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Rotherham Tourist Information

Rotherham Minster © Linda Gamston


South Yorkshire

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The Borough of Rotherham has a population of about 250,000, and lies on the rivers Rother and Don. The town was founded in the early Middle Ages, though there were Iron Age and Roman settlements here. It was a Saxon market town and fashionable college town in the 1600s after the building of a college by Thomas Rotherham, who was born here and later became Archbishop of York, where he died in 1500. There is still a college named after him in the lovely residential area of Moorgate.

Rotherham's main industries have traditionally been coal, iron and steel, although most of the Rotherham district is rural. The Walker family built up an iron and steel empire and built cast iron bridges. The steel industry has declined and the massive Steel, Peech & Tozer steelworks at Templeborough closed in the 1990s and are now the site of the Magna Science Adventure Centre, a popular attraction with four pavilions packed with gadgets and themed on the four elements, and two multimedia shows. There's a recreation of the steel-making process, and there is a chance to experience moving rocks with a JCB, spinning on a gyroscopic chair, and so on, and the centre is particularly popular with children.

There are a few historical buildings remaining in the town, the most impressive of which is the medieval Minster (formerly All Saints Parish Church) dominating the pretty, pedestrianised All Saints Square with fountains and TV screen. The Minster, which was built on the site of a Saxon church, took 200 years to build. Rotherham has one of only three bridge chapels in Britain, the 15th century Chapel on the Bridge, formerly used as a prison, almshouse, and a tobacconist's shop. The 3rd Earl of Effingham, who opposed British attempts to crush the American War of Independence, built Boston Castle in Boston Park at Moorgate, as a hunting lodge in 1776. The castle is named after Boston, Massachusetts, the site of the famous “tea party.”

Nellie Dene's pub on Chantry Bridge, near the Chapel, is an architecturally interesting building and the venue for folk music and poetry events. Rotherham has a vibrant nightclub scene, and the Snafu pub in High Street has live rock bands. The Rotherham Arts Festival is held every year in September or October, with events held in a specially erected and beautiful Spiegel tent in All Saints Square and other venues, with music, literature and performances by local writers.

Clifton Park in the town centre is a large and very pleasant green space with an arboretum and a museum in the 18th century house owned by the Walker family, containing artefacts going back to Roman times, arts, natural sciences, a fine collection of local Rockingham Pottery including the large Rhinoceros Vase, and the well-loved Nelson, the stuffed Cape lion. Rotherham also has a transport museum in the Parkgate district.

A long term urban regeneration project called Rotherham Renaissance is under way, with the construction of new housing, leisure complexes and railway station. The town centre is by now quite lacking in shops but the Parkgate Retail World complex is a 5 minute bus ride away and the very big Meadowhall shopping centre is only 2 miles away, just inside the Sheffield border.

Some of the famous people from Rotherham are the Chuckle Brothers, comedian Sandy Powell, actor Paul Shane, actress Lynn Perrie, formerly of Coronation Street and her brother, comedian Duggie Brown, Christopher Wolstenholme of rock band Muse, athlete Peter Elliott, and Ebenezer Elliott, the noted “corn law poet.” Famous actor Sean Bean from Sheffield attended Rotherham Technical College and performed at Rotherham's small Civic Theatre.

Description by Linda Gamston

 

Images of Rotherham
Rotherham library and arts centre © Linda Gamston
Rotherham, Bridgegate © Linda Gamston
Rotherham, Chapel on the Bridge © Linda Gamston
Rotherham town centre, Nellie Deans pub © Linda Gamston
Sunset over Rotherham Minster © Linda Gamston
Rotherham, bandstand in Clifton Park © Linda Gamston
Directions
Show map of Rotherham...

What's near Rotherham

Attractions:
  Sheffield Botanical Garden  7 Miles
  The Traditional Heritage Museum  7 Miles
  Wentworth Castle Gardens  9 Miles
more attractions near Rotherham...
 
Towns:
  Blackburn  1 Mile
  Park Gate  1 Mile
  Greasbrough  1 Mile
more towns near Rotherham...
 
Estate Agents:
  Bricknells Rentals Ltd.  <1 Mile
  Merryweathers 1832 LLP  <1 Mile
  William H Brown  3 Miles
Hotels:
  The Brecon Hotel  1 Mile
  Prince Of Wales  1 Mile
  Carlton Park Hotel Rotherham/Sheffield  1 Mile
more hotels in Rotherham area...
 
Bed and Breakfast:
  Old Bank House  5 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Rotherham...
 
Self Catering:
  Bluebell's Barn  7 Miles
  Magnolia Cottage  15 Miles
  Blaco Hill Farm Cottages  16 Miles
more self catering near Rotherham...
 
Campsites:
  Edentree Caravan Park  17 Miles
  Barn Farm  22 Miles
  Newlands Holiday Homes  23 Miles

Cinema: Vue Sheffield  3 Miles

TIC: Rotherham Visitor Centre Tourist Information Centre     Tel: 01709 835904  <1 Mile


Attractions near Rotherham
Sheffield Botanical Garden (7 Miles)*
Sheffield Botanical Gardens were designed in 1834 by Robert Marnock, a leading horticulturalist and landscape designer. The Gardens are listed by English Heritage as a Grade II site of special historic and architectural interest.
The Traditional Heritage Museum (7 Miles)*
This Sheffield museum comprises a fascinating collection of artefacts, housed in small reconstructed workshops representing typical local trades.
Wentworth Castle Gardens (9 Miles)*
One of the most important historic gardens in the North of England, this hidden gem from the 18th century opened fully in spring 2007.
more attractions near Rotherham ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Towns near Rotherham
Blackburn Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Park Gate Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Greasbrough Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
more towns near Rotherham...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Hotels near Rotherham
The Brecon Hotel (1 Mile)*
Established in 1963, this small family-run hotel in Rotherham aims to offer you a friendly home from home atmosphere where all the staff care for your wellbeing.
Prince Of Wales (1 Mile)*
This friendly hotel is conveniently located approximately 5 minutes walk from Rotherham town centre, which offers a variety of nightlife, restaurants, clubs and theatres.
Carlton Park Hotel Rotherham/Sheffield (1 Mile)*
This newly refurbished hotel is 1 mile (1.6 km) from Rotherham town centre.It has free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, a gym and comfy en suite bedrooms with 32-inch LCD TVs.
more Rotherham hotels (and nearby)...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Self Catering near Rotherham
Bluebell's Barn (7 Miles)*
Bluebells Barn is a luxury two bedroom recently converted stone barn named after Bluebell the Shire horse who used to live here. Nestled in beautiful countryside on the edge of the Peak District National Park.
Blaco Hill Farm Cottages (16 Miles)*
Blaco Hill Cottages comprise of seven cottages, sleeping 2 to 6 persons, set around a landscaped courtyard, they have been attractively converted from a range of farm buildings.
Your property could be here
Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
more self catering near Rotherham ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

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