Only 3 miles from the Peak District National Park boundary, Dronfield is a delightful town situated in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is located conveniently between Sheffield and Chesterfield and some of the finest beauty spots of the Peak District are within easy travelling distance.
It is encircled by green belt and covers an area of 3457 acres. There are almost 23,000 people living there and although housing in Dronfield, has become quite modern, the centre of the town retains its very ancient character with some very old buildings and the early Gothic church looking over its parish as it did back in the 1200s. Property is highly sought-after in this area and because of the once buoyant housing market, there are lots of highly reputable local estate agents which service the surrounding parishes. At one time, Dronfield Woodhouse held the honour of being the largest private housing estate in Europe.
The growing town has provided a welcome source of employment to the local population and it has a wide range of thriving businesses who base themselves in and around Dronfield. It has a number of shopping areas with a variety of services and products with Dronfield Civic Centre hosting the majority of shops, including the towns two supermarkets along with the town’s sports centre.
There are a large number of highly successful infant and junior schools with Dronfield infants and junior schools being the largest. Secondary school education is provided by the Dronfield Henry Fanshawe which has now become a technology College.
Dronfield has a market day on Thursdays with numerous stalls taking place in and around the Civic Centre. The very popular Forge shopping centre has brought with it an array of exciting new shops, a bar and an attractive coffee atrium, which is a true shopping experience bringing visitors from neighbouring cities. There are an abundance of health therapists, beauty salons and hairdressers and the town is well served by sports and leisure facilities with a new playing field development on Gosforth Fields and a newly refurbished Sports Centre.
There are two successful local football clubs, Dronfield town and AFC Dronfield, which provides general football for both sexes across the age ranges. Dronfield, was the first permanent home of the first and therefore oldest football club, Sheffield FC which is over a 150 years old. There is a rugby club, swimming and basketball club, which add to the range of sporting opportunities in the village. Local clubs and societies are run by enthusiastic volunteers so an abundance of hobbies and activities are catered for.
The town has a lot to offer anyone wishing to come to sample the unusual gifts of the shopping centres, but also for those who would like to live here is an ideal base to explore the beautiful countryside and attractions at the nearby Peak District. A town with very interesting history, but with a very prosperous future ahead of it.