leopold Street. Three people were interviewed, all presently in college posts. Members of the Higher Education Committee, chaired by Alderman Marshall, plus the Chief Education Officer and the Principal Designate took part in the interview.

It was a bit nerve racking but I hoped that I did myself justice. I was first to be interviewed, and then a period of waiting, after which I was recalled and offered the post which was to be resident, at least for a year.

At this stage I had not been to Totley, and as I felt I could not accept until I had seen the College, Miss Cameron brought me to Totley. Builders were then in the process of converting the Old Hall; the pseudo terrazzo flooring was being put down over the old flag stones in the entrance. New building was also going on to make four teaching rooms and two double study-bedrooms. I remarked to Miss Cameron that it was going to be an uphill task. Sometime afterwards, she told me that she was afraid that I was going to withdraw at this stage. This had crossed my mind but I could see what a challenge it was going to be.

So back to Leicester for my last term there.

There was of course much preparation to be done in starting a new college, not least writing the syllabus for approval by the University, ordering equipment and library books etc. I was very fortunate in having a group of “emergency” trained teachers who were at Leicester for eight months’ specialist training, finishing their course at Easter. I had been a tutor responsible for this group and the Principal generously allowed me to use the free time resulting from their departure to work for Totley. In addition I had access to stock books etc. which was a great help in deciding on the extensive range of small equipment I should order.

I came to Sheffield for two “staff meetings” during the summer term, one on a Saturday at the Maynard Arms at Grindleford, where Miss Cameron was living until her accommodation was ready at Totley, and the second at Totley. Among other things we discussed uniform for practical classes and books and equipment which students would need to supply.

Four full-time lecturers had been appointed - Education, English and two Home Economics [one with special responsibility for Needlework and myself for Housecraft and Food Science]. In addition a domestic bursar, who was also responsible for the catering, a trained cook, a secretary and domestic staff, were appointed; many being local people.

To get the practical rooms ready and to sort out and mark equipment and library books, lecturers came two at a time for two weeks during the summer holiday. It was a good opportunity for us to get to know each other.

So we started on 11 th September 1950

Twenty-seven students registered for the three-year teachers course, twenty for residents, and three day students. Seven students lived in the Old Hall, four in the largest room and three in the other. Four students lived in the two new study-bedrooms and the rest were in local billets for bed and breakfast having all other meals in the college. We were greatly helped in finding billets by the Very Rev Frank Duckworth, Minister at the Union Church [now the United Reformed Church] who was on the college governing board. We lived in rather cramped quarters until more building was completed. The lecturer’s bed-sitting rooms were very small, one probably having been a dressing room of the large bedroom when the house was in private occupancy.

All the students followed the same course in the first year: Home Economics, Needlecraft, Education and English, with a period of general teaching practice procedure in the summer term. Applied Science formed an important part of the course but as we had no science laboratories students went to Abbeydale and Hurlfield Girls Grammar schools on two early evenings and on Saturday mornings, and they were taught by the science teachers. Later a part-time art teacher [later full-time] and a part-time PE mistress was appointed. We even managed to field a hockey team.

Miss Kellet and myself shared the warden’s, duties and with the domestic bursar we checked and locked up the building at night. We also had to turn off the huge electric heating boiler [we called it Frankenstein]. However the heating engineer lived nearby, on The Grove, and he came readily if we had any difficulties.

Before long Mr Earl was appointed as Building Maintenance Officer and relieved us of some of these duties. He was, however, still living in Dronfield until the building was completed to give domestic staff accommodation, and thus vacate the staff quarters in the Old Hall, to give the Earl family room.

At this time we were regularly subjected to lengthy electricity cuts, but we knew when. One of the Home Economic Rooms was entirely electrically-powered and whoever was teaching in this room had to get up very early to get the hot water before the class began, so that at least some practical work such as hand-laundry work could be started, and finished when the power came back. Some power cuts were in the late afternoon, but happily this often coincided with the students’ visits to Abbeydale and Hurlfield.

The syllabus had to be approved by the University. The late Mr Trevor Edwards, who was Secretary at the Institute of Education, gave us a lot of help with our contacts with the University.

A lot of local interest was shown and we entertained various groups of visitors, for example, the billet hostesses, members of the local churches etc.

The Council for the Preservation of Rural England showed an interest as a public footpath ran across the proposed building site, but access for walkers was made around the perimeter.

