I've happy memories of going to Millhouses Park when I was a kid and spending most of the day playing in the paddeling pools. And it wasn't just me - those pools and the grass nearby used to be full of families enjoying themselves.

I was in the area today and went for a walk through the park. What an eyesore! The paddeling pools are empty and rotting. What a shame. Do the council plan to sort this out?

I wouldn't have thought so. Those kind of paddling pools are a nightmare for the councils with potentially too many compensation claims these days.

Is the boating lake still in operation and is that cafe still open?

Lickszz, i must say your avatar is FANTASTIC mate!

The boating lake is still operating, yes, and the cafe is open.

Actually the cafe has been taken over and refurbished, and serves really nice food :) There are also tennis courts near the boating lake.

If they aren't going to repair the paddeling pools, they should fill them in. As they are, they look ugly.

PS - did anyone else used to play "count how many trains go past" when visiting the park?

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Lickszz, i must say your avatar is FANTASTIC mate!

Thank You. I actually have 2 that are very similair to yours, one a punk playing a guitar and another man playing a banjo. I have tried uploading them but they just a little too big. :x

Originally posted by Andy
The boating lake is still operating, yes, and the cafe is open.

Actually the cafe has been taken over and refurbished, and serves really nice food :) There are also tennis courts near the boating lake.

If they aren't going to repair the paddeling pools, they should fill them in. As they are, they look ugly.

PS - did anyone else used to play "count how many trains go past" when visiting the park?

What about the putting golf course?

No, I never did the train spotting thing, but I remember I used to get excited everytime a train speeded by. I used to be too busy messing in the streams I think.

Originally posted by Andy
I've happy memories of going to Millhouses Park when I was a kid and spending most of the day playing in the paddeling pools. And it wasn't just me - those pools and the grass nearby used to be full of families enjoying themselves.

I was in the area today and went for a walk through the park. What an eyesore! The paddeling pools are empty and rotting. What a shame. Do the council plan to sort this out?


We had some wonderfull times at Millhouses Park in the old days.

The padling pools have been empty for years probably 10-15 years now, the problem was they were filled by the river (Sheaf), maybe that is why they closed them.

I used to go all the time to the park and visit the lido when I was a teenager, what about the giant chess set, anybody remember that.

Putting is still there as are bowling greens and tennis courts, having said all of that it is still a nice park and probably the best one to go to if you have small kiddies.

I go to the millhouse park cafe about once every 2 months, depends on where I am working at the time.

Food is really nice - they serve a good breakfast, which is served at dinner time too. Lots of nice cakes to choose from for afters too. You can eat both in and out.

The boating lake is open but I have yet to see any being used.

They have just built new toilets but I am not sure if they are open yet.

There are several tennis court there too.

I have yet to venture beyond the cafe/boating lake area to give you any further info.

Maybe it will be sold off to developers who say they will reinstate the paddling pool and put £50k into council coffers for park regeneration. Never say never.....

1Man&HisBMW

I used to love them lil paddle boats in the lake when I was a kid. Also ... I remember the park bit (swings and slides) ... I got concussion when I was about 10 and a kid behind my pushed me off the slide (grrrrr @ dave aston) ...

What about the open air swimming pool they had ... loads of fun throwing water filled empty crisp packets at the other kiddies !!

Trouble with open air swimming pools and paddling pools is that:

A) In this country it's too cold to use them regularly except during years where you get warm summers (like this year).

B) They get vandalised and consequently cost the Council a fortune in big fat repair bills as a result, eventually the Council turns round and decides "sod it, it's not worth repairing it cos it'll just get vandalised again and again".

Seriously it gets my goat that kids and parents bitch about there being a lack of facilities for them, yet when they get the facilities, morons ruin it for the good kids by vandalising stuff.

Fair enough, if the council can't afford to repair the paddeling pools.

I've been told that they were closed because they used river water, and the water didn't meet the required standard. Installing filters would be too expensive.

But, if the pools are never coming back, why not fill them in? Put some grass there, or flower beds or somthing else that would be pleasent to look at.

Right now, the pools are an eyesore.

Hi does anyone remember the Lilo (dont know if its spelt like that..) at Millhouses Park? I remember goping when I was younger. I cant remember what happend to it and why it was knocked down. Over recent years I have heard speculation about rebuilding it but it doesnt look that way. Any information would be helpful.


Added this to an earlier thread - max the mod

I personally LOVE Millhouses Park! I think they have done loads there over the last couple of years to make it more 'family friendly' again. The new wooden adventure playground bit for kids is great. Also, the cafe is yummy and excellent hangover cure - sit with a good up of tea and a bun watching people race their model boats, kids getting stuck in their paddle boats in the middle of the boating pond (happened just last weekend!) and during Wimbledon fortnight the amount of 'tennis whites' you see down there is amazing!!

