124-673: Rotherham ( / ˈ r ɒ ð ər ə m / RODH -ər-əm ) is a Minster town in South Yorkshire , England. It lies at the confluence of the River Rother , from which the town gets its name, and the River Don . It is the largest settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham . Rotherham has been a market town since the 13th century, when King John granted market charter status in 1207. Before
248-521: A Mesolithic "house" (a circle of stones in the shape of a hut-base) dating to around 8000 BC, found at Deepcar , in the northern part of Sheffield. Evidence of even earlier inhabitation in the wider region exists about 3 miles (5 km) over the county boundary at Creswell Crags in Derbyshire , where artefacts and rock art found in caves have been dated by archaeologists to the late Upper Palaeolithic period, at least 12,800 years ago. The region
372-624: A Mr Lete and Mr Bayley, were paid for guarding her. The Rotherham area had been used for iron production since the Roman occupation of Britain. Toward the end of the 18th century, coal seams near the town made Rotherham an important settlement in the Industrial Revolution . Coal was exported from the town by river, and this led to infrastructure improvements in the River Don's navigability. The River Don eventually became an artery of
496-517: A branch to the Greasbrough canal and coal-field; it was opened [in] 1838, and the distance is about six miles....The market is on Monday, for corn, cattle, and provisions: on alternate Mondays is a celebrated market for fat-cattle, sheep, and hogs, numerously attended by grazers from distant parts of the country; and fairs take place on Whit-Monday and December 1st, for cattle. A court leet is held annually, at which constables and other officers for
620-474: A decade to expose rampant child sexual abuse in Rotherham, but had been met with "indifference and scorn". Senior was awarded an MBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours . All Saints Minster , on a square of the same name, was built using neat-cut pieces made of a unique sandstone, Rotherham Red, with a low-pitched lead roofing. It is a Grade I listed building . A Belfry was added to the church in 1501 and today
744-413: A designated enterprise zone with benefits and incentives given to attract new industry and development in the area. Within the first year, ten new companies were established within the zone. The former chemical works at Barbot Hall, which had been derelict, was developed into a new industrial estate and named 'Brookside', after Mangham Brook, which runs alongside it. Rotherham was affected by flooding in
868-522: A digital organ, a Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece, formed of three manuals. It was purchased from St Alban's Cathedral in Hertfordshire following the completion of their organ restoration programme. It was re-voiced upon arrival at Rotherham to better suit the building. The earliest record of bells is to be found in the will of William Greyhern, who was the first provost of the College of Jesus in
992-452: A full election in 2016, declaring that the authority was not currently fit for purpose, and its powers would not revert until the dis-empowered councillors could prove their fitness to carry out all of the council's duties without intervention. One of the commissioners was appointed to specialise in child protection. The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham covers the constituencies of Rotherham (UK Parliament constituency) which has been held by
1116-469: A further rebuild in 1972 and was enlarged using pipework from the redundant Tiviot Dale Methodist Church in Stockport , completed with a new console. The Snetzler organ has been unusable since the beginning of the 2010s, as it requires a major restoration to be restored to working order, though the pipework and organ case remains visible in the north transept. The Snetzler organ was replaced in 2011 by
1240-474: A local nature reserve. The site is home to the massive sculpture Steel Henge, a Stonehenge replica which is in fact made from iron ingots. Following a 2012 article published in The Times newspaper alleging the cover-up of large-scale sexual abuse of young children by gangs of people of Pakistani origin in Rotherham, Rotherham Council commissioned Professor Alexis Jay , a former chief social work adviser to
1364-529: A meeting of the Church Bell Committee in April 1821, plans were laid out for the opening of this new ring of ten. The decided format included the Rotherham ringers were to start ringing at 7am on Easter Monday. Twelve-bell ringers then had priority entrance and had to ballot for entrance, followed by priority for ten and eight bell ringers. No more than 5040 changes were to be rung by any one band on
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#17327651538781488-515: A new brass eagle lectern was manufactured. The Jesus Chapel was restored in 1921 as a memorial to the people of Rotherham killed during the First World War , and a new window was created as part of the restoration. During 1932, the north side of the churchyard was levelled to create 'All Saints Square'. To prepare for this, the northern part of the churchyard was surveyed, the results of which showed more than 500 burials present in
1612-402: A new kitchen to allow hot meals, a new lighting system and restoration to the clock faces. It was found, however, that major repairs were required to the spire when a routine inspection was undertaken in 2010. The inspection revealed large holes in the spire, the cast-iron tie-bars were corroding, the stonework was crumbling and the spire was beginning to lean. Beginning in late 2010, the spire
1736-447: A rolling landscape with hills, escarpments and broad valleys. In this landscape, there is widespread evidence of both current and former industrial activity. There are numerous mine buildings, former spoil heaps and iron and steel plants. The scenery is a mixture of built up areas, industrial land with some dereliction, and farmed open country. Ribbon developments along transport routes including canal, road and rail are prominent features of
1860-406: A similar setup to the west facade, with a seven-light central window flanked by smaller five-light windows. The Minster has a four-bay aisled nave some 105 feet (32 m) long, interrupted on the south side by the gabled porch . The bays are separated by angle buttresses, which rise to crocketted pinnacles above the battlements. The nave aisles contain large four-light windows in each bay, above which
1984-402: A teaching band, a policy that is still in use today. During the 1980s, the band grew and the average age of recruits got lower, so for the 60th anniversary of the bells in 1984, the local band decided to finish the original job by augmenting them to twelve, which would also give a light front eight for teaching. The two new bells were cast in 1986 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough and matched
