Firbeck Hall's famous history
TODAY Firbeck Hall remains empty awaiting a decision on its future use.
Over the centuries the estate has had many differing roles, from the elegant country home of William West, a barrister who died in 1585 to the Jebb family, whom in 1934 sold the hall, leading to its conversion into one of the country's most exclusive sporting clubs.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, the hall became an annexe of the Royal Infirmary Sheffield, providing surgical and medical facilities.
The Air Ministry had placed a ban on all civilian flying for the duration of the war.
It tequisitioned the estate and the club's private aerodrome, turning part of the hall into the headquarters for RAF Firbeck.
This became the hme too four squadrons from 1940 to 1944.
With the end of the war, Firbeck Hall was purchased by the Miners Welfare commission, who set about transforming it into a rehabilitation centre for injured miners.
With the decline in the mining industry across the region the centre closed in 1984.
One of the most colourful periods was between the wars when, in 1935, leading Sheffield stockbroker Cyril Nocholson opened a private club, bringing the glamour of New York and atmosphere of Hollywood to pre-war Yorkshire.
An investment of 80,000 and over a year's conversion work turned the building and estate into a club that was described in publicity material as 'the most beautifully situated and appointed club in the United Kingdom'.
Set in its own 200 acres of landscaped grounds, the club was able to take full advantage of its rural location with meandering streams and placid lakes.
The ground floor featured a mirrored walled ballroom with a maple wood floor and a lighting system that changed the colour and tone of the room.
The reputation of the club grew so quickly that the BBC would transmit its weekly Saturday show Late Night Dance Music from Firbeck with Henry Hall, Carol Gibbons and Charlie Kunz.
More stories like this are available in the Dinnington Day's Gone By book, available to buy from the Guardian reception on Laughton Road.
- by Noel Wade, for Dinnington and District History Society
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Weather for Dinnington
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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