TREETON: Rotherham Parish #24 of 31

Nobody can say this next parish is anything but interesting for a variety of reasons. Set in the heart of the former coalfields in the South West of Rotherham borough and linked to Orgreave Colliery thanks to a succession of underground tunnels, mining is only a small part of what made this place what it is.

True, there was a colliery here, and the abundance of pit related features will tell you so. There's the classic pit terraces, the old winding wheel, and a woodland area that the pit top used to call home. Heck, there's even a road called Pit Lane - and no, that's not a reference to a racetrack.

Arguably though, there were historical events that shaped the village before the coal miners ever picked up a shovel. The oldest part of the village is medieval, home to a church that not only is linked to an ancient Roman fort at Templeborough, but also houses a child's coffin in the west wall of it's porch.

What about the railway? The line that runs through here is purely a freight line now but once upon a time did have a service for passengers too. Then there's the unmistakeable Catcliffe Flash (OK, it was formed by mining activity but to the untrained eye it's a wildlife and angling haven), and the woods which were once a part of the South Yorkshire forest. Believe it or not, this place even holds a claim to fame, being the first village to have electric street lighting in the borough.

No question about it, you're never far away from something with a bit of backstory when you walk around the parish of TREETON.


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My name is Andy. I am armed with a car, a GoPro and an unhealthy amount of time on my hands.

Join me as I try to visit every single parish in the borough of Rotherham. There are 31. Here's the TWENTY-FOURTH one - Treeton.

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