This book gives a fascinating insight into the dramatic changes that have taken place in Rotherham over the past 100 years. It recalls houses and public buildings, shops, factories and pubs that have vanished or been changed almost beyond recognition. The pictures show changing types of transport and fashion, and the developing character of streets and districts as they took on the form that is familiar today. The astonishing periods of growth that occurred during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, and since the Second World War, are particularly well illustrated. Many aspects of the changing town are recalled - hospitals and schools, places of work and recreation, parks and squares, suburban streets and the main thoroughfares - and the pictures record the ceaseless building and rebuilding that characterises the town today. The author has combined a remarkable selection of archive photographs with modern views of the same scenes in order to record the transformation that has occurred. The book will add to the knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of all those who take an interest in this distinctive town.

This report follows up our November 2014 report on child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and covers two matters: the role of Ofsted and Louise Casey's inspection report on Rotherham. It is clear that the inspection arrangements that Ofsted had in place from 2007, when it became responsible for inspecting children's services at Rotherham, failed to detect either the evidence, or the knowledge within the council, of large-scale child sexual exploitation. The structured inspection method used at that time to inspect local authorities' children's services was designed by Ofsted and did not focus on child sexual exploitation. The result was a lack of intelligence and understanding in Ofsted's handling of Rotherham. Child sexual exploitation was missed as was the superficiality of Rotherham's response to inspection findings and its dysfunction. The Committee found Louise Casey's report on her inspection of Rotherham to be penetrating and instructive. It not only confirmed the dreadful findings in the Jay Report but, what was worse, revealed that Rotherham Council was in denial about child sexual exploitation.

Rotherham is a town where new buildings are replacing ones which have been there for centuries. This delightful, full-colour collection of images celebrates the Rotherham of days gone by. Pairing rare images from the Rotherham archives with modern photographs, it reveals the enormous changes that the town has witnessed. Many of these images have not appeared in print before. They include such places as the cattle market, the public library and even images of some of the slums which have now been eradicated. Compiled by Rotherham’s own historian Margaret Drinkall, author of Rotherham Workhouse and Murder & Crime in Rotherham, this book serves as an evocative link to the past.

An accessible history of Rotherham from its beginnings to the present day highlighting the city’s significant events and people.