A tale of two villages

THE RURAL LOCATION IS A HUGE PART OF WORRALL AND OUGHTIBRIDGE’S CHARM, WRITES REBECCA WALES. BUT THERE’S MUCH MORE BESIDES.

Situated northwest of Sheffield, on the edge of the Peak District, are the villages of Worrall and Oughtibridge. Despite being relatively small, the villages have a lot to offer and are ideal locations for anyone looking to buy a home with easy access to both the city and the countryside. Alongside having a stunning rural location next to acres of woodland, both villages also have a fantastic range of amenities.

The village of Worrall is thought to have originally been a Viking settlement, with its name deriving from the Saxon word ‘Hrivfull’ meaning ‘top’. This likely referred to the settlement’s lofty position above the Don and Loxley valleys.

Throughout most of the 18th century,

Worrall was predominantly a farming community. At the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the village began to develop some small-scale industry when a few little mester workshops were set up to make cutlery and knives. During this period, industries such as ganister mining and quarrying also started to grow in the area. Middlewood Quarry was the biggest quarry in the area, with some local historians suggesting that the stone from this quarry was used to build the Wicker Arches in Sheffield.

Worrall has a number of historical buildings, with its oldest being the Memorial Hall. The Hall is noted for having three distinct sections all of different time periods; the west wing dates from the 16th century, the eastern section dates from 1820, while the central section has a date stone of 1720. The Memorial Hall has undergone renovation work in recent years and is now used as a venue for local social and fundraising activities.

The village’s church, the Worrall Independent Chapel, dates from the nineteenth century, as does the nearby Blue Ball Inn. Worrall’s other pub, The Shoulder of Mutton, also has 19th century origins and has been operating since at least 1817.

Outdoor recreational areas within and near Worrall include Sycamore Park, which features a playground, mini football pitch, cycle track and picnic benches, plus Hillsborough Golf Club. Situated just south of the village, Hillsborough Golf Club is renowned for having one of the best golfing venues in Yorkshire, with the course offering fantastic panoramic views of Sheffield and the surrounding countryside.

The villages of Worrall and Oughtibridge are also separated by vast woodland which comprises Hagg Stones Wood and Birks Wood. Beeley Wood, which is situated east of the villages, is one of 35 ancient woodland areas within the Sheffield city boundary. The wood covers an area of approximately 150 acres and is traversed by two public footpaths, one of which offers a pleasant walk alongside the River Don.

The origins of Oughtibridge date back to the 12th century when a ford existed in the area over the River Don.

The ford was managed by a man named Oughtred (nicknamed Oughty) and when a bridge was built on the spot in approximately 1150, it became known as Oughty’s Bridge. The small settlement around the bridge eventually adapted the same name.

Over the centuries, Oughtibridge remained a small isolated rural hamlet made up of only a few families. However, in the latter part of the 18th century, the population started to rise as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Oughtibridge’s position within the Don Valley made it a prime location as the water power of the river could be used to drive the machinery of the early and mid-19th century.

The main road that heads into Oughtibridge from the southeast is Langsett Road South, which is where the majority of the village’s amenities are based. On Langsett Road South, you’ll also find a variety of independent shops and businesses.

Turn left at the end of Langsett Road South onto Church Street and you’ll find The Hare & Hounds pub, plus the 19th century Oughtibridge Parish Church. Turn right at the end of Langsett Road South onto Bridge Hill and you’ll spot a chemists, barbers and post office just round the corner, plus The Cock Inn. Other pubs in Oughtibridge include The White Hart on Langsett Road North and The Pheasant on Station Lane – the latter having recently been refurbished into a modern bar and grill. From Station Lane, there is access to Coronation Park, which features a children’s playground, tennis courts and vast grassed areas for picnics.

Jöro team bringing award-winning flavours to Oughtibridge Mill

Award-winning Sheffield restaurant Jöro is set to bring its nationally acclaimed flavours to Oughtibridge Mill.

Sky-House Co, the company that has brought a new generation of eco-friendly homes to the north Sheffield development in the historic community of Oughtibridge, is also taking on a major renovation and restoration of centuries old properties at the site.

That includes the conversion of a row of artisan cottages into four apartments and one house alongside the distinctive SkyHouse Co properties.

The biggest part of the restoration project, though, is the original mill itself which Sky-House Co’s designers - the acclaimed team at Sheffield’s CODA Studios - have transformed into a destination restaurant and deli shop.

And it has now been confirmed that the site will be operated by Sheffield’s awardwinning Jöro restaurant team.

“This really is a major breakthrough for Sheffield and particularly for the north of the city,” said Sky-House Co co-founder and director David Cross. “The original mill building will be being transformed in a project that combines the old and the new and fits perfectly with the Sky House philosophy of creating not only great houses but also complete communities.

“It is particularly exciting that an awardwinning company like Jöro, which is already putting Sheffield on the culinary map after being such a great success at Krynkl in Shalesmoor, wants to be part of the Oughtibridge Mill story.

“A development the size of Oughtibridge Mill needs the best facilities and that is exactly what we are providing with the mill conversion.

“We are confident that it will breathe new life into the old mill, retaining the heritage of the site but also enhancing it and also creating a new community destination, for food, drink, work and leisure.”