Gleadless has always been a busy part of Sheffield - but it has changed greatly over the last 40 years
The area was developed as a huge council estate and built between 1955 and 1962 to accommodate the city’s growing population.
Renowned for its scenic views, vibrant community spirit, and convenient amenities, Sheffield's Gleadless Valley estate was once affectionately referred to as ‘dreamland’.
Today, many of the roads in that part of Sheffield are notable for their tram tracks and power cables. But if you go back to the 1980s and the early 1990s, those tracks were nowhere to be seen.
Nearby areas including Gleadless Town End have also seen much change, as the businesses and shops that line the roads all appear very different to how they did decades ago.
Some of the schools that the local youngsters once attended have since been demolished. We have even managed to find some pictures of local lads lining up for their football teams – Do you recognise anyone?
We’ve taken a look through The Star’s archives and those of Picture Sheffield to bring you this photo gallery showing life in Gleadless Valley throughout the years.
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Take a look and see just how much has changed and how much you remember.
Some of the pictures are from The Star’s own archives and some of the pictures are courtesy of Picture Sheffield.
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A Retro talk and open day was held at the Newfield Green Tennants Hall, in Gleadless Road, on Friday (1 March 2013). Our picture shows Dorothy and Ron Ibbotson (left and right), of Gleadless and Dave Smith, of the Gleadless Valley Local History Group. | Johnston Press
34. Gleadless Valley
Over the years the area, while looking very similar to its original design, has changed in many ways. Between 2014 and 2019 the population of Gleadless Valley increased by 3.1 per cent. It has changed greatly over the last 60+ years
35. The Wyvern, Gleadless Valley
The Wyvern, Gleadless Valley. Kathryn Atkin recalled: "The Wyvern on Gleadless Valley. My mum was a cleaner for a short time and I went with her one day when I was probably 8 or 10. The smell of stale beer cigar and cigarette butts was revolting." The Wyvern in 379 Leighton Road, was designed in the 1960s and opened in 1963 to serve the new Gleadless Valley hillside estate. It would gain historic interest from CAMRA for remaining virtually untouched and unaltered over the course of 60-years. But it would eventually close at the end of March, 2020 – during the first lockdown in the COVID pandemic.
36. Gleadless Valley Parish Church
The Full Monty TV series crew were pictured blacking out the skylights on Gleadless Valley Parish Church when filming took place there in May 2022. The church is a Sheffield landmark thanks to its distinctive architecture and is easy to spot in the new Disney+ TV show.