Information from Malcolm Nunn, Bradfield Parish Council Archivist. This is an image used in slide lectures/ magic lantern shows by photographer Mr. Peacock. His notes to accompany the lectures also included some of his experiences while taking the photograph. All that was left of these extensive works were a few wheels. Young Denton and an apprentice were at work, Denton had gone to the door to have a mouthful of fresh air when he heard the flood approaching and shouting to his companion, he then ran up the hillside but the apprentice did not have time to escape; his body was found the next day in the mud buried in the ruins. Taking photographs at the time of the flood was very different to what it is now, it was called the wet process and we had to take a dark room or workshop with us, wherein we prepared plates and also developed them for we had to take sundry bottles of chemicals, a stock of glass, grooved boxes to put the plates in, wash leather, cistern of water, measures, cups and various other things. There were not to many amateurs in those days it was too hard work and too dirty, for a photographer could always be told by the black stains on his hands. However in the bottom corner at the right hand side of the picture you will see my dark room with the youth who pushed it along, it ran on 4 wheels. When we were returning home from one of our excursions a thunderstorm came on suddenly and the rain descended in torrents, there was no house or shelter near so wheeling the dark room to the side of the road, where there was no footpath we both got inside and closed the door to keep the rain out. We had not been in very long before the storm abated a little, but it still rained too heavy to be pleasant walking. In a short time 2 men, evidently tramps came down the road and seeing the dark room stopped to examine it- the window at the front being dark yellow glass they could not see inside and of course could not get in as I had fastened the door from the inside and something like the conversation took place. See thee Bill, whats this.Ah dont know but its a rum un. Ah wonder whose it is. Ah don't know but we fon it first. Ah we've fon it, that's certain. At this point in the dialogue one of our friends climbed on top of the dark room so as to have a good look round and not seeing anyone got down. Thas nobody about now- what shall we do we it? Well tack into Sheffield, it'll push and we'll get summat for finding it. They then commenced pushing it. Na then Bill, its heavy, ah soap itands full o sovrins. Wat if it war that couldn't count em. But tha can spend em and neer mind counting, but ah shouldn't like to thrust it up t'hill. And so the interesting coversation continued, I have no doubt that the dark room was heavy, for our weight would make it hard work to push although the road was slightly downhill. Whilst we were inside it was hard work to keep silent for we were laughing immoderately but to cut a long tale short we at last arrived at Hillsbroand Bridge, the rain had long since ceased and as our friends were evidently taking us Owlerton way I suddenly unbolted the door and we both stepped out. Their surprise can be better imagined than described. They stood still and stared at us but did not utter a single word. I said we are not going that way and thanked them for the ride and gave each man sixpence (6d) but they never moved, we turned over Hillsbro Bridge and past the Barracks home, we kept looking back until a turning in the road hid them from our sight as far as we could see, they were still standing where we left them where they were standing. For more information see: The Great Sheffield 1864 Harrison. Ref: 942.74 S The Collapse of the Dale Dyke Dam 1864, Geoffrey Amey. Ref. 942.74 SST.