History Rothwell, West Yorkshire

holy trinity church in rothwell.

one of royal lodge s documented owners john of gaunt, 1st duke of lancaster, supposed have killed last wild boar in england while hunting nearby; hence boar s head formed part of arms of former rothwell urban district council. parish church (church street) dedicated holy trinity , on site of anglo saxon predecessor. current church, has ring of 8 bells, of medieval origins substantially rebuilt in 19th century: tower retains medieval fabric believed 15th century.

john blenkinsop (1783–1831), buried @ holy trinity church. pioneer in use of steam locomotives on nearby middleton railway.

whale jaws boundary marker

the town granted rights of market town in 15th century , twice yearly fair. tradition of fair maintained annual carnival organised rothwell entertainments committee. may day celebrated beside stone cross , on pastures on first monday bank holiday in may, while rothwell carnival held in springhead park on second saturday of july every year.

an arch made of whale jawbones has marked northern boundary junction wood lane , a61 road on 100 years.

rothwell part of historic rhubarb triangle, town , surrounding areas famed having once produced 90% of world s winter forced rhubarb forcing sheds common across fields there.

20th century

workhouse clock tower

st george s hospital situated off wood lane exists castle lodge avenue , associated houses. built in 1903 design leeds architect edward j. dodgshun rothwell, methley , hunslet joint isolation hospital committee formed under isolation hospitals act 1893 order of west riding county council 10 january 1900. when first constructed known new union workhouse , infirmary hunslet union, on being taken on leeds public assistance committee in 1934 renamed st george’s hospital. in 1934 transferred leeds health committee. in 1948, hospital managed leeds group b hospital management committee. after local government reorganisation in 1974 transferred leeds eastern district , after leeds western district. hospital closed in december 1991. 1934 hospital provided accommodation elderly ill, patients chronic , acute mental illness, persons learning disabilities, maternity ward , separate isolation ward. site developed housing @ start of 21st century original tall clock tower remains.

rothwell temperance band championship section brass band founded in rothwell in 1984. although not rehearse in rothwell itself, have strong connections town , hold many concerts local community. rehearse in wakefield. closest champion section brass band yorkshire imperial urquhart travel band, formerly of yorkshire imperial copperworks based in stourton, band named. imps, more commonly known, merged original rothwell band (founded 1881) in 1990s.

rothwell has long history of coal mining. site of mining, using system known bell pits. coal mining has been carried out in area on 600 years, though coal production stopped on 9 december 1983. there many local pits including fanny, rose , rothwell water haigh. in 1995, leeds city council , leeds groundwork formed partnership which, local residents , community groups, transformed former colliery 50 hectare country park.

rothwell constituted urban district in west riding of yorkshire under local government act 1894. in 1937 expanded taking in methley urban district , hunslet rural district.

aerial map of rothwell

it incorporated city of leeds metropolitan borough, west yorkshire local government act 1972. inclusion in leeds district opposed wakefield metropolitan district controversial: planned leeds district, added wakefield district @ request of residents, moved leeds district house of lords.

rothwell urban district

between 1894 , 1972, rothwell constituted urban district. district included areas of rothwell, methley, oulton, woodlesford, stourton, carlton, robin hood, lofthouse , thorpe. rothwell urban district had total population of around 25,000, if still existed today, figure closer 30,000. in 1972 these areas taken newly formed city of leeds metropolitan district, although thorpe, lofthouse, carlton , parts of robin hood have wakefield postcode.