Stocksbridge Feature

STOCKSBRIDGE is a popular residential area, perched on the edge of miles of beautiful countryside. It is an area that although rich in history, is also looking forwards with a number of schemes and developments in the area.

Although not as big an operation as it once was, the steelworks still produce top quality steel and the workers take a great deal of pride in that.

The loss of much of the industry has led to the identity of Stocksbridge having to change and this has been addressed with the Fox Valley retail park.

But by far the most important aspect of Stocksbridge is the sense of community spirit felt among those who live here – whether born and bred or recently movedin.

Examples of this are all around us - whether it’s the incredible fight for the leisure centre, the many groups that meet in the library, the clubbing together of local people to revitalise the Friendship pubor Stocksbridge Park Steels, training footballers of all ages.

It’s impossible to count the number of social, sportand community groups in the area but there is a wealth of them.

If sport is your thing, in addition to Park Steels there is a tennis club, two bowling clubs, a number of cricket teams and a rugby team who have just come off the back of a fantastic season.

There are lots of social groups and meetings you can go to have your voice heard such as Valley in Bloom, the health forum, Valley React and Transition Stocksbridge. The history society have recently opened their heritage room down at The Ark, meticulously documenting the valley’s past.

We have amateur dramatics, dancegroups, choirs and bands and the churches of the area work together as Churches Together.