Footpath Mystery - February 1998
The footpath to nowhere. If you are walking in our area
using the latest Ordnance Survey map of the White Peak be warned. The
map clearly shows a public footpath going up the drive towards Border
View Farm, around the north of the buildings and then along the line of
a stream towards the golf course and the edge of the map, which happens
to coincide with the Sheffield border. Only trouble is, the next (Sheffield)
map to the north has no continuation of the path, it just stops at the
border or falls off the edge of the map. Neither Sheffield, nor Derbyshire
Rights of Way Units can explain why! Can any of our readers?
Footnote - May 1998. On the front page of your first issue
you mention the right of way that goes past Border View Farm and then
stops at the county boundary. This seems to be a case of lack of co-ordination
between local authorities. Derbyshire designated this ancient trackway
as a right of way, Sheffield did not. Legislation required each county
or district authority to designate which paths in their areas were to
be declared rights of way, but there was no requirement for co-ordination
between adjacent authorities. I wrote to Sheffield City Council years
ago to point out this anomaly, but no reply.
Old ordnance maps show a substantial trackway running
all the way from Rod Moor Road to intersect with the footpath that comes
across Dore and Totley Golf Course, through a gap in the tunnel embankment
and then on to Dronfield or Stubley.
The mystery of the disappearing signpost to the footpath
to nowhere. For many years there was a 'public footpath' sign on a metal
post showing the direction of the right of way down the trackway leading
to Border View Farm, time and again it was knocked down but one could
find it in the grass on the verge. Derbyshire County Council must have
re-erected it many times but 4--5 years ago it disappeared altogether,
never to be replaced. According to the latest ordnance map the footpath
to nowhere is still designated as a right of way.
Also, the mystery of the by-pass to nowhere. As a converse, we have the
by-pass mystery, but here it was Sheffield who did the work and Derbyshire
who failed to act in co-ordination. Bradway Grange Road was intended to
be a by-pass to cut off the right-angled bend at Tinker's Corner. It ends
at a hedge on the county boundary; Derbyshire never built the continuation
on their side. Note how the houses on Bradway Grange Road are set back
with their own service road to minimize parking on what should have been
the main road.
farmed from here for at least 100 years.
Tony Smith.
Stepping out - February 1998
With spring approaching, a gentle stroll into Derbyshire
will help clear the winter sloth. On our doorstep and only about 2 miles
in length, this is an easy walk for an after dinner stretch, starting
by Dore & Totley Golf Club, or picked up anywhere along the way.
From the Golf Club on Bradway Road walk towards the fire
station, turning right at the footpath sign taking you down the drive
next to 'The Cottage'. Passing to the right of a metal gate a view over
the golf course opens before you.
The path crosses the fairway - watch out for golf balls - passing a marker
post and up the spoil bank which follows the line of the railway tunnel.
Fork right over the bank and bear left across a small field to the stream.
This is the present day Derbyshire border (since 1935).
The path now crosses another field towards its top right hand corner,
past a sign at the golf course boundary. Keeping the hedge on your right
carry on down to a stream, cross the plank bridge and up the opposite
slope to the seat in front of the hedge. From here views stretch out eastwards
over the Dronfield by-pass and Coal Aston towards Apperknowle, northwards
over Sheffield, and westwards towards the moors.
Regaining your feet, turn west over a low style and follow
the path to a junction. Turn right and join the well made path, recently
resurfaced by Dronfield Town Council - this is a path not a bridleway,
despite evidence underfoot to the contrary. Continue westwards on its
easy surface until it reaches the Holmesfield Road. Traffic rushes by
here, but you can stop and enjoy the view towards Owler Bar, Totley Moor
and Blackamoor. Looking north you can see the dip in the hills that Sheffield
stands within and if it is clear, the Sheffield ski slope on the far skyline.
Crossing the road - take care on this bend - continue
on the footpath towards Bradway passing the entrance to appropriately
named Border View Farm on the other side of the road. At the road limit
signs cross the road again. This is the South Yorkshire border. It would
seem that people in Derbyshire walk on the left of the road, and Yorkshire
on the right! Depending on which direction you are coming from that is.
