Rotherham in 1833

Brief History of Rotherham

Rotherham in 1833

Rotherham is a busy market town on the navigable part of the river Don, and has long been celebrated for its iron and steel works; its noble gothic church, its extensive corn and cattle market, and for the glass-houses, and numerous potteries in its vicinity.

As has been seen in the early history of Hallamshire, Rotherham is more ancient than its gigantic neighbour, Sheffield, from which it is distant 6 miles, north-east by east, being 12 miles from Doncaster, 13 miles from Barnsley, and 168 miles from London.

It is situated partly on the declivity of a hill, and partly in a vaIley on the River Don, at its conflux with the River Rother, from which it has its name.

The houses are generally of stone, and some of them are handsomely and substantially built, but owing to the low situation of many of them, and to the irregularity and narrowness of the streets, the town has rather a dull appearance, though it contains upwards of 6000 inhabitants, including its populous suburbs of Masbrough and the Holmes which are in Kimberworth township, on the western side of the Don, which is here crossed by a fine old bridge, upon which is an ancient chapel, a small circular building; now used as the Town’s Prison.

The parish, of which Rotherham is the capital, is of considerable extent, comprising within its ample limits, two Chapels of Ease, and no fewer than eight townships.

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