Bowden Housteads Woods
Encyclopedia
Bowden Housteads Woods are situated between Darnall
and Handsworth
, Sheffield
,, South Yorkshire
, England
. the woods are encircled by Sheffield Outer Ring Road, Sheffield Parkway
and Handsworth Road.
The woods are classified as ancient woodlands, having been in existence since the 17th century, the Car Brook flows through the wooded area. Spring brings a carpet of bluebells.
The 1853 Odnance Survey map of the area shows a sandstone quarry within the woods. (Many of Handsworth's older buildings were constructed using the yellow sandstone from this quarry and two others in the district ). A well ("Shilling Well" ) is also shown on this map, close to the junction of the woods with Clifton Square and what is now Handsworth Road (originally Main Road). The 1900 map , however, shows neither of these features.
From the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century, part of the woods (now the site of the Asda Supermarket) was occupied by the Fisher Son and Sibray Nurseries and the land upon which the adjacent Triangle Estate now stands, was also once part on the woods, many of its streets are named after types of trees; Larch Hill, Willow Drive, Maple Grove and Chestnut Avenue.
Local miners built an open air swimming pool in the woods in 1926. It was fed by waters from a natural spring and surrounded by a fence made of old railway sleepers. Alterations to the Sheffield Parkway, with the addition of the Mosborough link in 1990, included the construction of a new roundabout on the site of the old pool.
Darnall
Darnall ward—which includes the districts of Attercliffe, Carbrook, Darnall, Tinsley, and parts of Handsworth—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city and covers an area of 17.4 km2. The...
and Handsworth
Handsworth, South Yorkshire
Handsworth is a suburb of south eastern Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England. Handsworth has a population of approximately 15,000. It covers an overall area of approximately...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
,, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. the woods are encircled by Sheffield Outer Ring Road, Sheffield Parkway
Sheffield Parkway
The Sheffield Parkway is a major dual carriageway which runs between the City of Sheffield and junction 33 of the M1 in South Yorkshire, England. The 5.5 mile road was opened in 1974, and runs to the east of the City, connecting Park Square in the City centre with the inner ring road, outer ring...
and Handsworth Road.
The woods are classified as ancient woodlands, having been in existence since the 17th century, the Car Brook flows through the wooded area. Spring brings a carpet of bluebells.
The 1853 Odnance Survey map of the area shows a sandstone quarry within the woods. (Many of Handsworth's older buildings were constructed using the yellow sandstone from this quarry and two others in the district ). A well ("Shilling Well" ) is also shown on this map, close to the junction of the woods with Clifton Square and what is now Handsworth Road (originally Main Road). The 1900 map , however, shows neither of these features.
From the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century, part of the woods (now the site of the Asda Supermarket) was occupied by the Fisher Son and Sibray Nurseries and the land upon which the adjacent Triangle Estate now stands, was also once part on the woods, many of its streets are named after types of trees; Larch Hill, Willow Drive, Maple Grove and Chestnut Avenue.
Local miners built an open air swimming pool in the woods in 1926. It was fed by waters from a natural spring and surrounded by a fence made of old railway sleepers. Alterations to the Sheffield Parkway, with the addition of the Mosborough link in 1990, included the construction of a new roundabout on the site of the old pool.