Sheffield Butchers
Jack Prescott
(Feathered World) Jun 2000
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A
hot-bed for Tipplers in the very early days. Mr. Carnelli had a
butcher's shop half a mile further along this, the old Sheffield to
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If, someday, you come to Sheffield to visit our Stadium or our Arena, you will find no evidence that this area of Carbrook and Attercliffe was ever a Flying Tippler hot-bed. I do not suppose that the present landlord of the Inn, which is close to the Arena, is aware of the pub's involvement with Tipplers, long before 1900. Then, not a quarter of a mile away was the historic Carbrook Hall Inn - also absolutely soaked in pigeon history. My family lived in this district from at least 1850 and I was born there and grew up with local Flying Tippler men all around. My father was a racing man, but my two grandfathers flew Tipplers and so did my great grandfather - Thomas Prescott.
Now, I have written about the exploits involving Andrew Atter in our Feathered World. He was, without a doubt, a dedicated pigeon man who would fly anything. He was a local butcher who had his shop on the main Attercliffe Road in Carbrook.
It is remarkable how many Sheffield butchers kept pigeons up until the war in 1939. Mr Redfern had about 50 Flying Cumulets-beautiful pigeons they were and on fine Sunday mornings-bis large flock could be seen flying high in compact formation. I do not believe that Mr Redfern ever took part in a show and neither did Andrew Atter. However, directly across the road from Andrew Atter's s butcher's shop, there was another butcher's shop, the proprietor was Mr Carnelli. He and his young family lived there. Old Mr Carnelli- I never saw him without his straw hat and he had one of those pointed waxed moustaches-was a very jovial old man indeed.
For many years the Carnelli family had a special routine and this involved pigeons, this is how it was, probably from about 1850 to 1935. A member of the family would ride a horse from Carbrook to Doncaster - which is about 18 miles. Doncaster was, at the time a very important livestock market. This family member would take along at least three pigeons - of the racing type. Depending on what bargains were available, this agent would notify his father by carrier pigeon. The agent might have bought cows for slaughter in the back yard of the shop. He may have seen fit to buy pigs or a few sheep. He may have snapped up a couple-of-dozen fowls - or often he would buy nothing.
A brief note fixed to the leg of these pigeons would provide information about transport that would be needed, if any. If cattle had been bought two extra men would ride to Doncaster and drive the cattle back to Sheffield with no carts required. Pigs or sheep would require a horsedrawn cart or perhaps two or three. Fowls - just a light pony and trap. In the event of no purchases - the agent would write a message to say so and perhaps ride on to Gainsbro' which was another market town. The agent would detain two or three pigeons for release from Gainsbro'.
What a difference now? Telephones, even mobile phones that can even be used when driving a car, but in those days there were no phones. Even when phones arrived, a lot of business people didn't like them. It was just the same with transport. Motor vehicles were available - but a lot of local butchers and tradesmen still used horse-drawn transport. Right up until the 1939 war a lot of horses were used.
The war changed everything. We ate the horses out of a job - due to the beef and general food shortages 1942 to 1955. Horse flesh was sold in three Carbrook and Attercliffe shops owned by the Baldock family. Then of course, all business people had to have a phone.
Much better now, isn't it? We ought to be more content and more happy?
Dear readers - it gives me no pleasure to tell you that my grandfathers were happier men than I am.