Bradfield Walks&Trails Historic Map of High Bradfield in 1891

High Bradfield village originally grew up around the church and the motte-and-bailey castle.

The Parish Church of St. Nicholas is Grade 1 newly buried bodies risked being disinterred listed and dates from the 12th century, to be sold to medical schools for the study although the building contains features from of anatomy. As stealing a corpse was only across the centuries. In the late 19th century punishable by a fine or imprisonment, a Saxon cross, now in the church, was found rather than transportation or execution, in at the foot of Woodfall Lane. bodysnatchers found it sufficiently profitable Several victims of the Dale Dyke disaster of to run the risk. The Anatomy Act ended the 1864 are buried in the churchyard and there trade by allowing bodies is also a memorial inside the church. St. to be donated to medical Nicholas’ church continues to be an active schools. centre for Christian worship in the area and The Old Post Office was the church building is normally open every formerly an inn built in 1835, day. Bradfield Parish Workhouse. Castle Hill, just outside the village, is known as Heaven House or The three storey houses on marked on old maps as a ‘supposed Saxon The Watch House, at the bottom of Jane Heaven’s Gate, and later as Towngate were built in the encampment’. However, there is no evidence Lane, was built in 1832 to allow a guard to The Cross Daggers. It was 1760s and once housed the that a castle ever stood here although it watch over the graveyard and apprehend also used as a registry office, poor and homeless of the has been suggested that the site may be a grave robbers. Very few other buildings of this vestry and school as well as a parish. They were converted defensive structure known as a ‘ringwork’ type now exist in Britain. In the 18th century, post office. to private houses in the 1870s. (Hey 1979). Thousands of documents relating to the workhouse were Grave of Flood Victims found in a hidden cupboard Further Afield Sets of walks leaflets are available from local outlets. in one of the houses in the Mortimer Road was built in 1777 as a turnpike For more information visit www.bradfield-walkers.org.uk 1950s. The documents are now housed in the road from Derbyshire to Penistone. There Bradfield Parish Archives. are a number of 18th century milestones Please follow the Acknowledgements: to be seen on the road. The historic Strines Bailey Hill lies behind the church, hidden by Countryside Code when Produced for Bradfield Parish Council by trees. It is a man-made, conical mound and is Inn offers spectacular views over the dams CMP Consultancy and Rural Research. towards Bradfield. classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. visiting the area. Designed and made by Oakleaf Graphics Ltd. Bar Dyke, situated above High Bradfield Historians have described it as, ‘One of the ✔✔ Be safe - plan ahead and Historical photographs supplied by and copyright of best preserved and most dramatic motte-and- near the junction of Mortimer Road and follow any signs. Malcolm Nunn, Archivist, Bradfield Parish Council. baileys in ’ (Hey 1979). The motte is Penistone Road, is thought to be a defensive ✔ Leave gates and property as Funded by East Peak Innovation Partnership LEADER 60 feet high and is protected by a steep ditch. structure or territorial boundary dating ✔ Programme and National Park Authority The bailey is enclosed by a rampart 310 feet from the Bronze or Iron Ages. The ditch and you find them. Sustainable Development Fund. long and 30 feet high in places. embankment stretch some 400 metres ✔✔ Protect plants and animals Bradfield Parish Council works in partnership with across the moor. and take your litter home. other local authorities, organisations and community The Old Horns Inn was built around 1830 and groups across Bradfield, , , Loxley, was previously used as a farm. The Duke’s Road. This rough track across the ✔✔ Keep dogs under close control. and to improve the quality of life of everyone in the area. Bradfield Brewery is based at Watt House moors from the Bar Dyke on Mortimer Road ✔✔ Consider other people. Farm, High Bradfield. Their cask-conditioned to the Derwent Valley was constructed by the real ales are available from the brewery shop. Duke of Norfolk for grouse shooting.

For more information on the history of High Bradfield see David Hey (1979) ‘The Making of South Supported by the Sustainable Development Fund Former Bradfield Parish Workhouse Yorkshire’ and Malcolm Nunn ( 1996, reprinted in 2005) ‘Around Bradfield, Loxley and ’.