Rotherham: A - Z Streets

Streetnames can provide important clues to the history and culture of an area. Some names reflect unimaginable past activities - Hangsman Lane - Deadmans Hole Lane

Many of Rotherham's street names bear witness to the town's past, most significant of these being the 'gates' or roads out of town:

• Moorgate - the way over the moor
• Doncaster Gate - the way to Doncaster
• Wellgate - the way characterised by the wells forming the towns water supply
• Westgate - the way to Sheffield and the west
• Bridgegate - the way to Rotherham Bridge and the north College Street, formerly Jesus Gate - the way to the College of Jesus.

Psalters Lane, was the route used by packhorses bringing salt from Cheshire. The old turnpike roads are often named after the towns which they served: Wortley Road, Pleasley and Bawtry Roads, are examples.

Church, Chapel and Station Streets are self-explanatory - the Church played a considerable role in the development of many towns. A street named after a saint is often a clue to the dedication of a nearby church.

Important families are frequently commemorated. Effingham Street , named after the Earls of Effingham, once Lords of the Manor of Rotherham. Howard Street from the Howard family. Drummond Street was named after Eliza Drummond, the mother of the Earl of Effingham.Strafford, Rockingham and Fitzwilliam were families connected with Wentworth Woodhouse. The Earls of Wharncliffe and Scarborough are also remembered in streets bearing the names. The Foljambe family had its seat at Aldwarke Hall.

Landowners such as the 'Sitwells of Renishaw' are commemorated by such names as - The Sitwell Arms in Whiston. Renishaw, Reresby, Osbert, Warde-Aldam and Verelst all have streets named after them.

In Eastwood , names of eminent legal men can be seen - Cottenham, Clarendon, Haldane and Halsbury.

Herringthorpe used the names of poets - Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley, Browning, Chaucer, Marlowe etc.

Developers and Builders - Mr J. C. Lister developed the area known as Listerdale. Green Lane and Wignall Avenue are named after former employees, who financed him as a builder at the start. Marcliff Crescent was named after his two children, Marjorie and Clifford, and Melciss Road is a combination of his wife's initials and her nick name. Middleton Road, Clifton was named after the builder, similarly Treherne Road.

Rectors - Former rectors are remembered in Wickersley - Scarborough, Freeman, Warren and Foster Roads.

Industry leaves its mark:

• Atlas Street, Brinsworth, named after the developer of Rotherham Main Colliery
• Oil Mill Fold, Westgate, is where a horse-driven oil mill once worked in the 18th century.
• Brameld Road, Swinton, named after the owners of Rockingham pottery.