Totley Brook facts for kids

The Totley Brook is a small river, also known as a stream, located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It starts high up on rocky hills about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Sheffield city centre. As it flows, the Totley Brook goes downhill from about 740 feet (226 metres) to 430 feet (131 metres). It eventually joins another stream called the Old Hay Brook near Baslow Road. Once these two streams meet, they form the beginning of the River Sheaf.

Where Totley Brook Flows

The Totley Brook flows around the southern part of a place called Totley. It goes through a wooded area known as Gillfield Woods. The stream then flows underneath Mickley Lane. After that, it runs behind the shops at Totley Rise. Finally, it meets the Old Hay Brook behind an area called Milldale. This is where an old chemical factory used to be.

The Old Chemical Works

A chemical factory once stood near where the Totley Brook meets the Old Hay Brook. It was called Totley Chemical Works. The factory started in 1846 and was run by Tinker and Siddall. By 1899, a man named Thomas Kilner took over the factory. They made things like pyroligneous acid, naphtha, and charcoal there.

Protecting Totley from Floods

Sometimes, when there is a lot of rain, streams and rivers can flood. To help prevent this, Sheffield City Council announced a plan in September 2014. This plan is to create a special project to help stop floods from the Totley Brook.

How the Flood Plan Works

The flood plan involves building a large earth wall, called an embankment. This embankment will create a temporary storage area for water upstream of Totley. This means that during very heavy rainfall, some of the extra water from the brook will be held back. This helps to stop too much water from flowing downstream all at once. Experts believe this facility could reduce the water depth in the River Sheaf by about 0.26 metres (10 inches) during big storms. This helps keep homes and businesses safer from flooding.