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Wath upon Dearne
The name Wath means a ford or crossing place, possibly from the Latin
vadum. It was shown as Wad in the Domesday Book. It may also come from the Norse 'Vath' also meaning a ford. Dearne is one of the names of the river which had also been known as Dart,
Derwent and Darent. All these are names of rivers in other parts of England and like Avon presumably mean river.
Conveniently placed near the river crossing it seems likely there might have been a Roman outpost from the fort or castra at Doncaster (Danum). There was a settlement here in Anglo-Saxon times as there is evidence of Anglo-Saxon foundations in the church of All Saints. The community would have been largely agricultural for many centuries. A market has existed here since the Middle Ages and the remains of the Market Cross (buttercross) are preserved. According the the information:-
"1312. King Edward II granted Reiner Fleming IV, Lord of the Manor of Wath, permission for an annual market and fair. Reiner probably set up the Market Cross at the bottom of Sandygate. 1989. The new shaft was given in memory of Gorge Bramall and Richard Ogden, Builders of this Town."
Large scale coal mining commenced with the sinking of Wath Main began in 1875. There were two shafts when the mine was fully working. Manvers Main at Wath consisted of three collieries. The first was sunk in the late 1890s, the second 1900-1901 but when the third shaft was started has eluded me. Manvers was owned by Manvers Main Collieries Ltd., Wath-on-Dearne, Rotherham, Yorks in 1945. It was part of one the largest smelliest, and dirtiest concentrations of industry in South Yorkshire with coking ovens and vast railway yards, as well as the pits. These all closed in the 1980s.
By about 1900 the pits must have brought a good deal of wealth to the town if you judge by the substantial well-built houses from the period.
The Montgomery Hall
The Montgomery Hall which had been derelict for about five years has been re-opened as a multi-purpose community cultural centre. I saw the Royal Shakespeare Touring Company there many years ago but it is quite some time since I saw anything of note being held there. It was a nice old building but needed some brass spending on it even then. Lottery funding for this ceases in 2007 and the managing committee is appealing to local groups to use the place more otherwise it will probably become non-viable again.
Wath All Saints Church
Church Street, Wath-upon-Dearne. A church has existed here since Saxon times. The first building was probably of wood but by the time the Normans arrived in 1066 there was a small stone church. The Normans extended the church about 1150AD by adding a north aisle and chancel. The Lady Chapel was built around 1300 and a row of carved heads originally on the outside wall were incorporated in the new chapel. the church is open every day from dawn until dusk contact 01709 872299. Visit their website www.wathparishchurch.co.uk.
Wath Trinity Methodist Church
Church Street, Wath-upon-Dearne. This is a substantial building which looks as if it dates from Victorian times.
