Wath Upon Dearne is another local town which managed a mention in the Domesday Book.  As with Mexborough, Wath is Anglo-Saxon in origin (upon dearne means a ford) and built on a small spur of land at an easily forded position.  The river Dearne was used extensively until the building of the railway and the towns age and use reflects the ability to move goods easily.

The National Statistics website (http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk) has extensive data for 2001.  Here is a summary:

• There were 10,671 residents in the ward; 48% male & 52% female
• The average age of a resident is 39.9 years.  19.8% were under 16, 57.6% 16 to 60 years and 22.2% over 60
• The majority of residents were married/remarried (55%), Singles (24.9%), Widowed (9.7%) and Separated/Divorced covered 10.4% of population
• Ethnic groups were mainly white (99%), the other groups being made up of Chinese, Asian and mixed
• Religious groups were mainly Christian (83.8%) with other religions not stated or not used
• Most residents were employed (54.9%) or either classed as permanently disabled (9.5%) or retired (15.8%), 19.4% (rest) being made up of economically inactive residents or students
• The ward holds 4,533 households. 99% are resident the other 1% being in communal establishments.  63.7% are owner occupied, 24.8% rented from the council and the rest private rented. 
• Property prices average out at £62,020.  Properties range from detached (20.3% of households), semi-detached (49%), terraced (20.2%) and flats (10.4%).

The town centre is a small but diverse spread of shops covering 4 roads from this central (left) roundabout - all pedestrianised.  The shops include curtaining, pet stores, bakers, cafe, library, public houses, pharmacies, banks and hairdressers.  There is a free car park behind the library, access is gained via Barnsley Road.   Rockingham College (on the site of a Primitive Methodist Church) still teaches but most of the activities have now been transferred to the new site at Manvers (Dearne Valley College - http://www.dearne-coll.ac.uk/). Wath does not have its own Railway Station (nearest being Swinton) but has an extensive bus service and is easily accessible by car from both Barnsley, Mexborough, Swinton, Bolton Upon Dearne and Elsecar.

Dustbins are emptied on Monday excluding Battison Lane (Thursday, Dawson Lane (Wednesday, Station Road (Thursday) and Wath Wood Bottom (Wednesday).

Wath also benefits from the new Dearne Valley Parkway (A6195) as it allows quick and easy access to many local motorways (10 minutes away from M1 and A1(M)) and on the doorstep of the newly regenerated Manvers site (more information on this in Area Faqs (page 3).

I have only an indication of population numbers for Wath; in 1811 there was 815 people resident this number had increased by over 180 within 10 years - a huge difference to the other pre-colliery towns in the area.  Both Manvers Main and Wath Main Collieries would have employed men living in Wath and so I believe the population numbers could easily be the same as Swinton (12,000 ish).

The history of Wath can be seen in both its population numbers before the Collieries and some of its structures and traditions.

All Saints Church is one of the few South Yorkshire churches mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). This church has had few changes since the 1400's and contains a number of Norman (lower tower, north arcade and chapel) and Gothic elements.  The church's structure has had its problems, the original steeple had to be replaced (the old one being visible in the South Churchyard and in 1917 a fire damaged stained-glass windows and interior decor.  I'm not sure how rare this is with smaller churches but this is the only local one I've noticed with a clock face attached (in 1714). There is a further church mentioned, St Mary's, which is also Norman in origin.  As far as I can tell this is based in Wombwell (a 5 minute drive away) which won't be covered in these pages until a later date.

Waths Medieval Market is in evidence with the stump of a buttercross still able to be seen in the grounds of the Town Hall - the stump had to be moved from its original place for public safety.  The market also had a Charter which one of the Lords of Wath (Le Flemings) obtained in 1312-13.  However, the Tuesday market didn't last long and the present market held on Wednesdays only sprang up in 1814.  The Le Flemings reigned until Henry VII's time (1400's) when two daughters where born and the manor split on their marriage

A later owner of the 'Manor of Wath' Sarah Tolson, commissioned the Lady Chapel at All Saints.  The Chancel had traditionally been the place of interment for the Lords of Manor.  Both Sarah and her sister , Elizabeth, died without issue and the Manor was passed to Earl Fitzwilliam.  Evidence of the Le Flemings, Tolsons and Fitzwilliams can be seen in All Saints Church^[1].

Since the 1400's several more churches have been built to accommodate the differing faiths moving into the town.

• Wesleyan chapel (1811)
• St Josephs Roman Catholic Church (1879), 
• Trinity Methodist Church (1893)
• St James' Anglican Church (1902) no longer used and now is a Squash/Sports facility

Another local website: http://www.gleaden.plus.com/index.htm has excellent photographs and descriptions of a number of local structures and church including the above.

So far I seem to have disregarded the importance of the Dearne and Dove Canal and its use with moving the materials from the coal and ironworks, Rockingham Pottery and Kiln.  Large sections of the canal have been drained and original bridges superceded, during the 1900's, to make way for new roads (Doncaster Road).  The old stone bridge can still be seen on the right as you enter Wath, Mr Michael Bennet, Thurnscoe History Group has a small but informative piece on the Canal including the extensive refurbishment which is taking place.

Did you know that Wath has a famous son?  William Addy, pioneer or shorthand and author of a shorthand bible published in 1687 came from Wath.  Of course there is the other famous son, William Hague.......

No changes to the Councillors for Wath.  As follows:

A Sangster

A Gosling

A Atkin

Councillors can be contacted via: http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/graphics/YourCouncil/YourCouncillor/Wath.htm

The MP for Rotherham (and therefore Wath) is Denis MacShane.  Contact via House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.  Tel: London Office  020 7219 4060.  E-Mail: macshaned@parliament.uk.  Web site: http://www.denismacshane.labour.co.uk or Constituency Office - Tel: 01709 837577 and Fax: 01709 835622.

Rotherham Council hold monthly 'community involved' Assemblies , the meeting covering Wath is Wentworth North.   Agenda/minutes available via http://www2.rotherham.gov.uk/minutes/ wentworthnortha/default.htm.  

 

CURRENT EVENTS/LOCAL ISSUES

There are a number of things happening in Wath, here is the start of an evolving list:

• Dearne Valley Camera Club, Dunholm Social Club, Carr Road, Wath Upon Dearne.  Meeting on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm and including outings and exhibitions.  The club aims to promote all aspects of photography and welcome new members.  Contact via Peter on 01709 896295.  The web address is: http://www.johnj.force9.co.uk/dvcc/dvcc

• Wentworth North Forum covered a number of areas concerning Wath, as follows:

  • Skatepark.  This is nearing completion.