Low Bradfield
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Low_Bradfield_-_Aerial_View.jpg/220px-Low_Bradfield_-_Aerial_View.jpg)
Low Bradfield is a village within the civil parish of Bradfield in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated within the boundary of the city of Sheffield in the upper part of the Loxley Valley, 6¼ miles west-northwest of the city centre and just inside the northeast boundary of the Peak District National Park. Low Bradfield and the surrounding area is noted for its attractive countryside which draws many visitors from the more urban parts of Sheffield. At weekends the village can become quite crowded, especially when there is a match on the village cricket pitch. Low Bradfield which stands in the shadow of Agden Reservoir has a sister village High Bradfield which is located at a higher altitude, ½ mile to the northeast. The two villages are joined by the steep Woodfall Lane.
History
Early history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Bar_Dike.jpg/220px-Bar_Dike.jpg)
The earliest historical sign of settlement in the Bradfield area is an early to mid
Anglo-Saxon cross
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Saxon_cross%2C_high_bradfield_church.jpg/170px-Saxon_cross%2C_high_bradfield_church.jpg)
There is evidence of
Norman development
While Bradfied is not documented in the
Great Sheffield Flood
Low Bradfield was the first populated place to be flooded by the Great Sheffield Flood when the Dale Dyke Dam broke on 11 March 1864. The original dam wall stood almost one mile west of the village. There was only one fatality in the village mainly because word had spread throughout the immediate area that there was a leak in the earth embankment and the community was partly prepared for the tragedy. The only death was a one-day-old infant, the child of a local couple (Mr. and Mrs. Dawson); despite this the village was extensively damaged.[5] Two stone bridges were swept away, as was the corn mill, blacksmith’s shop, schoolroom, schoolmaster's house and a farmhouse. Samuel Harrison described the flood damage at Low Bradfield thus: “The destruction at Lower Bradfield is so thorough that the rock is torn up from under the foundation of the buildings.”[6]
Present day
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Low_Bradfield_Memorial_Field.jpg/220px-Low_Bradfield_Memorial_Field.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Old_Wesleyan_Chapel%2C_Low_Bradfield.jpg/220px-Old_Wesleyan_Chapel%2C_Low_Bradfield.jpg)
Low Bradfield continues its tradition as a farming community into the present day. Cross Farm, Nether Farm and Fair House Farm are situated close to the centre of the village. Fair House is a grade II* listed building and is one of the oldest structures in the area dating from the 1630s and was originally called Swinden House. Nether Farm is Grade II listed and dates from the 1820s. There are several other farms in the outlying areas. One of the great attractions to people from outside the village is the large centrally located recreation ground known as the Ibbotson Memorial Field which is a popular site for picnics and family visits and also serves as the village cricket ground, drawing large crowds to games on summer weekends. The field was named after the Ibbotson family who have lived in Low Bradfield for several centuries. The local tennis and bowls clubs also have facilities at the field.
There are several other notable buildings in the village. The former
There is just one
The Peak District Boundary Walk runs through the village.[9]
Bradfield Dale
The area to the west of the village is a rural area known as Bradfield Dale and contains the three reservoirs of Agden, Dale Dike and Strines which were constructed in the 1860s. The many construction workers who came into the dale prompted the Haychatter Farm to open a public house on its premises known as the Reservoir Inn and then the Haychatter which remained open until 2003. The dale contains
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ Chris Collyer. "Ewden Beck / Broomhead Circle - Ring Cairn - Southwest of Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire". Stone-circles.org.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ISBN 0-903485-44-3Page 23, Gives details of Bar Dike.
- ISBN 1-84306-080-9Page 47 Gives details of Saxon cross and other medieval history.
- ISBN 1-84306-049-3, Gives history.
- ^ Mick Armitage‘s Sheffield Flood website. Gives details of flood.
- ^ A Complete History of the Great Flood at Sheffield. Gives further details of flood.
- ^ Bradfield Parish Council. Archived 12 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine Gives present day details.
- ISBN 0-7524-0671-XGives present day details.
- ISBN 978-1909461536.
- ^ "follytowers.com". follytowers.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ISBN 0-901100-81-1Gives details of Bradfield Dale.