Ickles - Templeborough
The villages of Ickles and Templeborough once existed on the main road from Rotherham as it passes along the floodplain of the River Don towards Tinsley and Sheffield. There is nothing worth mentioning of either of these villages now as they were swallowed by the march of iron and steel works. The site where the Roman fort, probably called Morbium, can be found at Templeborough, but there is nothing left of this in situ either. Excavations revealed there was a small Roman town (vicus) and extensive cemeteries along the Don Valley. There is nothing left of these either.
The stretch of Sheffield Road from Bow Bridge to Tinsley in Sheffield was one a mass of iron and steel works together with associated industries. Templeborough Rolling Mills was converted to Magna Science & Adventure Centre. Brinsworth Strip Mill still exists. However many of the other industries closed down during the second half of the 20th Century with buildings becoming derelict or demolished altogether.
During the 21st Century massive amounts of development money have been spent on the area. New business parks have been developed on the empty sites, some with stirring names like Bessemer Park and Centurion Business Park. Bradmarsh doesn't have much of a ring to it though the marsh bit was very apt for centuries.