Sheffield shorts: Five things I've learned from Secret Sheffield

Turns out that years before Fox Valley and the most haunted bypass in the country, Deepcar was already putting itself on the map. As far back as 8,000 BC, the earliest evidence of human beings in the Sheffield area was found at a Mesolithic camp of hunter gatherers at Deepcar. With many streets in the north-west of Sheff still to be ticked off on city painter, I hope to bring evidence of this in future editions.

Now a popular running route for Bradfield School and the Worrall Chase, there’s arguably a certain frisson when you go down Boggard Lane, particularly at dusk. Figures, as it turns out it is haunted by a ghost. A spectre or bogeyman, with long teeth and saucer eyes, is known to roam this track, causing runners and horseriding to allegedly ‘take boggard’. Picture courtesy of Picture Sheffield.

Google the word Crozzle and it’s likely to bring up an online crossword. But delve deeper and it turns out it’s all over the city. The topping of stone walls is actually furnace slag, whereas well cooked crispy bacon is known as crozzled. These Sheffield facts rock!

The book is an absolute goldmine for place and street names. Brocco Bank takes its name from badgers, whilst wolves used to prowl in the ancient Wooley Wood long before it became known for its spring bluebells. But Owlerton, just down the road from me, is actually nothing to do with our feathered friends, but instead takes its name from the Alder Tree - a whole settlement of them!

It’s not just olden days myth and folklore explored by Rotherham, Jones and Handley. Just take a look at the Grill and Griddle, on the M1 Services at Woodhall. Fine dining on the South Yorks border!

Secret Sheffield is published by Amberley Press.