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Gleadless
Gleadless (or more specifically Gleadless Valley ward as it is technically referred to) is a ward in the city of Sheffield. Gleadless sits towards the southern area of Sheffield and is some four and a half square kilometres. The most recent census recorded in 2001 notes 9,000 households containing 19,700 souls, and Gleadless is one of five wards that go to make up the Sheffield Heeley constituency. Historically Gleadless Valley has been a term used to describe the physical valley that separates Hemsworth and Herdings, and in modern times Gleadless ward is made up of a number of estates including Hemsworth, Hedrings, Heeley, and Meersbrook. Many of the component suburbs that make up Gleadless were originally outlying villages that began a part of the city of Sheffield due to the expansion of the city throughout the ages. Many of these villages have historical records that date back to the early middle ages and have served a variety of purposes throughout the centuries, Heeley in Gleadless is an example of this.
It was first recorded in literature in 1343 and and over the years has been a site of passing trade, in 1757 a turnpike road turned Heeley into a major thoroughfare and a toll bar was installed to collect tolls from passing caravans. The later addition of the Midland Main Line added to the sheer amount of traffic passing through the area and cemented the reputation of whatever would become Gleadless as a major stopping point for passing trade. Meersbrook is a particularly charming area of Gleadless, it takes its name from the Meers Brook, a small tributary on the River Sheaf that was vitally important as a major source of water for the settlements along the river in ancient times. The river also formed an ancient boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria so it has always served as something of a major stopping off point for journeys venturing from region to region.
Meersbrook Park is a major centre of attraction in Gleadless, the beautiful parkland is set on a steep hillside and it affords some of the most breathtaking views of Sheffield if you look to the north. The park is also home to a number of historic buildings and sites of special historic interest including the 16th century Bishops' House, one of the oldest buildings in Sheffield and currently functioning as a museum. In many ways it is astonishing that residents can explore such peaceful and serene surroundings in Gleadless and still be a remarkably short distance from the city centre. Houses are suitably varied from Victorian terraces to more grandiose structures.
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