The
Unofficial Website
The Westgate Area
Westgate actually runs in a direction more southerly than westerly from the end of High Street out to Canklow Road. It was once a road notable for the number of public houses that stretched from the Dusty Miller near the Town Mills all the way into the centre of town. Many of these are now closed and others have disappeared entirely. Nobody lives out this end of town any more and not that many people visit except in the evenings when the various restaurants and takeaways seem to do well enough. The day that I walked down there was a palpable aura of neglect enhanced by the flapping of chip wrappers in the wind.
Sorry but I can remember which pub this is but its pretty typical of the state of Westgate in the 21st Century. There were squatters in residence the day I took this picture. July 2004 - I believe that this is now a refugees hotel or club. I think that the pub was called the White Swan but I could be wrong. April 2005 I drove that way the other day and I am wrong. One of my espondents through it was the Dusty Miller and she is right. The Aged Parent thought the Dusty was further out of town so she has misled me here.
2004 CAMRA is up in arms as the redevelopment plans for the New York waterside which contains the Cutlers, the Alma and the White Swan include the demolition of all three and other buildings besides. The Cutlers has now been granted listed status as the interior is still substantially the same as when it was built in 1907. This Edwardian building was the third public house on this site. The Wellington Boot is no longer a pub but the Get Sorted Academy of Music.
On the east side of Westgate are the old narrow cobbled streets, Unity Place, Wilfred Street, Oil Mill Fold, Dike Hill. Wilfred Street is the only through route for cars, but you can walk up Oil Mill Fold to Downs Row in Moorgate.
Further down are Coke Hill (this joins onto the Maltings and Alma Road), Coke Lane, Swan Street and Chapel Lane. The old Baptist Chapel is still there but is now a music shop.
On the other side are Burrell Street and Water Lane which go down to the River Don. This is the area which various interested parties hope to develop as 'Rotherham Riverside'.