Halifax is situated near Bradford, Huddersfield and Rochdale in the South Pennines. Early records show that the town was called Halyfax which means "coarse grass in the nook of the land". There is no record of Halifax in the Domesday Book so it is difficult to determine how long this area has been inhabited.
Halifax expanded as a centre for woolen manufacture form the 15th century. The Piece Hall in the town is where this trade originated. Halifax is famous for the Building Society or Bank which takes its name and for Mackintosh chocolate and toffee which is now under the Nestle Brand. Halifax was home to one of the world's largest textile factories and although now converted for use as offices and retail outlets this 1/2 mile long building is still in use.
Textiles, cotton, wool and carpet industries and weaving mills generated wealth for the town during the 19th century. After the closure of the mills and the loss of its important industries Halifax went through a period of decline. In more recent times the town has benefitted from European funding and is once again beginning to show promise as an affluent town in the region.
Halifax is home to Eureka - The National Children's Museum. With its independent and branded shops and restaurants and cafes there is plenty to see and do around Halifax. A visit to the magnificent Harveys of Halifax department store is recommended.
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The town of Rotherham in the West Riding of Yorkshire is situated on the banks of the River Don at its confluence with the River Rother. There has been a settlement here since the iron age and records indicate that there as a small Roman Fort here. Rotherham takes its name from the Old English name of Ham or Homestead meaning Homestead on the River or in this case Rother Ham - Homestead on the Rother.
Rotherham is just 5 miles from Sheffield. It is known for its iron and steel and it used to have many smelting plants and foundries. These industries grew rapidly up until the early 19th century but declined during the 1970's and 1980's. The town centre is concentrated around the impressive Rotherham Minster and includes a wide range of branded and independent shops as well as a good selection of cafes and restaurants and an outdoor market.
Clifton Park is also worth a visit and is only a couple of minutes walk from the town centre. With its multi million pound water park, rock garden and play area there is something for all the family.
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The city of Sheffield in the West Riding of Yorkshire is famous for its steel production. The city takes its name from the River Sheaf which runs through the city. One of the UK's largest cities, Sheffield has experienced much redevelopment in recent years. Having suffered a loss of much of its old industries the city has diversified and now achieves regular and steady growth economically.
Coal Mining stopped in the 1980's and this also lead to the decline of the steel industries although any visitor to Sheffield will still see evidence of this historic past and indeed some companies still operating in the steel industry. With more than 250 parks the city of Sheffield has an estimated 2 million trees which makes it one of the highest ratio of trees to people than any other city in Europe.
Sheffield is an old established city and it has been inhabited for over 12,000 years. Records show Sheffield as a small market town in 1296 and as a centre of knife production and cutlery during the 1600's. Sheffield's importance as an industrial town was tested during the Second World War when many of its factories were bombed by the Germans.
Sheffield is an interesting blend of new and old. The Park Hill flats on the outskirts of the city centre are an example of how a brutalist piece of architecture can be softened up to look more pleasing and in keeping with modern times. Visitors can see the contrast between half of the improved estate and its untouched neighbouring flats next door.
The city centre of Sheffield has some worthy places of interest. The Peace Gardens in front of the magnificent Gothic Town Hall with their water features are a popular destination as is the covered Botanical Gardens and the Millenium Centre. The city of Sheffield is a major retail centre with its inner city brands and out of town stores which include the Meadowhall Shopping Centre with its 280 stores and 12,000 parking spaces.
Sheffield is a worthy destination in terms of its attractions and during the weekend it has a European feel with its tram system and vibrant daytime activity. Whilst it has a good selection of branded and independent shops the choice of restaurants in the city centre is below what you might expect for such a large city and the city centre is very quiet outside of normal shopping hours when it suddenly and magically seems to become empty.
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Chesterfield is situated just 24 miles from Derby to the North where the rivers Rother and its tributary the Hipper meet. The first thing that greets visitors and which stands out as a landmark is the Church with its crooked spire dating back to the 14th century.
Chesterfield is a market town with some striking archaeology. The town still holds a market three days a week ( Mon, Fri and Sat ) and this is one of the largest open air markets in Britain. Until the 1980's coal mining was the main economy of the town. There is virtually no trace of coal mining left and many companies in Chesterfield have either downsized, closed or moved away. The biggest employer in the town is now The Royal Mail with its admin department based here.
Chesterfield is a pleasant enough town to walk through and experience on a weekend but it lacks the investment needed to transform it. With some impressive but neglected Tudor style buildings along its main streets visitors will notice the peeling paint and rotten window frames in many of the buildings. Mainly chain stores and charity shops the town has the infrastructure to be much more and to develop as a tourist attraction.
This historic town is certainly worth a visit and is an ideal stop over or rest stop for anyone visiting the nearby Peak District.
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The town of Staveley in the Borough of Chesterfield is situated on the banks of the River Rother near Eckington and Barlborough. Formerly a mining town with several old and now disused mining pits it is also known for its Staveley Works Foundry and Staveley Chemicals. These days industry has all but dried up and the town is becoming increasingly reliant on tourism and the surrounding districts for its employment and income.
A long term project to open the old Chesterfield Canal from Chesterfield to Kiveton resulted in the opening of Staveley Town Basin in 2012. This provides much needed development in Staveley and will ultimately result in a renovated canalside with moorings and public access for leisure pursuits and events.
Staveley Hall which at the time of writing in 2015 is going through a major refurbishment and renovation. It is an important Grade II listed building which dates back to 1604 when it was owned by the Frecheville family whose records date back to Norman times.
The town of Staveley is compact but well laid out with some pleasant streets and surrounding countryside. The Market Square is host to Staveley Market which is held in
the Market Place on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
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