Norton

This fascinating collection of over 200 old photographs and other documents records the vanished rural community of Norton as it was in the first half of the twentieth century. The old parish of Norton extended over a much wider area than present-day Norton, encompassing Bradway, Greenhill, Woodseats and Norton Lees; this book reflects these ancient boundaries. It was originally a mainly agricultural area, although from the sixteenth century the yeoman farmers used local iron deposits to manufacture scythes and many cottagers made nails. Formerly the northernmost outpost (the 'North-ton') of the Scarsdale Hundred of Derbyshire, the parish was encroached upon by the city of Sheffield in several stages after 1900. This expansion changed the nature of the area for ever. The book is divided into thematic chapters dealing with aspects of the old, more leisurely, way of life, including schooldays, churches, home life and local services. Many of the larger houses are also featured, several of which remained in private ownership until the 1980s, and the names of the influential families connected with them live on in the history books. This compilation is sure to appeal to all those who know Norton, both long-established residents and newcomers alike.