It rises on the Hallam moors, in north west Sheffield, and joins the River Loxley (at Malin Bridge).

Its flow was exploited for centuries as a power source, driving the water wheels of up to twenty industries (forges, metal-working and flour mills) along its course.

[1][2][3] In medieval times the Rivelin valley was part of a large tract of land set aside by the Lords of Hallamshire for deer hunting.

It was known as Rivelin Chase or Firth and covered thousands of acres on the western upland outskirts of the parish of Sheffield.

Though most of the mills and forges no longer exist, the ponds which used to feed them do, thanks to the support of the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group (RVCG) and Yorkshire Water.

By 1830 there were two waterwheels powering three grinding stones, however problems with the water supply in the summer meant that the mill was often not working at full capacity.

The mill continued operating until the 1930s after which the buildings quickly fell into disrepair and were demolished in the early 1950s[5] with a small car parking area now occupying the site.

Other wildlife includes kingfishers, great diving beetles and amphibians such as the common frog and palmate newt.

[citation needed] This is oldest mill in the valley with a recorded date of 1581 when Thomas Hind, Robert Webster and John Swynden were the owners paying £1 per year rent.

[13] The river valley is home to wildlife including mallard, the dipper, the kingfisher, the long-tailed tit, grey heron and the wren.

[14] At Fox Hagg nature reserve on the south side of the river it is possible to see meadow and tree pipits, common redstarts and linnets and a number of warblers.

The unemployment rate was particularly high at the time and the opportunity to provide work was a contributing factor in making the decision to build the road.

Raw materials for the construction of the road were provided by Clough Field quarry on the southern slopes of the valley below Crosspool.

St Michael's Cemetery, a Catholic burial ground is situated at the Malin Bridge end of the valley.

[27][28][29] This proposal is likely to be highly controversial if goes ahead: the water retaining area would cover and potentially destroy or damage ancient and unique structures that are part of Sheffield's industrial heritage.

It would also flood allotment gardens and would require the river course to change as well as to have the span of the valley that includes the nature trail covered by the dam embankment.

[citation needed] There is further debate about the contribution the Rivelin played in the floods of 2007 so the maths related to this scheme will be closely scrutinised by the very concerned public.