R is for Rivelin Valley

The River Rivelin originates in the Hallam moors and flows through the Rivelin Valley before joining the River Loxley at Malin Bridge. The 3.5-mile-long Rivelin Valley, known for its woodland and farmland, includes the popular Rivelin Valley Nature Trail, established in 1967. The river’s tributaries include the Wyming Brook, Allen Sike, and Black Brook, with the Rivelin Dams situated at the valley’s head.

Historically, the Rivelin River played a crucial role as a power source, driving the water wheels of up to twenty forges, metal-working, and flour mills along its course. The river, fed by constant water release from nearby moorland peat, drops 80 meters between Rivelin Mill Bridge and Malin Bridge, making it relatively fast-flowing.

The area has evidence of Roman occupation, including tablets found in 1761 on the Stannington side of the valley, which recorded land grants to retiring Roman soldiers. In medieval times, the valley was part of Rivelin Chase, a vast deer hunting ground covering thousands of acres, designated by the Lords of Hallamshire.

Though most of the mills and forges no longer exist, the valley still contains 21 artificial ponds that once fed these industries, preserved with the help of the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group (RVCG) and Yorkshire Water.

Rivelin Valley Park, a recreational area within the valley, features a playground, small water park, and café. The park’s facilities, developed in the early 1950s, replaced the old Spooner’s wheel mill, and paddling pools were constructed as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations, officially opened on 27 July 1951.