Story by Rob Smith
Having been fortunate to have resided in one of the proudly designed Italian ‘upside down’ houses on Woodside, I can now see they are gone, replaced by empty green spaces. But the last few wavyroofed houses still stand.
Some of the last residents of Woodside say these large family homes show heritage and should be saved.
Along with photographer Carl Rose, I went back to revisit the Woodside area and we could see for ourselves that the only houses left are two blocks of those large ‘wavy- roofed’ houses situated off Gray Street. On each of the blocks there are four wavy houses with visible signs that only one house on each block is occupied.
We went to the wonderfully kept wavy-roofed house that stands out beside three boarded properties. Number 8 Gray Street is owned by Nellie Ramsey who has lived there for over nineteen years, and watched the demolition of the maisonettes and other properties around her.
“I put up with all that dust. They informed me they’d knock us down three years ago and made me offers having done their own evaluation,” explained Nellie. “This offer was not satisfactory and for me Rob, it’s not all about the money. This is my home. As you can see, I’ve spent a lot of time and investment here.” Inside, the chandeliers and large black leather sofas blend in with the cocktail bar stools and ornamental dècor of Nellie’s front room and open kitchen area.
“This is a big four-bedroomed family house – two inside toilets and bathroom, storage and washing room space, large living room kitchen and dining area,” explained Nellie, whose partner Andrew took Carl proudly round the property to take pictures. Nellie added:
“The last three wavy-roofed houses are empty – the last person went last summer. There’s nothing wrong with them if they're looked after. Those others have been allowed to deteriorate. They are big family homes that I believe show heritage. They should be fixed up and have families put back in them,”
“Put up ya Christmas tree the man said”
Having refused the Council’s offer made in November 2003, Nellie wrote to the council notifying them of her decision. She said:
“At a meeting on 9th December 2003, Assistant Area Manager Carl Borg and colleague Graham Crowe, informed us the council weren’t pursuing the purchase of my property.”
“Put up ya Christmas tree the man said,” added Andrew, making his return.
“Yep, I was so excited I went out and bought a new kitchen,” added Nellie. “But less than a week later, on 16th December, Graham Crowe phones to say ‘Don’t put up the tree’. The Council had reneged on their decision and would be seeking to demolish the last wavy-roofed houses, including mine.”
Writing to Carl Borg in January 2004, Nellie stated the stress they were placing her under and asked for any further communication to be in writing. Having heard nothing she believed the decision to move her may have been defused – until yet another year later and a very recent phone call from a housing official.
He informed Nellie that because the Council did not have any schemes running in the area they couldn’t take out a compulsory purchase order now. “But he said by May 2005 they will have a scheme going that would let them place a compulsory purchase order, if I haven’t sold them my property,” said Nellie. “Again none of this has been put in writing.”
Save the wavy-roofed houses
Nellie’s wavy-roofed house was bought as a freehold property that means she owns both property and the land it’s on. “There are no neighbours because those who were Council tenants were forced to move.” As a home owner, Nellie’s position is different.
“They’ve been rehousing families on Shirecliffe, in properties that still have outside toilets, Rob,” adds Nellie angrily. “These wavy houses are unique, being the only ones of that design in Sheffield and I believe they should be invested in for families.”
We asked the New Deal if they could use their £1 million ‘stake’ to help save the wavy-roofed houses but they told us they have no influence on the demolition plans as these are part of a programme agreed by the Council’s Cabinet.