We visited Domesday Book village Ecclesfield, in Sheffield, to find out what it's like living there
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00It's a friendly village that dates back to medieval times but mixes that history with modern development.
00:07Ecclesfield is one of the oldest parts of Sheffield.
00:11It's mentioned in the Doomsday Book and it's had a church, as you can see behind me, since 1141.
00:18Today it's got lots of good features such as a good park and a busy high street.
00:26We've come to have a look and find out what it's like to live here.
00:29Most of the current St Mary's Church dates back to the late 1400s and it's one of the most historic buildings in the village.
00:37Meanwhile, the most modern element to the village is probably the new retail park next to Common Lane,
00:42a major road where work is currently ongoing to complete a drive-through Starbucks and a modern Greggs.
00:49Builders are also putting the final touches on a number of smaller stores on the same retail park,
00:54which is close to the village's Aldi and not far from its Morrisons.
00:58But there's plenty more in the village.
01:00There are more shops along the high street as well as a community-run library which hosts many activities for residence groups.
01:07And Church Road boasts a popular recently reopened Black Bull pub as well as Brown's Cafe,
01:13which in the past has been named by readers of the Star as one of the best places to go to get a cooked breakfast in the city.
01:20Nearby is Ecclesfield Park.
01:22It was once agricultural land but it was bought from the Duke of Norfolk Estate in 1920 by what was then Wartley Rural District Council.
01:32It was officially opened as a park seven years later and now boasts bowling greens, tennis courts, football pitches, a children's play area and a bandstand.
01:41And there's also an avenue of lime trees with each tree in memory of a local soldier who died in the First World War.
01:48We asked people enjoying the park what it was like to live in Ecclesfield.
01:53It's a very nice area, it's got a nice community, nice people, some good walks about it as well.
02:01Yeah, in general it's just a nice place to live.
02:04Is it good for facilities and things like that?
02:07Yeah, well you've got your local shopping for your food, which is Morrisons.
02:11There's not a great deal of shops and stuff around here but it's got, I suppose, your essential things you need.
02:18But it would be beneficial for some better shops and facilities.
02:23Yeah, I think it's got a really good sense of community, it's got lots of nice places to eat out, restaurants, bars, pubs, etc.
02:30So yeah, it's a lovely place to live.
02:32Is there anything that you'd improve about it?
02:34Yeah, probably the park actually.
02:36They've made a lot of investment recently in this children's play area up there and they've made some nice,
02:40in terms of where people play and interact, but I think it could always do with a bit more investment, I think.
02:45People are so friendly, yeah.
02:48And I don't live around here but I always come every day with the dog because it's a nice place to bring him for walks.
02:55Is there anything that you'd improve?
02:57No, I don't think so, no.
03:00It's perfect as it is.
03:05It's a really nice village environment.
03:09The neighbours that I've met have been really nice.
03:12Everybody gets on really well, it's been pretty good.
03:15And is there anything that you'd improve?
03:17Yes, there is a bit.
03:19So Mill Road comes straight down from the M1 and there are a lot of fast cars that run straight through the junction at Mill Road with the Common.
03:29So would you like to see them slow those down?
03:31Slow them down, yeah.
03:32At night it really can be a bit disturbing.
03:35If I'm out walking the dog something can appear out of nowhere before you even know it.