The
Unofficial WebsiteThe 20th Century
The 20th Century roared
into Rotherham on the back of the iron and steel mills. Demand for rails and stock for the new
tramways as well as the old established railways and other trades ensured that there was plenty
of business.
At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 many firm switched their production to shell casings and munitions. Steel was in such demand that Steel, Peech & Tozer based at the Phoenix Bessemer Steel Works at Ickles extended their production area and the new Templeborough Melting Shop and Rolling Mills were built over the site of the old Roman fort.
After 1918 the iron and steel firms in Rotherham expected to do well out of the former German markets but the reality was that the post-war period was one of commercial instability. World trade was disrupted by the failure of several currencies and like many other manufacturing towns Rotherham suffered a heavy slump in all trades, not just iron and steel.
During World War II 1939-45 once again many of the iron and steel works turned to production for the war effort of munitions and bailey bridge sections.
Since 1945, when peace broke out, many of the iron and steel industries in Rotherham have faced problems. The demand for their products declined and the stove grate industry died out completely. Later there was competition from companies abroad who could produce steel cheaper.
The steel industry was nationalised by the Labour Government in 1951, but Steel, Peech & were denationalised in 1953. The industry was nationalised again in 1967 as British Steel. There was another privatisation as Rotherham Engineering Steels, then back to being part of British Steel, then take-over by the Anglo-Dutch company Corus. In 2007 Corus have sold out to the Indian steel company TATA. From this mishmash I think it can be safely said that successive British Governments had a hand in the demise of the iron and steel industry in Rotherham.