2108-405: A unified appearance, the majority of it was built in the same period in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is a large, cruciform church built of sandstone, with battlements , crocketted pinnacles , large traceried windows and buttresses. The focal point of the exterior is the tall central tower and spire, which rises to a height of 180 feet (55 m), topped by a 7-foot tall weathervane . The Minster
2232-623: A year. The operation closed down in 1993. The first railway stations, Holmes and Rotherham Westgate both on the Sheffield and Rotherham Railway opened on 31 October 1838. Holmes station was located close to the works of Isaac Dodds and Son , pioneers in the development of railway technology. Later railway stations included Parkgate and Aldwarke railway station on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , which opened in July 1873,
2356-552: Is also one of two parish churches to have minster status in South Yorkshire, the other being Doncaster Minster . In Saxon times, Rotherham seems to have been a place of some importance. It had a Saxon church, a market and a fair all before the Norman Conquest . The Domesday Book of 1086 records a church on the site, despite the future town only having a population of twelve households. This small Saxon church
2480-705: Is floodlit at night. According to the Church of England, the Minster has an area of more than 1,100 sq m, which makes it a "very large" building. The Minster has four main facades; the east and west facades which include the Great East and Great West windows, and the north and south facades that run along the length of the building. The west facade has a transomed seven-light window in the centre, flanked by two four-light windows, all Perpendicular Gothic in style, and buttresses separating each window. The east facade has
2604-417: Is formed of blind panels. There is a large white clock face above each face, centred between the belfry openings and battlements, flanked by gargoyles . The tower is crowned by a tall, recessed octagonal spire with crocheted ribs and pinnacled shafts that rise from the corners. The spire is crowned by a gilded weather vane, some 7 feet tall. The interior is spacious, light and airy. The main aisle of
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#17327651538782728-730: Is named after Boston, Massachusetts , the scene of the Boston Tea Party . Built in the 18th century, Clifton House houses Clifton Park Museum . On the outskirts of Rotherham, a brick-built glass making furnace, the Catcliffe Glass Cone , is the oldest surviving structure of its type in Western Europe and one of four remaining in the United Kingdom – the others being the Red House Cone in
2852-488: Is the clerestory . The clerestory windows are smaller, of three-light design, two windows per bay. The chancel is formed of two bays, similar in design to the nave, but with a taller clerestory to compensate for the slightly lower chancel aisles. The chancel aisles terminate short of the eastern gable end, both ending in chapels. As with the nave, each bay is separated by corner buttresses, rising to crocketted pinnacles. The transepts are 35 feet (11 m) long each and
2976-551: Is the city of Sheffield . The county is largely urban, with an area of 1,552 km (599 sq mi) and a population of 1,402,918. The largest settlements after Sheffield (556,500) are the city of Doncaster (113,566), Rotherham (109,697), and Barnsley (96,888). The east and west of the county are more rural. The county is governed by four metropolitan boroughs : Barnsley , City of Doncaster , Rotherham , and City of Sheffield . They collaborate through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority . South Yorkshire lies on
3100-692: Is the only county that counts as a full region in the Spiritualists' National Union . The Local Government Commission for England presented draft recommendations, in December 1965, proposing a new county—York and North Midlands—roughly centred on the southern part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and northern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The review was abolished in favour of the Royal Commission on Local Government before it
3224-468: Is unusual. Most others abbey ruins of this age are no more than foundations or a single storey, following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s. Rotherham has three Further Education institutions and colleges. These are Thomas Rotherham College , Dearne Valley College and the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology . The Rotherham College of Arts and Technology has a campus in
3348-602: The Dearne Valley which covers Barnsley and surrounding area; the Sheffield urban area which covers Sheffield, Rotherham and surrounding area; and the Doncaster urban area which covers Doncaster and surrounding area. The South Yorkshire County Council was abolished and its districts effectively became unitary authorities; they are the City of Sheffield , the City of Doncaster , the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and
3472-640: The East Riding of Yorkshire , Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire . The terrain of the county is mostly distinguished by the Pennines and its foothills which rise in the west of the county and gradually descend into the Humberhead Levels in the east of the county. Geologically, the county lies largely on the carboniferous rocks of the Yorkshire coalfield in the outer Pennine fringes, producing
3596-514: The Industrial Revolution , traditional industries included farming, glass making and flour milling. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Rotherham became known for its coal mining and, later, steel industries. The town's historic county is Yorkshire , and Rotherham was once part of the West Riding of Yorkshire . In 1974, this administrative county was abolished during a reorganisation of local government. Subsequently, Rotherham became part of
3720-597: The Kiveton Park Rural District and Rotherham Rural District . The Labour Party have controlled the authority since the 1974 incorporation of the Metropolitan Borough. Following the 2016 child sexual exploitation scandal, the way in which local councillors are elected in Rotherham changed, replacing annual rolling elections, with whole council elections every four years. This change coincided with notable boundary changes, which changed
3844-451: The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham . In 1986, throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and a High Sheriff was retained. The county remains defined as metropolitan , functions of the county council devolved to the boroughs with many functions administered by joint authorities (such a passenger transport executive ) containing representatives of