A small exhibition of students’ work was shown at an Open Day towards the end of the year. One exhibit that created a lot of interest was a comparison of old and new methods of care of fabrics. Nylon had just become available for underwear and I was able to get some old. very voluminous cotton underwear with many tucks, and trimmed with broderie anglaise, etc. Also we had old equipment to compare with modern types. There were also food exhibits. All in all, it was a good PR exercise, with students acting as hosts to the visitors.

We looked forward to the second year with the promise of new accommodation and a further intake of twenty-four students. The full number of students was to be one hundred and forty, forty-eight each year, as soon as the building was completed. This was to increase to fifty-four per year in the early 1 960s, when it was found more teachers were required.

ONWARDS

It is impossible to write in a detailed account of each year’s activities so I shall give a general picture and pick out a few important and interesting events.

Until the summer of 1953 building was going on all the time. More accommodation for teaching and for administration purposes was built, and also residence for staff and students. Flats for six staff and study bedrooms, mostly single, for 144 students, were available in the Hall of Residence by 1953. The first students moved in during January 1951 while the building was still going on. At last the entire building was ready for the official opening on 14th July 1953 [details of this event later].

Students were now able to specialise in the final year having taken the basic course examination. The options were Advanced Cookery, Nutrition and Needlecraft [including Dressmaking and Art-related], Home Management and Family Studies.

Having more specialised rooms made working conditions much easier and students had been able to make suggestions for the interior set-up of rooms. As we now had science laboratories, students no longer had to go to the schools for their science work. All students had a period of running a flat [housekeeping, cleaning, cooking, budgeting, entertaining etc] when the Home Management flats were ready. Usually four students lived in a flat for a mouth, one doing the housekeeping each week and the others going to their normal college timetable.

Periods of teaching practice took place each year, the final practice being four weeks’ duration in the spring term of year three. Then students were thinking about applying for teaching posts. Twenty-three students finished the course in 1953, two having left as they decided teaching was not for them, one had to leave because of illness and another transferred to a general course at another college. All students qualified and obtained teaching posts. We made many friends with teachers in Sheffield schools and I still correspond at Christmas with one of the teachers who helped students in our first group. As the numbers grew we had to go further afield to schools in Rotherham and Chesterfield

We made our contacts with members of the local community through open days, entertaining in the Home Management flats, and by adult demonstrations by students following the Advanced Cookery Course. There was a good relationship with the local churches and many students were invited to weekend meals by church families.

STUDENTS’ UNION AND SOCIAL OCCASIONS

The Student Union progressed and various societies were formed: Dramatic, Athletic, Entertainment, Music, Gardening and, later, Christian Union.

The Dramatic Society produced several plays every year, ably supported by Miss Plowright [English lecturer]. The first performance was scenes from Twelfth Night and as we had no hall in the first year, this took place on the lawn in front of the Old Hall. The first full-length play was in the dining hall in 1951 “She Stoops to Conquer”. As numbers increased it was easier to cast plays and by 1952 we had the new Assembly Hall with a stage and a green room. Outside audiences, mostly friends and local people, were invited and the productions were for two or three evenings. Amongst these plays I remember were “The Chocolate Soldier”, “I Have Five Daughters”, “Blyth Spirit”, “The Insect Play,” and “1066 and All That”, the last one, having a large cast. Many of the costumes were made in college with the help of Miss Meakin, needlecraft lecturer. Later in the 1960’s, when the Primary Course offered Drama as a main subject, this department took the responsibility for the college plays. Some of these were performed in the Buchanan Hall on the Lowfield site.

The Athletic Society had some very enthusiastic members and we did indeed field hockey, netball and tennis teams. When numbers were small the choice of team was limited and I think we lost more matches than we won, although perhaps we were rather better at tennis. A Sports Afternoon for staff and students took place during the summer term on the top field and Mrs Oldfield, a part time lecturer, helped with athletic activities.

The Music Society was small to start but later on a choir was formed, and this progressed when a music lecturer was appointed for the Primary Course. The choir sang at the Christmas Carol Service which first took place in the Assembly Hall and later, on the last Sunday of term, in All Saints’ Church.

The Entertainment Society flourished, their main activities being the college dances, which were quite elegant affairs in evening dress with students introducing their partners to Miss Cameron, an arrival. Students made all the refreshments, which were very much appreciated by visitors. A bonfire party was arranged for a few years and we had teams making toffee apples for this [supervised by me!]

The Gardening Society planted some flowerbeds outside the Old Hall and bought bulbs for inside and out, but this ceased when a full time gardener was appointed.

Throughout the years open days and evenings were organised by the college each year, towards the end of the summer term, when examples of work were displayed with some students actually doing practical work in which visitors showed great interest.