I think it's a shame about the paddling pool bits and my own thought would be to turn that into a small skate park. There are loads of kids in Millhouses and surrounding areas who are into skating - better than sitting inside watching tv or playing computer games.

I go past Millhouses Park regularly. On a Sunday it is packed, but then that is true of most of Sheffield's parks. We are very luycky to have them and they are greatly appreciated. However, I don't agree that private developers should get their hands on them. They may put some of the things right, but there would be a greater cost for all of us.

Originally posted by WintersMist
Hi does anyone remember the Lilo (dont know if its spelt like that..) at Millhouses Park? [/I]

The Lido actually - a lilo is what you'd take in to float in the pools :)

Do you remember how cold the water always was? That first jump in was a big one.

My favourite memory is going to the park with friends on a cold morning and breaking the ice on the paddling pools & boating lake.

Also does anyone remember the huge slide they used to have? No longer there (thanks health & safety) - must have been 100 foot tall (or felt like it!)

Also they used to have brilliant (and dangerous) push merry go rounds (also no longer there - darn you do gooders) which you could get spinning really fast and then dare each other to jump on and off.

I remember the slide and it did feel 100 foot high! The lido was great always buzzing ..........................fond memories

I am planning to go to the park tomorrow, to take some photos for my brother. This was our playground as kids, and will be interesting to see what its like now. I suspect I will be shocked. What I would particularly like to know is whether there is any wildlife to see like birds,squirrels,ducks or anything else. Can anyone tell me please?

My favourite memory is going to the park with friends on a cold morning and breaking the ice on the paddling pools & boating lake.

Also does anyone remember the huge slide they used to have? No longer there (thanks health & safety) - must have been 100 foot tall (or felt like it!)

Also they used to have brilliant (and dangerous) push merry go rounds (also no longer there - darn you do gooders) which you could get spinning really fast and then dare each other to jump on and off.

You and me both matey ::thumbsup:

I've happy memories of going to Millhouses Park when I was a kid and spending most of the day playing in the paddeling pools. And it wasn't just me - those pools and the grass nearby used to be full of families enjoying themselves.

I was in the area today and went for a walk through the park. What an eyesore! The paddeling pools are empty and rotting. What a shame. Do the council plan to sort this out?

When i was younger i used to spend many a day in those paddling pools with my nan & great gran Millhouses park was my second home.:hihi:

My nan & great gran always used to take me on the fun fair & the paddling pools & onto the boating lake & then on for something to eat at the cafe.


The Demise of the Fair & Especially the Paddling pools is an Absolute Disgrace they should have been maintained & kept open as that is what Attracted the most people to the park when the weather was nice in the summer.

I was there yesterday morning, walking the dog. It was really beautiful. Lots of people having coffee outside the cafe at 9am. A proper summers day:D

As for the park itself, some things have improved imo, the cafe, the kids playground, although whats happened to the chains on the assault course? The toilets!

I think the paddling pools should be filled in, a complete eyesore as they are:(

Dont know whats happening where the playground used to be, slide, roundabout, swings, rocking horse (my fave) but it is fenced off at the moment.

I used to love them lil paddle boats in the lake when I was a kid. Also ... I remember the park bit (swings and slides) ... I got concussion when I was about 10 and a kid behind my pushed me off the slide (grrrrr @ dave aston) ...

What about the open air swimming pool they had ... loads of fun throwing water filled empty crisp packets at the other kiddies !!

I used to love going to the lido, but for some strange reason, I wouldn't go if it was raining! Now I'm older I can see how weird it was, after all you get wet in there anyhow. Strange child :loopy:

I am planning to go to the park tomorrow, to take some photos for my brother. This was our playground as kids, and will be interesting to see what its like now. I suspect I will be shocked. What I would particularly like to know is whether there is any wildlife to see like birds,squirrels,ducks or anything else. Can anyone tell me please?
Some members of The Forums photograpy group were in Millhouses Park just over a week ago,
you can see some of our results in this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=353743)

Hi does anyone remember the Lilo (dont know if its spelt like that..) at Millhouses Park? I remember goping when I was younger. Added this to an earlier thread - max the mod

Not being from Sheffield, I used the lido in Lister Park in Bradford when I was young. I used to gope too ;)

My favourite memory is going to the park with friends on a cold morning and breaking the ice on the paddling pools & boating lake.

Also does anyone remember the huge slide they used to have? No longer there (thanks health & safety) - must have been 100 foot tall (or felt like it!)

Also they used to have brilliant (and dangerous) push merry go rounds (also no longer there - darn you do gooders) which you could get spinning really fast and then dare each other to jump on and off.

Er...who says it was owt to do with health and safety. People always assume that but it probably ain't true. More likely it was expensive to maintain, like the ones in my old park in Pudsey. They weren't built to withstand the modern scourge of determined vandalism, so were always needing repair, and in the end, the council took them out.

I can't see a H&S reason to get rid of a slide (speaking as a H&S adviser).