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3968-671: The Parkgate and Rawmarsh railway station on the North Midland Railway and the Rotherham Masborough railway station also on the North Midland Railway. Rotherham Forge and Rolling Mill occupied an island in the river known as Forge Island. Its managing director was Francis Charles Moss of Wickersley, until his death in 1942. The site was later occupied by a Tesco superstore, and by 2024 was
4092-770: The SS Great Eastern . In 1864, the ironworks was taken over by the Parkgate Iron Co. Ltd, becoming the Park Gate Iron and Steel Company in 1888. The company was purchased by Tube Investments Ltd in 1956 and closed in 1974. Steel, Peech and Tozer 's massive Templeborough steelworks (now the Magna Science Adventure Centre ) was, at its peak, over a mile (1.6 km) long, employing 10,000 workers, and housing six electric arc furnaces producing 1.8 million tonnes of steel
4216-578: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government , commissioned Louise Casey to conduct a best value investigation of Rotherham Council. She issued a report of her findings in February 2015. Both reports stated that a majority of the known perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage. Casey noted that the severity of the issue had not been addressed, and to a large extent this was the responsibility of Councillors. Casey's report concluded that at
4340-432: The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation system of navigable inland waterways. During the early Industrial Revolution iron, and later steel, became the principal industries in Rotherham, surviving into the 20th century. The Walker family built an iron empire in the 18th century, their foundries producing high quality cannons, including the majority of guns for the ship HMS Victory , and cast iron bridges, one of which
4464-476: The by-election in 2012 saw Sarah Champion elected. South Yorkshire South Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England . It borders North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the north, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east, Lincolnshire to the east, Nottinghamshire to the south-east, and Derbyshire to the south and west. The largest settlement
4588-694: The pharmaceutical , food and drinks industries. In the 19th century, other successful industries included pottery , brass making and the manufacture of cast iron fireplaces. Precision manufacturing companies in the town include AESSEAL, Nikken Kosakusho Europe, MTL Advanced, MGB Plastics and Macalloy . Rotherham is the location of the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which is home to a number of world-class companies including Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive. The district abounds in mineral wealth; coal and iron ore are found in great profusion, and have been wrought from [long ago]. The town
4712-489: The 1480s the Rotherham-born Archbishop of York , Thomas Rotherham , instigated the building of a College of Jesus in Rotherham to rival the colleges of Cambridge and Oxford . It was the first brick building in what is now South Yorkshire and taught theology, religious chant and hymns, grammar and writing. The college and new parish of All Saints Church made Rotherham an enviable and modern town at
4836-405: The 1924–1925 restoration, the old oak frame was removed – the donors had determined that only the very best should be done; therefore they commissioned Messrs Taylor of Loughborough to recast and rehang the bells on modern principles, and a new steel and iron frame was specifically designed to suit the tower. Massive steel girders now brace and bond the walls, forming at the same time a foundation for
4960-456: The Bridge"), beside Chantry Bridge (a road bridge opened in the 1930s). It is one of four surviving bridge chapels in the country. The chapel was restored in 1923, having been used as the town jail and a tobacconist 's shop. The town was once home to Jesus College, founded by Thomas Rotherham in the fifteenth century. The remains of the college's buildings are in the town centre, where some of
5084-507: The Cultural Recovery Fund in 2021, which meant the first stage of works to the window could begin. The stained glass in the window, which dates to 1884 by Clayton & Bell , is at risk of collapse. Scaffolding is being assembled inside and outside the window and is expected to remain in place for 9 months. Simon Jenkins describes Rotherham Minster as a "polished work of Perpendicular Gothic". The entire building has
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5208-516: The Dark Peak and Yorkshire coalfield are distinguished by many steep valleys, and a transition from uplands and rural landscape to lowlands and urban landscape towards the east of the county. Major rivers which cross the area are the Dearne , Rother and Don . To the east, in the Doncaster area the landscape becomes flatter as the eastward dipping carboniferous rocks of the coalfield are overlain by
5332-567: The Don at Templeborough . Rotherham was founded in the early Middle Ages . Its name is from Old English hām 'homestead, estate', meaning 'homestead on the Rother'. The river name is of Brittonic origin for 'main river', ro- 'over, chief' and duβr 'water'. Another river called the Rother flows through East Sussex . An Anglo-Saxon settlement, with an ecclesiastical parish , was established near
5456-672: The Ferham Works. G & WG Gummer Ltd exported brass products across the world, supplying fittings for hotels, hospitals, Turkish baths and the RMS Mauretania. Their fittings could also be found on battleships used in the Second World War and HMS Ark Royal . The Parkgate Ironworks was established in 1823 by Sanderson and Watson, and changed ownership several times. In 1854, Samuel Beal & Co produced wrought iron plates for Isambard Kingdom Brunel 's famous steamship
5580-608: The Future 2022/23 Awards , Doncaster was ranked the best small city in Europe for investment. All Saints Church, Rotherham The Minster Church of All Saints or Rotherham Minster is the Anglican minster church of Rotherham , South Yorkshire , England. The Minster is a prominent example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and various architectural historians have rated it highly. Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as "one of
5704-614: The Great West Window, which contains glass dating back to 1884 by Clayton & Bell, the Great East Window, also by Clayton & Bell, and the South Transept window, also from the 19th century. One of the Minster's treasures is the fine nave roof, which dates back to the 15th century and features 77 carved roof bosses, restored in 1976. The chancel also has a fine early 16th century roof with carvings,
