Stocksbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stocksbridge |
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| Town | |
 The town from Nanny Hill |
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 Stocksbridge
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| Population | 9,869 (2017 SCC) |
| Civil parish |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHEFFIELD |
| Postcode district | S36 |
| Dialling code | 0114 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Stocksbridge is a town located in South Yorkshire, England. It is part of the City of Sheffield. The town is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) from Barnsley and 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Sheffield.
Stocksbridge is found in a deep valley. The Little Don River flows through this valley. The town is also close to the beautiful Peak District national park. In 2011, about 13,455 people lived in the Stocksbridge area.
Contents
A Look Back: Stocksbridge's Early Days
Before the 1700s, the area where Stocksbridge now stands was mostly a forest. A river, first called Hunshelf Water, ran through this valley. It was later named the Little Don River. People sometimes called it the Porter River because its water had a dark, peaty color.
A dirt road connecting Sheffield and Manchester also ran through these woods. Only a few stone houses and farms were scattered across the hillsides.
How Stocksbridge Got Its Name
In 1716, a local farmer named John Stocks built a mill in the valley. He also built a wooden footbridge over the river. This bridge helped his workers get to the mill.
This bridge, known as "Stocks' Bridge," gave the place its name. It was one of the only important things there. The bridge was often washed away by floods. A stronger stone bridge replaced it in 1812.
Early Mills and Buildings
In 1794, three businessmen built a large cotton mill near where John Stocks's mill had been. This shows how the area started to grow.
Later, in 1890, the local church, St Matthias, was built. Stocksbridge became its own local government district in 1872. The current Stocksbridge Town Hall was built in 1928.
Steel: The Heart of Stocksbridge
Today, the valley floor in Stocksbridge is mostly taken up by large steel factories. These factories have been very important to the town's history.
Samuel Fox and His Wire Mill
In 1842, a man named Samuel Fox took over the old cotton mill. He turned it into a wire mill. Fox also built many houses and other buildings in Stocksbridge. These were for his new workers and their families.
At first, the wire was used for textile pins. But around 1848, Fox's business grew. He started making wire for umbrella frames. In 1851, he even invented a special umbrella frame called the "Paragon."
Making Steel in Stocksbridge
In the 1860s, Fox decided to make his own steel. This saved him a lot of money. He installed special furnaces and a rolling mill. This allowed his company to make railway lines and springs. The business became a limited company in 1871.
A railway line was built between 1872 and 1877. It connected the steelworks to the main railway line at Deepcar railway station. This railway is still used today to carry steel.
Changes Over the Years
After World War I, Samuel Fox & Co joined other companies to form the United Steel Companies (USC). Fox's factory then focused on making special steels. These included spring steel and stainless steel. They even made high-quality steel for airplanes.
During World War II, the steelworks was very busy helping with the war effort. Bombers used a dam near Stocksbridge as a turning point.
Over the years, the steelworks changed owners several times. It became part of the British Steel Corporation in 1967. Later, it was owned by Corus and then by the Indian company Tata.
In 2017, the Liberty House Group bought the steelworks. This helped keep steelmaking alive in Stocksbridge.
Getting Around: Transport in Stocksbridge
The main road from Sheffield to Manchester used to go through Stocksbridge. But in 1988, the A616 Stocksbridge bypass opened. This new road helps traffic, especially from the steelworks, avoid going through the town.
Stocksbridge has bus services that connect it to Sheffield City Centre, Middlewood tram stop, and Barnsley Interchange. There are also smaller bus services that connect to nearby villages.
A railway line still runs from Stocksbridge to Sheffield. However, it is only used for steel freight trains. People often suggest reopening it for passengers.
Arts and Entertainment: Culture in Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge has a rich cultural scene.
Music and Performance
The British Steel Stocksbridge Band is famous for performing a song in the trailer for the movie The Full Monty. This band is now called the Unite the Union Band. The Deepcar Brass Band also performs locally.
Nearby Bolsterstone has a well-known male voice choir. They are known for singing traditional Sheffield carols.
Stocksbridge also has a strong amateur theatre group called Steel Valley Beacon. They perform plays by Shakespeare and other writers every year.
Famous Musicians
The band Rolo Tomassi was formed in Stocksbridge and is still based there. Some members of the Arctic Monkeys and the lead singer of Bring Me the Horizon also went to Stocksbridge School.
Local News and Media
Local news and TV shows for Stocksbridge come from BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire.
You can listen to local radio stations like BBC Radio Sheffield and Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire. The town also has its own local newspaper, Look Local Newspaper.
Sports in Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge has a local football club called Stocksbridge Park Steels. It was formed in 1986. Their home ground is Bracken Moor. The club plays in the Northern Premier League and has many youth teams.
The first football team to represent the town in the FA Cup was Stocksbridge Church F.C. in 1910.
People from Stocksbridge
Many notable people have connections to Stocksbridge:
- Samuel Fox was an industrialist who founded the famous steelworks.
- Geoff Denial was a professional footballer for Sheffield United.
- Peter Eustace was a footballer and manager for Sheffield Wednesday.
- Oli Sykes, the lead singer of Bring Me the Horizon, grew up in Stocksbridge.
- Chris Wilder is a former footballer and manager for Sheffield United.
Images for kids
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The works institute
See also
In Spanish: Stocksbridge para niños
