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Attercliffe
Attercliffe is a suburb of Sheffield situated in the north-easterly reaches of the city and nestled against the banks of the River Don. Like many places in the region Attercliffe itself gets a mention in the Domesday book, it's original name (Ateclive) is described as a small settlement laying next to the Rover Don. The word Attercliffe (or Ateclive if one wishes to use an older form of the word) literally means "at the cliff" and although it has been eroded away over the centuries (moreso in recent years due to industrialisation) pictures of the area from the past clearly show a cliff running through where Attercliffe is now situated.
There are many historical records of Attercliffe such as the noting of the creation of the Westforth bridge in 1535, and its subsequent rebuilding many times, first in wood in 1608 and again in 1647, and then in stone in 1672, 1789 and 1794. Attercliffe Chapel is noted as being built in 1629 and is is recorded as being the first place of worship in the area, although this is highly unlikely given that it had been settled for many years prior to this. Right through until the 1800's Attercliffe was a relatively small and quiet farming community that was recognised nationally for its stunning orchards and windmill. There were a number of majestic buildings that stand as a testament to the skill of the craftspeople who worked to create Attercliffe, buildings such as the Old and New Halls and Carlton House are still in use today for a variety of purposes including as a tourist attraction complete with racecourse, bowling green, maze and decorative lakes.
Industrialisation brought a chance for Attercliffe to expand and a small cottage industry crafting pen and pocket knives quickly grew and a turnpike was constructed from Sheffield along with a canal that provided a means of transporting raw materials to Attercliffe and finished goods to market to be sold far quicker than what was previously possible. The completion of a railway station in 1871 cemented the reputation of Attercliffe as a thriving industrial centre, however the area gradually began to decline in the 20th century and now it exists as a suburb of Sheffield.
The charming and quaint farming origins of Attercliffe are still present as are the historical landmarks of its industrial heritage, and there is no doubting that Attercliffe is an area steeped in history with a superb reputation. In recent years Attercliffe has seen something of a revival with the creation of a number of new, iconic structures and landmarks such as the Sheffield Supertram and the Don Valley Stadium. The new Sheffield Arena and Five Weirs Walk have helped put the area back on the map where it will certainly remain for many years to come.
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