5828-482: The Inspection Report on 4 February 2015. Following its conclusion that the council was not fit for purpose the minister directed that the powers of the council (RMBC) be transferred to his department and the cabinet would need to resign unless RMBC made sufficient representations within 14 days to contradict the report. The Secretary of State empowered a team of five Commissioners to replace councillors before
5952-540: The Labour Party since 1933; Wentworth and Dearne (UK Parliament constituency) , held by Labour since the creation of the seat in 1983; and Rother Valley (UK Parliament constituency) . When Rother Valley was won by the Conservatives in the 2019 General Election, this marked the first time the borough of Rotherham had returned anyone other than Labour MPs to Parliament since 1931. Like most of South Yorkshire,
6076-683: The Labour government in February 1970. Although the Redcliffe-Maud Report was rejected by the Conservative government after the 1970 general election , there was a commitment to local government reform, and the idea of a metropolitan county of South Yorkshire. The Local Government Act 1972 reformed local government in England by creating a system of two-tier metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties and districts throughout
6200-481: The Minster houses 13 bells. A church has stood on the site since before the Norman Conquest and the current building dates from the 15th century and includes parts from earlier Saxon and Norman structures. Clayton and Bell working to George Gilbert Scott 's designs constructed the east window. Stained glass makers and designers A. Gibbs, Camm Brothers, Heaton, Butler and Bayne and James Bell are known makers of
6324-400: The Minster is tall and wide, lit by numerous large windows. The arcade , which makes up the majority of the height of the nave, is separated from the clerestory above it by a narrow row of carved foliage. The nave piers are lozenge in shape, with moulded arches separating the piers. The chancel is of two ages, the lower storey from the early 14th century and the upper storey and main window from
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#17327651538786448-501: The Minster, including a memorial to Samuel Buck in the south transept, opposite to a larger memorial called "Faith", remembering the fifty victims of a maritime disaster at nearby Masborough in 1841. A dresser tomb exists in the north chapel dedicated to Robert Swift and Anne Swift, ancestors of Jonathan Swift , author of Gulliver's Travels . There is a brass memorial to the victims of the First World War in Rotherham, located in
6572-497: The Roman ford across the River Don. The 1086 Domesday Book records a manor previously held by lord Hakon in 1066 tenanted by William the Conqueror 's half-brother, Robert de Mortain . The 1086 record shows an absentee lord who held the most inhabited manor , Nigel Fossard . The town area today includes eight outlying Domesday estates. Eight adult male householders were counted as villagers, three were smallholders and one
6696-472: The Rotherham constituencies are considered to be ' safe ', having enjoyed 'substantial' majorities over a 'long' period of time; a typecast which heightens the incumbency factor present in first past the post elections. The constituency of Rotherham has been held by Labour MPs since a by-election in 1933. After the resignation and subsequent jailing of Denis MacShane in November 2012 due to expenses abuse,
6820-728: The Rotherham town centre and a second site in Dinnington , as well as a nearby, smaller campus for construction-based subjects, such as bricklaying. There is one main tier of local government covering Rotherham, at metropolitan borough level: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council . The borough council is also a member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority , led by the directly elected Mayor of South Yorkshire . Some outer parts of Rotherham are included in civil parishes , which form an additional tier of local government in these areas, but
6944-487: The Scottish government, to lead an independent inquiry about the handling of the cases and a suspected child exploitation network. She issued a report on the child sexual exploitation scandal that extended beyond the cases investigated by the police. Her report of August 2014 revealed an unprecedented scale of reported child sexual abuse within an urban area of this size over a 16-year period. Subsequently, Eric Pickles ,
7068-700: The Wordsley centre of the Dudley Glassworks in the West Midlands, Lemington Glass Works west of Newcastle upon Tyne and Alloa in Scotland. Threatened with demolition in the 1960s, it has been preserved as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and stands as a focal point in a sheltered housing complex and close to the path leading up the Rother valley. The ruins of Roche Abbey , south of Maltby and half-way to Worksop , have multi-storey walls, which
7192-409: The abbey collected tithes from the town and gained rights to an extra market day on Monday and to extend the annual fair from two to three days. The townsmen of Rotherham formed the "Greaves of Our Lady's Light," an organisation which worked with the town's three guilds . It was suppressed in 1547 but revived in 1584 as the feoffees of the common lands of Rotherham, and remains in existence. In
7316-656: The area although some remnants of the pre industrial landscape and semi-natural vegetation still survive. The Pennines in the west of the county are mostly inside the Peak District National Park and also contain carboniferous rocks, with the underlying geology primarily being millstone grit sandstones of the Dark Peak rising from the Yorkshire coalfield and the terrain is mostly moorland plateaus and gritstone edges. The inner Pennine fringes between
7440-473: The area. These burials were re-interred in Moorgate Cemetery. The roof bosses in the nave were extensively restored in 1976. A major restoration of the Minster was begun in 2001, costing nearly £2.25 million. The restoration involved covering almost the whole building in scaffolding in stages, restoring battlements, window repairs, a new chancel roof, restoration to the stone inside the building,
7564-418: The bases of the original Norman piers to take the strain, but these were not in line with the new Gothic arms of the church, and thus the piers no longer formed a square. To cover for this, the builders decorated the intersections of the ribs with carved leaves, to disguise the awkward construction. The main period of building was from 1480 to 1512, which includes the chancel chapel built by Thomas Rotherham ,
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#17327651538787688-468: The bench end telling the story of the nativity . New choir stalls were installed under the crossing in the early 21st century, traditional in style but constructed from fresh limewood , whose light colour contrasts with the deep colours of the original stalls in the chancel. The Minster has two fonts, a newer red sandstone font in the nave, made in memory of Vicar William Newton, who died during Scott's restoration, aged 42. It has an elaborate cover in
