Beauchief Abbey was founded in 1176 and became an important regional church involved in farming, coal mining, tanning and lead smelting. The dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1536 saw the roof stripped from the building and the windows broken, and it was left to decay for many years. When Beauchief Hall was built further up the hill in 1671, the old Abbey tower was restored and a chapel was added, which remains in place today. The Abbey and grounds were given to the people of Sheffield in 1932.placeholder image
Beauchief Abbey was founded in 1176 and became an important regional church involved in farming, coal mining, tanning and lead smelting. The dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1536 saw the roof stripped from the building and the windows broken, and it was left to decay for many years. When Beauchief Hall was built further up the hill in 1671, the old Abbey tower was restored and a chapel was added, which remains in place today. The Abbey and grounds were given to the people of Sheffield in 1932.

35 retro photos show people, places and landmarks in Beauchief and Greenhill over the years

By Christopher Hallam
Published 23rd Sep 2026, 18:38 GMT

In this gallery, we look at the large ward of Beauchief and Greenhill, a residential and very green suburban area located in the southern part of the city

Historically Beauchief was part of the route for the very last operational tram in Sheffield, pre-Supertram. The final service, and the end of an era for widespread tram transport across the city, ran from Leopold Street to Tinsley, via Beauchief, on October 8, 1960.

The ward is home to the 11th century Beauchief Abbey, which survived the reign of Henry VIII and the dissolution of monasteries in 1536.

Dating back to 1671, the Grade II-listed Beauchief Hall was remodelled in 1836 and restored in 1989. Originally built as a country house by Edward Pegge, today it is used as offices, according to Historic England.

This gallery also shows the demolition of the tower blocks on the Jordanthorpe estate, as well as images of the tower blocks in much better days during the 1970s.

Also in this collection of photos is one of a younger Pete McKee crafting his next masterpiece in his kitchen – To be close to the kettle for a brew, we bet.

Did you ever get your fish and chip supper from Dixons Fish & Chips?

Take a look at the gallery below and see how much this ward in the city has changed over the years.

General manager Bill Tiley (centre) with some of the staff at Beauchief Hall, Sheffield, in January 1985

13. Beauchief Hall

General manager Bill Tiley (centre) with some of the staff at Beauchief Hall, Sheffield, in January 1985 | Sheffield Newspapers

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Cars parked outside Greenhill Library, on Hemper Lane, Sheffield, in 1985

14. Greenhill Library

Cars parked outside Greenhill Library, on Hemper Lane, Sheffield, in 1985 | Picture Sheffield

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Greenhill Infant School, on Greenhill Main Road, Sheffield, pictured in 1987

15. Greenhill Infants

Greenhill Infant School, on Greenhill Main Road, Sheffield, pictured in 1987 | Picture Sheffield

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Dixons

16. Dixons Fish & Chips (latterly Greenhill Village Fisheries), on School Lane, Greenhill, Sheffield, in 1987

Dixons | Picture Sheffield

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