Old Hay Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Hay Brook |
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The bridge which carries Old Hay Lane over Old Hay Brook
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Moors to south of Sheffield 1,300 feet (400 m) |
| River mouth | River Sheaf at Totley Rise 410 feet (125 m) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Old Hay Brook is a small river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It starts from three streams: the Redcar Brook, Blacka Dike, and another small stream. These streams begin on the high, open lands (moors) south of Sheffield. The Old Hay Brook is later joined by another stream called Needham's Dyke near Totley Grange.
At a place called Totley Rise, the Old Hay Brook meets the Totley Brook. When they join, they form a bigger river known as the River Sheaf. For hundreds of years, the water from the Old Hay Brook was used to power mills. These mills processed things like lead, corn, and paper. Later, as the metal industry grew in Sheffield, the mills were used to sharpen tools like scythes. By the year 1900, all the mills had stopped working. However, you can still see some parts of them today, like old weirs and dams.
Where Does Old Hay Brook Flow?
The Old Hay Brook begins as several small streams on a gritstone ridge. This ridge is about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) southwest of central Sheffield.
Redcar Brook: The Northern Start
The northernmost stream is the Redcar Brook. It starts in four different spots on Houndkirk Moor, high up at about 1,300 feet (400 meters). This brook flows east, then south, passing west of a place called Townhead.
Blacka Dike: Joining Forces
South of Redcar Brook, Blacka Dike begins from many springs. These springs are close to the A6187 Hathersage Road, around 1,210 feet (370 meters) high on Blacka Moor. Blacka Dike flows northeast into Black Plantation. Here, it is joined by several more streams that start in the woods. It then flows east to meet Redcar Brook.
Another Stream and the Main Brook
Even further south, another stream starts on Totley Moor. It's near the 1,150-foot (350-meter) mark, above the Totley railway tunnel. This stream flows northeast and joins Blacka Dike just before Blacka Dike meets Redcar Brook.
On maps today, the combined streams are called Blacka Dike west of a bridge on Old Hay Road. East of this bridge, they become known as the Old Hay Brook. Just above this bridge is a smaller footbridge. This footbridge was built in the late 1700s from strong stone. It has one arch and was repaired in the 1900s. It is now a grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historic structure.
Needham's Dyke: A Tributary
Needham's Dyke starts from two springs near Brown Edge and flows northeast. It goes under two small roads. Then, it crosses the path of Totley Tunnel near its eastern end. After that, it passes under Old Hay Road to join the Old Hay Brook.
The combined stream then flows south of the Totley Brook housing estate. It crosses over the railway tunnel entrance in a special bridge called an aqueduct. The aqueduct is a large, U-shaped structure made of bricks. Near the railway, the river channel has many brick steps called weirs on both sides of the aqueduct.
Continuing east, the Old Hay Brook goes under the A621 road. It reaches Totley Rise, where it meets the Totley Brook stream. Together, they become the River Sheaf. The River Sheaf then flows down to join the River Don in Sheffield.
Water Power: Mills on the Brook
For a long time, the Old Hay Brook was very important for powering mills. At least four mills used the river's water. People built weirs to direct water into large ponds, which were called "dams" in the Sheffield area. This water then turned big water wheels, which powered the mills.
These mills were used for different jobs. Some made paper, others processed lead, and some ground corn into flour. As the metal industry grew in Sheffield, many mills were changed to grind and sharpen tools like scythes. The first records of these mills are from the late 1500s. By 1900, none of them were still working.
Totley Forge: From Paper to Scythes
Totley Forge was a paper mill in the 1600s. It was sold in 1653. Later, in 1714, it was owned by the Banks family. By 1830, it was offered for sale, with the idea that it could become a grinding wheel. By 1839, it had become a scythe forge, where scythes were sharpened. It kept working until 1891.
After it closed, the buildings were rebuilt as barns in 1901 and are now stables. You can still see parts of the mill today. These include a stone channel that let water overflow from the upper dam, the lower dam itself, and a channel that returned water from the wheel back to the stream.
Old Hay Wheel: Lead and Saws
Old Hay Wheel was a lead smelting mill by 1585, owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury. By the 1650s, it was run by John Bright. When he retired, it was sold along with the nearby paper mill. Lead processing stopped here by 1805.
Before 1830, a grinding wheel for making saws was working at this site. By 1872, it was used for grinding scythes. The site closed in 1895. Most of the buildings were taken down in 1909. The dam was filled in by 1933 and is now a grassy area. You can still see the damaged parts of the weir. A house now stands where the wheel buildings used to be. Some old cottages nearby have also been turned into a house.
Upper Mill: Corn to Scythes
Upper Mill was a corn mill in 1625. Like the other mills, it was sold in 1653. We don't know much about its history between 1693 and 1816. In 1816, it was owned by Alex Barker and was still grinding corn. By 1839, it had changed and was known as Totley Scythe Mill.
The mill was taken down in the 1860s. A large house called Totley Dale was built on its site in 1871. This house later became Grove House and then Totley Grove. This mill got its water from both Old Hay Brook and Needham's Dyke.
Nether Mill: The Last Traces
Nether Mill was a lead smelting mill starting in 1658. It was also called Burton House lead smelting works. Again, we don't know much about it during the 1700s. By 1800, it was owned by the Duke of Devonshire. It was working as a scythe mill.
By 1809, it was called Nether Corn Mill. In 1820, it was listed as a scythe mill again. Plans for a new railway in 1845 called it a grinding wheel. It was still shown on maps when land was sold in 1870. Four years later, it was no longer on the sale plans, meaning it was likely taken down. All signs of this mill were destroyed when the Hope Valley Line railway and houses were built in the 1890s. However, the weir and part of the dam still remain.
