Killamarsh
Encyclopedia
Killamarsh is a town in North East Derbyshire
. It borders South Yorkshire
to its north and west. It lies between Halfway and Mosborough
to the west, Renishaw
to the south, Beighton
and Sothall to the northwest, Wales
to the northeast, Harthill
to its east and the Rother Valley Country Park
to its north.
Killamarsh was mentioned in the Domesday Book
with the name Chinewoldemaresc or Chinewolde meaning "Cynewalds Marsh". There are a number of smaller communities within the town. Norwood, Nethergreen, Westthorpe and Upperthorpe surround the main town centre.
era as well as masonry work from the 12th century, and many stained glass windows. A number of Public houses in Killamarsh are over 300 years old. Domesday records Killamarsh as belonging to Hascoit Musard and being valued at 12 pence.
The river Rother which flanks Killamarsh had provided power to grain mills since the earliest times and was used by ironmongers and smiths from the late 18th century. Killamarsh Forge drew the special wire used in the core of the 2nd trans-Atlantic telegraph cable laid by the SS Great Eastern in 1866 as well as other equipment used in the splicing operations.
There is an industrial estate located in the Norwood area north of the town and light industrial units and a business innovation centre to the south on the site of the old Westthorpe Colliery. To the west of Killamarsh is a small animal feed mill, and the factory of Ross and Catherall, a specialist alloys supplier to the aerospace industry.
, Chesterfield
and Rotherham
. Sheffield became the dominant connecting city as its burgeoning iron and steel industry demanded coal, and the road between Killamarsh and Sheffield was upgraded.
Three railway lines once made their way through the west side of the town. The first was the North Midland Railway
route from Derby
to Leeds
, later part of the Midland Railway
and later still the LMS
, whose station was Killamarsh West
, located on the section known as the "Old Road": the original direct route between Chesterfield and Rotherham avoiding Sheffield. The station closed to passengers in February 1954 and the line itself in July the same year, but it remains in use as a freight route, though some passenger trains are occasionally diverted this way. The second was the main line of the Great Central Railway
(later part of the LNER); the Killamarsh station here was Killamarsh Central
. This closed in March 1963, the line itself in September 1966 to passengers and completely in 1981 after remaining partially in use serving Arkwright colliery near Staveley
- the route today is part of the Trans-Pennine Trail. The third was a branch line of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
(later part of the Great Central) from Langwith Junction
(later renamed Shirebrook North
) to the outskirts of Sheffield. The station here was Upperthorpe and Killamarsh
; this closed in July 1930, the line itself in September 1939 to passengers and completely some years later.
Killamarsh will be one of the beneficiaries of the Sustrans Connect2 project for creating cycle routes.
passed through the town on its way to Kiveton via the Norwood Tunnel
which was one of the longest tunnels at the time of its construction. The canal fell into disrepair following the collapse of the tunnel in 1907. The remains of the Chesterfield Canal are present but housing has been built on part of the canal's original route, and the undeveloped sections are mostly public footpaths. Work carried out in 2008 to create the Killamarsh Greenway brought large sections of the original canal towpath back into use as a traffic-free route through the town, with the intention that once restoration is complete, a significant section of the towpath will already be in a usable state. The canal has been restored from the Chesterfield end as far as Staveley. Work is ongoing to extend it towards Killamarsh with a new route proposed to bypass the missing section and link up to the existing canal at Kiveton. The planned new route will take in part of the old line of the canal and introduce some new sections including taking the canal in to Rother Valley Park before rejoining the original line for the ascent through Norwood.
