The Don Valley, South Yorkshire

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About The Don Valley, South Yorkshire

The River Don rises in the Pennines near Dunford Bridge, then flows eastwards to Goole. Along the way it passes through Penistone, Sheffield, Rotherham, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster and several smaller settlements.

The Don Valley was formerly the industrial heartland of South Yorkshire. Its industrial history can be traced back to the 17th century (or earlier). The industry varied in scale from small, water-powered mills to massive steelworks. From the 1890s to the 1980s much of Britain’s steel was produced in the section of the Don Valley between Sheffield and Rotherham.

Although some heavy industry remains, the valley has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent decades.

Many of the larger steelworks closed in the 1980s and were subsequently replaced with business parks, shopping centres, sports facilities, etc.

In the 1990s, the Five Weirs Walk was established to open up public access to the Don and its banks.

Over the past few years, numerous blocks of apartments have been built along the river in Sheffield, replacing some of the older industrial premises. Some people are alarmed by the loss of historic buildings, particularly in the section of the valley between Hillsborough and the Wicker.

This group aims to document the ways in which the Don Valley has changed... and is continuing to change. We would also like to create a photographic trail for the valley.

The group pool is open to photos of all kinds of subjects, provided they were taken in or around the Don Valley.