The long awaited book 'The History of Rothwell Castle and Medieval Life' has finally been published! 

The book, which was made possible through a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative via the Rothwell Castle Project, has been 3 years in the making.  Way back in 2003 when the grant was awarded a number of society members volunteered to take on the onerous task of meticulously researching and writing the book.  Volunteers were given a number of chapters each to research and write over this period.  It has certainly caused a few headaches and sleepless nights but it is publication that we can all be proud of.

Simon Bulmer the Chair of Rothwell Castle Project said, “The people involved in the project should be rightfully very proud of what they have achieved with the publication.  Each and everyone of us produced draft after draft of the chapters we were allocated and everyone came up trumps and delivered.  We can as a committee, a project, a society and as a community be very proud of this publication”. 

The book is available via mail order on www.rothwellhistory.leedslearning.org sales page, at society meetings or at Stephen Ward Photography, Marsh Street.

The book is priced at £5.00 

There is some excellent historical info on the Rothwell pages of the UK & Ireland Genealogy pages. (GENUKI)

• GENUKI: Rothwell
• GENUKI: John O Gaunt
• GENUKI Home

Former members of the historical branch of the Rothwell Civic Society formed the society in 1989 as they had a vast historical knowledge of Rothwell and the surrounding villages.

We have a local historical archive with well over 1000 photographs in our collection together with many more miscellaneous items and books. Our publishing arm RDHS Press has produced a number of books and booklets as it does on a regular basis.

The old tramshed and a famous local landmark, the jawbone arch.

 

The arch has since moved and been rebuilt with new bones. The arch now lives just across the road from where it is seen here.

Sunk in 1850 to the Silkstone seam, and named after  a member of the owners family. This pit ceased coal winding in 1925

Here are some other useful links:

 

• The Rothwell Castle project
• Rothwell website history pages
• A history of Rothwell community entertainment
• GENUKI Rothwell page
• A short history of Oulton
• A history of the Rothwell Temperance Band
• Mention of the Royal Charter of 1408 (see below)

ROTHWELL
Market: (Charter) On Wednesdays granted on 6 Feb 1408, by King Henry IV (CChR, 1341-1417, p. 435). To be held at the town.
Fair: (Charter) On the feast of Thomas the Martyr in July (7 Jul); granted 6 Feb 1408, by King Henry IV.
Fair: (Charter) On the feast of Matthew the Evangelist (21 Sept); granted 1408, by King Henry IV.

Information: Samantha Letters, Online Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England Wales to 1516 http://www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/gazweb2.html : Yorkshire (Aug 2nd 2004)

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The Corn Mill

A water powered mill was here until it was demolished in 1967. A Rothwell corn mill is mentioned in the Domesday book.

Rothwell Castle, or Hunting Lodge

Very little remains of this building, just a column of stones is visible above ground (The Church is in the background).
It was once owned by John O'Gaunt (see the links on the left for more about him). The lodge may have been used by royal hunting parties.