7812-525: The bosses depicting the Tudor Rose . The roof of the Jesus Chapel has been painted dark blue. Underneath the central tower is an "immense" fan vault, constructed in 1420. Originally, when constructed, the window openings were above the level of the arms of the church, bringing light from outside to within the crossing, but since the reconstruction of all four arms in the 15th and 16th centuries,
7936-453: The central part of the built-up area is an unparished area . Rotherham was an ancient parish . The parish was divided into eight townships : Brinsworth , Catcliffe , Dalton , Greasbrough , Kimberworth , Orgreave , Tinsley , and a Rotherham township covering the central part of the parish including the town. These townships were made civil parishes in 1866. Until 1801 the parish was governed by its vestry and manorial courts , in
8060-433: The chancel and nave. The central tower contains two stages; a shorter, plainly decorated stage above the crossing, containing a simple transomed window in each face and a taller belfry stage above, each face of the tower containing two four-light louvred belfry-openings. The belfry stage is highly decorative, each opening flanked by pinnacled angle buttresses, transoms, and king mullions . The lower halve of each opening
8184-422: The college's dissolution Rotherham was described by a wealthy visitor as falling from a fashionable college town to a place of gambling and vice. The history of Thomas Rotherham and education in the town are remembered in the name of Thomas Rotherham College . Mary, Queen of Scots stayed in Rotherham for two nights at the end of January 1569. It has been suggested that she stayed in the College building. Two men,
8308-660: The country. As one of the least prosperous areas in Western Europe, South Yorkshire has been targeted for funding from the European Regional Development Fund . This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of South Yorkshire at current basic prices with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling. However, the county has experienced a recent growth in the services sector. In the FDI European Cities and Regions of
8432-414: The country. The act formally established South Yorkshire on 1 April 1974, although South Yorkshire County Council (SYCC) had been running since elections in 1973 . The leading article in The Times on the day the Local Government Act came into effect noted that the "new arrangement is a compromise which seeks to reconcile familiar geography which commands a certain amount of affection and loyalty, with
8556-448: The county council was abolished, South Yorkshire remains a metropolitan and ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and a High Sheriff . South Yorkshire lies within the Sheffield City Region with Barnsley also being within the Leeds City Region , reflecting its geographical position midway between Yorkshire's two largest cities. The metropolitan county borders Derbyshire , West Yorkshire , North Yorkshire ,
8680-402: The county of South Yorkshire , where it makes up one of four metropolitan boroughs. Rotherham had a population of 109,691 in the 2011 census . The borough had a 2022 population of 268,354, the 64th most populous district in England. Evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlements has been found in Rotherham area. This includes a small Roman fort to the south-west in the upper flood meadow of
8804-464: The county. In 1986, throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The functions of the county council were devolved to the boroughs; joint-boards covering fire, police and public transport; and to other special joint arrangements. The joint boards continue to function and include the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive . The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner also oversees South Yorkshire Police . Although
8928-487: The criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them." The former Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes , who served from 2004 to 2011 and who had unsuccessfully stood for the Labour Party nomination in the Police Crime Commissioner elections, was told by Labour MP Keith Vaz that he had 'failed' abuse victims. The inspector, Louise Casey, aided by seven assistant inspectors produced
9052-463: The earliest examples of a brick-built structure remain although not accessible to the public. The gate to the College of Jesus can be found in nearby Boston Park. Boston Castle, in the grounds of Boston Park, was built as a hunting lodge by Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham between 1773 and 1774 to mark his opposition to British attempts to crush the Americans in their war for independence . It
9176-495: The early 15th century. There are niches either side of the east window which implies before the second storey was constructed in the 15th century, statues flanked the window. The transepts are both lit by large windows, the window of the north transept being clear glass. There is an "immense" groined fan vault underneath the tower, dating from 1420, amongst the earliest of its kind. The Minster has nearly forty windows, many of which contain stained glass. Notable windows include
9300-465: The early part of the 14th century, initially as a single storey. In 1409, the vicar received a letter from Henry Bowet , Archbishop of York , granting him permission to sell indulgences to raise funds to repair and raise the tower. This must have taken some time, as the tower vault was not completed until 1420. Construction of the new central tower and spire caused issues, for the Gothic builders used
9424-570: The edge of the Pennines , and the west of the county contains part of the Peak District National Park . The River Don rises in these hills, and flows through Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster before reaching the flat Humberhead Levels in the east of the county. While the county of South Yorkshire was created in 1974, the history of its constituent settlements and parts goes back centuries. Prehistoric remains include
9548-701: The first day. The bells were not to be rung after 9pm, so the report states. The opening continued over Tuesday too, and during the two days, the town was host to visitors from all over the country, so the Sheffield Iris newspaper reported. The first peal on these bells was Grandsire Caters rung on 20 December 1821, also in 3h 20m. These bells remained until a restoration in 1924–1925, where all ten bells, frame and fittings were sent to John Taylor & Co in Loughborough for recasting and rehanging. The bells were increased in weight slightly after recasting,