The planned Rother Link
will connect the Chesterfield Canal at Killamarsh, via the River Rother
through to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation
, thus creating a new cruising ring and encouraging boats to visit the Chesterfield Canal.
network.
lies to the North of town. This was created in the early 1980s as part of the restoration works following open cast mining of the area. Originally managed by a joint board of Sheffield MBC, Rotherham MBC, South Yorkshire MCC and Derbyshire CC, the park is now wholly managed by Rotherham. The scheme created a series of ponds and lakes, with the surrounding area landscaped to form a nature reserve and recreation areas, with facilities for water sports. The River Rother
flows from the West of town and passes through the centre of the park. The adjacent land to the North east was also open cast following the closure of the Beighton Pit. On that site it is now proposed to build a large Leisure related development called the Yes project. The site falls on the border between South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
, builder of the Chesterfield Canal
that navigates through Killamarsh and opened 1777.
Nethergreen Court adjacent to the Nethergreen WMC and on the site of a tennis court.
Powell Drive after the Rev'd Septimus Powell, rector circa 1914.
North East Derbyshire
North East Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. It borders the districts of Chesterfield, Bolsover, Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales in Derbyshire, and Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire....
. It borders South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
to its north and west. It lies between Halfway and Mosborough
Mosborough
Mosborough ward — which includes the districts of Halfway, Mosborough village, Waterthorpe, and Westfield — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham, and covers an area of 8.9 km2....
to the west, Renishaw
Renishaw, Derbyshire
Renishaw is a village in the district of North East Derbyshire in England.Renishaw lies on the A6135 between the villages of Eckington and Barlborough. To the west of the village is a section of the Trans Pennine Trail long distance footpath which runs along a former railway line. Adjacent to this...
to the south, Beighton
Beighton
Beighton ward —which includes the districts of Beighton, Hackenthorpe, Owlthorpe, and Sothall—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham and covers an area of 5.7 km2...
and Sothall to the northwest, Wales
Wales, South Yorkshire
Wales is a village and a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. It is on the border of South Yorkshire and Derbyshire...
to the northeast, Harthill
Harthill, South Yorkshire
Harthill is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham , on the border with Derbyshire. It lies between Killamarsh and Thorpe Salvin, and is located at approximately , at an elevation of around 110 metres above sea level...
to its east and the Rother Valley Country Park
Rother Valley Country Park
The Rother Valley Country Park is a country park in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, close to its border with Sheffield and Derbyshire. It covers 3 square kilometres and has four artificial lakes...
to its north.
Killamarsh was mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
with the name Chinewoldemaresc or Chinewolde meaning "Cynewalds Marsh". There are a number of smaller communities within the town. Norwood, Nethergreen, Westthorpe and Upperthorpe surround the main town centre.
History
The parish church of St. Giles contains gravestones dating back to the SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
era as well as masonry work from the 12th century, and many stained glass windows. A number of Public houses in Killamarsh are over 300 years old. Domesday records Killamarsh as belonging to Hascoit Musard and being valued at 12 pence.
Economy
The community originally grew from a farming community, self sufficient in agricultural and dairy produce since the Middle Ages. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Killamarsh became a thriving mining town as the burgeoning Sheffield iron industry demanded coal and transport links with Sheffield matured. Coal has been mined in Killamarsh since at least the 15th century, but the first major mining operation opened at Norwood resulting in an almost doubling of the Killamarsh population between 1861 and 1871. The last two "pits", Westthorpe and High Moor, are now gone, casualties of the early 1980s pit closure programme.The river Rother which flanks Killamarsh had provided power to grain mills since the earliest times and was used by ironmongers and smiths from the late 18th century. Killamarsh Forge drew the special wire used in the core of the 2nd trans-Atlantic telegraph cable laid by the SS Great Eastern in 1866 as well as other equipment used in the splicing operations.
There is an industrial estate located in the Norwood area north of the town and light industrial units and a business innovation centre to the south on the site of the old Westthorpe Colliery. To the west of Killamarsh is a small animal feed mill, and the factory of Ross and Catherall, a specialist alloys supplier to the aerospace industry.
Transport
Killamarsh is roughly the same distance to SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
and Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
. Sheffield became the dominant connecting city as its burgeoning iron and steel industry demanded coal, and the road between Killamarsh and Sheffield was upgraded.
