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About Rotherham Rotherham lies at the intersection of the rivers Rother and Don. The presence of water was undoubtedly a reason for the early settlements here and iron, too, may have played a part. The Romans worked iron here and built a fort on the south bank of the Don at Templeborough and they soon added stone walls, a granary and that necessity of Roman life, a bath house. The site was first excavated over 100 years ago and finds from this and subsequent excavations can be seen at Clifton Park Museum. There is not much evidence as to what happened during the dark years following the departure of the Romans. Recorded history of Rotherham really starts in 1086 when its church was listed in the Domesday Book and, in 1161, the monks of Rufford Abbey were granted the right to prospect for and to smelt iron and to plant an orchard, and from that day industry has existed side by side with agriculture. Although Rotherham is often associated with engineering and heavy industry, the present Borough, which includes several attractive small villages and townships within its 109 square miles, is still 75% rural. There is a considerable amount of arable and dairy farming and many of Rotherham's population of a quarter of a million live in the country. |