Stocksbridge: A Glimpse into History and Heritage

Stocksbridge, a small town and civil parish in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, is steeped in history. Located in the picturesque valley of the Little Don River, beneath the Underbank Reservoir, Stocksbridge is surrounded by the areas of Deepcar, Bolsterstone, and the eastern end of Ewden Valley, including Ewden village. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is nestled just to the east of the Peak District. As of the 2011 census, the population of the civil parish stood at 13,455.

Stocksbridge has long shared close ties with nearby Penistone. In earlier years, many workers from Penistone’s steelworks would brave harsh conditions, walking over Back Lane and through Underbank in darkness to reach their shifts, strengthening the connection between these two communities.

Early History

Stocksbridge's history traces back to a time long before industrialization. Up until the early 18th century, the area was a heavily wooded valley that stretched from Deepcar in the southeast to Midhopestones in the northwest. The river, initially called Hunshelf Water and later renamed the Little Don, meandered through the valley, often referred to as the "Porter" due to its peaty color.

A dirt road connecting Sheffield and Manchester ran through the valley, passing by a few stone houses and scattered farms on the surrounding hillsides. In 1716, John Stocks, a local farmer, established a fulling mill along the river, and it was here that the area's most prominent feature, Stocksbridge, was constructed. This footbridge, built by Stocks to facilitate access to his mill from the northern side of the river, became the namesake of the town. Stocksbridge, which was destroyed by floods several times, was eventually replaced by a stone structure in 1812.

In 1794, three businessmen—Jonathan Denton, Benjamin Grayson, and Thomas Cannon—established a cotton mill near Stocksbridge, further shaping the town’s industrial future.

The Rise of the Steel Industry

The valley's transformation into a major industrial hub began in 1842 when Samuel Fox acquired the existing cotton mill. Initially, Fox rented the mill from its owner, Joshua Newton, before purchasing it outright in 1851. Fox converted the mill into a wire mill, supplying wire for textile pins and, later, umbrella frames. Joseph Haywards invention, and Fox’s patenting of the "Paragon" umbrella frame in 1851 marked a key moment in the development of his business.

In the early 1860s, Fox expanded his operations by installing furnaces and a rolling mill to produce steel for his wire production. This marked the beginning of steel manufacturing in Stocksbridge. Fox’s decision to produce his own steel rather than purchase it externally proved to be a game-changer, allowing the company to diversify its product range. By 1871, Samuel Fox & Co. was incorporated into a limited company, and by the mid-1870s, a railway line was constructed linking the works to the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway at Deepcar, facilitating the transportation of goods.

Following the First World War, Fox’s company merged with Steel, Peech, and Tozer at Templeborough to form United Steel Companies (USC), with Fox’s works specializing in high-quality steel, particularly spring steel and stainless steel. Stocksbridge steel played a crucial role in the aviation industry, with one department assembling springs for Rolls-Royce cars. During the Second World War, the steelworks were instrumental in supporting the war effort. The factory also became a key landmark for Luftwaffe bombers during the Sheffield Blitz.

Following nationalization in 1967, British Steel Corporation restructured the steel industry, and in 2004, the steelworks were absorbed into Outokumpu as part of the stainless steel division. During the 1980s and 1990s, Stocksbridge's works became known as "Stocksbridge Engineering Steels" and was part of a joint venture between British Steel and GKN. In 1999, Corus, a major steel producer, took over the operations.

The steelworks faced challenges during the 2008 recession, but a resurgence in demand for steel, particularly from China, helped return the business to profitability. The site underwent further investment, including a £6.5 million upgrade to boost aerospace steel production in 2011.

In 2015, Tata Steel came under scrutiny from the Serious Fraud Office, and in early 2016, it was announced that the company would sell its UK steelmaking operations due to high electricity costs and competition from cheap steel exports from China. However, in February 2017, Tata sold its UK steelworks to the Liberty House Group, ensuring that steelmaking in Stocksbridge would continue for the foreseeable future.

We invite you to explore the history through the materials provided and discover more about the lasting legacy.