9672-485: The four councils. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority was established in 2014 to bring the leaders of the four councils to give the county a main statutory body. It is led by the directly elected Mayor of South Yorkshire . In the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union , South Yorkshire voted 62% leave and 38% remain, making it one of the most heavily Leave areas in
9796-468: The future augmentation to twelve, which took place in 1986 (see below). The first peal on the new ring of ten was 5148 Grandsire Caters on 29 December 1925. In the late 1950s, the then Ringing Master, Norman Chaddock, acted on advice he received from Fred Sharpe and had a sound control system installed. Since that time, the bells have been readily available for bookings, and peal ringing has been popular ever since. During Chaddock's time, Rotherham became
9920-557: The internal regulation of the town are appointed Milling grain into flour was a traditional industry in Rotherham, formerly in the Millmoor area, hence Rotherham United F.C. 's nickname "The Millers". Flour milling continued at the Rank Hovis town mill site on Canklow Road until September 2008. The site of the mill is now a warehousing and distribution facility for local logistics company 4S Distribution. In 1983 Rotherham became
10044-724: The lacustrine deposits of the Humberhead Levels. South Yorkshire contains green belt throughout the county, surrounding its four districts to large extents. It was first drawn up from the 1950s. The western edge of the Sheffield and Barnsley districts directly form with the boundary of the Peak District National Park. The table below outlines many of the county's settlements, and is formatted according to their metropolitan borough. Of these settlements above, South Yorkshire has three main urban areas:
10168-430: The largest and stateliest churches in Yorkshire", Simon Jenkins states it is "the best work in the county", and Alec Clifton-Taylor calls it the "glory of Rotherham". With its tall spire, it is Rotherham's most predominant landmark, and amongst the tallest churches in Yorkshire. The church has been designated as Grade I listed since 1951 by Historic England and was granted Minster status in 2004. The minster
10292-557: The line of the old Norman roof ridge can still be seen on the western tower arch in the present church. During the 14th to 15th centuries, the church came under the control of the Cistercian Abbeys of Rufford ( Nottinghamshire ) and Clairvaux ( Kingdom of Burgundy ), whose monks began rebuilding the church in the Gothic style, beginning with the chancel. The chancel was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style in
10416-552: The locally born Archbishop of York, now called the 'Jesus Chapel', the nave, transepts and aisles . The chancel was also heightened with an additional storey and a new roof. By 1512, the building was essentially complete, with an aisled nave and chancel, transepts and central tower with spire. During the English Civil War , Rotherham fell to Royalist forces. John Shaw , the English puritan minister, took refuge in
10540-445: The location of a new leisure development with an 8-screen cinema, food and drink outlets and a hotel. Completion was initially scheduled for October 2021, but the project was delayed, with most facilities are opening during 2024. Joseph Foljambe established a factory to produce his Rotherham plough, the first commercially successful iron plough . A glass works was set up in Rotherham in 1751, and became Beatson Clark & Co, one of
10664-456: The most appropriate person to hold this office at this current time." He resigned from the Labour Party on 27 August 2014, after an ultimatum by the party to either resign or face suspension. Wright stood down as PCC on 16 September, saying that the prominence given to his role distracted from "the important issue, which should be everybody's focus – the 1,400 victims outlined in the report – and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice
10788-408: The nave and the pulpit was placed under the tower arch at the end of the nave. An organ was added in 1777, initially placed under the chancel arch, but was moved in 1843 to the north transept. Major restoration of the entire building took place from 1873 to 1875, led by Sir George Gilbert Scott . Under his direction, the galleries and box pews were removed, the stonework cleaned and restored, and
10912-494: The new tenor coming out after tuning as 34.75 long cwt (1,765 kg). The dedication service for this new ring of bells was held on 18 March 1925. The service was said to be “impressive”, as reported in the Ringing World at the time. The new treble bell was rung up during the service and reports describe it as a “sweet, velvety note, reminding one of the pure, clear and poetic beauty of a silvery-voiced choir-boy”. During
11036-439: The original proprietors, and let out to small capitalists. The spinning of flax affords employment to about 200 persons; there are manufactories for rope and for starch, a large malting establishment, two large ale and porter breweries, several oil and chemical works, and a glass-[making] house. Some other manufactories and works are noticed in the article on Masbrough . The Don, which is navigable to Sheffield, communicates with
11160-482: The original ten perfectly. Because of the new sound control, there were 334 peals on the original ten between 1925 and 1986, and the first peal on the 12 was of Grandsire Cinques on 18 August 1986, with the first Maximus following a few months later. The 1000th peal in the tower was rung on 19 March 2017 and consisted of 5040 changes of Yorkshire Surprise Maximus, rung in 3 hours and 29 minutes. The bells have had no major work to them since. They are regarded as one of
11284-471: The other windows. Gargoyles flank its clock on each face. It has a "recessed octagonal spire with crocketed arrises and pinnacled shafts rising from corner faces and a gilded weathervane." Architectural critics Nikolaus Pevsner and Simon Jenkins considered it "the best perpendicular [style] church in the country" and "the best work in the county", respectively. Close to the town centre is the 15th-century Chapel of Our Lady of Rotherham Bridge (or "Chapel on
11408-655: The political landscape of the borough. Rotherham's shadow cabinet local opposition is currently the Conservative Party with 18 seats. Independents hold one seat. In the May 2021 election, Labour retained control of the council, while the Conservatives went from zero to 20 seats. In 2013, Professor Alexis Jay published a report about the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal (1997–2013). Following
11532-559: The priest, three ploughlands were tilled by one lord's plough team and two and a half men's plough teams were active. The manor also had a church, roughly four acres of meadow and seven woodland acres. Rotherham had a mill valued at half a pound sterling. Fossard's successors, the De Vesci family, rarely visited the town, but maintained a Friday market and a fair. In the mid 13th century, John de Vesci and Ralph de Tili gave all their possessions in Rotherham to Rufford Abbey . The monks from
