Rotherham History 

The rivers Rother and Don converge on Rotherham, and the Don is straddled by one of only four surviving bridge chapels in the whole country. Records show that the Saxons held markets in the area and after the Norman invasion the land was given to William the Conqueror’s half brother, the Earl of Mortain. All Saint’s Church contains elements of both Saxon and Norman churches, though most of the present structure dates from the 15th century and is widely regarded as one of the finest in the country.

The discovery of coal in the 19th century and the steel industry developed by the Walker family turned the town into an industrialised centre. A former steelworks has been developed into a visitor attraction, Magna, which explores the dynamic elements of the steel manufacture: earth, air, fire and water. It is unlike anything else you are likely to have seen before and features exhibits as diverse as a gyroscopic chair, which demonstrates the force of a tornado, to subterranean virtual quarry where you can take control of a real JCB digger.