Bearing right, rejoin Bradway Road at Tinkers Corner by The Grange, and
then within a few yards turn right down a gennel to Conlan Avenue, missing
the noise and traffic fumes on the main road. At its far end the avenue
becomes Bradway Grange Road and leads out opposite the end of Twentywell
Lane.
You can return from here along Bradway Road to the starting
point, but a small detour is worthwhile. Having crossed the road, walk
down the right-hand side of Twentywell Lane until you come to another
gennel on your right, opposite the entrance to Kenwell Drive. This leads
once more onto the tunnel spoil heap which carries a communications tower
(RACAL) for the railway. Underfoot you can clearly see the dark shale
brought up during tunnelling. Skirting the football pitch follow the line
of the path at its far side bringing you out by the golf range. It is
then a short distance to the right before you rejoin the walk at its starting
point.
Ed. If you have a favourite walk in the area to share,
we would like to hear from you.
Stepping out - May 1998
With summer here (almost), the second of our walks is
a little more demanding, again about 2 miles in length and needing perhaps
1½ hours. Ideal for a summer evening but can be muddy if it has
been raining. The walk is surprisingly rural and provides an insight into
some local history.
From the shops on Twentywell Lane go down Kenwell Drive,
turn right near the end into the gennel and follow the path as it skirts
Harold Jackson School. This is the line of an old path which existed long
before the houses to its right were built. Note the different hedges people
have planted and the view over or between them, spanning from Totley Moor
to Whirlow.
At Prospect Road turn left, then right at Tinkers Corner into Totley Lane
passing Mason Farm on your left. As its name suggests this was the ancient
route to Totley, for pack horses and foot traffic but not wide enough
for carts. It is still a bridleway.
Past Ox Close Farm - beware of the dogs, although they are stoutly chained
- to a farm gate. Admire the view here towards Owler Bar, before dropping
down the footpath the route of which has become a hollow way from the
erosion by feet and the elements. Parts of this descent can be muddy after
heavy rain so take care! The path comes out behind the shops on Wollaton
Road, but cross straight over into Longford drive and walk downhill with
the old trackway on your right.
At the junction with Longford Road cross over and take the paved footpath
continuing down hill to Mickley Lane. For this stretch the footpath and
bridleway separate. Note how deeply the bridleway has been cut by people,
animals and surface water, with a split developing at some time to provide
an alternative route.
Turn right into Mickley Lane, then right again into Queen
Victoria Road, and then left in 50 meters down a concrete driveway (Back
Lane). Passing Brook Vale Cottage you are now on the site of Totley Chemical
Works. Cross Totley Brook, noting the paving of the original ford still
in the stream bed on your left.
With the brook to the right the footpath, still technically Back Lane,
passes the end of some cottages and a track up to Totley Rise shops. The
land on your right known as Thompson's meadow, is currently the subject
of a planning application for 21 houses! Reassuring when you know that
the lower part of the field was the site of the dam holding water to power
Totley Rolling Mill!
Passing the back of the shops, (a sight in itself!) turn right at Baslow
Road, then second right down Mill Lane with Old Hay Brook coming in on
your left. The line of the mill dam was roughly to the right of the lane
and you eventually pass Mill cottage, the manager's cottage which is all
that remains of the working mill which closed about 1886. The lane now
becomes a narrow path passing over Totley Brook into beech woodland. The
Two brooks merge on your left to become the River Sheaf.
The path now climbs up behind some flats across a paved path (leading
up to Prospect Place) into Poynton Wood. These steep oak woods of Bradway
Bank with bluebells underfoot, provide a haven from development and glimpsed
views over Dore and beyond. Continue over a sunken diagonal path with
gardens to your right until you reach some new metal railing bounding
the railway cutting (dating from 1870). Bearing right up hill you pass
through a hummocky area which was the site of Twentywell Brick & Tile
Works, and is now largely built on. You might be lucky enough to see a
locally made brick bearing the inscription '20 Well'. The Works closed
in the mid 1930s and were demolished in the 1950s, with the quarry site
filled in with material from buildings demolished to make way for the
Sheffield Town Hall extension.
The path comes out at the Castle Inn, built to meet the
needs of the navvies building the railway, and still handy if you found
the climb thirsty work! From here rejoin Twentywell Lane and return to
the shops.
Ed. Discerning readers will have noticed that you can
join this walk and the one in our last issue at Tinkers Corner to provide
a longer outing.
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