Rotherham

Before it developed into a major industrial centre based on coal and steel, Rotherham was an ancient market town. The 19th century witnessed a tremendous growth, the population growing from 17,000 in 1801 to 120,000 in 1901. Most of the traditional industries have now vanished, although there is still a steelworks at Aldwarke and a coal mine at Maltby.

Although few ancient buildings survive in Rotherham, the town does contain one of only four surviving medieval bridge chapels in the country: the 15th-century Chapel of Our Lady on Chantry Bridge. The chapel was restored in 1923, having previously been used successively as the town jail, a dwelling house and a tobacconist's shop.

There is also Rotherham Minster, which is said to be one of the finest examples of medieval Perpendicular architecture in the country.

Rotherham was chosen for the UK launch of the Imagination Library by country singer Dolly Parton in December 2007. The Imagination Library is a collection of books posted to a child every month until the age of 5, making a possible total of 60 books. The aim is to encourage the children's speaking and listening skills, improve their vocabulary and prepare them for their own independent love of learning. The scheme, which was founded by Dolly Parton in Tennessee in 1996, is now open to any child who lives in Rotherham.

Accommodation

Local attractions

Magna Science Adventure Centre is an educational visitor attraction, primarily appealing to children. It is located in a disused steel mill in the Templeborough district of Rotherham. The site was formerly home to the Steel, Peech and Tozer steelworks which, at its peak, was over a mile long, employing 10,000 workers, and housing six electric arc furnaces producing 1.8 million tonnes of steel a year.

Born in Rotherham

Ebenezer Elliott (1781-1849) - poet, known as the Corn Law Rhymer

Sandy Powell (1900-1982) - comedian

Paul Shane (1940-) - comic actor

Gervase Phinn (1946-) - author and educator

Useful and informative links

Rotherham Advertiser

Rotherham photographs from Geograph

Rotherham TownTalk

Welcome to Rotherham

An informative and helpful website provided by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Wikipedia article on Rotherham