Rivelin Valley Conservation Group
Celebrating industrial heritage, wildlife and creativity in the Rivelin Valley
Rivelin Valley Park, Rivelin Valley Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S6 5GL Rivelin Valley Heritage Open Day 2019 will have exhibits about its industrial heritage and local wildlife, with guided walks to the world famous Mousehole Forge. For the more artistic among you, there will be an ‘open mic’ poetry walk with local poet Fay Musselwhite.
Meet volunteers from the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group and Sheffield Wildlife Trust and find out how you can become involved in helping to conserve your valley for future generations.
Find out about the history, industrial heritage and wildlife of the Rivelin Valley which was once the hunting grounds of the Lords of Hallamshire. From the 16th to 20th centuries this three-mile stretch of river valley supported 20 water mills and 21 dams; possibly the most concentrated number over that distance in the country. It supported industries ranging from cutlery grinding workshops and tilt forges to paper mills and corn mills.
See old photographs and maps that show what the valley was like one hundred years ago or more. The latest (2019) edition of the trail guide ‘Walking the Rivelin’ will be on sale.
Join a guided walk to the remains of Mousehole Forge, which once produced world-famous anvils, or an ‘open mic’ poetry walk with local poet Fay Musselwhite, where you will have the opportunity to read your own poem or another favourite. [Further details below]
Mike Dyson will demonstrate folding penknife making which was a popular industry in the Valley.
See artwork by and find out about the Rivelin Valley Artist’s Colony based at Rivelin Corn Mill in the 1920’s and local 19th century artist and engraver William Lowe.
Watch the video of the old Rivelin valley postcards and share your memories of the Rivelin Valley – bring along stories, photographs and objects that tell the story of the valley.
Visit our nature corner to see and find out about local wildlife. May include activities such as a bug-hunt and bark/leaf rubbing.
Access: On street parking only nearby but full disabled access is available. Off street parking, with a short walk, is available at the Havelock Dam (between Rivelin Fire Station and Hollins Lane).
Directions: Event is based around the Rivelin Park Café/Rivelin Valley Water Play area (paddling pools) on Rivelin Valley Road (A6101), near to the junction with Hollins Lane, about 1 km from Malin Bridge. On public transport, take a bus or the Supertram from Sheffield City Centre to Malin Bridge. From the Malin Bridge Supertram terminus it is about a 10 minute walk along Rivelin Valley Road to the Rivelin Park.
Organised by: Rivelin Valley Conservation Group.
Contact for the day: Graham Appleby 07850 712988
Sponsored by: the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership and the Heritage Fund with support from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.
Join RVCG guides for walks from Rivelin Park café to the world-famous Mousehole Forge, only recently accessible for public visits. See the remains of. three mill sites and visit Mousehole Forge Scheduled Ancient Monument, where over 800,000 anvils were made, most of which were exported to America in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The event is free but booking is essential at:
Come down to the river and read your favourite poem! Choose a poem about nature and/or heritage, written by you or by somebody else; make sure it isn’t more than 2 or 3 minutes long, and bring it along. We’ll read our chosen poetry to each other, and walk by the river. The event is free but booking is essential – write to resonate@blueyonder.co.uk