As with all institutions, things did not always run smoothly! Early in 1952 it was discovered that the woodwork in the Old Hall was riddled with death-watch beetle and furniture beetle [see press cutting]. One of the large beams in the entrance ball was just like sand inside. My bedroom was just above this so I had a lucky escape in not falling through. It is surprising that it was not discovered earlier.

Another problem we had, this time in the new building, was flooding. We had very heavy rain during a thunderstorm. Totley Hall Lane was like a river and for a time impassable to traffic. I particularly remember one evening when we were hoping to entertain an external examiner at the theatre but there was so much water in the lane that we had to stay put. About this time water came in the back door of the Old Hall and also cascaded down the steps at the back of the residential block. On this occasion students vigorously brushed the water away from the common room to prevent damage to the wood-block floor. The fire brigade came to pump water out from the basement and we cooked bacon and eggs for them at midnight.

We had already experienced water lifting the wood-block floor in the demonstration theatre. It seems that excavation for building had caused the water to flow down the hillside and in December 1951 the boilers, which were in place for the building of the residential block, were submerged in water [I have a photograph of this. I understand there are many springs in the area.]

In the autumn of 1958, after a dry spell, the moors above Totley were on fire. This was a spectacular sight from the Hathersage road, albeit rather frightening. Following this, one Sunday we had a dust storm and everywhere was covered with a thick layer of dust; it was so penetrating. We could not do any practical work on the Monday until all the equipment had been washed and the teaching kitchens were badly affected as the wind blew in that direction.

In late 1957 we had a full inspection of all aspects of the college by a team of HMI. I expected that this might be quite stressful but it was very thorough and I found it most stimulating and worthwhile. Perhaps I can say, in hindsight, I enjoyed it! The inspectors were courteous and helpful. A full report went to the Governing Body and we were able to see our particular subject report.

In 1958 the summer term saw a change of Principal when Miss Cameron retired, having set a firm foundation and expectation of a high standard of work. Miss Metcalfe was appointed Principal

There were a few years of consolidation but it was not long before there were to be major changes. There was still a shortage of teachers and in 1963 a three-year Course for Primary School Teaching was started. Again we started with a small number of students and a limited number of main subjects was offered. All the students following this course took Education, one main subject and a wide range of curriculum studies for the primary school. Stuff experienced in primary schools was appointed, in addition to main subject lecturers. As all the Home Economic students were trained to work in secondary schools this was an interesting and welcome development. Later in this course some work in Home Economics was included but it was on a somewhat different basis.

So much can be taught and learnt at a very early age by using food as a medium. I was very interested in all this and I wanted to see, first hand, what young children do practically. To this end I had a class of staff “offspring”’ for a few weeks after school and I certainly learnt as much as the children did! But I think we all enjoyed it. A Saturday morning class of various activities was arranged in conjunction with Abbey Lane School, where Mr Craig [Education Lecturer] had been headmaster. Activities included games, PE, drama and of course cookery. The latter was very popular and we had queues outside the kitchen door long before the class started, all assured me they had brought their aprons and money. Of course the numbers had to be limited so it needed a bit of diplomacy to sort things out, but they all did have a turn in the end.

As a result of activities in this field we ran some evening short courses, supported by the LEA, for teachers in primary schools and we had some interesting open evenings at the end of the course.

Meanwhile, we were asked to take a few more Home Economic trainees so our numbers increased to 54 intake, instead of 48. For three years, from 1963, we ran a one-year supplementary course for trained general subject teachers in secondary level, to qualify them to teach home Economics. We had some delightful people with a wide range of experience on this course and they fitted in very well with the younger students. A bit later a number of mature students took the full-time courses in all fields. 1967 saw the first male students.

So, by now, we were a “mixed” college. From 1966 to 1968 expansion was rapid, due to demand, and on the Primary Courses a “box and cox” system had to be used. That is half the students were in schools whilst the other half were in college, with a change at half-term.

Building went on at the Lowfield site teaching rooms, which included an art studio, a language laboratory, needlecraft rooms, lecturer rooms, a library, a resource centre and a gymnasium. A residential block for 164, a dining room, a catering kitchen for staff and students, a common room, various offices and a sick bay was added. So it seemed that the building was completed on the lower site.

However a new Environmental Studies unit was also built adjoining the Home Economics teaching block, and a Students Union a bit higher up.

By 1969 moves were afoot to make teaching graduate and professional, and the first few students, provided they had reached a high standard in the certificate course and had good practical grades, were able to take a fourth year leading up to a B Ed degree.

