Brightside, Sheffield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brightside |
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 Vickers Building |
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 Brightside
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| OS grid reference | SK375898 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHEFFIELD |
| Postcode district | S9 |
| Dialling code | 0114 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Brightside is a part of Sheffield, England. It's an industrial area in South Yorkshire. It sits on a hill north of Attercliffe and the River Don.
Contents
Brightside: A Look at Sheffield's Industrial Past
Early History and Mills
Brightside has a long history. Records show it existed in the 1400s. Back then, it was called "Brekesherth." It had several mills that used water power.
Brightside was once part of a larger area called Brightside Bierlow. This was one of six original sections of Sheffield. It covered all the land north of the River Don. This area stretched to places like the Wicker and Neepsend.
The Railway Arrives
A big change came to Brightside in 1837. This is when work began on the Sheffield and Rotherham Railway. The first part built was a cutting right in Brightside.
In 1838, Brightside railway station opened with the new railway line. This station served the area for many years. However, it closed down in 1995. Today, the closest train station is in Meadowhall. This area is part of the Shiregreen and Brightside ward.
In the 1830s, Brightside was a small village. Its only industry was a forge by the river. A forge is a place where metal is shaped using heat. People from Sheffield used to visit Brightside for fun. They enjoyed the fresh air and views from the hill.
When the railway opened, things changed. People could now travel further easily. They started going to Rotherham instead of Brightside. This meant local businesses in Brightside lost some customers.
Growing Industries
By 1860, Brightside was becoming more industrial. Factories started to appear. The main businesses were making steel and cutlery. Sheffield is famous for its steel.
Industry kept growing in Brightside. By the early 1970s, it was mostly factories and workshops. It also had a very large railway yard. This yard was used to sort and move train cars.
Brightside's Place in Parliament
Brightside was also the name of a special area. This area was called a Parliamentary constituency. People living there voted for a Member of Parliament. This person would represent them in the UK Parliament.
Over time, fewer people lived in the Brightside area. Because of this, the constituency changed. It joined with another area to form a new, larger one. This new area is called Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough.
