Stocksbridge and Upper Don

Stocksbridge and Upper Don
Shown within Sheffield
District:	Sheffield
UK Parliament constituency:	Penistone and Stocksbridge
Ceremonial county:	South Yorkshire
Region:	Yorkshire and the Humber
Population (2001):	18,400
Councillors
Philip Wood (Labour) Alison Brelsford (Lib Dem) Jack Clarkson (Lib Dem)

Stocksbridge and Upper Don ward—which includes the districts of Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Stocksbridge, and Wharncliffe Side, and the villages of Bolsterstone, Ewden, and Midhopestones—is one of the 28 electoral wards in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is located in the northwestern part of the city and covers an area of 93.2 km². The population of this ward in 2001 was 18,400 people in 7,700 households. It is one of the wards that make up the Sheffield Hillsborough constituency up until the next general election (expected 2009-2010). At the next general election a completely new constituency will be created for this area Stocksbridge and Penistone.^{[citation needed]}

Districts in Stocksbridge and Upper Don ward

Stocksbridge

Main article: Stocksbridge

Stocksbridge shown in Sheffield

Stocksbridge (grid reference SK275980, postal region S36) is a small town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Sheffield, with a population of around 14,000.^[1]

Deepcar

Deepcar (grid reference SK289975, postal region S36) is the eastern gateway to the area and borders on Wharncliffe Crags and Wharncliffe Woods.

Evidence of a large circular Mesolithic building dating to c. 7,600 BC which is interpreted as a dwelling [1] has been identified at Deepcar.

Oughtibridge

Main article: Oughtibridge

Oughtibridge is a village to the south east of Stocksbridge, in the Upper Don Valley.

Wharncliffe Side

Wharncliffe Side (grid reference SK297948) is a small village on the border of the Peak District in the City of Sheffield and the Parish of Bradfield. It is a quite close knit community with a school and community centre. The river Don has cut the valley with steep sides. One side has a dense wood on it. It is half way between Oughtibridge and Stocksbridge. A legend surrounds the wood, in the past a dragon lived in the wood before a lord nearby killed it. You can visit the dragons cave to this day.

Bolsterstone

Bolsterstone is a village on the ridge to the south of Stocksbridge.

In the village churchyard lie two large stones of uncertain origin. Neville T. Sharpe supports the theory that they were moved from Unsliven Bridge in 1796, and contends that they are the base of a twin-shafted Anglo-Saxon cross.^[2]

Ewden

Ewden is a village in the Ewden valley to the south of Stocksbridge, that was expanded when the Broomhead Reservoir was built across the Ewden Beck.

Midhopestones

A small village consisting of a few houses, farms, St James' Church and the "Ye Olde Mustard Pot" pub. The village is upstream of the Underbank Reservoir.

Culture

The ASDA Stocksbridge Band is one of the leading brass bands in the UK. It was formerly associated with the steel works, and appeared in the UK movie The Full Monty.

Stocksbridge is home to many traditional Yorkshire Christmas carols as is especially known for its renditions of Hail Smiling Morn. Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir is also based close by.

Three of the four members of the Arctic Monkeys were pupils at Stocksbridge High School.

Oliver Sykes, Vocalist in Bring Me the Horizon and owner of Drop Dead Clothing has lived in Stocksbridge since the age of five and attended Stocksbridge High School.

References

1. ^ "Stocksbridge". http://www.stocksbridge-council.co.uk/. Retrieved 6 January 2009. 
2. ^ Neville T. Sharpe, Crosses of the Peak District (Landmark Collectors Library, 2002)