Those behind decision to axe Sheffield's famous time signal need to turn back clock and re-think

Time signal siren was beloved and yet oddly annoying since 1874

There are many things which we Sheffielders hold dear in our hearts - and the rest of the world probably thinks are completely bonkers.

The '1 O'Clock Time Signal', which has been described as a "Sheffield institution" by a local historian, has been removed | Iconic Media

placeholder image — The '1 O'Clock Time Signal', which has been described as a "Sheffield institution" by a local historian, has been removed | Iconic Media

The 1 o'clock time signal at H.L. Brown Jewellers in Sheffield city centre, on February 13, 2024

We grew up with them, they percolate our childhood memories and they offer topics over which we can reminisce with any fellow Sheffielder.

Talking about local pieces of history is surely better than just talking about the weather when you're trying to strike up a conversation on the bus?

As you know, The Star's office is right in the heart of town and something changed.

A strange screeching noise which was not pleasant on the ears has stopped and the city is not happy.

Last week we had the revelation that it was no more ... that the great 1 o'clock siren has been removed from the spot it held for generations.

It has made the beloved and yet oddly annoying noise since 1874, when Harris Leon Brown was trying to market his jewellers H. L. Brown - then on Angel Street - and came up with the ‘1 O’Clock Time Signal’.

Impossible to ignore, everybody who heard it for the first time questioned what it was and whether they should immediately head for an air raid shelter.

It was a very strange part of our heritage and it should have remained exactly that way.

Why would anybody remove it unless they just want to incur the wrath of an entire city?

The time signal is far from the only Sheffield icon that was a sight (or sound) for sore eyes and is no more.

We all still love and miss Elsie and Fred, don't we?

The Orchard Square clock strikes and Elsie the buffer girl and Fred the grinder appear, October 10, 2006 | nw

I am sure I wasn't the only child who would refuse to move until they had put in an appearance, surrounded by other youngsters gazing upwards in anticipation.

Orchard Square says it is “exploring options” for restoring the steel grinder and buffer girl in the clock tower. So they should!

The pair were a nod to Sheffield's cutlery-making history, and have lived inside the clock tower at Orchard Square since it opened in 1987.

They have sadly remained trapped inside - not able or allowed to put in a public appearance - for yonks.

In November bosses at the shopping courtyard said they were “exploring options” for restoring the cute couple.

We wait with baited breath to hear when they will be set free.

I'm sure there was also a large crocodile who lived downstairs in Orchard Square's food court but it clearly made less of an impact.

Does anybody else even remember that?

Thank goodness the swinging monkey was safely relocated from Castle Market to The Moor Market and is still there to be adored by all.

He flips for joy and yet, as far as I am aware, remains completely nameless.

What else has passed through the generations or vanished?

As this debate progressed in our office, one colleague piped up about the large area of empty space on Fargate.

Well, that had us all scratching our heads because of the many 'empty' spots on what was once a key shopping street.

Then I genuinely thought he was cracking a joke and calling for yet another shipping container settlement.

No, spin your mind back quite a lot further than that.

This was a call to reinstate Goodwin Fountain.

Sheffield's Goodwin Fountain in it's heyday back in 1994

I have a lot of soft spots for things that you can no longer see in town and I love a good water feature - but even the thought blew my mind.

You could have a very good discussion about whether what is there now (think Christmas markets and fairground rides) is better than what used to be, and I'm sure plenty of us have done exactly that.

Alas, the days when students used to empty bottles of washing up liquid into the water and delight at the mountains of bubbles are far behind us.

There are many more.

But there is only one more that all Sheffielders of a certain age still agree on.

It had fish in a tank tinged green by algae and smells of urine often filled the area from drunks caught short on their way home after a big night out.

Yet, woe betide anybody who says a bad word against the Hole in the Road.

We don't really want that back do we?

Probably not but we do love to look back with rose tinted glasses.

Shared memories, good or bad - it is what makes us Sheffielders and oh so proud.

Email me your favourites - [email protected] or write to Nancy Fielder, The Star, Fountain Precinct, Balm Green, Sheffield, S1 2JA - and let's skip down Memory Lane together.