To be honest this is something that's been bothering me for a while but a couple of things have brought it more into focus.

It seems that as a nation we don't really value our heritage, in fact other countries value it far more than we appear to do. In Sheffield there are many areas of historic importance that are not recognised and have been largely ignored. Manor Castle springs to mind as one. However the one that is close to me are the Rivelin & Loxley Valleys. These valleys were once full of little mesters cutlery shops, this is a huge part of our heritage yet has largely gone uncelebrated. Wisewood Forge is no more, a housing development is now springing up in its place. The Corn Mill at Malin Bridge will shortly be turned into apartments, I beleive that this is the only remaining undershot wheel in Sheffield. There is little recognition of the Sheffield Flood in the area.

Why do we value this so lightly?

Sadly sanman, most of our heritage was either flattened in the war, flattened later by the council, or flattened more recently because ruins and memories don't bring in the money. And this in my eyes is very sad.

I really think that what is left of our heritage should be preserved and made a feature for future generations.

I still walk around looking above the shopfronts admiring the older parts of the buildings.

:mad:

You are so right Sanman!

I did a little digging into local history and heritage as part of a guide to Sheffield on my website. There are so many incredible treasure lost to history and virtually unknown to the Cities population-at-large.

I guess the average man in the street thinks all this old stuff is just dull and parochial.

I must confess I suffered a brief shiver of revulsion when I read the legal notice attached to the grand education buildings (Firth College) on Leopold street. Another Bar....

There must be better ways of preserving Sheffield few great buildings than turning them into Pubs...

Get yourself down to a folk music event. You'll find that our heritage is still alive and well.

I agree with noseyrosie. Your heritage should be alive and kicking, not decaying slowly.

Also, we should be creating NEW heritage, new places, new things that enliven our life and our environment, not worrying about dusty old things simply because they are old.

Some things are old and good and worth preserving, some things are just old.

Originally posted by sanman It seems that as a nation we don't really value our heritage, in fact other countries value it far more than we appear to do. In Sheffield there are many areas of historic importance that are not recognised and have been largely ignored. Manor Castle springs to mind as one


Just for your info mate, the Manor Castle Developement Fund (iirc)
have won funding (think its into the millions) to complete restoration work on Manor Castle. I read in Star the other week that its due to be featured on that BBC programme 'Restoration' sometime later in the year.

We had Boggarts Breakfast Morris Dancers dancing and playing music outside the Classic Rock Bar last night. It was great! Lovely happy atmosphere. Some cars pulled over to watch, passers by in the street smiled and enjoyed it. One or two cars went past and tooted their horns, a couple made obscene gestures as they waved their England flags.

Ladyovmanor, I'm well aware of the situation regarding Manor castle, luv. The point is much of our heritage is being allowed to decay and disappear. We should be proud of what Sheffield has acheived and preserve some of our heritage so that future generations can understand and take pride in it. Tony made a point for me although I'm sure he didn't intend to in that our heritage should be alive and not decaying. Much of the areas/buildings around us have are an important part of our heritage, rather than letting them slowly decay lets preserve them and make them living breathing attractions

The Corn Mill at Malin Bridge will shortly be turned into apartments, I beleive that this is the only remaining undershot wheel in Sheffield. [/B]

It IS the only remaining undershot wheel and is falling to bits now. The Loxley Valley Society who used to run it in the summer some years back now and apparently abandoned it? I went on a tour of it last year one sunday morning (u can access the site from a hole in the fence in the carpark of the old COMET, now empty. You can get right up close to it and see how bad it is now....in need of restoration urgently.

It wont be turned into flats.....the application has been withdrawn apparently.

Last year I had the CRAZY idea of buying the place and turning the Mill into a working tourist attraction with craft fairs and shops in the old COMET.....trouble is I could not lay my hands on 500K at the time....boo

I was talking to a parish councillor last week and it would appear that the application is still valid it is being held up at the moment by some negotiation around what will happpen to the wheel.

I mus admit I thought it would make an ideal vistors centre for the Rivelin & Loxley Valleys along with a display and memorium to the Sheffield Flood.

Originally posted by Classic Rock
We had Boggarts Breakfast Morris Dancers dancing and playing music outside the Classic Rock Bar last night. It was great! Lovely happy atmosphere. Some cars pulled over to watch, passers by in the street smiled and enjoyed it. One or two cars went past and tooted their horns, a couple made obscene gestures as they waved their England flags.

That's my mum you're talkign about!




She probably made obscene gestures back :D

sanman, your reply to my post seemed abit patronising mate, i genuinely wasnt having a 'go', i agree with everything youve said. I just saying 'for your info' in case you werent aware of the situation with Manor Castle.

Sorry if it didnt seem that way.

Also sorry if the tone of my reply seemed a bit condescending:D I tend to be a bit quick tempered on things I fell passionately about.

I don't think I valued our heritage untill I went to Australia last year. Lovely and clean, great climate, friendly people (no real pubs or nightlife even in tourist areas in the evening)

BUT after two weeks I was gagging to see something, anything, OLD - houses, buildings, a sense if the past.