11656-461: The report's publication, the council leader, Roger Stone of the Labour Party , resigned – an act of contrition the report said should have been made years earlier – saying he would take full responsibility for "the historic failings described so clearly in the report." Labour Councillors Gwendoline Russell, Shaukat Ali and former council leader Roger Stone were suspended from the Labour Party, as
11780-571: The river Aire on the north-east, with the Stainforth and Keadby canal on the east, with the Dearne and Dove canal and the Barnsley canal on the north-west, and consequently with the river Calder; by which means Rotherham enjoys [goods trade] with all the principal towns in the great manufacturing districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. In 1836 an act was passed for making a railway to Sheffield, with
11904-584: The roofs renovated. Evidence was found during this restoration of fires in the roofs, along with bullet holes from the English Civil War. The south transept ceiling and roof required more attention, and repairs were conducted using pine , rather than oak , as the natural resin found within it makes it resistant to insect damage. The large Great East Window was given during this restoration by the Earl and Countess of Effingham , designed by Scott. A new font
12028-486: The same way as most rural areas. More urban forms of local government began in 1801 when a body of improvement commissioners was established for Rotherham township, with responsibilities for paving, lighting, and repairing the streets. The commissioners were superseded in 1852 by an elected local board , whose district covered both the Rotherham and Kimberworth townships and had more extensive responsibilities, particularly relating to water supply and sewers. The local board
12152-634: The scale of operations on which modern planning methods can work effectively". South Yorkshire initially had a two tier structure of local government with a strategic-level county council and four districts providing most services. In 1974, as part of the South Yorkshire Structure Plan of the environment, conservation and land use, South Yorkshire County Council commissioned a public attitudes survey covering job opportunities, educational facilities, leisure opportunities, health and medical services, shopping centres and transport in
12276-490: The shape of a church steeple. The original Norman font, the only major surviving part of the Norman building, is now in the Jesus Chapel. Other notable fittings include an exceptionally intricate octagonal pulpit, dating from 1604 and complete with a wine-glass shaped canopy, and a large brass lectern in the shape of an eagle, given to celebrate the completion of Scott's restoration. There are numerous monuments and memorials in
12400-495: The south wall, above which is a statue of George slaying the dragon. Other notable memorials and burials include to Robert Dyson and to the members of the York and Lancaster Regiment in the First World War. Rotherham Minster has two organs, only one of which is operational. The older and more prominent organ dates back to 1777 and was manufactured by Johann Snetzler , funded by public subscription. The instrument as originally built
12524-442: The steel industry that is concentrated in Sheffield, Stocksbridge and Rotherham. The proximity of the iron and coal also made this an ideal place for steel manufacture. Although Christian nonconformism was never as strong in South Yorkshire as in the mill towns of West Yorkshire, there are still many Methodist and Baptist churches in the area. Also, South Yorkshire has a relatively high number of followers of spiritualism . It
12648-516: The suburbs of Treeton , Brinsworth and Canklow as threatening the Junction 33 electrical sub-station. Thousands of homes were evacuated in response. Rother FM evacuated its studios, passing its frequency temporarily to neighbouring station Trax FM . A stretch of the M1 motorway was closed for three days due to the flood risk. Fire service and police officers used multiple high-powered pumps to lower
12772-539: The summer of 2007 . This caused the closure of central roads, schools and transport services and damaged residential and commercial property, including the Parkgate Shopping complex and the Meadowhall Centre , which suffered considerable internal water damage. Ulley Reservoir became a focus of major concern when its dam showed signs of structural damage, threatening to break and release water into
12896-457: The tenor cracked again, so the whole ring of eight were recast and augmented to ten for the sum of £704 by Whitechapel in 1821. The final peal on the old peal of eight bells was rung on 19 February 1821, and consisted of 5040 changes of Plain Bob Major, rung in 3h 20m. The new ring of ten were cast by Thomas Mears II of Whitechapel, and were maiden bells, that is, bells with no tuning. At
13020-398: The time of her inspection the council was not fit for the purpose , and identified necessary measures for preventing further repetition. On 4 February 2015, after receiving Casey's report, Pickles announced that commissioners would be appointed to run the council pending new elections, and the council leader and cabinet resigned en masse to allow for a 'fresh start'. The National Crime Agency
13144-488: The total length between the gable ends of the transepts is 100 feet (30 m). Each transept is two bays in length, and there is a large six-light Perpendicular window in each gable, with tall three-light windows on the east and west sides, facing the aisles. There is a door below the south window, something not replicated in the north transept. The gable end of each transept has four-stage corner buttresses on both sides, rising to tall pinnacles. The transepts are slightly lower than
13268-508: The tower at Rotherham Minster during an attack by Royalist forces in January 1643 when his sermon was interrupted. Bullet holes in the roof found two hundred years later suggest they tried to flush him out, but he fled to Kingston upon Hull . Beginning in the 18th century, major alterations to the internal fabric of the Minster took place. Galleries were inserted around the walls in the nave and transepts, high "horse-box" pews were added in
13392-412: The town's largest manufacturers, exporting glass medicine bottles worldwide. Beatson Clark & Co was a family business until 1961, when it became a public company . The glass works operated on the same site, although the family connection ceased and the company is owned by Newship Ltd, a holding company linked to the industrialist John Watson Newman. It continues to the manufacture glass containers for
