Blackburn Brook facts for kids
The Blackburn Brook is a stream in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It flows through an area known as the Blackburn Valley. You can often see it running alongside the M1 motorway and Ecclesfield Road. This stream eventually joins the River Don near the Meadowhall shopping centre. From the A61 road at Chapeltown, the Blackburn Brook is officially called a "main river." This means that new buildings must be at least 8 meters (about 26 feet) away from its banks. This rule helps with flood protection and allows people to access the water for upkeep.
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History of the Blackburn Brook
For a long time, the Blackburn Brook formed a natural border. Between Blackburn village and Grange Lane, it marked the boundary between Sheffield and Rotherham. Another stream, called Hartley Brook Dike, joins the Blackburn Brook. This stream is also known as Sheffield Lane Dike or Tongue Gutter in some places. It meets the Blackburn Brook near Ecclesfield Road and Sicey Avenue.
In the 1850s, the South Yorkshire Railway was built. To make way for the railway tracks, parts of the brook were straightened. It was made to run parallel (side-by-side) with the new railway line through the valley. Even though the brook's path changed, the boundary between Sheffield and Rotherham continued to follow its original, older route. Today, the railway line is closed. Part of its route is now a walking and cycling path called the Trans Pennine Trail, which runs right next to the brook.
How the Brook Powered Mills
For many years, the Blackburn Brook was a very important source of power. Its flowing water helped to run several mills along its course. These included the New Mill and the Old Mill in Ecclesfield.
Further along the brook, near where the Hartley Brook Dike joins it, the water was held back by a dam. This dam created a pool of water that powered the Gibraltar Steel Works. Downstream from Grange Lane, another dam fed a water body called a "dam" (which is the local word for a pond created by a dam wall). This water powered Grange Mill. Even in Blackburn village, the brook powered the Blackburn Wheel, which was used for charcoal works. This old site was close to where the Royal Oak public house is today.
There was also a large power station near where the Blackburn Brook meets the River Don. It was called Blackburn Meadows Power Station. This power station is no longer in use. For many years, its two tall cooling towers stood next to the Tinsley Viaduct. They were a well-known sight until August 24, 2008, when they were taken down. Some people had hoped to turn them into a public art display, but this plan did not happen.
The 2007 Floods
The water levels in the Blackburn Brook are carefully watched. There is a special measuring station called the Blackburn Brook at Sheffield Wincobank gauging station. Normally, the water level here is between -0.02 meters and 0.42 meters.
However, during the big 2007 United Kingdom floods, the water level at this station reached 2.41 meters. This was much higher than normal. The brook burst its banks in several places. It flooded the entrance to Chapeltown Park. It also overflowed where the stream flows under the A629 Cowley Lane. Many homes on Cowley Lane and Falding Street were flooded. During the floods, a local schoolboy had to be rescued from the fast-moving water after he accidentally fell into the stream.
Flood Defence Plans
To help protect homes from future floods, Sheffield City Council announced new plans in September 2014. They planned a £2 million project to reduce flood risks along the Blackburn Brook. This important project aims to protect 233 houses from flooding.
