Thread: The Sheffield Flood

We seem to use the records of the 1864 Sheffield flood a lot to find out about makers at that time, as they all wanted compensation! Interesting, at least!
Here's a link.
Sheffield Flood Claims Archive | Postscript to the Sheffield Flood

Originally Posted by sharptonn

We seem to use the records of the 1864 Sheffield flood a lot to find out about makers at that time, as they all wanted compensation! Interesting, at least!
Here's a link.
Sheffield Flood Claims Archive | Postscript to the Sheffield Flood

As an insurance adjuster I find this incredibly interesting. Great read.

"T.C. Fawley estimated that he had lost 2000 skins, ‘salted grains’ , ‘Chamose leather’ , ‘Spetches’ , also stocks of dog manure, packing cases and salt."
I surely hope my old English strops have nothing to do with the "dog manure"!

Originally Posted by Lemur

"T.C. Fawley estimated that he had lost 2000 skins, ‘salted grains’ , ‘Chamose leather’ , ‘Spetches’ , also stocks of dog manure, packing cases and salt."
I surely hope my old English strops have nothing to do with the "dog manure"!

Well, all chemicals were naturally occuring things back then. Urine was used for many things, why not dog poop?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, all chemicals were naturally occuring things back then. Urine was used for many things,

Like tanning leather.

Your razor is sterilized, your brush has been sterilized, the soap has been made under the most rigorously controlled conditions and your strop has been smeared with dog poo!

Originally Posted by Lemur

"T.C. Fawley estimated that he had lost 2000 skins, ‘salted grains’ , ‘Chamose leather’ , ‘Spetches’ , also stocks of dog manure, packing cases and salt."
I surely hope my old English strops have nothing to do with the "dog manure"!

Don't worry. If it wasn't the strops, it was the scales!

It could be worse. Beware vintage ales.

Also, I have an 1860's pocket scalpel that is still caked in blood. That's how I learned that yes, in fact, I can tell the difference between rust and blood just by looking.

Before hygiene theory came along, an implement that was gooey with stuff was one that had seen a lot of use and was therefore well suited to the task!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Don't worry. If it wasn't the strops, it was the scales!

It could be worse. Beware vintage ales.

Also, I have an 1860's pocket scalpel that is still caked in blood. That's how I learned that yes, in fact, I can tell the difference between rust and blood just by looking.

Before hygiene theory came along, an implement that was gooey with stuff was one that had seen a lot of use and was therefore well suited to the task!

Ohh, come on, your not gonna pull that one about "small small animals that can't be seen".
We all heard that one before and... right!

On the topic; there is so much information that can be had from that record and it makes for very fun reading indeed!

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Like tanning leather.

Yup, mediaeval tanning recipes included both urine and dog poop in the tanning process. It worked then, so I see no reason to think its use didn't continue until other alternatives became available. If it ain't broke, and all that...

BTW, how do you like "Vermin Destroyer" as a job title?!

Thanks for sharing that

Originally Posted by Lemur

Ohh, come on, your not gonna pull that one about "small small animals that can't be seen".
We all heard that one before and... right!

On the topic; there is so much information that can be had from that record and it makes for very fun reading indeed!

I know... I know... Animacules are completely ridiculous...

And yes, the flood database is an amazing resource! I'd found it a couple of months ago and spent several days ... er... swimming in it.