Sprotbrough

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Sprotbrough
latitude= 53.5164
longitude= -1.1946
population = 7,608
map_type= South Yorkshire
metropolitan_borough= Doncaster
metropolitan_county=South Yorkshire
region= Yorkshire and the Humber

constituency_westminster= Barnsley East and Mexborough and Don Valley
post_town= DONCASTER
postcode_district = DN5
postcode_area= DN
dial_code= 01302
os_grid_reference= SE535025

The Parish of Sprotbrough and Cusworth lies three miles to the north west of Doncaster town centre in South Yorkshire, England and is split by the A1(M) motorway. It lies 1.5 miles away from Scawsby.

Origins and history

It is believed that the name Sprotbrough originates from a mix of English and Scandinavian names, with "Sprotte" being a shoot and "Brough" being Scandinavian for a defensible place.

The early Parish contained six settlements:
* Sprotbrough (Sproteburg)
* Cadeby (Catebi)
* Wildthorpe (Widentorp)
* Cusworth (Cuzenworde)
* Skinthorpe (Scinestorp)
* Newton, first mentioned in 1379 when it was called New Farmstead

Those early hamlets would have been ringed by vast areas of agricultural land and many of the open fields still present today have names that can be traced back to early maps of the area.

The area, and almost all of the land around it, was owned by the Fitzwilliam family for many years. Sir John Fitzwilliam erected a cross next to the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/127853 church] during the reign of Henry V of England. There are also a number of statues and memorials to the Fitzwilliams and Copleys in St Mary's Church.

protbrough Hall

Much of the village was built on the site of Sprotbrough Hall, a large home built for the Copley family in 1670. The Copley family had married a FitzWilliam heiress and inherited the extensive FitzWilliam holdings. The Hall was demolished in the latter part of the 19th century and little evidence of it remains except some of the street names. Copley Junior School in Sprotbrough village is named for the Copley family.

Second World War hero Sir Douglas Bader grew up at the parsonage in the village when his father was Rector of St Mary's. The [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/536093 Old Rectory] is currently a conference centre and bears a plaque commemorating Bader's residence. Sir Walter Scott completed Ivanhoe in the village, which is remembered in the name of the village's pub and a small housing estate off "Sprotbrough Road".

Cusworth Hall

Cusworth Hall, which overlooks the parish to the north, was built by William Wrightson between 1740 and 1755 and was the home of the Battie-Wrightson family until 1952. It is now owned by the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster and houses the Museum of South Yorkshire Life.

Towny End

The eastern part of Sprotbrough, from where Sprotbrough Road meets York Road, (the A638) to the bridge over the A1(M) is colloquially known as Town End or sometimes "Bottom Sprotbrough". It was developed from farm land in around 1926 and was part of Bentley with Arksey Urban District until the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster under the Local Government Act 1972. The church of St Edmund on "Anchorage Lane" was built in a converted barn on the former farm land when the area was being developed.

Town End was formerly the home of Fowlers forge, which among other things provided parts for tanks and other military vehicles. The works closed in the early 1980s and the site is occupied by a housing estate whose roads bear the names of some of the machines that were built there.

Geography

Local government and amenities

Sprotbrough and Cusworth Parish Council meets at the Goldsmith Centre on "Sprotbrough Road". The council covers Sprotbrough, Cadeby, Cusworth and Scawsby.

A key focal point of Sprotbrough is [http://www.stmarys-sprotbrough.co.uk/ St Mary's Church] , founded in 1176, with its magnificent working clock tower that has commanding views of the Don Valley.

Schools in the parish include [http://www.copley.doncaster.sch.uk Copley Junior School] , [http://www.sprotbrough-orchard.doncaster.sch.uk Orchard Infant School] , Orchard Junior School and Richmond Hill Primary School. The nearest secondary schools are [http://www.ridgewood.doncaster.sch.uk Ridgewood School] in Scawsby, Don Valley High School, [http://www.ndtc.doncaster.sch.uk North Doncaster Technology College] (formerly Adwick School) and [http://www.campsmount.doncaster.sch.uk Campsmount Technology College] in Campsall.

River

The village is on the River Don and a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/404716 weir] which is bypassed by [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/925452 Sprotbrough Lock] , allowing boats to pass safely. It is [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/536070 close] to the A1(M) [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/501848 bridge] over the Don. The Trans Pennine Trail follows the river at this point.

Public Houses

Sprotbrough consists of four public houses:
* " [http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/theboatinnsprotborough Boat Inn] " - a very pleasant [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/116979 pub] situated on "Nursery Lane" by the river which caters for both people wishing to eat and those wanting a drink
* " [http://www.sprotbrough-orchard.doncaster.sch.uk/images/village/078SprotbroVillage.jpgIvanhoe] " - a very cheap pub on "Melton Road" serving Samuel Smiths beers - about £1.40 for a pint.
* "Newton Inn" - on "Sprotbrough Road".
* [http://www.sprotbroughcountryclub.co.uk Country Club] - on "Cadeby Road". This is home to a regionally famous pop quiz every Monday night hosted by Dave. Always fun and amusing with his quirks. It is a C&IU affiliated Working Men's Club in the village.

Parks

Sprotbrough has two main parks. The village has a park which has recently been doubled in size. It consists of a football pitch and a play area. In June each year, it has a gala organised by the local [http://www.sprotbroughscouts.co.uk Scout group] . The main event in this is the 6.5km fun run starting and finishing in the park and going through High Melton and Cadeby.

External links

* [http://www.doncasterhealth.co.uk/phiu/communities/graph/profiles/files/Sprotbrough.pdf Health statistics for Sprotbrough]
* [http://www.davidlbanks.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk Methodist church]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1956480.stm Boy drowns in 2002]