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Oughtibridge
Oughtibridge is a picturesque village situated on the outskirts of the city of Sheffield. It is a part of the Bradfield Parish Council and is roughly eight kilometres from the city centre of Sheffield. It sits in a picture perfect location in a valley through which the River Don flows. Recent years have seen it expand much due to an influx of people moving away from the city into the countryside to enjoy the peace and quiet of rural solitude and village life. A postcard perfect stone bridge connects the two halves of Oughtibridge, the River Don neatly intersects the two sides of the village. New private housing developments have resulted in more affordable housing in the Oughtibridge area, although house prices are still at a premium compared with other Sheffield suburb locations thanks to the tranquil setting and yet short distance to the city centre. Historians have estimated that Oughtibridge has been settled since at least the 12th century when the area became a popular fording point across the River Don.
A cottage was erected so that a gentleman named Oughtred could maintain the ford, and this is where the name of the village comes from. More and more people began to settle near the ford as the river supplied an ample amount of irrigation for local farms, and gradually the village expanded into what now exists today. It remained a small, isolated rural settlement until the industrial revolution when an increase in the number of people living in Sheffield resulted in increased demand for food and supplies. With the River Don providing ample power for water wheels and for driving machinery many mills and workshops were created in Oughtibridge to take advantage of the fresh supply of local crops including corn that were gathered from the surrounding countryside each year. In modern times Oughtibridge is a beautiful example of a well maintained, historic commuter village.
Many of the residents work in Sheffield and much of the former industry has been turned into housing, either by renovating old industrial buildings to produce accommodation or by creating new housing developments. There is a very low amount of rented properties in Oughtibridge, illustrating how sought after the area is. With a renewed interest in "escaping to the country" encouraging people to look further afield in order to secure a piece of rural living Oughtibridge has found itself a place of high interest with many people searching high and low in the village each year for that perfect place to purchase a home. Excellent transport links ensure that a short journey to the city centre is possible at most times of the day, and the spectacular scenery makes this journey a very small sacrifice indeed.
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