13516-437: The town. He died in 1501 and left 6s 8d to the four bells of Rotherham. In 1704 the largest of these four bells either cracked or broke, and was recast at a cost of more than £50. By 1752, information in the present ringing room suggests there were six bells since a half peal was rung in 1 hour and 20 minutes. In 1812, these had either been recast or augmented to eight, the tenor weighing 24cwt. Only eight years later in 1820,
13640-529: The turn of the 16th century. The college was dissolved in 1547 during the reign of Edward VI , and its assets were stripped by the crown. Very little remains of the original building in College Street. Walls of part of the College of Jesus are encased within number 23 and Nos 2, 2A, 4 (later for a time Old College Inn , a beerhouse), 6 and 8 Effingham Street. A doorway was rescued from demolition and relocated to nearby Boston Park in 1879. Sixty years after
13764-474: The water level in the reservoir and reduce pressure on the dam wall, which was damaged but held. By summer 2008, the reservoir and surrounding country park reopened. A new wetland and flood storage area, Centenary Riverside park, has since been built by Rotherham Council and the Environment Agency to prevent flooding in the future. The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham manages the site as
13888-407: The window openings are now below the level of the roof. There are two surviving medieval misericords in the first bay of the chancel dating from 1483. Both of these misericords have a carved head of a man beneath a corbel shaped bracket, one with curled hair and one with horns. There are several intricately carved 15th century pews within the chancel, each of which has a poppy head carved on
14012-485: Was able to issue a final report. The Royal Commission's 1969 report, known as the Redcliffe-Maud Report, proposed the removal of much of the then existing system of local government. The commission described the system of administering urban and rural districts separately as outdated, noting that urban areas provided employment and services for rural dwellers, and open countryside was used by town dwellers for recreation. Redcliffe-Maud's recommendations were accepted by
14136-690: Was appointed as Children's Social Care Commissioner in October 2014, and subsequently Ian Thomas was appointed as interim director of children's services. Shaun Wright , the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Yorkshire from 2012, was the Labour councillor in charge of child safety at the council from 2005 to 2010. He initially refused demands to resign as PCC from the Home Secretary , Theresa May , as well as members of his own party and local Labour MP Sarah Champion , saying: "I believe I am
14260-425: Was called in to investigate whether Rotherham councillors were complicit in hiding the depth and scale of the child abuse due to a "fear of losing their jobs and pensions" following a concern that they might be considered "racist" if they spoke out. According to the new report, the councillors were driven by " political correctness ". Jayne Senior , a former youth town worker, was reported to have worked for more than
14384-663: Was commissioned by Thomas Paine . Rotherham's cast iron industry expanded rapidly in the early 19th century, with the Effingham Ironworks, later Yates, Haywood & Co, opening in 1820. Other major iron founders included William Corbitt and Co; George Wright and Co of Burton Weir; Owen and Co of Wheathill Foundry; Morgan Macauley and Waide of the Baths Foundry; the Masbro' Stove Grate Co belonging to Messrs. Perrot, W. H. Micklethwait and John and Richard Corker of
14508-399: Was encased in scaffolding and the top 33 feet (10 m) was taken down and rebuilt. The cast-iron tie-bars were replaced by new tie bars that did not contain iron to avoid corrosion in the future. The project was completed in December 2011. A further project was launched in 2021 to restore the Great West Window, with a funding goal of more than £300,000. The Minster received £25,000 from
14632-442: Was formed of three manuals with 57 keys each, no pedalboard. It was originally installed on a gallery on the chancel arch but was moved in 1843 to the north transept, with a small number of additions. The organ was substantially rebuilt and enlarged during 1890 by Abbott & Smith . The organ received further work and enlargements in 1902 after water damage, 1905 by Gray & Davison and 1950 by an unidentified company. The organ had
14756-494: Was former Deputy Council Leader Jahangir Akhtar, who had lost his council seat in 2014. Chief Executive, Martin Kimber, said no council officers would face disciplinary action. Kimber announced on 8 September that he intended to step down in December 2014, and offered his "sincere apology to those who were let down". The council's director of children's services, Joyce Thacker, also left the authority by mutual agreement. Malcolm Newsam
14880-417: Was formerly celebrated for its manufacture of edge tools; and in 1160, there were mines of ironstone , smelting-furnaces, and forges in the neighbourhood. But the most extraordinary establishments of this kind, of late years, were the iron-foundries belonging to Messrs. Walker, in which immense quantities of cannon of the largest calibre were wrought for government during the war, till the works were given up by
15004-402: Was manufactured in memory of the vicar, William Newton, who died during the restoration. The original Norman font was moved to a chapel in the chancel, the pulpit was moved to the northern side of the nave and the chancel was re-ordered. Scott chose to keep and preserve the medieval misericords and choir stalls, recognising their importance. To celebrate the completion of the restoration project,
15128-465: Was on the frontier of the Roman Empire during the Roman period. The main settlements of South Yorkshire grew up around the industries of mining and steel manufacturing. The main mining industry was coal which was concentrated to the north and east of the county. There were also iron deposits which were mined in the area. The rivers running off the Pennines to the west of the county supported
15252-402: Was replaced by a much larger Norman edifice during the 12th century, similar in plan to today's Minster. This Norman church was built using Rotherham Red sandstone and decorated using Magnesium Limestone from Conisborough . It was cruciform in plan, having a chancel , nave , transepts and a low central lantern tower . Little is known about either of these two previous churches, however,
15376-438: Was replaced in 1871 when Rotherham was incorporated as a municipal borough . In 1902 it was elevated to become a county borough , taking over county-level functions from West Riding County Council . The county borough was abolished in 1974 and replaced by the larger Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham , which also took in the areas of the abolished urban districts of Maltby , Rawmarsh , Swinton , and Wath upon Dearne , plus
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