Tinsley, South Yorkshire
Encyclopedia
Tinsley is a suburb of northeastern part of Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
. Its name derives from the Old English
Tingas-Leah, which means 'Field of Council'. It is mentioned as 'Tirneslawe' or 'Tineslawe' in the Domesday Book
of 1086 when it was in the possession of Roger de Busli
.
The chapel of St Laurence, Tinsley was built in 1877 on the site of an ancient (possibly of Anglo-Saxon
origin) chapel. An annual royal payment was received until 1847 in order that a service for the dead could be held.
Another tradition associated with the settlement required the Lord of the Manor of Tinsley to take a pair of white glove
s to the Lord of Tickhill
each year at Michaelmas
, and receive in return a white dove
to keep over winter.
Tinsley Wood lay to the south of the settlement, on land now partly occupied by Sheffield City Airport
and High Hazels Park
. It may have been the site of the Battle of Brunanburh
in 937, where Athelstan of Wessex gained the submission of the Celtic monarchs of Norse-Ireland & around Britain. In the mediaeval period, it was associated with outlaws, one named as "Roger de Presteman, an outlawe of Tyneslawe".
The area became industrialised from 1732, when the River Don Navigation
was extended to terminate in the village. A turnpike
road was constructed to Sheffield. In 1819, the Sheffield Canal
was opened, running from Tinsley to Sheffield. The area became major industrial centre known for its collieries, iron, steel, and wire works.
Companies such as George Cohen, the '600 works', Osbourn Hadfield and Brinsworth Strip Mills were proud occupants of the landscape near Tinsley and its wholly industrial neighbouring district Templeborough
. Only the BOC plant and Brinsworth Strip Mills remain within the village boundaries now with all the remaining works either demolished or preserved as a museum to what was the heart of Sheffield industry until 1985.
shopping centre—one of the largest in the UK
. The name "Tinsley" is also associated with the nearby former railway marshalling yard
and the Tinsley Viaduct
, which carries the M1 motorway
across the Don valley.
Until the late 1980s, Tinsley was a well preserved and well respected area of the city of Sheffield. The centre of the village was the local co-op store and the community spirit was strong. A range of schools served the village and public transport was excellent. Sadly, the 1990s saw a rapid decline in the fortunes of the village with ethnic unrest, an increase in crime and the closure of the local secondary school 'Park House'.
Deregulation of public transport and high fares have led to a dramatic reduction in public transport which, due to the village location has led to the district offering less access to the nearby shopping facilities in Sheffield, Meadowhall and Rotherham.
The future of Tinsley as a regenerated area is uncertain and despite many community initiatives, the village remains without a single major brand supermarket or secondary school.
It now boasts a new 5-aside football pitch, Tennis court, modern child safe playground, adult rides and a cricket bowling practice area.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
. Its name derives from the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
Tingas-Leah, which means 'Field of Council'. It is mentioned as 'Tirneslawe' or 'Tineslawe' in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 when it was in the possession of Roger de Busli
Roger de Busli
Roger de Busli was a Norman baron who accompanied William the Conqueror on his successful conquest of England in 1066....
.
The chapel of St Laurence, Tinsley was built in 1877 on the site of an ancient (possibly of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
origin) chapel. An annual royal payment was received until 1847 in order that a service for the dead could be held.
Another tradition associated with the settlement required the Lord of the Manor of Tinsley to take a pair of white glove
Glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each...
s to the Lord of Tickhill
Tickhill
Tickhill is a small, wealthy town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England, on the border with Nottinghamshire. It has a population of 5,301.-Geography:...
each year at Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
, and receive in return a white dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
to keep over winter.
Tinsley Wood lay to the south of the settlement, on land now partly occupied by Sheffield City Airport
Sheffield City Airport
Sheffield City Airport was a small airport located in Sheffield that is now closed. It was located in the Tinsley Park area of the city, near the M1 motorway and Sheffield Parkway, and opened in 1997...
and High Hazels Park
High Hazels Park
High Hazels Park is a large parkland area in Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Since the 19th century Darnall has been a centre of coal and steel industry in Sheffield. High Hazels Park was built in 1850 by William Jeffcock...
