Ringinglow
Encyclopedia
Ringinglow is a village in the western section of Sheffield
, England
. It is on the western border of Ecclesall Ward
, and although it is within the boundary of Sheffield, it is self-contained, being entirely surrounded by open countryside.
The village is focussed on the intersections of Fulwood Lane and Houndkirk Road with Ringinglow Road. The sources of the Porter Brook
and Limb Brook
, both tributaries of the River Sheaf
, are near the village. The Norfolk Arms, a pub in the village, is often used as a staging-post by rambler
s following one of these rivers out of Sheffield towards the Peak District National Park
, the eastern boundary of which runs through the village.
kingdoms of Mercia
and Northumbria
. This remained the boundary between Yorkshire
and Derbyshire
into the 20th century. A report dating from 1574 detailed a tour by George Talbot
, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, then lord of the manor of Sheffield, of the boundaries of the manor, in which they visited 'a great heape of stones called Ringinglawe' that was used as one of the boundary markers. Sheffield historian S. O. Addy, writing in 1888, noted that the Old English word hlâw is almost always used to refer to a burial mound, and speculated that this 'great heap of stones' may have been an ancient barrow
. He further suggested that the etymology of the name Ringinglow suggests that 'originally the heap may have been a round burial mound, or mound surrounded by a circle'. Addy additionally noted that there existed a 'folk etymology' for the name Ringinglow—a story also recounted by local historian J. Edward Vickers—that the village got its name after a man lost on the moors in bad weather was saved when he heard the bells of Sheffield parish church
'ringing low' over the moors. Both authors state that this story is a myth.
Ringinglow Road was constructed as part of a turnpike
road from Sheffield
to Chapel-en-le-Frith
and Buxton
that opened in 1758. The Grade II listed octagonal former toll house
built c1778 still stands in the village along with the Norfolk Arms Public House, a coaching inn
(also Grade II listed) that was built c1840.
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...
, 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...
. It is on the western border of Ecclesall Ward
Ecclesall
Ecclesall Ward—which includes the neighbourhoods of Bents Green, Ecclesall, Greystones, Millhouses, and Ringinglow—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the southwestern part of the city and covers an area of 9.4 km2. The population of...
, and although it is within the boundary of Sheffield, it is self-contained, being entirely surrounded by open countryside.
The village is focussed on the intersections of Fulwood Lane and Houndkirk Road with Ringinglow Road. The sources of the Porter Brook
Porter Brook
The Porter Brook is a river in the City of Sheffield, Englanddescending over 300 metres from its source among the sedge grass on Burbage moor behind a small farm on Hangram just inside the Peak District National Park in the west of the city at Clough Hollow, near the village of Ringinglow...
and Limb Brook
Limb Brook
The Limb Brook is a stream in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It rises at the village of Ringinglow, flowing east through Whirlow and Ecclesall Woods into Abbeydale in the Beauchief area, where it merges with the River Sheaf...
, both tributaries of the River Sheaf
River Sheaf
The River Sheaf is a river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its source is the union of the Totley Brook and the Old Hay Brook in Totley, now a suburb of Sheffield. It flows northwards, past Dore, through the valley called Abbeydale and north of Heeley...
, are near the village. The Norfolk Arms, a pub in the village, is often used as a staging-post by rambler
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
s following one of these rivers out of Sheffield towards the Peak District National Park
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
, the eastern boundary of which runs through the village.
History
Historically, the Limb Brook marked the boundary between the SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
kingdoms of Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
and Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
. This remained the boundary between Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
into the 20th century. A report dating from 1574 detailed a tour by George Talbot
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 6th Earl of Waterford, 12th Baron Talbot, KG, Earl Marshal was a 16th century English statesman.-Life:...
, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, then lord of the manor of Sheffield, of the boundaries of the manor, in which they visited 'a great heape of stones called Ringinglawe' that was used as one of the boundary markers. Sheffield historian S. O. Addy, writing in 1888, noted that the Old English word hlâw is almost always used to refer to a burial mound, and speculated that this 'great heap of stones' may have been an ancient barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. He further suggested that the etymology of the name Ringinglow suggests that 'originally the heap may have been a round burial mound, or mound surrounded by a circle'. Addy additionally noted that there existed a 'folk etymology' for the name Ringinglow—a story also recounted by local historian J. Edward Vickers—that the village got its name after a man lost on the moors in bad weather was saved when he heard the bells of Sheffield parish church
Sheffield Cathedral
Sheffield Cathedral is the cathedral church for the Church of England diocese of Sheffield, England. Originally a parish church, it was elevated to cathedral status when the diocese was created in 1914...
'ringing low' over the moors. Both authors state that this story is a myth.
Ringinglow Road was constructed as part of a turnpike
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
road from 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...
to Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
and Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
that opened in 1758. The Grade II listed octagonal former toll house
Toll house
A tollhouse or toll house is a building with accommodation for a toll collector, beside a tollgate on a toll road or canal. Many tollhouses were built by turnpike trusts in England, Wales and Scotland during the 18th and early 19th centuries...
built c1778 still stands in the village along with the Norfolk Arms Public House, a coaching inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
(also Grade II listed) that was built c1840.