Warren Vale Colliery Explosion – 150 years on

Warren Vale Colliery Explosion – 150 years on

By Joshua Daniels A dense choking fog spread over Rawmarsh in November 1874. There had been a fatal explosion at Warren Vale Colliery, the second such incident since it was sunk in 1840. It was a Friday, 20th November, and families should have been looking forward to a weekend together....

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Celebrating 120 years of secondary education in Mexborough

Celebrating 120 years of secondary education in Mexborough

Former schoolteachers and pupils from Mexborough will be the subject of the latest exhibition at Fox Gallery. The gallery, based at Mexborough Business Centre, will focus on the 120-year history of secondary education in the town, including some of its most influential alumni and staff from over the years. It...

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The history of Clifton Park

The history of Clifton Park

If you grew up in or around Rotherham, your childhood memories are probably etched with days spent at Clifton Park. For over 130 years, Clifton Park has been more than just your average park. How lucky we are to have such a gem right here on our doorstep. You might...

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Make a scheduled stop at South Yorkshire Transport Museum

Make a scheduled stop at South Yorkshire Transport Museum

This summer, explore our region’s transport heritage with a visit to South Yorkshire Transport Museum in Rotherham. Running since 1995, the volunteer-owned museum has amassed over 15,000 transport-related artefacts, including 50 major vehicle exhibits on display at their Aldwarke unit. While they may be known for their collection of heritage...

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The Linen of Barnsley & Rotherham

The Linen of Barnsley & Rotherham

By historian Joshua Daniels It’s well-known that the coal, iron, steel and glass industries dominated the economies of Rotherham and Barnsley. There was, however, another very prominent industry: linen. Whilst textiles are more associated with what is now West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire was also a leading contributor to the industry....

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Wentworth Woodhouse Stables: From horses to catering courses

Wentworth Woodhouse Stables: From horses to catering courses

If you’ve walked or driven down the drive to Wentworth Woodhouse lately, you may have noticed that the entrance to the historic stable block is all boarded up. Well, that’s because a £5.1 million restoration project has commenced to bring the derelict Georgian stables back to life. After spending six...

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The Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery Explosion – 140 Years Later

The Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery Explosion – 140 Years Later

By Joshua Daniels Just after midnight on 18th October 1883, Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery suffered a disaster that saw the death of 20 men and boys. Based in the Smithies area of Barnsley, close to the border between Monk Bretton and Carlton, Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery had been operating for around five...

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Home on the Grange

Home on the Grange

Thundercliffe Grange in Rotherham is privately owned by a group of residents. But it has previously been an Earl’s family seat, a private asylum for wealthy ladies, and a hospital for disabled children.

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Who were the Earls of Effingham?

Who were the Earls of Effingham?

The Earls of Effingham were a junior branch of the House of Howard whose head was the Duke of Norfolk. They were descendants of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham who was an English commander who defeated the Spanish Armada. The Effingham family seat was in Surrey, but they became...

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The magic of Maurice Dobson Museum

The magic of Maurice Dobson Museum

Museums are more than just gigantic display cabinets where forgotten objects go to be gawped at. The humble museum has the power to reflect and shape our society, providing priceless lessons about the past. Darfield’s Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre is the epitome of that, giving visitors a lesson...

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