Crookes Valley Park is an area of public parkland in the Crookesmoor area of the City of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. The park lies just under two kilometres west of the City centre at 53°23′00″N1°29′34″W / 53.3834°N 1.4929°W . It is one of the three “Crookesmoor Parks” the other two being Weston Park and The Ponderosa.
Crookes Valley Park covers an area of approximately 4.8 hectares (11.9 acres), and the majority of the park is taken up by the lake, which was originally a water supply reservoir called the Old Great Dam. It was one of ten reservoirs built in open countryside in the valley between Crookes and Upperthorpe to supply water to the growing City of Sheffield in the 18th century. The Old Great Dam was built in 1785 with a capacity of 21 million imperial gallons (95,000 m3) and was thought big enough to supply the town for many years, however the ten reservoirs became obsolete by the 20th century and were all filled in with the exception of the Old Great Dam. [1]
The Old Great Dam was integrated into Crookes Valley Park when it was set out by Sheffield Corporation in the early years of the 20th century. For many years it was used as a boating lake and has been used for fishing. it is fed by a small stream which flows through a culvert into the western corner. The lake is said to be 60 feet (18 m) deep and there are unsubstantiated stories of large Pike and Zander living in the depths. On the south western fringe of the park is the Dam House bar and restaurant, a building of some antiquity. It was built in the 1780s when the Dam was being constructed and originally served as the house of the Water Board's solicitor. [2]
Two Bowling greens were constructed in the park shortly after it was opened, and a children's playground was built in the 1970s. Both were constructed in a part of the park which was known as the recreation ground, and thus marked on old Ordnance Survey maps, it was an area of quite steep banking built as a dam wall for the reservoir. [3]
Swimming takes place at the lake almost every day of the year, despite signage at the site stating "No Swimming". Swimmers have been known to break ice in the middle of winter to swim. Local swimmers have approached the council various times in attempt to replace the "No Swimming" signs with useful and accurate water safety signage,[ citation needed ] with help and advice from the Outdoor Swimming Society Inland Access Group. [4]
On 18 July 2021, a man drowned while swimming in the lake. Emergency services arrived on scene but were unable to retrieve him in time. The park was then evacuated to make way for a more thorough search. [5] [6]
The Dam House and Old Great Dam was painted by the artist William Ibbittt [7] and is featured in a photograph from the 1950s in the Frith Collection. [8]
The Upper Derwent Valley is an area of the Peak District National Park in England. It largely lies in Derbyshire, but its north eastern area lies in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Its most significant features are the Derwent Dams, Ladybower, Derwent and Howden, which form Ladybower Reservoir, Derwent Reservoir and Howden Reservoir respectively.
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale — which includes the districts of Broomhill, Broomhall, Crookesmoor, Endcliffe, Sharrow Vale and Tapton Hill — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. The ward was created following the 2015 local government boundary review out of parts of the old Broomhill, Central and Nether Edge wards. It is located in the western part of the city. The population of the Broomhill ward in 2011 was 16,966 people in 5,708 households, covering an area of 2.7 km2. Broomhill & Sharrow Vale is one of the wards that make up the Sheffield Central Parliamentary Constituency.
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Weston Park is a public park with an area of just over 5 hectares in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It lies immediately west of the City Centre, alongside the Weston Park Museum. It is situated next to the University of Sheffield Library, Geography and Firth Court buildings, and across the road from Sheffield Children's Hospital. Along with Crookes Valley Park and The Ponderosa it is one of the three Crookesmoor parks.
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The Ponderosa is a recreation area within the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Although not a public park it was designated as Open Space by Sheffield City Council in the 1993 Unitary Development Plan. It covers an area of over 25 acres (10 ha) and is located at 53.3868°N 1.4865°W, 0.9 miles (1.5 km) west of the city centre between the districts of Upperthorpe and Netherthorpe. Although the name “Ponderosa” was originally an informal name given by local children, it is now the accepted title and is recognised by the local council. Along with Weston Park and Crookes Valley Park it is one of the three “Crookesmoor Parks”.
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Upperthorpe is a suburb of the City of Sheffield, England. It lies 1.2 miles (2 km) west of the city centre. The suburb falls within the Walkley ward of the City. It is an area of residential housing and is bounded by the suburbs of Walkley to the north, Crookes to the west and Netherthorpe to the south.
Rivelin Valley Park is a public recreation area in the Rivelin Valley area of Sheffield, England. The facilities consist of a playground and a small water park as well as a café. The park is situated on the Rivelin Valley Nature Trail, which is maintained by volunteers from the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group.
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