
Artwork celebrating the industrial heritage of the area has been installed on Parkgate Roundabout as part of Rawmarsh East’s Towns and Villages Fund project.
Three sections of steel with cut out shapes, showing a celebration 200 years of Parkgate with scenes of industry and a present-day view, take pride of place on the roundabout.
The roundabout marks the gateway into Parkgate and Rawmarsh – once the industrial heart of Rotherham and home to the first steel works in the town.
Tony Dodsworth, from History Focus, said: “It's great to be able to see such an evocative reminder of Parkgate's outstanding history as you travel into Parkgate from Rotherham. The 'cut-out' shapes provide pictures of the area's great past in coalmining and iron and steel manufacture. The people of Parkgate have much to be proud of, based on the last 200 years.”
The artwork was designed by the Council’s Landscape Design and Structures teams and incorporates the 200 Years of Parkgate logo and the view up Rawmarsh Hill. It is made out of Weathering Steel which is designed over time to rust to a rich burnt orange.
The panels and structural framework were manufactured and installed by Avanti Steel Fabrications Ltd, and the Council’s Highway Delivery team constructed the foundations and managed the overall construction of the artwork.
Ward Councillor for Rawmarsh East, Cllr David Sheppard, said: “It is great to see the artwork in pride of place on the roundabout. The area has a rich history, some of which you can still see today, but we also wanted to commemorate two hundred years of people in the area. Today, Parkgate and Rawmarsh is a very different place but many families have roots to the area and we wanted to pay tribute to this with this artwork.”
Ward Councillor for Rawmarsh East, Cllr Rachel Hughes, said: “The Towns and Villages Fund project has allowed us to create this fantastic piece of history for the area. It looks right at home, made out of metal to pay homage to the materials created in the area. As time goes on, I hope the artwork will be a iconic feature of the area, much like the Heart of Rotherham in the town centre.”
Ward Councillor for Rawmarsh West, Cllr Joanna Baker-Rogers, said: “Being new to the Rawmarsh Ward, I am beginning to learn more and more about the history of the area. It is great for residents to have something they can see with pride about their heristage. Working with local historians like Tony, they are also able to find out more about the area and their families who lived in the area before them.”
Ward Councillor for Rawmarsh West, Cllr Brian Steele, said: “Having the artwork on such a major route into Parkgate and Rawmarsh will have a huge impact on local pride. Coupled with the rest of the Towns and Villages Fund project further up the road on Broad Street, it allows the Council to give back to our communities as well as giving residents public spaces they can enjoy.”
Last year, the Towns and Villages Fund project saw new planters being installed along Broad Street in key areas – all featuring the Parkgate 200 logo. The area also benefitted with a general refresh focused around the popular Acorn Park where new benches and plants have been planted to provide a more relaxing area for residents to socialise.
To learn more about the history of Rawmarsh and Parkgate, visit Facebook or find out more about the Towns and Villages Fund projects in Rotherham here.