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Albert Bibbs - Rotherham's Golden Balls
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John Guest in his “Historical Notices of Rotherham”
and George Gummer in “Reminiscences of Rotherham”
remember, but do not expand on Mr Albert Bibb’s role in
the town’s affairs around the middle of the 19th century.
However Mr Bibbs did contribute a short paper for “Historic
Notices”.
Mr Bibbs acquired the deeds of Heaven Chambers,
Church Street, Rotherham in 1857 having carried on the business
of pawnbroker and jeweller there since 1851. George Gummer informs
us that he was familiarly known as “The Bombardier”,
but gives no explanation for this nickname. Heaven Chambers were
not as sublime, however, as the name might suggests. The premises
were next to the Parish Church, but also neighbour to the Ring
o’ Bells and the occupants of the Chambers encountered many
problems associated with a 19th Century ale house.
Mr Bibbs moved to new premises in 1863 and
occupied premises in High Street, next to the Brown Bear, where
he carried on the business of auctioneer, pawnbroker and, jeweller.
Around this time he also became a partner is Slinn Searle and
Co,who owned a small brewery in the old flax mill, Market Street.
Around this time Mr Bibbs was also looking
for a more suitable residence for himself and family and chose
a property in Moorgate, which was becoming very fashionable in
the middle 19th Century. Moorfield Villas, Boston Castle Lane,
came up for auction and in 1867. Mr Bibbs secured the property
and took up residence there. Although his new residence was near
to the new cemetery there was a healthy distance between the boundary
wall and his new home. George Haywood, a partner in Yates and
Haywood owned Moorgate Allotment directly adjacent to his property
and vines and soft fruit were grown in abundance.
In addition to his business activities, Mr
Bibbs took his public duty seriously and was a member of Board
of Guardians and the Rotherham and Kimberworth Local Board.
The first municipal elections were held in
1871, when Rotherham was granted a Charter of Incorporation under
Queen Victoria.
With the exception of three, all the members
of the old Local Board of Health, including Albert Bibbs, offered
themselves for election. Unfortunately Mr Bibbs,along with two
others, was unsuccessful in his campaign for election to the town’s
first council.
Shortly after the Council elections, a little
book appeared, dedicated to William Whitfield, the new town clerk.
The book was published by one “Thomas ye Rhymer” in
recognition of the energy and perseverance by which the incorporation
of the Borough had been brought about.
In the preface the author states:
I deem it certain that they are works which
in future will prove mines of wealth to succeeding chroniclers
of the history of our Borough, more particularly when they come
to treat of that glorious never to be forgotten event –
the granting of our Charter of Incorporation.
George Gummer chose to publish the rhyme
relating to the battle which took place for the West ward between
Albert Bibbs (ye lay of ye golden balls) and Abraham Taffinder,
jeweller and watchmaker (Ye master of ye pendulum). The lengthy
rhyme , 25 verses in all, chronicles the rise and fall of. Bombardier
Bibbs.
Ye Lay of Ye Golden Balls:
The Bombardier
of Rotherham
By the nine gods he was swore
That the ancient house of Bibbs
Should suffer wrong no more;
By the nine gods he swore it
And named a trysting day;
And bade his messengers go forth,
East and West and South and North
To summon his array.
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East and
West and South and North
The messengers run fleet;
And fast explore each hidden court,
And quickly scour each street.
Shame on the coward voters
That linger in their homes
When Bibbs the Bold of Moorgate
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But when the cheery Bellman’s voice
Told dwellers in our town
That Albert though defeated once
Had thrown the gauntlet down
Then rose a gallant watchman
High Taffinder by name
Who swore that ere such thing should be
The vacant seat he‘d claim.
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At last arrives the day of fight
And through the open doors
Of Rotherham’s finest building
Voters enter by the scores;
First one for Bibbs then three for Taff
One more for Bombardier;
Then cab on cab for Taffinder
Are hailed with rapturous cheer;
And faster now and still more fast
Opposing chariots drive;
And load on load crowd through the doors
As bees swarm through the hive.
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In vain oh gallant Bibbs
Thy friends try every art
Yet once again in public
To let thee play a part;
Thy comrades of the Board
Will miss thy blooming face;
Throw up the sponge, bold Bombardier
Lost is the hard fought race.
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Hark to the sound of cheering!
Hark to that long loud shout!
Proclaim thee, Bibbs defeated,
As councillor thrown out
In seclusion, hide thine anguish
To Moorgate’s shades retire
And on thy woes in stern repose,
Sit brooding o’er the fire.
Tear down the signs of contest
From off thy ancient walls
For Abraham’s victorious
O’er the triple golden balls.
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Three years after the town’s
first elections, following the death one of the town’s
Aldermen, a vacancy arose in the East Ward. Albert Bibbs
on this occasion was successful , after defeating Alderman
W H Gummer by a majority of ten. His success, sadly was
short lived and in November of the same year the two opponents
met again and Alderman Gummer won by a majority of 20 votes.
This defeat appears to have heralded the end of Mr Bibb’s
political ambitions and he directed his attention to domestic
matters.
Following the death in 1883 of his near
neighbour, George Haywood of Rotherstoke, the small allotment
adjacent to his home, which formed part of Mr Haywood’s
estate came up for auction. The allotment up to that point,
as previously mentioned, had provided a buffer zone between
his property and the cemetery. Mr Bibbs heard word that
the Burial Board was interested in acquiring the piece of
land as a second extension to the burial ground. and had
gone so far as to engaged a solicitor to ascertain the price
and condition of the land. Furthermore the vines grown on
the land were to be auctioned off.
Disillusioned with Rotherham in 1886,
the Bombardier moved to pastures new and took up residence
in Broomhill in neighbouring Sheffield , where he continued
his business as auctioneer until his death in 1890.
His obituary was however recorded in
the Rotherham Advertiser and Mr Bibbs returned to Rotherham
to be interred in the cemetery next to his old home.
OBITUARY OF ALBERT BIBBS
We regret to have to record the death
of Mr Albert Bibbs which took place suddenly at his residence
at Whitham Road Broomhill Sheffield on Saturday evening
last. The deceased had been unwell for about a fortnight
but had so far recovered as to be able to leave his room.
He retired to bed about ten o clock and was seized with
a fit of apoplexy expiring in a few minutes . Mrs Bibbs
on following soon afterwards found her husband in an insensible
state. Death ensued shortly afterwards. The deceased, who
was in his 65th year leaves a widow, one son and two daughters.
Mr Bibbs commenced business in
Church Street Rotherham in 1851 as a pawnbroker and jeweller
and subsequently removed his business to High Street. During
the last 12 years he has been retired from the business
mentioned but continued that of auctioneer and valuer. For
the past four or five years he has been resident in Sheffield
and has followed the same profession. At one time Mr Bibbs
was a member of the Rotherham Board of Guardians. He was
a member of the old Rotherham and Kimberworth Local Board
and was connected with that body at the time the Borough
was incorporated. He was elected a member of the town council
in February 1874 at an extraordinary election in the East
Ward but was defeated by Mr W H Gummer at the following
November elections.
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