Rawmarsh

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Rawmarsh
Statistics
Population:	17443
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	SK435965
Administration
District:	Rotherham
Metropolitan county:	South Yorkshire
Region:	Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	South Yorkshire
Historic county:	Yorkshire
Services
Police force:	South Yorkshire Police
Fire and rescue:	{{{Fire}}}
Ambulance:	Yorkshire
Post office and telephone
Post town:	Rotherham
Postal district:	S62
Dialling code:	+44-01709
Politics
UK Parliament:	Wentworth
European Parliament:	Yorkshire and the Humber

Rawmarsh (RP: [ɹaʊmɑːʃ], often locally pronounced: [ɹɔumɑːʃ]) is a large village within the Borough of Rotherham, located in South Yorkshire, England, lying 2 miles to the north of Rotherham.

[edit] History

The name has gone through many changes since being recorded as Rodemesc in the Domesday Book and Raumersche in 1355. This lead to "Red Marsh", from its situation in the Permian System of red sandstones and marls which run through the area. Localised clays outcrop and the area and was formally known for its potteries.

At the beginning of the 20th century Rawmarsh was described as "an increasing Parish" and included the outlying hamlets of Parkgate , Stubbin and Upper Haugh. In 1851 the population was 2,533 but 50 years later this had increased to 14,587. In 1961 the population was noted as being 19,700 but at the 2001 census it had reduced to 17,443. Rawmarsh has laid claim to the title of being the largest village in England, however this claim is unsubstantiated and there are indeed many settlements that make this claim.

These days primarily a residential area, Rawmarsh can be noted for its church, Rawmarsh St Mary's Parish Church, which dominates the view at the top of Rawmarsh Hill. There has been a church in the town since Norman times (c.1127) but the earliest recorded rector was William de Sutton who was instituted on 6th June 1227. The current church was completed in 1838 when the tower was increased in height and the rest rebuilt, J. P. Pritchett being the architect. In 1869 the tower began to collapse and was rebuilt incorporating features of the original Norman doorway. In 1894 the sanctuary was enlarged and the vestry, organ chamber and north porch added. The present sanctuary was repaved in 1977 in memory of Canon Scovell, who is also remembered in a street name in the town; the font is Perendicular in style and is from the old church. More recently restoration work was undertaken in (2003). The church contains two monuments of interest: one to Lady Middleton and her children (1667) who lived for a time at Aldwarke Hall, the other to John Darley of Kilnhurst (1616). The Parish Church of Christ Church, Parkgate, separated from Rawmarsh in 1868 was brought back in the early 1960's. There are other churches :All Saints', Upper Haugh dating from 1899 and St. Nicholas, Ryecroft, 1926 and also a selection of 'Free' churches, Spiritualists, Roman Catholic and Quakers.

[edit] Industry

In the past the coal and steel industries were major employers in the area. Coal had been mined in the Parkgate area since around 1700, mostly from small pits under the ownership of Earl Fitzwilliam. The last three collieries in the town were at Aldwarke, New Stubbin and Roundwood; the last, New Stubbin closing in 1978.

To the south of Rawmarsh is Parkgate, a suburb which had streets of terraced houses for the local work force and which was dominated by the Park Gate Iron and Steel Company 's works. This complex of two large blast furnaces and Siemens open heath furnaces and ancillaries was closed in the late 1970's the land remaining derelict until it was redeveloped as several large retail complexes from the late 1980's. Steel making is now concentrated at Aldwarke (New Site) which, when built in the early 1960's had 'Kaldo' converters to take advantage of a supply of 'blast furnace metal' but now has electric melting capacity, brought from Templeborough Works, Rotherham to provide the steel. Roundwood, the 10" mill as it is known due to the maximun rolling size, also remains open, both plants with a reduced workforce.

[edit] Transport

Rawmarsh, and neighbour Parkgate were served by two railway stations, both some distance from the town centre. Parkgate and Aldwarke, on the former Great Central Railway line betwen Sheffield and Doncaster was the furthest away, being situated off Aldwarke Lane and was the first to close, in October 1951. The station on the Midland Railway line between Sheffield and Leeds was called Parkgate and Rawmarsh and closed in January 1968. The nearest rail station now is Rotherham Central.

Road transport services were provided, from 1907 when trams were introduced, by the Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company. In 1929 trolleybuses took over, the major routes being from Rotherham, through Rawmarsh to Mexborough (Route A to Adwick Road), Conisbrough (Route B to Brook Square) with three routes terminating in the township; Rawmarsh via Green Lane (Route S) which made an end-on connection and had a turning circle at the junction of Kilnhurst Road and Main Street with the route to Kilnhurst Road (Route K). There was also a short route used at busy periods to Parkgate (Route P). Motor buses were introduced with the building of the Monkwood estate in the late 1950's and to Kilnhurst via the N.C.B. estate (Concrete Canyon). The last trolleybus ran in March 1961. Routes have been rationalised, the company fully integrated into the Yorkshire Traction and in 2005 into the Stagecoach Group.

The local area is serviced by a local shopping centre, five churches and nine schools — notably Rawmarsh School - A Sports College which was featured in national news after parents rebelled against the school's Jamie Oliver-style lunches.

Ceremonial county of South Yorkshire
Metropolitan districts:	City of Sheffield • Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham • Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster • Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
Cities/Towns:	Adwick le Street • Anston • Armthorpe • Askern • Aughton • Barnsley • Bawtry • Birdwell • Beighton • Bentley • Chapeltown • Conisbrough • Cudworth • Darfield • Darton • Dinnington • Dodworth • Doncaster • Finningley • Great Houghton • Grimethorpe • Harthill • Hatfield • Highlane • Hoyland Nether • Kirk Sandall • Maltby • Mexborough • Moorends • Mosborough • Norton • Oughtibridge • Rawmarsh • Rossington • Rotherham • Royston • Scholes • Sheffield City Centre • Stainforth • Stocksbridge • Swinton • Thorne • Thorpe Hesley • Thurcroft • Thurnscoe • Tickhill • Todwick • Treeton • Wales • Wath upon Dearne • Wharncliffe Side • Wombwell • Woodsetts • Worsbrough See also: List of civil parishes in South Yorkshire