Rotherham's history dates back to a Roman fort by the River Don, through its mining and industrial past, particularly its steelworks, to today's busy town in Yorkshire. In the Middle Ages, much of the area around Rotherham was deer parks owned by local lords, and traditional crafts such as coppicing, charcoal burning, milling and tanning were practised by the community. Coal mining, iron production and glass-making were also local industries and these expanded enormously in the Industrial Revolution; mining from the Barnsley seam began between 1840 and 1850 and continued to expand to other coal seams in the years following. Safety standards at the time were lacking and many coal mining disasters happened in the area. The largest steelworks was Templeborough, opened in 1916 to satisfy demand in the First World War and in operation until 1993. Alongside the industrial growth in Rotherham, civic building expanded, with the first public library opening in 1728. Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Rotherham has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.

About the Author
James Barker is a post-graduate team leader at the University of Sheffield. He lives locally in Rotherham and has been researching the history of his local town for many years. He has written on the area for local publications but this is his first book for Amberley.

Reviews
'If you're a lover of history, this new release by James Barker will be one to add to your collection.' -- Around Town, Rotherham, May/ June 2023



Book Information
ISBN 9781398114951
Author James Barker
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 275g