1972 was another turning point, when the Principal of Totley and Thombridge Hall Colleges retired at the same time, and a new Principal to cover both colleges was appointed. Totley and Thombridge gradually came together, working on both sites for a short while. Then both staff and students from Thornbridge came to the Totley site and after much deliberation the college was renamed Totley Thornbridge College of Education.

THE WEEK AHEAD

RADIO NORTH HOME SERVICE 19th July 1953

Totley Hall Training College of Housecraft

to be opened by Mrs C R Attlee on 14th July

Next Tuesday Mrs Attlee is coming to Sheffield to open the new Totley Hall Training College of Housecraft. As she will enter the college grounds she will see first of all a small attractive stone house dating back to the seventeenth century and set in the lovely southern stretch of Sheffield’s green belt. Beyond the house she will find a great range of new buildings designed as “good neighbours” to the Old Hall, which houses probably the finest and most up-to-date facilities in the country for training housecraft teachers.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING

14 JULY 1953

The last phase of the building being completed, plans were made for the college to be opened officially. Miss Cameron was keen that this ceremony should take place before the first group of students left college.

We were told by the Education Committee that Mrs Attlee [later Lady Attlee] had accepted an invitation to perform the opening ceremony on 14th July and plans went ahead.

Mrs Attlee came to college in the morning to look round and to talk to staff and students. We found her very friendly and most interested in all that was going on. The formal ceremony took place in the Assembly Hall starting at 230pm. In addition to Governors, representatives from the Education Committee and the Institute of Education [Sheffield University] there was an invited audience including parents and some Principals from other Home Economic [Domestic Science] colleges.

A copy of the afternoon programme together with some information given in the official opening brochure follows [if it can be reproduced].

The afternoon ended with afternoon tea, most of which was prepared by the students. This was served in the Old Hall and in the new dining room. Visitors were invited to look round the college where students’ work was on display in most of the rooms. A short dress parade showed students wearing dresses, skirts and blouses made in the needlecraft and dressmaking classes.

All in all it was a very happy, albeit an exhausting day.

THE ANIMALS AT TOTLEY

Animals did not play a large part in college life but I thought it might be worth recording some of the amusing and more serious incidents relating to animals.

Our first animal resident was the Principal’s cat named Tikki. It was soon evident that Tikki was a female and expecting kittens. The kittens were born, but where? We all searched but without success. It was about the same time that the woodwork in the Hall was being treated and, in connection with this, the floorboards were taken up in the library. The floorboards had been put back but were the kittens under the floor? -the boards must be taken up again! No kittens were there. A few days later Tikki arrived home carrying a kitten, left it and went to collect another. Someone watched her movements and she emerged from the buildings that had been the stables in the past. I can’t remember how many more kittens there were but I think Tikki was adopted after this incident.

Next, the dogs. First Blackie, a little overweight black dog belonging to Miss Plowright. He did not play an important part in college life as he was a non-resident. Next came Bob, the Principal’s dog. A loveable mongrel, who was a real character, but as far as I can remember, died after a while. Next came Miss Metcalfe’s Jack who had been rescued from a not too kind master and did not trust men. He was a sheep dog and had a bad habit of attacking people’s ankles [one student said that you needed iron gaiters on when he was about]. He excelled himself one evening by pulling to pieces a mock fur bonnet belonging to a member of staff. Panic followed when a large fur hook on it was missing. Had he swallowed it? I don’t think this was possible but there was no rest until it was found. You either loved or were terrified of him:

I suppose the animals that caused the most problems were the cows from the farm next door. If the main gate was open when the cows were brought in from the fields for milking they followed one another into the college grounds, trampling all over the flower beds and the lawn. The whole herd came in one evening when it was dark. Imagine the job to get them out. The “funniest” episode was on a Sunday morning: I could see the cows on the lawn from my sitting room windows so I went to help get them out. One cow detached herself from the herd and wandered up the drive on to the terraces.

There was an audience from the windows of Highfield Hall of Residence but no one dared to come out to help me; they were enjoying my dilemma. At last one student came and we managed to get the cow to go down the back drive and one of us dashed down to prevent it coming up the front again. An exercise not to be recommended on a Sunday morning!

Then there was Violet, the off-white horse who was given to visiting. One Saturday afternoon she put her head through the open window of the Principal’s Office, trampling on the newly-planted flowerbed. A student who was used to dealing with horses came and rattled a bucket, presumably with some food in it.. to persuade Violet to follow her off the premises. She came on other occasions; once when the lawn was covered with pure white snow. Violet looked anything but white.