. It may have been the site of the Battle of Brunanburh
Battle of Brunanburh
The Battle of Brunanburh was an English victory in 937 by the army of Æthelstan, King of England, and his brother Edmund over the combined armies of Olaf III Guthfrithson, the Norse-Gael King of Dublin, Constantine II, King of Scots, and Owen I, King of Strathclyde...
in 937, where Athelstan of Wessex gained the submission of the Celtic monarchs of Norse-Ireland & around Britain. In the mediaeval period, it was associated with outlaws, one named as "Roger de Presteman, an outlawe of Tyneslawe".
The area became industrialised from 1732, when the River Don Navigation
River Don Navigation
The River Don Navigation was the result of early efforts to make the River Don in South Yorkshire, England, navigable between Fishlake and Sheffield...
was extended to terminate in the village. A turnpike
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
road was constructed to Sheffield. In 1819, the Sheffield Canal
Sheffield Canal
The Sheffield Canal is a canal in the City of Sheffield, England. It runs from Tinsley, where it leaves the River Don, to the Sheffield Canal Basin in the city centre, passing through 11 locks.- Early history :...
was opened, running from Tinsley to Sheffield. The area became major industrial centre known for its collieries, iron, steel, and wire works.
Companies such as George Cohen, the '600 works', Osbourn Hadfield and Brinsworth Strip Mills were proud occupants of the landscape near Tinsley and its wholly industrial neighbouring district Templeborough
Templeborough
Templeborough is a suburb of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The area takes its name from the remains of the Roman fort found there which were mistakenly believed to be that of a Roman Temple.-Roman fort:...
. Only the BOC plant and Brinsworth Strip Mills remain within the village boundaries now with all the remaining works either demolished or preserved as a museum to what was the heart of Sheffield industry until 1985.
Present day
Today, replacing the steelworks on Vulcan Road is the MeadowhallMeadowhall
Meadowhall is an indoor shopping centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It lies three miles north east of Sheffield city centre and four miles from Rotherham town centre....
shopping centre—one of the largest in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The name "Tinsley" is also associated with the nearby former railway marshalling yard
Tinsley Marshalling Yard
Tinsley Marshalling Yard was a railway marshalling yard located near Tinsley in Sheffield. It was opened in 1965 as a part of a major plan to rationalise all aspects of the rail services in the Sheffield area, and closed in stages from 1985 with the run-down of rail freight in Britain. It was also...
and the Tinsley Viaduct
Tinsley Viaduct
Tinsley Viaduct is a two-tier road bridge in Sheffield, England; the first of its kind in the UK. It carries the M1 and the A631 1033 metres over the Don Valley, from Tinsley to Wincobank, also crossing the Sheffield Canal, the Midland Main Line and the former South Yorkshire Railway line from...
, which carries the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
across the Don valley.
Until the late 1980s, Tinsley was a well preserved and well respected area of the city of Sheffield. The centre of the village was the local co-op store and the community spirit was strong. A range of schools served the village and public transport was excellent. Sadly, the 1990s saw a rapid decline in the fortunes of the village with ethnic unrest, an increase in crime and the closure of the local secondary school 'Park House'.
Deregulation of public transport and high fares have led to a dramatic reduction in public transport which, due to the village location has led to the district offering less access to the nearby shopping facilities in Sheffield, Meadowhall and Rotherham.
The future of Tinsley as a regenerated area is uncertain and despite many community initiatives, the village remains without a single major brand supermarket or secondary school.
Tinsley Recreation Ground
In the centre of Tinsley is the Tinsley Recreation ground (sometimes referred to as "the Rec"). Recently part of this has been claimed as a community centre called Tinsley Green. The whole of the recreation ground has been repaired after years of vandalism and neglect by the council. It now has one of the most modern playgrounds in Sheffield.It now boasts a new 5-aside football pitch, Tennis court, modern child safe playground, adult rides and a cricket bowling practice area.