A town that was once "absolutely buzzing" is now being met with an increasing number of empty shop fronts and shrinking employment prospects as the population drifts away. The town's residents believe there's one reason behind its decline, yet still hold strong admiration for the place they call home.

Stocksbridge, situated north of Sheffield, boasted rows of bustling high street shops and was formerly a thriving steelwork hub. A resident, who preferred not to be named, reflected on the town's lively heyday: "When I was a child, it was absolutely buzzing," she said.

She bemoaned the lack of recent investment in Stocksbridge, which has resulted in shop closures and trade being diverted to other areas. "There were shops all down here," she said, motioning towards the high street. "There were bakers, green-grocers, butchers. Now it's just a lot of takeaways. It's sad to have seen it decline like that."

While it's a much quieter town today, it still holds some undeniable charm. There are plenty of scenic walking routes set among rolling hills, as well as nearby attractions like Cannon Hall Farm, making it a great spot for a family day out.

Eric, 82, and Jean Yeardley, 78, who have spent the majority of their 61-year marriage in the Stocksbridge area, expressed their love for the nearby walking opportunities and said: "We like it here". "There's plenty of walks around here," Eric said. "Bolsterstone and the moors. It's lovely."

Just a short drive outside of Stocksbridge are some incredible open spaces with sprawling reservoirs, including Langsett, Broomhead, Dale Dike and Agden. There's also Whitwell Moor on its doorstep, as well as Oxley Park and Forge Woods.

Elsewhere, Stocksbridge's £50 million Fox Valley Shopping Centre, which opened in 2018, remains "always busy", according to locals, despite its high street taking a significant blow. Yet, residents can still find a charming coffee spot at Samuel's Kitchen, enjoy a meal at Ponti's Italian Kitchen, or visit the gastropub, McGilverays The Wortley Arms.

Despite these qualities, Jean acknowledged that the town has been overlooked in recent years and believes it needs revitalising. "It's never had the investment," she said. "There's a lot of money that needs putting into it. It's not been helped because it's so old. They have not updated anything."

The town was put on the map after Samuel Fox founded a wire works in 1842, with Liberty Speciality Steel continuing to run a steel mill in the vicinity to this day. Its steel hub status once attracted hundreds of workers to the area.

"We used to have buses coming in three times a day with workers from Barnsley, Penistone and other places. They were rammed," a resident shared. However, the decline of the steelworks and subsequent job losses for many locals are frequently cited as the primary reasons behind the town's dwindling population.

Stocksbridge is one of only 25 locations in South Yorkshire that have seen a decrease in population over the past two decades. The 2021 census revealed that the town's population had fallen by 3.8% during this time.

In stark contrast, South Yorkshire has experienced a 9% increase in its overall population. By 2021, Stocksbridge was home to 7,263 residents, down from nearly 7,500 in 2001, reports Yorkshire Live.

Those moving to Stocksbridge these days generally aren't looking for local work. People say that many travel elsewhere for employment, with fewer arriving specifically to seek jobs in the town itself.

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