Rotherham

Rotherham
From top to bottom: Rotherham town centre, Magna Science Adventure Centre, Beeversleigh flats in Clifton, Boston Park near Thomas Rotherham College.
Rotherham Location within South Yorkshire
Population	117,262 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	[SK4392 SK4392]
Metropolitan borough	Rotherham
Metropolitan county	South Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROTHERHAM
Postcode district	S60–S63, S65–S66
Dialling code	01709 0114 01909
Police	South Yorkshire
Fire	South Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
UK Parliament	Rotherham

Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, close to its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Its football club, Rotherham United F.C., was founded in 1870.

Notable people

People linked with Rotherham include:

• The Chuckle Brothers – comedy entertainers known for children's TV shows
• David Seaman – former England football goalkeeper, born in Rotherham
• Howard Webb – international and Premier League football referee
• Chris Wolstenholme – bassist for the rock band Muse
• Paul Pickering – novelist and playwright
• David Jagger – portrait painter, born in Kilnhurst

History and industry

Rotherham grew during the 18th and 19th centuries. Coal mining, ironworking and steelmaking became major industries in the town. Many mines and factories have since closed, and the town has changed. Newer industries now include technology, services and modern manufacturing.

Economy and development

Rotherham has a mix of urban and rural areas. The borough covers a large area with towns, villages, countryside and parks. New businesses in the region include engineering, aerospace, ICT and distribution. Shopping areas include Parkgate, the town centre and local high streets.

Places of interest

Some well-known places in or near Rotherham include:

• Rotherham Bridge with its historic bridge-chapel
• Magna Science Adventure Centre – a large museum and attraction
• Rother Valley Country Park – a large country park with lakes and wildlife
• Clifton Park and the Clifton Park Museum
• Churches, old buildings and parks around the town

Media

Rotherham has several local media services.

Local radio stations include:

• Rotherham Radio – a local radio station serving the town and nearby areas
• Rother FM – a former Rotherham station now part of Greatest Hits Radio
• Rother Radio - a local community radio station
• Many stations from Sheffield, Barnsley and Doncaster can also be heard

Television services come from the BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire regions. Some parts of the borough also receive BBC East Midlands and ITV Central.

Local news is also provided by newspapers such as the Rotherham Advertiser.

Demography

The town of Rotherham had a population of around 109,000 at the 2011 census. The full borough has a much larger population and includes many villages and towns. People in the borough come from many different backgrounds and communities.

Transport

Rotherham has bus services, main roads and a railway station. The town is close to the M1 and M18 motorways. Trains run to Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds and other towns.

Related pages

• Sheffield
• Doncaster
• River Don
• Rother Valley Country Park
• Magna Science Adventure Centre