Conisbrough

Conisbrough (frequently misspelled Conisborough) is a small town located roughly midway between Doncaster and Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. It is built alongside the River Don at . Administratively, Conisbrough is part of Doncaster.

History

Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about myths surrounding the town, claiming that it had been fortified by Aurelianus, king of the Britons after his victory over the Saxon forces of Hengist (Historia Regum Britanniae viii, 7), that the captive Saxon leader Hengist was hacked to pieces by Eldol outside the town walls, and was buried at "Hengist's Mound" in the town.

Peter Langtoft, writing in the thirteenth century, claimed that Egbert of Wessex had been received at "Burghe Conane", which is often identified with Conisbrough.

David Hey describes Conisbrough as appearing to be the most important place in Anglo-Saxon and Viking South Yorkshire. In a will of around 1003, Conisbrough was bequeathed by Wulfric Spott, founder of Burton Abbey. At this point, it appears to have been the centre of a major former royal estate, reaching Hatfield Chase. The manor became royal again under Harold II of England, and by the Norman Conquest, 28 townships in what is now South Yorkshire belonged to the Lord of Conisbrough. William the Conqueror gave the whole lordship to William de Warenne.

The name of Conisbrough relates to a king's stronghold, and this is usually presumed to have either been on the site of Conisbrough Castle, or of the parish church. Conisbrough Castle is contained within an artificial oval-shaped enclosure similar to one used as wapentake meeting-places at Gringley-on-the-Hill and East Markham, leading Malcolm Dolby to suppose the the castle site may have once been the meeting-place of the Strafforth and Tickhill wapentake.

Conisbrough contains what is believed to be the oldest building in South Yorkshire: the probably 8th century Anglo-Saxon St Peter's Church. The church was enlarged in the twelfth century, and David Hey claims that it was a Minster church, forming the centre of a large, early parish covering all or much of the eleventh century Fee of Conisbrough.

Conisbrough Castle

It also contains one of South Yorkshire's most popular tourist destinations: Conisbrough Castle.

UFOs

On March 28 1966, Stephen Pratt, a schoolboy, claimed to have photographed a squadron of UFOs flying over the town. This picture is an iconic image of UFOs.

Earth Centre

In the mid-1990s, a new tourist attraction, Earth Centre, opened on the nearby site of the former Cadeby Main Colliery; it closed in 2005 after failing to attract the expected number of visitors. A leisure centre has been built on the site of the former Denaby Main Colliery.

Famous people from Conisbrough include the singer Tony Christie, and playwright Justin Scott.

Education

Conisbrough has one secondary school, Northcliffe School, where Tony's brother Neal Fitzgerald used to teach History. The Emmanuel Schools Foundation's scheme to turn Northcliffe into an Academy was scrapped after protests by parents and staff, despite the enthusiastic backing of Conisbrough councillor Aidan Rave and Doncaster Mayor Martin Winter.

There is also the Station Road primary school.

Amenities

The town lies at the junction of the A6023 and the A630 Doncaster - Rotherham road. To the west is Denaby Main. Pubs in the town include the Star on Sheffield Road.

Bus Services

X78 Doncaster - Conisbrough - Rotherham - Meadowhall - Sheffield [Every 9 Minutes] First South Yorkshire
396 Doncaster - Conisbrough - Denaby Main - Windhill - Mexborough - Swinton - Kilnhurst - Rotherham [Every Hour] Powells Bus Co
220 Doncaster - Conisbrough - Denaby Main - Mexborough - Manvers - Wath Upon Dearne - Swinton - Warren Vale - Rotherham [Every 30 Minutes] Stagecoach
221 Doncaster - Conisbrough - Denaby Main - Windhill - Mexborough - Swinton - Warren Vale - Rotherham [Every 30 Minutes] Stagecoach
222 Doncaster - Conisbrough - Denaby Main - Mexborough - Swinton - Wath Upon Dearne - Wombwell - Barnsley [Every 30 Minutes] Stagecoach
Service 220/221/222 provide a 10 minute combined service between Doncaster Frenchgate, Conisbrough, Denaby Main & Mexborough.

The town is served by Conisbrough railway station.