Community Assembly of Rotherham

Serving, supporting and protecting our local community

The Community Assembly of Rotherham is located in a Minster town in South Yorkshire. The name is derived from Old English hām ‘homestead, estate’ meaning ‘homestead on the Rother.’ The town was founded in the early Middle Ages, King John granting it market status in 1207. Domesday Book 1086 records a manor with smallholders, ploughlands, roughly four acres of meadow, seven acres woodland, a church and priest, also a mill.

Since Roman times the Rotherham area has featured iron production, including steel manufacturing after the 18th century Industrial Revolution. The town supplied most of the guns for HMS Victory and the early 19th century saw rapid expansion of the cast iron industry. Brass products were exported worldwide supplying fittings for hotels, hospitals and Turkish baths. Brunel's steamship SS Great Eastern, RMS Mauretania and Second World War battleships including HMS Ark Royal have all used components from Rotherham iron works.

A glass works was established in 1751 with production still continuing today for the pharmaceutical, food and drinks industries. Other industries included coal mining, floor milling, flax spinning, rope making, oil and chemical works as well as the raising of cattle and sheep.