Daughter of Sheffield Holocaust survivor describes growing up in famous “party house”
Rolf Heymann arrived in Sheffield in 1939 as a young refugee on the Kindertransport and later settled into a quirky log-cabin home on 1.4 acres in Bolsterstone, where he and his wife Jacqueline became known for hosting vibrant social gatherings. They expanded the original structure to include a swimming pool and a dedicated party room above the garage, making the property a notable local landmark that Rolf cherished deeply until his death in 2021.
After Rolf's passing, his daughter Nina spent years attempting to sell the property, which ultimately changed hands in 2025 following unsuccessful auctions. Plans to repurpose the site as an accessible retreat for disabled visitors were refused by local authorities, and the once-animated home has since fallen into disrepair, with its pool stagnant and its party room vandalised, leaving Nina reflective about the fate of her family's beloved estate.
- Rolf Heymann, a Holocaust survivor who fled Nazi Germany as a child, became a fixture at his rustic Sheffield home 'Stanley Bay', which he and wife Jacqueline made famous for their parties and pool gatherings.
- The property was sold by their daughter Nina in 2025 after sitting on the market for years; a proposal to convert it into a holiday retreat for disabled visitors was rejected by the council, and the house now sits derelict.