One other dog I had forgotten to mention was Honey, a guide dog to a visiting lecturer who was blind. Honey was a big dog who had a liking for cheese. One lunch-time she gobbled up all the cheese on the staff trolley but she did not seem to suffer any after effects

Lastly, not forgetting the mice who came up from the cellar into the warmth of the Hall. I was anything but happy!

From time to time we had birds and bats come in through open windows and they never wanted to go out the way they came in. We did have a pair of spotted woodpeckers in the garden and students complained that their tapping on the trees awakened them.

The Old Students’ Association recognised Miss Metcalfe’s love of dogs and raised money to train two dogs in her memory. We knew that she would have approved of this.

SOME AMUSING MEMORIES

To end on an amusing note.

Some of these I mentioned in the Old Students’ magazine a year or two ago.

The “missing “front gate

One Friday evening about midnight, Mr Earl rang me to say that the front gate was missing. How could a large and heavy gate like that go missing? I rang the police, hastily dressed and Mr. Earl and I went in search of the gate; even going up as far as the main road. No sign of the gate. But as we were coming down the lane we met a group of lads who evidently knew that the gate was missing. It was the weekend of the University Rag. We gave up the search, anticipating a herd of cows coming through the open entrance in the morning!

Some half an hour later the police arrived to announce that they had located the gate and found the culprits who were just carrying it up from where they had dumped it, in the swampy ground at the bottom of the Lowfield site [there was no building here at that time]. I can’t remember how we got it put back but it must have been a hefty task carrying it up. The police were not amused with the culprits.

Do you remember?

Who, at the end of their course, tied a large number of oranges on an apple tree in a lecturer’s garden with a label “Have you had your Vitamin C today?” She said she enjoyed eating the oranges.

Who got a Sally Lunn stuck either side of the bars at the top of an electric oven? She never allowed the dough to rise.

Who fell down a manhole in the corridor? Fortunately, uninjured, but amazed?

Who put shredded suet in the desiccated coconut jar? Why did the coconut pyramids spread?

Who rolled the sausages in icing sugar instead of seasoned flour when making Toad in the Hole? Result was a nice brown glaze but discovered by me when I had some for lunch.

Who had to climb through the hatch to get out of the housecraft dining room after the handle of the door came off? This was a whole group of students and two staff -someone went back for the roast chicken for lunch!

Who had been locked in and out of Totley Hall at least twice, once quite late at night? No prizes for guessing this one!

I have more amusing memories but enough for now.

Yes. we were not infallible but these incidents certainly added ‘spice’ to life at Totley.

No longer a College of Education

And so to 1977: The Polytechnic, the City Training College and Totley/Thombridge

College of Education amalgamated to form Sheffield Polytechnic, later to become

Sheffield Hallam University.

There have been rumours over the last few years that the college site was to be closed. The closure is now imminent, the date being given as July 1999.

At the time of writing no details are available about the future use of the buildings although there have been rumours circulating. I feel most concerned about the Old Hall [Totley Hall]. I hope that it will be preserved in a good state - part of the building being as early as 1623.

I cannot help feeling somewhat sad at the college closure and what it will mean to Totley, having watched it develop over nearly 50 years. I watch and listen with interest.

TO THE FUTURE

MAY 1999

A footnote from June Smith

April 1999

I went up to the Totley Site to have a look for myself and I have to say that “Totley” looks a sad sight

All the students have gone

The Old Hall [Totley Hall] is boarded up - the Lower Site is left derelict and falling to pieces [It was kept intact until about a month ago when unfortunately it was vandalised.] - and the Top Site is all fenced off by the front and side driveways [ready for building, I suppose] - the teaching and residential blocks still stand.

The land is to be used for housing development and access to the Top Site is to be from Totley Lane. Two and three-bedroom houses are to be built on the lower site and more expensive four and five bedroom-houses are to be built on the top site. The Hall is to be “restored” and converted into luxury flats.

Something must be done with the site before it becomes more of an eyesore. Demolition and building is to be started this summer.

From the Official Opening Brochure

OPENING CEREMONY

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Alderman J H Bingham. L.L.D., J.P.) will preside

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Alderman Peter Buchanan, IP)

will accord a civic welcome to Mrs Attlee

THE STUDENTS’ CHOIR

“Diaphenia”

“Five Eyes”

“Cargoes”

STATEMENT BY

The Chairman of the Training of Teachers Sob-Committee

(Alderman S H Marshall, J.P.)

CHORAL SPEECH - FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

“The Scythe Song”.

Speech from “Zeal of Thy House”,

Scene III

ADDRESS AND FORMAL OPENING OP THE COLLEGE BY

MRS C R ATLEE