-Local History

A site where two rivers meat would have been attractive to early settlers and their is archaeological evidence to support this in the case of Rotherham. 

The presence of iron has played an important part through-out the town’s history, with evidence of working of local deposits from prehistoric times. 

The Romans chose Templeborough as a site for a fort and settlement and worked its iron during their occupation. 

The town grew and, with its church, is mentioned in the Doomsday Survey of 1086, in the years which followed its ownership passed through several hands. 

The monks of Rufford Abbey were granted permission in 1161 to extract and smelt iron. 

Rotherham developed as a market centre for the surrounding agricultural areas and the grating of a Royal Charter in 1207, with later additions, allowed the town to grow and prosper. 

During the Civil War, Rotherham took the side of the Puritans and twice suffered attack. 

Their was some early development of the iron industry during the 17^th century but these attempts proved generally unsuccessful and it declined. 

Real Progress started from 1746 when Samuel Walker and his brothers came to Rotherham. 

Known as ‘the real farther of the iron trade‘Samuel introduced many technical innovations and set up a foundry in Masborough and elsewhere and became very wealthy. 

Though producing a range of products, his company was particularly well known for constructing bridges and canals for our own and other armies and navies. 

His success attracted other industries including glass making Rockingham porcelain manufacturers, brassware, manufacturers of stove grates and many smaller trades such as lock-smiths and bell founding. 

Steel production began in the Templeborough area in ---- and by 1871 their were many new companies operating. 

With the arrival of the railway linking Sheffield and Rotherham in 1838 and nearby coal deposits for industrial and domestic use, Rotherham became one of the country’s main manufacturing towns. 

Today, most of these traditional industries have disappeared but they survive as exhibits in the museums of the area and as historic sites.