Three railway lines once made their way through the west side of the town. The first was the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
route from Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, later part of the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and later still the LMS
LMS
LMS may refer to:* Lady Manners School, a seventeenth century comprehensive school in Bakewell, England.* Lancaster Mennonite School, a school located in Lancaster, PA.* Last man standing , a gametype featured in several computer and video games...
, whose station was Killamarsh West
Killamarsh West railway station
Killamarsh was a railway station in Killamarsh, Derbyshire.The original station was opened by the North Midland Railway between Chesterfield and Masborough, on what became known as the "old road". It was closed in 1843 by George Hudson during a period of financial difficulty.A new station was...
, located on the section known as the "Old Road": the original direct route between Chesterfield and Rotherham avoiding Sheffield. The station closed to passengers in February 1954 and the line itself in July the same year, but it remains in use as a freight route, though some passenger trains are occasionally diverted this way. The second was the main line of the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(later part of the LNER); the Killamarsh station here was Killamarsh Central
Killamarsh Central railway station
Killamarsh Central was a railway station in Killamarsh, Derbyshire.Despite its name Killamarsh Central Station was on the western edge of Killamarsh as were all of the three stations in Killamarsh and was named 'Central' because it was the centre of the three stations which served the village and...
. This closed in March 1963, the line itself in September 1966 to passengers and completely in 1981 after remaining partially in use serving Arkwright colliery near Staveley
Staveley
Staveley could refer to several places:*Staveley, Cumbria*Staveley-in-Cartmel*Staveley, Derbyshire*Staveley, North Yorkshire*Staveley, New Zealand, a locality in the Ashburton District-Surname:...
- the route today is part of the Trans-Pennine Trail. The third was a branch line of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway was a British railway company built toward the end of the era of British railway construction. It opened its line from Chesterfield to Lincoln in 1897....
(later part of the Great Central) from Langwith Junction
Langwith Junction
Langwith Junction is an urban area, now included in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, England.It derives its name from a junction on the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway....
(later renamed Shirebrook North
Shirebrook North railway station
Shirebrook North railway station was a former railway station in Shirebrook, Derbyshire. It was opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway in March 1897 and closed by British Railways in September 1955.It was originally called Langwith Junction, and gave this name to the...
) to the outskirts of Sheffield. The station here was Upperthorpe and Killamarsh
Upperthorpe and Killamarsh railway station
Upperthorpe and Killamarsh railway station was a railway station in Upperthorpe and Killamarsh, Derbyshire. England. It was opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway in 1898 and closed in 1930, the line itself closing to passengers in 1939...
; this closed in July 1930, the line itself in September 1939 to passengers and completely some years later.
Killamarsh will be one of the beneficiaries of the Sustrans Connect2 project for creating cycle routes.
The Chesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield CanalChesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield Canal is in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire...
passed through the town on its way to Kiveton via the Norwood Tunnel
Norwood Tunnel
Norwood Tunnel was a , and brick lined canal tunnel on the line of the Chesterfield Canal with its Western Portal in Norwood, Derbyshire and its Eastern Portal in Kiveton, South Yorkshire, England.-Origins:...
which was one of the longest tunnels at the time of its construction. The canal fell into disrepair following the collapse of the tunnel in 1907. The remains of the Chesterfield Canal are present but housing has been built on part of the canal's original route, and the undeveloped sections are mostly public footpaths. Work carried out in 2008 to create the Killamarsh Greenway brought large sections of the original canal towpath back into use as a traffic-free route through the town, with the intention that once restoration is complete, a significant section of the towpath will already be in a usable state. The canal has been restored from the Chesterfield end as far as Staveley. Work is ongoing to extend it towards Killamarsh with a new route proposed to bypass the missing section and link up to the existing canal at Kiveton. The planned new route will take in part of the old line of the canal and introduce some new sections including taking the canal in to Rother Valley Park before rejoining the original line for the ascent through Norwood.
