Thorpe Hesley

Infobox UK place
map_type= South Yorkshire
country = England
official_name= Thorpe Hesley
latitude = 53.45
longitude = -1.44
scale =
population=
metropolitan_borough= Rotherham
metropolitan_county= South Yorkshire
region = Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster= Rotherham
post_town = ROTHERHAM
postcode_district = S61
postcode_area= S
dial_code= 0114

Thorpe Hesley is a suburb of Rotherham. People who live in the village have been referred to as "Muttontowners" dueto the fact that rustled sheep were hidden in babies cradles in the village to conceal them from the local constabulary. It lies on the east side of the M1 motorway at junction 35. Described in the late 1800s as an old village 6 miles from Sheffield, it was noted for the manufacture of nails. It lies in the township of Wentworth, except a small part which is in Kimberworth township. It has a church, built in 1837 chiefly at the cost of Earl Fitzwilliam and the Earl of Effingham.

A new community centre was built in 2007, following the design of the old school and the old community centre knocked down, it was then replaced with a car park serving Thorpe Hesley trinity church and the community centre.Clarifyme

Claim to Fame

John Wesley spent some time in the village where he preached. He lodged at Barley Hall (now demolished).

Older residents and families in Thorpe Hesley, will remember that a Walt Disney film was produced in the village;

"The Littlest Horse Thieves aka Escape from the Dark"

Coal Mines

Coal has been mined in and around the area of Thorpe Hesley for at least 800 years. Monks from the Cistercian Abbey of Kirkstead, in Lincolnshire had forges and other property in this part of the country and mined coal and ironstone locally. Thorpe Hesley had the distinction of having two modern day coal mines. Both were closed in the 1970's and have been completely demolished. The land surrounding the area of the Barley Hall site has been landscaped and is now a small nature reserve.