IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
John Hibbard Avenue, SHEFFIELD, S13 9UT

Woodhouse Washlands is a floodplain of the River Rother, Seen here at its normal level; in times of prolonged heavy rain the river can rise and burst its banks, flooding the whole site.

Looking up at the recently refurbished Woodhouse Junction signalbox.

Although this looks like part of the River Rother, the course of the river is now a couple of hundred metres to the west. The course of the river was moved in the 1950's to alleviate frequent flooding problems. This bit was left behind to provide local factories with a source of water in the event of fire. The photo looks south-west towards Woodhouse. An easy walk from this square can be taken to Rother Valley Country Park.

The River Rother runs through to the right of the picture and the area is flooded at times to regulate the flow into the River Don Image

Looking North along the River Rother as it meanders along the Woodhouse Washlands towards Rotherrham.

One of five markers showing former line of River Rother

Oxbow Pond Half in the Borough of Rotherham and half in the Borough of Sheffield, Woodhouse Washlands is set on either side of the River Rother to the east of Woodhouse. The Rother once meandered through these washlands, but the low-lying marshy ground frequently flooded after heavy rain causing disruption to nearby roads, houses and factories. During the 1950s a flood control scheme was implemented and the course of the river was both deepened and straightened. The oxbow pond seen here is the only meander that still remains from the old river course, having been preserved as a source of water for the nearby wood and saw mill (previously known as Woodhouse Mill), and has been used by local fishermen for many years. Despite being a natural flood plain, the area provides rich grazing and rare breed cattle can sometimes be seen on the site. The Trans-Pennine Trail runs the entire length of the reserve on the Rotherham side.