Armthorpe

Etymology

The settlement of Armthorpe was first recorded in 1086 as 'Ernulfestorp', showing the influence of the Vikings on the region. Its probable origination means outlying farmstead or hamlet (from the Old Scandinavian - thorp) of a man named Earnwulf or Arnulfr.

Early history

The remains of a Roman village and farm were found on Nutwell Lane and through the centuries Armthorpe was known for its rich farming activities. To some extent the rich crop farming heritage continues today and the area between Armthorpe and the M18 motorway is still dedicated to farming.

Armthorpe (Ernulfestorp) was recorded in the Domesday Book as being the property of the monks of Roche Abbey near Maltby, who had a grange there at which an official resided who managed this part of the estates of the establishment and who was sometimes a brother of the house: they had also an officer called their forester. The parish comprised 3,810 acres (15.4 km²) and included the farms of Holm-Wood and Waterton, the latter of which was long the seat of the ancient family of its own name of whom several served the office of high sheriff and one was master of the horse to Henry V. The village at this time consisted mainly of scattered houses.

Coal mining

During the late 19th and for most of the 20th century Armthorpe became known for its Coal mining and a deep seam Colliery was sunk. The pit was named Markham Main. The mining increased the local population dramatically and whole new housing estates were constructed to house the mining workers. These housing estates were famous for their architectural layout. From the air you can see that the houses are formed into rings or crescents, similar examples can be seen in Rossington.

After the closure of the mine 1996 the area went through deep depression. The old colliery site is now a large housing estate, with a thriving community with parks and tracks for walking and cycling to the local wood.

Present day

Today, on average, Armthorpe remains one of the more affluent areas of Doncaster.

Like all urban populated areas, Armthorpe does contain areas which suffer from low esteem. These areas are mainly located in the former pit stock housing with more affluent households being located in the cul-de-sac and bungalow housing stock that dominates the Ward. Armthorpe has a thriving local community with an abundance of shops and amenities. New industries and jobs have moved into the area and are centred on the distribution centres that are located next to the M18 Motorway operated by Global distribution players such as IKEA and Fellowes.

There are plans to construct even more private housing estates in Armthorpe and leisure and water parks to entertain the middle class population. The planned site next to the M18 Motorway will be ideally located for leisure travellers from further afield. Armthorpe is also located around 4 miles (6.4 km) from Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport offering fast access to European business and holiday destinations. One of the planning considerations is to build an Airport access link road from the M18 motorway at Armthorpe directly to the Airport.

The flat farming land and Motorway access has also attracted greenfield industrial and distribution sites for companies such as IKEA and Next (clothing). New technology centres also exist for companies such as Toyota. Armthorpe is surrounded by many tracks through wooded areas such as Shaw Wood, Crowther Wood and Sandall Beat, perfect for exploring local wildlife.

Places of worship

Armthorpe has three churches (the Methodist Church in Paxton Crescent closed in 2007):

Sport

Notable people

Education

Pre-School

Primary schools

Secondary schools