OTS 2017: Thirteen Acres: John Ruskin and the Totley Communists – Sally Goldsmith

Totley was the site of a utopian scheme funded by art critic and social reformer John Ruskin, 140 years ago. Ruskin bought a farm so Sheffeld working men and their families could work the land and make boots. Sally Goldsmith tells an engaging story from Sheffield’s history with a quirky cast of characters including Ruskin himself  vegetarian artist and cyclist Henry Swan and argumentative early communard Mrs Maloy.