Kimberworth Area
Blackburn - Bradgate - Droppingwell - Hill Top - Kimberworth - Kimberworth Park - Richmond Park
These villages are situated to the north west of Rotherham. Evidence of settlement before Saxon times is small but it seems likely that both Celt and Roman mined iron ore and smelted charcoal hereabouts: I've also read that the Romans dug gravel from pits in the area to build their roads. There are several options offered for the meaning of the name Kimberworth which is Saxon in origin but the one considered most likely is that it means Cyneburg's enclosure. Cyneburg was a daughter of King Penda of Mercia and it may have been part of her dower lands. A manor existed here from Saxon times. The boundaries were delineated in the west by Blackburn Brook, in the south and east by the River Don as far as Rotherham and including Masbrough, whilst in the north it adjoined the manor of Ecclesfield near the present Thundercliffe Grange and included Scholes. Old place names mentioned in the manor are:–
- Blacaburna (1162) then Blacburn (1623) now Blackburn
- Bradgat (1475) now Bradgate
- Gilb(er)thorpe Hill (1561) now Hilltop
- Jordan Damm (1645) & Jordan Feld (1371) see Masbrough Area
- Le Walkesworth Foldes (1416) now Walkworth Farm
- Madhou (1300) later Mead Hall and then Meadow Hall
- Moriksburgh (1220) later Masbrough see Masbrough Area
- Stanyforth (1523)