Limb Brook

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The Limb Brook is a stream in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It rises at the village of Ringinglow, flowing east through Whirlow and Ecclesall Woods into Abbeydale in the Beauchief area, where it merges with the River Sheaf. Near this point part of the stream has been diverted to provide the goit for the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet millpond, and this channel flows through what is now Beauchief Gardens.

Contents 1 History 2 Flora and Fauna 3 External links 4 References

[edit] History

Limb Brook lies entirely within the city of Sheffield boundaries, but used to form (with the connecting River Sheaf and Meers Brook) part of the border between Yorkshire and Derbyshire. This boundary dates back to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria.

The brook has long been used as a source of power for local industry; remains of water-powered mills used variously for smelting lead and grinding corn can be seen at Whirlow Wheel^[1] and Ryecroft Mill^[2] in Ecclesall Woods.

Today, the brook no longer supports any industry, but with the woodlands of the Limb valley provides a valuable recreational resource for the inhabitants of Sheffield. It is owned and administered by the city council's recreation department, who maintain the area for the benefit of wildlife and the public. Sheffield Round Walk follows almost the entire route of the Limb brook, from Abbeydale Road South to Ringinglow.

[edit] Flora and Fauna

The brook initially flows slowly through farmland, where it provides an environment for reeds and sedges. As it descends into the Limb valley and down through Ecclesall Woods, it is surrounded by steep hillsides which support mature woodland, including Beech, Sycamore, Alder, Ash and Hazel. This is a rich environment for invertebrates and many birds and mammals, including kingfishers and water voles. The rare white-clawed crayfish has also been seen.^[3]

[edit] External links

• The Sheffield Round Walk - Sheffield City Council
• Limb Valley Nature Trail Introduction 1995, A. H. V. Smith (ed), published by The Sorby Record

[edit] References

1. ^ Whirlow Wheel. Tilt Hammer (2003-04-20). Retrieved on August 15, 2006.
2. ^ Ryecroft Mill. Tilt Hammer (2003-04-20). Retrieved on August 15, 2006.
3. ^ Natural History of Ecclesall Woods. Heritage Woods Online. Retrieved on August 15, 2006.

	Waterways in Sheffield
River Don | River Sheaf | Porter Brook | River Loxley | River Rivelin Blackburn Brook | Car Brook | Limb Brook | Little Don | Meers Brook Old Hay Brook | Owler Brook | Totley Brook | River Rother | Wyming Brook Sheffield Canal | Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation