Grange Park Heritage Woodland
Kimberworth
Grange Park Heritage Woodlands consist of five areas of woodland totalling more than thirty hectares on the edge of Kimberworth, approximately four kilometres west of the centre of Rotherham. Walkworth Wood is the largest and adjoins Barber Wood, which in turn merges into Ockley Bottom. To the west lie the adjacent woodlands of Gallery Bottom and Kennel Wood.
Iron ore and coal seams are close to the surface in this area. It is possible the Romans mined ore here: a Roman track northwards from the fort at Templeborough passes to the west of the site. Just to the northwest was Kirkstead Abbey Grange where lay brothers smelted iron in the Middle Ages and bell-pits from these era can be found. the northern part of the area was part of Kimberworth Deer Park in Medieval times. The woods seem to have been part of the estate of the 7th and last Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury who died in 1616 and passed via his daughters into the Howard family. They became part of the estates of the Duke of Norfolk and when the Norfolk estates were broken up in 1727, they passed to the Earl of Effingham. They remained as coppiced woodland until after 1777 when Thundercliffe Grange was rebuilt and parts were incorporated into the new park. Grange Colliery, a deep shaft mine existed from 1845-1962 and had its own railway line through Ockley Bottom.
Walkworth Wood, Ockley Bottom, Gallery Bottom and Kennel Wood were purchased by Rotherham Borough Council in 1929. Barber Wood was purchased later in the 1940s. After the Second World War much of the area was open cast mined and parts of the woodland including Brown Spring were lost.
The woodlands are mostly mature oak with smaller amounts of other trees, especially ash, hawthorn and holly, and includes a wet alder carr. Many ancient woodland plants can be found there and there are many species of birds. The wood is full of rhododendrons which are wonderful in May when in bloom.
As in many of these places fly tipping and bikie boys are regular and persistent problems. The last time we walked there on a wet and windy day in the car park at the top end had been blocked off. We couldn't decide if this was to stop the fly tippers or if it had been done by the fly tippers themselves but we didn't let it stop us as we parked on the road. Although not part of the Heritage Woodland Site there are some open areas in the vicinity. The former spoil heaps near to the main road have become established heathland with gorse and bogland with rushes and grasses. Watson's tip still remains, toxic even though grassed over.
Walks through Walkworth Wood and Barber Wood can be accessed near the entrance to Grange Park Golf Club. Near the bottom end of Barber Wood you can see Thundercliffe Grange. This property once belonged to Lord Howard of Effingham. It became an institution - it was a hostel or home for the mentally ill, but it was rescued by a co-operative of workers from Rotherham Council who bought the building and converted it into private apartments. The Grange is not open to the public.
Barber Wood
This is the southernmost strip of woodland and is named after Thomas Barber, a 16th Century landowner. There are several disused quarries which may have provided the stone for the rebuilding of Thundercliffe Grange. Evidence of mining is widespread here. Barber Wood House was built here in the 1840s but fell into ruin and was demolished in 1960.
Gallery Bottom
Gallery Bottom once formed part of the medieval Kimberworth Deer Park, first mentioned in the 13th century.
Situated to the north of the wooded area, Gallery Bottom shows evidence of mining including Medieval bell pits. The boundary of the old Kimberworth Deer Park is visible on the south side. So are the remains of three silted up fish ponds also from the Middle Ages thought to be associated with the monastic settlement at Kirkstead Abbey Grange. You really have to know what you are looking for to identify all these through the undergrowth.
Kennel Wood
This wood is on the western side of the area. The old walls and ditches still exist on the eastern boundary.
Ockley Bottom
This is the southeast and was known as Droppingwell Wood. The wood once continued on the other side of Droppingwell Lane but I'm pretty sure that this has now all gone. There remains of quarries and an old railway line. It contains 'bell pits' associated with shallow coal mining. Ockley Bottom largely covers colliery spoil and it is difficult to discern its ancient origins.
Walkworth Wood
Walkworth Wood is first mentioned around 1600 as a coppice woodland belonging to the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury. It contains over 100 bell pits associated with shallow coal mining and also old quarries. All of the woodlands are bounded by old stone walls and or by boundary banks.