Sheffield’s 19th Century Trailblazer Who Turned Land into Lush Green Havens

John George Graves was a remarkable figure in Sheffield’s history, known for his business skills and his generosity. Born in the 19th century, Graves became a successful entrepreneur by selling goods through mail order. This meant people could look at a catalogue, choose what they wanted, and have it delivered to their homes. This was a new and exciting way to shop at the time, and Graves was one of the first to let customers buy on credit, paying for their items later. By 1903, his business had grown so much that he employed 3,000 people and sold products all over the country. But what made Graves truly special was how he used his success to help others.

Graves loved Sheffield and wanted to make it a better place for everyone. At that time, Sheffield was an industrial city with lots of factories and pollution. The air was dirty, and many green areas were being lost to new buildings. Graves believed that people needed parks and green spaces to stay healthy and happy. He bought land around the city to protect it from being turned into houses or factories. One of his biggest gifts was Graves Park, which is now celebrating its 100th birthday. He also helped create other parks like Ecclesall and Concord Park. Graves wanted to make sure that places like the hospital at Norton Hall would stay clean and free from pollution. He was very forward-thinking and cared about the environment long before it became a popular idea.

Graves was not originally from Sheffield. He grew up in Lincolnshire and moved to the city when he was 15 to work as an apprentice watchmaker. He quickly started his own business and expanded into selling jewellery, cutlery, and silverware. His company became very large, with a big building where thousands of people worked to pack and send orders. Some people say Graves was like the Jeff Bezos of his time, creating a system similar to how Amazon works today. Local journalist Mike Firth has written about Graves and calls him Sheffield’s greatest philanthropist. Thanks to Graves, Sheffield has beautiful parks that people still enjoy today. His generosity and vision have made a lasting difference in the city, and his name lives on in many places, including art galleries, buildings, and a charitable trust.