Rothwell had a population of 21,010 in the 2001 census,[2] and the Rothwell ward has an estimated population of 32,365.[3] At the 2011 census the ward had a population of 20,354.[4] The town is close to the A1/M1 link road and the Stourton park and ride. The nearest railway station is Woodlesford.
Rothwell was mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Rodewelle".[5]
One of the royal lodge's documented owners was John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, who is supposed to have killed the last wild boar in England while hunting nearby[citation needed]; hence a boar's head formed part of the arms of the former Rothwell Urban District Council. The parish church (Church Street) is dedicated to Holy Trinity and is on the site of an Anglo Saxon predecessor. The current church, which has a ring of eight bells, is of medieval origins but was substantially rebuilt in the 19th century: the tower retains medieval fabric believed to be from the 15th century.[6]
John Blenkinsop (1783–1831) is buried at Holy Trinity Church. He was a pioneer in the use of steam locomotives on the nearby Middleton Railway.
Whale jaws boundary marker
The town was granted the rights of a market town in the 15th century and a twice-yearly fair. The tradition of a fair is maintained by the annual carnival which is organised by the Rothwell Entertainments Committee.[7] May Day is celebrated beside the stone cross and on the Pastures on the first Monday Bank Holiday in May, while Rothwell Carnival is held in Springhead Park on the second Saturday of July every year.
An arch made of whale jawbones has marked the northern boundary by the junction with Wood Lane and the A61 road for over 100 years.[8]
Rothwell is part of the historic Rhubarb Triangle, with the town and surrounding areas famed for having once produced 90% of the world's winter forced rhubarb from the forcing sheds that were common across the fields there[citation needed].
20th century
Workhouse clock towerCornerstone of St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital was situated off Wood Lane where now exists Castle Lodge Avenue and associated houses. It was built in 1903 to a design by Leeds architect Edward J. Dodgshun by the Rothwell, Methley and Hunslet Joint Isolation Hospital Committee which was formed under the Isolation Hospitals Act 1893 by an order of the West Riding County Council 10 January 1900. When first constructed it was known as the New Union Workhouse and Infirmary for the Hunslet Union, On being taken over by the Leeds Public Assistance Committee in 1934 it was renamed St George's Hospital. In 1934 it was transferred to the Leeds Health Committee. In 1948, the hospital was managed by the Leeds Group B Hospital Management Committee. After local government reorganisation in 1974 it was transferred to the Leeds Eastern District and soon after to the Leeds Western District. The hospital was closed in December 1991. From 1934 the hospital provided accommodation for the elderly ill, patients with chronic and acute mental illness, persons with learning disabilities, a maternity ward and a separate isolation ward. The site was developed for housing at the start of the 21st century but the original tall clock tower remains.[9]
Rothwell Temperance Band is a Championship sectionbrass band founded in Rothwell in 1984. Although they do not rehearse in Rothwell itself, they have strong connections with the town and hold many concerts for the local community. They actually rehearse in Wakefield. The closest Champion Section Brass Band is the Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band, formerly of the Yorkshire Imperial Copperworks based in Stourton, from which the band is named. The Imps, as they are more commonly known, merged with the original Rothwell Band (founded 1881) in the 1990s.[citation needed]
Rothwell has a long history of coal mining. It was a site of early mining, using a system known as bell pits. Coal mining has been carried out in the area for over 600 years. There were many local pits including the Fanny, the Rose and Rothwell Water Haigh. As the reserves as Rothwell Haigh Colliery were exhausted, production ended on 9 December 1983, with the majority of the 650 men employed transferring to the new Selby Coalfield.[10] Whereas some mineworkers moved house closer to Selby, many commuted daily from Rothwell to Selby for years. After closure, the old coking plant site at Haigh Colliery remained within the Coal Products Division of the NCB until privatisation in 1994, at which point former employees banded together to buy the site and later sold the site to a housing developer.[10] In 1995, Leeds City Council and Leeds Groundwork formed a partnership which, together with local residents and community groups, transformed the former colliery site into a 124-acre country park with a sculpture trail, a pond trail, and a habitat for various forms of flora and fauna.[10]
The introduction of Leeds Valley Park in the early 21st century and its subsequent expansions[13] have caused concerns for residents due to the parking problems caused on neighbouring Wood Lane.[14] This is despite numerous efforts by local councillors, and the community, to include further parking restrictions.[15][16][17]
Rothwell Urban District
Between 1894 and 1972, Rothwell was constituted as an urban district. This district included the areas of Rothwell, Methley, Oulton, Woodlesford, Stourton, Carlton, Robin Hood, Lofthouse and Thorpe. The Rothwell Urban District had a total population of around 25,000, but if it still existed today, that figure would be closer to 30,000. In 1972 these areas were taken into the newly formed City of Leeds Metropolitan District, although Thorpe, Lofthouse, Carlton and some parts of Robin Hood have a Wakefield postcode.
Town centre
The town centre has high street chains, independent shops, restaurants and bars as well as a couple of pubs.[citation needed]
In 2007, the town centre experienced major redevelopments to respect the local area's conservation status,[18] pedestrianising and restoring the original route of Commercial Street.
A new bus interchange funded by the West Yorkshire combined authority, is due to be constructed in 2022 within Marsh street car park with provision of driver restrooms and infrastructure for future electric buses.[19]
Education
There are several primary schools in Rothwell including:
Holy Trinity Rothwell Primary School (Formerly Rothwell Church of England Primary School)
Rothwell Primary School
Rothwell Haigh Road Infant School
Rothwell Victoria Junior School
Rothwell St. Mary's Catholic primary School
There are two high schools in the Rothwell area:
Oulton Academy (Formerly Royds School and Royds Academy).
The Rodillian Academy – the former Rothwell Grammar School (actually in Lofthouse). Under the old 11 plus, it was the local grammar school for Rothwell and for villages south as far as Outwood.
Both Royds and Rodillian have sixth form colleges integrated in the school environment.
Rothwell Town J.F.C[20] – who are based at John O'Gaunts Recreation Ground near Rothwell Labour Club
Rothwell Juniors[21] – Currently based at a purpose-built £1.5 million development at Fleet Lane, Woodlesford. Open age teams known as simply 'Rothwell FC'.
Rothwell Albion[22] – A newly formed club in the area.
There are numerous teams in the wider Rothwell ward, these include; Carlton Athletic and Robin Hood Athletic, among others.
Golf
Oulton Hall golf course, which is currently owned by hotel group De Vere is located adjacent to Oulton Lane. The only 5-star golf resort in the North of England.[23][sentence fragment]
