Catalogue description F. DOWNS AND SONS, butchers

This record is held by Sheffield City Archives

Details of SY/481/B
Reference: SY/481/B
Title: F. DOWNS AND SONS, butchers
Description:

Records of F. Downs and Sons, butchers, of Attercliffe, Rawmarsh and Tinsley
Date: 1876-1982
Held by: Sheffield City Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

F Downs and Sons, Attercliffe, butchers
Physical description: 19 Series
Access conditions:

Records are open for consultation unless otherwise indicated
Immediate source of acquisition:

On abolition of South Yorkshire County Council on 31 March 1986, the records passed from South Yorkshire County Record Office, by agreement of the four South Yorkshire District Councils, to the custody of Sheffield Archives as lead authority
Subjects:
  • Attercliffe, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
  • Tinsley, Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire
  • Rawmarsh, West Riding of Yorkshire
  • Bramley, Braithwell, West Riding of Yorkshire
Administrative / biographical background:

The Downs family are traditionally said to have come from Ireland to Bawtry in the 15th century and set up as graziers. In 1867, William Downs set up as a butcher in Rotherham. Four of his sons followed him into the butchery business. One of these, Frederick (1873-1950), opened his own shop in Attercliffe in 1896 followed by further shops at Tinsley (c.1924) and Rawmarsh (1928). In 1920 he purchased Flanderwell Farm at Bramley. He was succeeded by his son John Downs (1907-73).

 

The Tinsley shop was compulsorily purchased in 1964 to make way for the Tinsley Viaduct of the M1 motorway. In the same year the Rawmarsh property was sold for redevelopment. The continued depopulation of Attercliffe made the Attercliffe shop increasingly uneconomic and it closed in 1970

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