Great photos. I don`t think mine will be to that standard. It does look as though there are still some beautiful areas. I particularly love walking by water (not on it)

think the paddling pools should be filled in, a complete eyesore as they are:(
And I just happen to have recent a photo of the 'paddling pools' (http://www.sheffieldphotos.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4590)
:(

Spent a couple of hours there today, very sad to see the paddling pools. I was surprised to see tennis courts, some overgrown with weeds, not one in use, paddleboats not in use, childrens area only open weekends and school holidays. The only ball game I saw was 5 dogs and their owners having a lovely game of footie. Very few people out enjoying the beautiful weather.

I've happy memories of going to Millhouses Park when I was a kid and spending most of the day playing in the paddeling pools. And it wasn't just me - those pools and the grass nearby used to be full of families enjoying themselves.

I was in the area today and went for a walk through the park. What an eyesore! The paddeling pools are empty and rotting. What a shame. Do the council plan to sort this out?

Millhouses Park went downhill 20 odd years ago mate.

Because the Paddling Pools and the Lido got so badly vandalised, the Council in its infinite wisdom decided it wasn't worth doing it back up and re-opening it every time when a week later it'd just get vandalised again.

What they should've done was hire security patrols for the area.

And give the scrotes up there something to do so that they didn't get so bored they had to turn to vandalism for kicks.

It would be great to see the lido opened.
Might be an idea to start a petition.
You have to go bloody miles to swim outdoors.
Has anybody swam in the pond at abbeydale industrial hamlet up the road?
I was half tempted to jump in earlier.

Noooo! Don'r do it! Do you know how deep that Pond is? It's definitely not standing depth (more than 6 foot).

And the closest open air Pool would probably be the one in Hathersage, that's when it's not shut for the same reason as the Millhouses one was shut most of the time.

Noooo! Don'r do it! Do you know how deep that Pond is? It's definitely not standing depth (more than 6 foot).

And the closest open air Pool would probably be the one in Hathersage, that's when it's not shut for the same reason as the Millhouses one was shut most of the time.

The pool at Hathersage shuts due to the weather & for repairs, not because of "scrotes " or vandalism.

Have used park for over 35 years and it is as well maintained now as it ever was,infact many areas are better such as the cafe.

I don't think Millhouses Park is all that bad - of course, being 14 I don't know what it was like before. But I go there a lot, and it's still a nice place to go to meet your friends. I do remember the paddling pools though, from when I was tiny, and I'll admit they are a bit of an eyesore.
But personally, I love the Park. The Cafe and the Playground Area are very good in my opinion....

It wouldn't hurt to sort out the toilets though. It's disgusting - theres never any loo roll, the flush hardly works and neither do the taps !

I don't think Millhouses Park is all that bad - of course, being 14 I don't know what it was like before. But I go there a lot, and it's still a nice place to go to meet your friends. I do remember the paddling pools though, from when I was tiny, and I'll admit they are a bit of an eyesore.
But personally, I love the Park. The Cafe and the Playground Area are very good in my opinion....

It wouldn't hurt to sort out the toilets though. It's disgusting - theres never any loo roll, the flush hardly works and neither do the taps !

That's not just Millhouses Park mate, that's the Council.. But then I've been saying for years that provision of public khazis in Sheffield is a joke, most of the Council run ones are shut due to vandalism, and the few that are open are so grotty you don't want to use them, and that's just the Gent's! :rant:

That's not just Millhouses Park mate, that's the Council.. But then I've been saying for years that provision of public khazis in Sheffield is a joke, most of the Council run ones are shut due to vandalism, and the few that are open are so grotty you don't want to use them, and that's just the Gent's! :rant:


Rich ,Should the council tender for bids for "private toilets" to make them better maintained & to create more attraction to Council parks ?

Rich ,Should the council tender for bids for "private toilets" to make them better maintained & to create more attraction to Council parks ?

Yes indeedy.

And on that note, I'm off to bed.

I agree. Sheffield needs an outdoor swimming facility. The lido used to be great but then I remember trouble started to flare up there more often, so I'm not sure whether re-developing/re-opening it would be a good idea.

At the very least, the paddling pools should be re-opened there. They manage ok at Rivelin. What about Clifton Park, Rotherham - I've heard that's amazing - if Rotherham can do it, why can't Sheffield?

Rich ,Should the council tender for bids for "private toilets" to make them better maintained & to create more attraction to Council parks ?

Friends of Graves Park came up with the idea of including public toilets within a publicly accessed greenhouse in Norton Nursery. The building is secured at night and supervised during the day.
I think this is a brilliant idea. Putting public toilets outside makes them a yob target. They won't last 5 minutes. It makes far more sense to attach them to an existing manned facility to make them secure.
If there are no public buildings then private options should be considered. Thick yobs should not be allowed to inconvenience (no pun) the public.