History...
The village of Loxley as we know today consists of just under 1,000 dwellings and lies some three and a half miles from Sheffield city centre with the Civil Parish of Bradfield and borders on to the Peak National Park boundary at the embankment of Damflask Reservoir. Included in that figure are a number of smaller habitations at Stacey Bank, Holdworth and a number of dwellings alongside the River Loxley. It was formerly a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire registered under Wortley Rural District Council until it became absorbed into Sheffield in the 1974 boundary changes.
One hundred years ago very little existed in Loxley; there was a small pocket of housing on Loxley Road around the original Admiral Rodney Inn and at the bottom of Rodney Hill. The 1891 Ordnance Survey map only shows three dwellings above Rodney Hill, these being Occupation House, Archer House and Grange Bank; although the older ones on Land Society (now Hanson Road) are shown.
Between 1905 and WWI it began to grow with the larger houses on the left hand side of Rodney Hill and between Admiral Rodney and Long Lane being built. During the late 1920s up to WWII more housing appeared with Rodney Hill (opposite school) and Normandale Avenue; also Chase Road (numbers 1-19 and 2-8). Those on the left-hand side of Loxley Road (going down) towards Wisewood Inn and the houses on left hand side of The Grove were also built around this period.
The prefabs on Lee Road were built during WWII and the remainder of the council houses on Chase Road, France Road and Dunkerley Road were commenced on cessation of hostilities. The housing towards the bottom of Phillips Road were built c1956 whilst the upper part were completed c1970 along with the other streets leading off it. Around this time the Woodstock and South View Estates and The Grove were completed as private houses. The houses between Black Lane and Wisewood Inn were built during the early 1960s. Other smaller and single developments have been built since the late 1950s around the village.
The original Civil Parish boundary was small brook (which probably had its source on Wadsley Common and eventually found its way down in to the River Loxley below Low Matlock Works). It crossed Rodney Hill near to Normandale House and above Wisewood Inn; anything below that brook was in the Civil Parish of Ecclesfield in the village of Wisewood. The boundary was later moved down to its present location at the top of Low Matlock Lane on Loxley Road and the point where Rodney Hill changes its name to Ben Lane (the boundary stone is still there, if one knows where to look).
The Great Sheffield Flood: This disaster occurred on the night of March 11/12th 1864 when the newly constructed reservoir at Dale Dyke above Bradfield burst causing a torrent of water to sweep down the Loxley Valley and either totally or partially destroyed everything in its path and caused the loss of over 240 lives between Bradfield and Sheffield. All the watermills suffered some form of destruction, some being rebuilt and continued until pre WWII when more modern methods of production forced their closure. The only one still working in the valley now is Little Matlock, still hand rolling by the old traditional method. The future of this mill was in doubt around 5 years ago when it was purchased by a developer with a view to housing but a fierce campaign by a industrial heritage society saved it and it was purchased as a business venture and still thrives today. A more detailed account of the flood can be found here.
Robin Hood: Everyone knows the story of Robin Hood or Robin of Loxley - speculation as to whether or not he existed still captures the imagination although in recent years more evidence has come to light authenticating him to our Loxley rather than anywhere else who claims him. Evidence suggests that he lived at Little Haggis Croft which was in the vicinity of Warren House/Normandale House on Rodney Hill. More information on Robin of Loxley can be found here
The Gibbet: In 1782 a gibbet was erected on Loxley Edge (part of Wadsley Common) and the body of Francis Fearn was hung after he confessed to the brutal murder of a Sheffield watchmaker near to Kirkedge. He was found guilt of his crimes and executed by hanging in York Gaol, his body was wrapped in tarpaulin and hung by chains on the gibbet to deter any would-be criminals of a similar act. His last bones fell on Christmas Day in 1797 and the post was taken down and used to construct a bridge over the River Loxley only to be swept away by the flood in 1864.
The Village Green: Stands at the junction of Loxley Road/Rodney Hill and was once part of a public stone quarry. The copper beech tree was planted by Loxley School in 1935 to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V whilst the odd shaped stone was a mounting stone (for getting onto a horse) and originally stood on the other side of the road prior to the three pairs of semi-detached houses being built. There was also an air-raid shelter on the green and demolished during the 1970s.
Industry: The main industry over the centuries in Loxley has been rural farming and associated work although water powered forges and associated work provided employment for locals in the valley bottom. The refractory works of Thos. W. Wragg and Thos. Marshall started in the 1870s provided vast numbers of employment until the decline and ultimate closure around 10 years ago; the future use of the site has sparked much controversy over the last few years.
Public Houses: There are three Public Houses in Loxley; Nag's Head Inn at Stacey Bank, Wisewood Inn and Admiral Rodney. The current Admiral Rodney was built c1957 and replaced the original one which stood on Loxley Road where the recently demolished stone bus shelter was sited.
Sport & Recreation: This is one of the features where Loxley falls short, as the population has risen, sport and recreation has declined, from the 1920s to the 1970s it had good local football and cricket teams along with sportsfields and all have now disappeared or no longer used. The village has no community hall for local events apart from anything organised by the village school.
Education: The original village school (now a private house) adjoined The Manse at the bottom of the drive for the United Reform/Independent Church. Pupils went there until reaching the age of 10 or 11 and finished their remaining 2 or 3 years at either Wadsley or Stannington Church Schools. The current Loxley J& I infant school opened in 1911 for both seniors and juniors. In 1957 when Bradfield Secondary School opened, Loxley became a Junior and Infant School.
Religion: There were 2 places in Loxley for worship, these being the Methodist Chapel on Loxley Road built c1885 and still operating today, the other being the United Reform/Independent Church built c1787 and closed c1991 although the burial ground is still used, probably 5 or 6 times per year or according to demands.
History of Loxley kindly provided by Malcolm Nunn
