Sheffield Corporation Tramways



Owner Sheffield Corporation
Opened 6th October 1873
Operator (lessee) Sheffield Tramways Company
Took over (operation) 11th July 1896
First electric route 5th September 1899
Last horse service 11th November 1902
Title changed 1916 (Sheffield Corporation Tramways and Motors)
Title changed 17th April 1934 (Sheffield Corporation Transport)
Closed 8th October 1960
Length 52.05 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½ins

Button description (Pattern 1) Arms (shield with a sheaf of arrows above three wheatsheaves, surmounted by a helmet, garland and a lion upon a torse) with Thor and Vulcan as supporters, all above motto: 'Deo Adjuvante Labor Proficit' (With God's help our labour is successful)
Materials known Brass
Button Line reference [None]

Button description (Pattern 2) Title (‘CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing a sheaf of arrows above three wheatsheaves), with a lion crest, all above the motto: 'DEO ADJUVANTE PROFICIT'
Materials known Brass
Button Line reference [None]

Button description (Pattern 3) Title (‘CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) within a border, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing a sheaf of arrows above three wheatsheaves), with a lion crest, and Thor and Vulcan supporters, all above the motto: 'DEO ADJUVANTE PROFICIT'
Materials known Brass; nickel
Button Line reference [114/61]

Button description (Pattern 4) Title (‘SHEFFIELD TRANSPORT’) within a border, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing a sheaf of arrows above three wheatsheaves), with a lion crest, and Thor and Vulcan supporters, all above the motto: 'DEO ADJUVANTE PROFICIT'
Materials known Nickel; chrome
Button Line reference [None]

Comment Photos taken shortly after the corporation takeover of the Sheffield Tramways Company (1896) show staff wearing uniforms, and it is possible that the Pattern 1 button stems from this era; however, the only evidence I have for this is 'word of mouth' from a long-time Sheffield transport enthusiast, and until photographic or other robust evidence becomes available, this must remain unproven. Indeed, it is entirely possible that it has no connection with tramway operation whatsoever, and it is perhaps more likely that the Pattern 2 button — which is clearly marked 'Tramways' — was issued to staff working the Corporation-owned horse trams. The Pattern 3 button was certainly used for the vast majority of the electric tramway's lifespan, and may well have been introduced at its inception.

The name of the municipal undertaking was changed to 'Sheffield Corporation Transport' in 1934, with newly painted tramcars thereafter bearing the title. Therefore, from the mid 1930s onwards, tramcar staff would have been issued with uniforms bearing 'Pattern 4' buttons.

The two supporters — Thor and Vulcan — represent the Sheffield steel industry, being the smithing gods of the Scandinavian and Graeco-Roman worlds, respectively. The Pattern 3 button appears in two variants: one variant has the first 'O' in 'Corporation' filled in with what appears to be a cross, whereas in the second much rarer variant, it is empty. The significance of the cross is unclear.