Cuthbert Bank was
used for pigeon racing for over one hundred years. Before the industrial
revolution, the bank would have overlooked the fertile land around the River
Don. There have been many changes since then.
Terrace houses used
to sit directly below the bank, known as the ABC streets. When the houses were
demolished there was a playing field for a number of years. Then the Penistone
road was redirected along the foot of the bank, changing its character even
more. Once a bare hillside dotted with pigeon lofts, now Cuthbert Bank is completely overgrown, some trees being nearly eighty foot in height. The remains of the pigeon lofts are slowly returning to the earth.
Pat Halliwell was a
member of the Walkley Flying Club, who used to meet in the Cuthbert Bank Hotel.
Art in the Park was lucky enough to meet up with him and learn about the
history of the site. Click the link below to listen to what he had to say.
Pat Halliwell on Cuthbert Bank, circa 1970's, taken after the demolision of the ABC streets, before the re-routing of the Penistone Road. Photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Pat Halliwell outside his pigeon loft, 2013, photo courtesy Art in the Park
Two generations of the Witham family, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Pigeons on Cuthbert bank, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Pigeons on Cuthbert Bank, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Mr Lumb's pigeon loft, Cuthbert Bank, circe 1970's. Photo courtesy Colin H. New
Newspaper cutting on the 'Walkley Trio', photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Mr Whitham, circa 1970's, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Liberation (location unknown), photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Pigeons above Cuthbert Bank, circa 1970's, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
The Witham loft, Cuthbert Bank (with Cuthbert Bank Hotel in the background), circa 1970's, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Mr Witham outside his loft, circa 1970's, photo courtesy the Witham/ Halliwell collection
Artswalk, Cuthbert Bank, 2013, photo courtesy Art in the Park
Artswalk, Cuthbert Bank, 2013, photo courtesy Art in the Park
After the Cuthbert Bank Artswalk, in Hillsborough Pavilion, 2013, photo courtesy Art in the Park
