Fence - Netherthorpe - Swallownest - Woodhouse Mill
The villages of Fence, Netherthorpe, Swallownest & Woodhouse Mill are all situated in the Aston area in the south of the Borough of Rotherham.
Fence
The village is presumably called Fence because it was a fortified farmstead. Today there is a farm, some works and a school but no large estates. Fence Colliery was sunk in 1842 and houses were built there for the miners. It was connected by underground tunnels with Treeton Colliery and all coal was hauled from the Treeton shaft after 1887. Coal ceased to be mined at Fence Colliery in 1904 but the shaft remained in use for pumping. In the 1950s the colliery site became the NCB area workshops and stores but these closed in the 1990s. A school was opened in Fence in 1877.
Netherthorpe
The name means the lower village. Actually its upper in my opinion, being north of Aston and north to me is always up earth. Just to confuse you there are two other villages called Netherthorpe within a short distance of each other, one near Thorpe Salvin which is featured here as Netherthorpe another one and one near Killamarsh which is in Sheffield.
An airfield has existed at Netherthorpe since at least the 1930s. From 1940 - 1948 this was called RAF Firbeck. The airfield is still in use today. In 2011 a small memorial has been set up to the servicemen who served there; please visit www.firbeckairfieldmemorial.co.uk.
Swallownest
Swallownest is named after the Swallow family who had a farm on the site. It came into existence during the 18th century and was a tiny hamlet until the advent of housing estates. As late as 1838 the only buildings around the cross roads at Swallownest were turnpike tollhouse and three farms. I have also seem a spelling on an old map as Olave's Ness which would indicate it came from the norse name Olaf. A school was opened in Swallownest in 1893.
Woodhouse Mill
The name means the mill of the house in the wood. This small area of housing is in the Borough of Rotherham hence its inclusion here but is part of the Sheffield village of Woodhouse.