Go Back
Rotherham Town Hall: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotherham_Town_Hall.jpgAuthor: Paul Eggleston
Rotherham is a major town in South Yorkshire, England. It is also the main town and administrative center of the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham. Rotherham is located on the River Rother, where it flows into the River Don. It has a population of around 120,000 people (2012 estimate).
Human habitation in the Rotherham area can be traced back to the Iron Age. The Romans had a road passing through the area across the River Don. After the Romans withdrew, Saxons took over the area, and under Saxon ruyle, a settlement was established. Over time, it grew into a market town on both sides of the River Don.
After Norman Conquest, Rotherham came under the ownership of Nigel Fossard, an absentee lord. It passed to the De Vesci and de Tili families, before being granted to the Rufford Abbey, which collected tithes from the town. Rotherham was granted a market charter in the 13th century. This enabled it to hold a market day on Mondays and a three-day annual fair.
In the 1480s, the Archbishop of York, Thomas Rotherham, who was born in Rotherham, established The College of Jesus, a competitor college to Cambridge and Oxford. It was the first brick building in South Yorkshire. Along with the All Saints' Church, the college made Rotherham stand out above other towns in the region.
All Saints' Church, Rotherham: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:All_Saints%27_church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1138586.jpgAuthor: Richard Croft
By the 16th century, Rotherham had sunk from its lofty standing as college town, to become a den for gambling and vice. The College of Jesus, Rotherham, was dissolved in 1547 when King Edward VI stripped it of its assets.
The fortunes of Rotherham reversed with the Industrial Revolution. Iron produced by Rotherham was much sought after for its strength. The Walker family built iron and steel foundries in Rotherham to supply the British army with high quality cannons and other armaments.
Today Rotherham continues to be a major advanced manufacturing center in the United Kingdom. Its steel works produce high quality steel for the automotive industry, including the Formula One racing cars as well as the Airbus 380. Its town center, which was badly affected by flood in 2007, is now undergoing an urban regeneration program.
Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Magna%27_-_geograph.org.uk_-_902309.jpgAuthor: RRRR NNNN
Visiting Rotherham
From London, take the M1 motorway to Junction 33, then head north on the A630 road to reach Rotherham.Places of Interest in Rotherham
- All Saints' Church: Also called Rotherham Minster, this Anglican parish church dates from the 15th century, with parts going back to Saxon and Norman times.
- Boston Castle: Former hunting lodge of Thomas, 3rd Earl of Effingham, built around 1774 to mark his opposition to British attempt to crush the Americans in their war of independence. The castle took its name after Boston, Massachusetts.
- Chapel of Our Lady of Rotherham Bridge: Chapel located adjacent to the Rotherham Bridge. Both the chapel and the current bridge were erected in 1483.
- Clifton Park: Public park in the center of Rotherham. The remains of the College of Jesus are in its grounds.
- Clifton Park Museum: Museum occupying Clifton House. It displays collections featuring the local social and industrial history of Rotherham.
- Magna Science Adventure Centre: Interactive science center occupying the site of the former steel works in Templeborough.
Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips
Songs about Penang
About this website
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.