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Whiston
The name of the village is reckoned to come from 'white stone'. There is no trace now of this stone but it may have been one of the standing stones used by our ancestors to indicate the way of ancient footpaths and tracks for the packman and the drover. You can still find them about in other places if you look for them.
There is a small old centre to the village of Whiston with narrow lanes, alleyways and flights of steps. I recently re-acquainted myself with some parts of this and I had forgotten just how steep some of the steps are. The main roads through the village are very busy but many of the side streets here are very quiet and pleasant. There is some lovely old property and I can see why it is such a popular and pricey place. There are newer developments west, north and east of the old village but to the south there are still open fields until you get to the M1.
Early in the 17th Century Whiston was amongst the manors which were inherited by the three daughters of the th Earl of Shrewsbury. These were held in trust for various family members and passed into the Howard family being inherited by Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel later Duke of Norfolk (1660). The South Yorkshire estates were managed aggressively by his brother Henry Howard who succeeded to the Dukedom in 1677. Records from this century indicate that wood was cut for making charcoal (used to smelt iron ore) and that coal was mined in the manor of Whiston. Whiston Manor House is shown on the 1840s Ordnance Survey Map and appears to have been situated in the angle made by Worry Goose Lane and Moorhouse Lane but I have found no trace of it and no mention of it in any of my books.
Although the main route from Rotherham to the West Riding changed over the centuries it always passed through Whiston which must have been busy with packmen, carters and drovers. In the Eighteenth Century the roads through Whiston crossroads were turnpiked (Tinsley and Bawtry Turnpike in 1760 and the Rotherham and Pleasley Road Turnpike in 1764) and there was a toll house here.
I idled away many summers of my youth fishing in Whiston Brook or the River Rother where it flows through Whiston Meadows. It's quite posh in Whiston these days with some very nice property but it was a bit rough when I were a kid. Rotherham Council used to house some of the worst families in the run down cottages by the stream and the Whiston Gang had a terrible reputation for mayhem and thuggery.
On writing these pages I dredged up memories of bike rides down to Garlands' Chippy to fetch the family supper - the trouble is that I can't remember where it was. I remember Clay's Farm - Mrs Clay was the milkwoman who also brought eggs (we always had a competition to see who got the double-yokers). My elder brother played cricket at Whiston Cricket Club, football for one of the soccer clubs (can't remember which) and for a while he ran the Youth Club in the village. Some of my favourite street names are down there - Cow Rakes Lane and Worry Goose Lane. I think its been a fair few years now since a cow raked you or a goose worried you down there but it gives you a nice rural feel from the days before housing estates. And there's Sitwell Park Golf Course which I understand is rather posh. We used to pick bluebells in the adjoining woods - I wonder if they are still there?
Lychgate Hall
Next to the churchyard is Lychgate Hall. This was formerly the Church Institute built in 1913 with monies donated by Eliza Rowden Hall of Sydney Australia, who was born in Morthen. It is now a private home.
St Mary Magdalene Whiston
The church is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene and parts of it date back 800 years, although it was extensively rebuilt in Victorian times. The first mention is a place of worship in Whiston was in 1188 when a chapel is mentioned belonging to the church at Ecclesfield. It is believed to have been founded by the de Lovetot family and to begin with probably only had a visiting clergyman. The first rector was installed in 1236 and the tower dates from 1250. There have been other alterations with the interior being changed recently to form a church and meeting rooms. The oldest dated stone in the graveyard is from 1696. The church has a prominent position on a hilltop overlooking the village which must have been useful in the Middle Ages to watch out for marauding armies in the neighbourhood.
Behind the churchyard is an old quarry which I understand is being redeveloped for housing. To the right of these pictures is the old Coach House and the Cricket ground. The Lychgate in front of the church was built in 1919 as a war memorial and is inscribed with the names of those who gave their lives in the World Wars. A bit further off to the side is the Old Rectory which ceased to be used by the rectors in the 1960s in favour of a more modern house. From the size of the rectory and the coachhouse it is obvious that the rectorship of Whiston was very valuable indeed. The church is not generally open but there is keyholder access contact 01709 634430.
Whiston Hall
Next to the barn is Whiston Hall which was the local farm, Clay's Farm it used to be known when I was young. The original hall dated from about 1500 but has been extended and altered and is now an old folk's home. It is an odd rambling building with several low wings but doesn't seem to have any grand entrance. Next to it is the old dairy which is now a private house.
Whiston Manorial Barn
The Mediaeval Manorial Barn on Chaff Lane has been restored and is used as a village hall and is available for hire. It dates in part back to the Thirteenth Century and was use by the Lord of the Manor to store the grain collected from his serfs and peasants by way of tax. The wood for it was felled some time after 1214 and the barn is an example of a post and truss structure. Originally there were two storage bays at either end with the threshing floor in the middle. Additional bays were added in the Middle Ages and in more modern times a wheelhouse was added for a threshing machine. The barn ceased to be used and fell into disrepair before it was bought by Whiston Parish council in 1985. It was extensively restored and is a Grade 2* listed building.
Whiston Methodist Church
This was built in 1866 to replace an earlier chapel. The church tower contains the Parish Clock installed there in 1874 and financed by public subscription. The present tower is a concrete one raised in 1949 to replace an earlier wooden spire.
In 2005 Whiston Heritage Society has produced a leaflet 'A Walk Round Whiston' which is available from Rotherham Visitor Centre.
More Pages:-
Whiston Slide Show
More Recollections of Whiston
Village Links & Other Useful Information
Please visit the Whiston Villages Page.