Heeley

Coordinates: 53°22′N 1°28′W / 53.36°N 1.46°W / 53.36; -1.46

Heeley is a former cluster of villages now a suburb in the south of the City of Sheffield, England. The village has existed at least since 1343, its name deriving from Heah Leah, High Lea then Hely, meaning a high, woodland clearing. Originally Heeley was divided into three: Upper Heeley (or Heeley Top) was around the intersection of Myrtle Road and Heeley Green, Middle Heeley was on the Gleadless Road at Well Road, and Lower Heeley (or Heeley Bottom) was on the London Road around Artisan View.

History

Heeley Methodist Church was built in 1826. In 1833 Heeley there were 47 householders living in Nether, Middle and Upper Heeley. Heeley Parish was formed in 1846 from part of St Mary's Parish on Bramall Lane. The first vicar was Rev. Henry Denson Jones, and the church was opened in August 1848. The clock in the tower of Heeley church was added in 1901 to commemorate the long reign of Queen Victoria. In the yard are buried more than 3000 children, most of them in unmarked graves. In 1876 the population of Heeley reached 3860 inhabitants. Many shops exist in Heeley and many remain open and are successful. Harry Ponsford and Arnold Laver were two successful merchants, the first starting a modest moving business using a handcart, the second selling timber. Ponsford is now a well established local furniture shop on London Road and Arnold Laver have several outlets in Heeley, Mosborough and Chesterfield. The Heeley Mosque was also completed in 2007