Brilliant Bradfield in the Yorkshire Peak District

Bradfield

The beautiful village of Bradfield lies just 7 miles out of Sheffield but is surrounded by beautiful, wild moorland countryside, on the border of the Peak District National Park in Yorkshire. It has the distinction of being the largest civil parish in England, although in fact it is made up of two villages, High Bradfield, which is situated on the hillside, and Low Bradfield, which sits down in the valley alongside the River Loxley.

High Bradfield

High Bradfield is a historic place, dominated by the beautiful Grade I listed church of St Nicholas, built in the 1480s in the Gothic Revival style. It includes parts of an earlier 12th Century church, and is thought to stand on the site of an even earlier Anglo-Saxon place of worship.

The village also contains extensive ancient earthworks at Bailey Hill on the northwest edge. The earthworks consist of a 10.5m high mound surrounded by a 95m long curved trench. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, although its exact origins are unclear and it is not known whether it is a Norman motte and bailey castle or a Saxon fort. Excavations from the 18th Century revealed squared stones that had been cut using tools. In the opposite direction on the southeast edge of the village is Castle Hill, a ringwork site marked on old maps as a Saxon encampment, although again the precise purpose of the construction is unknown.

The village today is a picturesque place, perfect for a day out. High Bradfield boasts some notable old buildings, including the original parish workhouse. This was operational as a workhouse from 1759 to 1847, but in the 1870s was converted into private homes. There is also a Grade II listed building known as The Old Post Office, built in 1835 of local gritstone with a slate roof.

High Bradfield has a great pub – The Old Horns Inn – with arguably the best views from any beer garden in the Peak District!

Low Bradfield

Low Bradfield is less historic, much of it having been destroyed in the Great Sheffield Flood. In March 1864 the Dale Dike Reservoir tragically burst its dam wall and released more than 700 million gallons of water into the Loxley Valley, killing more than 250 people and washing away countless buildings.

Low Bradfield is still an idyllic place today, however. It is centred around a beautiful village cricket ground and park. It also has a great pub, The Plough, and a lovely shop and tea room in Flask End.

Bradfield is also the home of the Bradfield Brewery, renowned locally for its fabulous ‘Farmers’ ales.

Follow Our Walk!

There are numerous walks from the village into the surrounding Peak District countryside and around the four picturesque reservoirs in the area: Agden, Damflask, Dale Dike and Strines.

To see more of the area for yourself, why not follow our 5.3 mile walk around the village and Dale Dike Reservoir. Click HERE for more information, including a full description of the route.