The planned Rother Link
Rother Link
The Rother Link is a planned English canal that would connect the Chesterfield Canal at Killamarsh, via the River Rother through to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, thus creating a new cruising ring and encouraging boats to visit the Chesterfield Canal.-Proposals:The Rother Link was...
will connect the Chesterfield Canal at Killamarsh, via the River Rother
River Rother, South Yorkshire
The River Rother is a river in the northern midlands of England, after which the town of Rotherham and the Rother Valley parliamentary constituency are named. It rises near Clay Cross in Derbyshire, and flows through the centre of Chesterfield, where it feeds the Chesterfield Canal...
through to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation
Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation
The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation is a system of navigable inland waterways in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, England....
, thus creating a new cruising ring and encouraging boats to visit the Chesterfield Canal.
Facilities
Killamarsh has a library, medical centre, shopping areas, public houses and newsagents. It also has good connections to local major towns by virtue of regular bus services and its location close to the Halfway terminus of the Sheffield SupertramSheffield Supertram
The Supertram, officially called the Stagecoach Supertram, is a light rail tram system in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England...
network.
Rother Valley Park
Rother Valley Country ParkRother Valley Country Park
The Rother Valley Country Park is a country park in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, close to its border with Sheffield and Derbyshire. It covers 3 square kilometres and has four artificial lakes...
lies to the North of town. This was created in the early 1980s as part of the restoration works following open cast mining of the area. Originally managed by a joint board of Sheffield MBC, Rotherham MBC, South Yorkshire MCC and Derbyshire CC, the park is now wholly managed by Rotherham. The scheme created a series of ponds and lakes, with the surrounding area landscaped to form a nature reserve and recreation areas, with facilities for water sports. The River Rother
River Rother, South Yorkshire
The River Rother is a river in the northern midlands of England, after which the town of Rotherham and the Rother Valley parliamentary constituency are named. It rises near Clay Cross in Derbyshire, and flows through the centre of Chesterfield, where it feeds the Chesterfield Canal...
flows from the West of town and passes through the centre of the park. The adjacent land to the North east was also open cast following the closure of the Beighton Pit. On that site it is now proposed to build a large Leisure related development called the Yes project. The site falls on the border between South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Notable residents
- Fred GreavesFred GreavesFred Greaves VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, the first Derbyshire person to get a Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
was born here in 1890. - Nicky WeaverNicky WeaverNicholas James "Nicky" Weaver is an English footballer who is a goalkeeper currently playing for League One club Sheffield Wednesday. Weaver is a former England under-21 international.-Career:...
grew up in Killamarsh before joining Mansfield Town's youth academy, signed by Manchester City, stepping up to the first team where played over 200 games. After groundbreaking surgery following a long term knee injury, part of his rehabilitation was going on loan to his favourite team Sheffield Wednesday before joining Charlton Athletic, Dundee United and a short term contract with Burnley. Nicky turned down a Championship club and signed for his boyhood favourites, Sheffield Wednesday. - Richard HindsRichard HindsRichard Paul Hinds is a defender who currently plays for Lincoln City as of 4 November 2011.-Playing career:...
grew up in Killamarsh and is now a member of the first team squad at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club after spells with other clubs, including Scunthorpe United. - Corporal Liam Riley was a Killamarsh resident, soldier and colleague of Prince Harry. Serving in Afghanistan, he was killed by a roadside bomb during a rescue attempt on 1 February 2010. Thousands lined the streets of Killamarsh for his funeral procession, and a Union Jack was placed in his memory on bridge street
Local street names
Brindley Place after James BrindleyJames Brindley
James Brindley was an English engineer. He was born in Tunstead, Derbyshire, and lived much of his life in Leek, Staffordshire, becoming one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century.-Early life:...
, builder of the Chesterfield Canal
Chesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield Canal is in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire...
that navigates through Killamarsh and opened 1777.
Nethergreen Court adjacent to the Nethergreen WMC and on the site of a tennis court.
Powell Drive after the Rev'd Septimus Powell, rector circa 1914.