A Brief History of Kilnhurst

 

 

Kilnhurst is located 4 miles North; North East of Rotherham and 9 miles North/East of Sheffield in the valley of the River Don.  The soil is mainly clay-based.

 

 We cannot say for certain when the first settlement of Kilnhurst was established as an agricultural hamlet.

Finds of arrowheads in farmland indicates that early hunters frequented the area, probably using the River Don as a watery highway.

 

A significant defensive earthwork, known as the ‘Roman Rigg’, has an arm which terminates in the Kilnhurst area.  This major engineering undertaking was probably created after the departure of the Romans and may have formed a defensive line between the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms of Elmet and Mercia.

 

Moving forward in time to the reign of Edward I (1272 to 1307) – Robert De-Kilnhurst was noted as giving the lands to the D’Montford family.  This family remained landowners for more than 300 years.  Parts of Kilnhurst Hall Farm are of great antiquity as are other farms such as Elm Tree, Lodge and the now disappeared Glebe Farm. 

 

The very name of Kilnhurst derives from the production of Iron; the - “Furnace in the Woods”.  As early as the 1300’s records exist of tolls from iron production being paid to the Monks of Roche Abbey located near to Maltby.

 

With the River Don providing uninterrupted water power, various enterprises were established along the bank side.

 

Access to the vital river caused the wealthy to resort to law suits to protect their rights to the natural power supply.  In 1670, Sir John Reresby refers to the fact that he was prevented access from the Don Mill towards Navmarsh (Rawmarsh) common, by a Mr. Hatfield “owner of Kilnhurst”.  He brought an action against Hadfield who did not oppose the case and allowed Sir John free passage to the river.

 

It was during the 17^th Century that Kilnhurst Forge was developed by the Spencer Family, who had quite extensive iron making interests in South Yorkshire.  To obtain maximum benefit from the hydro-power a weir was constructed close to Kilnhurst Bridge so diverting water into a stream serving the Forge.  To deepen the water an embankment was built, down stream, close to Elm Tree Farm.

 

In 1765, Engineer – John Smeaton, designed new buildings for the Forge, he also built the famous Eddystone Lighthouse, off the south coast of England.  Supplies of locally sourced iron ore began to run out and the production of the Forge shifted to new processes such as making wrought iron.  It closed in 1883.

 

Transportation of raw materials, finished products and people is vital to a communities’ economic growth.  The Don Navigation Act allowed for improvements to the river to improve navigation and canal construction came not long after.

 

The railway age certainly improved the fortunes of the village with the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and the North Midland Railway slicing through.  Passenger stations and much more important, goods loading facilities, provided hither to unobtainable access to wider markets for local manufacturers.

 

Like many places Kilnhurst experienced dramatic and fairly rapid population growth during the industrial revolution and the mass migration of people from the countryside to the urban centres. A number of large coal mines in the area such as Thrybergh Hall, Albany and Warren Vale, required large work forces; pit work also paid better money than agricultural labour. Along with industry other commerce grew, in the service sectors and supply chains. More people required more housing, urban infrastructure, schools for the children, shops and pubs to spend hard earned money.

 

By April 1861 the population of the Kilnhurst Chapelry was 1232. It was often considered an isolated and neglected area. An interesting court case, heard in Doncaster in 1864, provides an illuminating example of attitudes towards the village. Some colliers were ‘up before the Beak’ having being convicted for subjecting a comrade to some rough handling after a foolish prank went too far. The Defence Solicitor, a Mr Woodhead, stated in mitigation, “Kilnhurst was situated in a very out -of -the -way district” and was a place where the people were “addicted to barbarous, ignorant and savage customs!”  .

 

Clearly Kilnhurst required spiritual guidance and in 1854 the Reverend John Levett, a forward thinking vicar of Swinton, appointed Reverend W. Byers as a curate to work full time in the village. The growing population felt distant from the parent church of St Margaret’s in Swinton and rightly wanted a church of their own. Pressure was put on the church commissioners, the 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, Charles William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, kindly donated an area of land and on 6^th April 1858 the foundation stone was laid. By April 1859 construction was completed; the building was consecrated and the first services were held. Reverend H. Fleetwood-Sheppard was the first vicar of the Parish of Kilnhurst serving from the opening of the church till 1868.

 

Kilnhurst Co-operative Society, founded in 1861, was one of the finest in the land and brought shoppers to the village from many other areas. The demise of the society in 1969 left a massive void which arguably has never healed.

 

A fabulous tradition of pottery manufacturing ended in 1929 when Kilnhurst Pottery finally closed its’ gates. It had outlived many other Yorkshire potteries and has left an enduring legacy to collectors and antique enthusiasts worldwide.

Victoria Glassworks opened in Kilnhurst in 1855 and by 1871 employed 60 people making a range of glass containers including medical, wine, and soda water and pickle bottles. Operated by the Blunn Brothers until 1900 the works were closed in 1906.    

Large scale iron and steel manufactory ceased in the Kilnhurst district with the closure of Baker & Bessemer in 1964 after a tradition of more than 200 years.

The closure of Kilnhurst Colliery in 1989 nearly tore the heart from the community and resulted in consequences far beyond the issue of employment.

Other heavy industries included locomotive building, engineering, chemicals and brickworks. We have tried to cover as many as possible in the narrative which follows.

 

Modern industrial activity has in some ways replaced that which has gone, but in a much smaller scale. Many residents of Kilnhurst today may earn their living in Sheffield, Rotherham, Meadowhall, Leeds or further afield.

 

Kilnhurst has produced more than its fair share of sporting stars and has an enduring, excellent, sporting legacy. Talented artists are numbered among former residents including the amazing Jagger family - that is a story which we hope to follow up in the future.  

 

While much more could be written here our Kilnhurst story is better told in the images presented in the pages which follow.

 

We hope that you enjoy the story of the remarkable village of Kilnhurst.