Graves Park ward is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the southern part of the city. It covers an area of 5.8 square kilometres and includes the districts of Woodseats, Norton, Norton Lees and Norton Woodseats. The population of this ward in 2001 was 17,200 people in 7,500 households. In the 2004 local elections Ian Auckland, Barrie William Jervis, and Peter Moore—all Liberal Democrats—were returned as councilors for the ward. It is one of the five wards that form the Sheffield Heeley parliamentary constituency whose Member of Parliament elected at the 2001 general election was Meg Munn. The districts of this ward were in the traditional county of Derbyshire, but they have now been absorbed into the metropolitan borough of Sheffield, thus placing them in the ceremonial county of South Yorkshire.
Parks and recreation
The ward is named for Graves Park—a large park between Woodseats and Norton. This 248 acre park is the largest in Sheffield, and was presented to the city by J. G. Graves in 1925.
Districts of Graves Park ward
Woodseats/Norton Woodseats
Historically, Norton Woodseats was a village that straddled Derbyshire Lane running from Four Lane Ends to Bolehill (now part of Graves Park). The name Woodseats comes from the Old English Wodesettes, which means a 'fold in a wood'. Woodseats itself was little more than a cluster of cottages around a road called 'The Dale' close to the intersection of Woodseats Road and Chesterfield Road (A61).
Norton
Grid reference: SK358818 Norton is a village, now a district of Sheffield. There has been a settlement here since, at least, Saxon times. St. James Parish Church dates from before 1172. The grave of the Sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey (7 April, 1782–25 November, 1841)—who was born in the village—can be seen just outside the church.
Norton Lees
Grid reference: SK353839
Last updated: 05-31-2005 05:24:06
