Before 1974 Ecclesfield Parish was part of Wortley Rural District in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Some southern parts of the parish were annexed to Sheffield City Council in 1968, which has sole control over them. The remainder of the parish was transferred to Sheffield in 1974, as part of local government reorganisation throughout England. The part to the east of the M1 motorway (mainly part of Thorpe Hesley) was subsequently transferred to Rotherham Metropolitan District in 1994 and no longer belongs to Ecclesfield Parish.