Rotherham Archaeological Society - About Us

Rotherham Archaeological Society is a voluntary body dedicated to the preservation of Rotherham's historic buildings and the investigation and recording of its archaeology and heritage.

 

In 1972 the Rotherham Historical Society changed its name and became Rotherham Archaeological Society, establishing its own constitution - thus consolidating an informal association between archaeologists and historians that had had an unbroken existence since the excavation in 1877 of the Roman Fort at Templeborough.


The founder members were Agnes Bockley, Reginald Bramhill (MBOU, F.Inst.L.Ex , FSC), Brian Dolby, Dorothy Greene (MA, FSA, AMA), Claude Labon, Philip Henry James Smedley (M.A.A.T) and Keith Wilson. Sadly Agnes and Brian both died in 2010 and Philip died in October 2011 - they had made invaluable contributions to the Society over many years and will be greatly missed by all members and friends.

 

The Society is a member of Voluntary Action Rotherham. The Rotherham Archaeological Society Volunteer Policy document is available online (pdf format).

 

The Society collaborates with Rotherham Arts Council, Rotherham Museum and other local bodies in Rotherham and South Yorkshire with a view to encouraging public interest in archaeology and the built environment.

 

Apart from its work in the archaeological field, the Society takes a keen interest in the conservation of buildings of architectural or historic interest and makes representations on planning applications that affect those in Rotherham and the surrounding area of South Yorkshire. The Society made several representations at the Local Inquiry into Rotherham's Green Belt Local Plan in the 1980's (adopted 1990) and to the subsequent Unitary Development Plan (UDP) proposals. The UDP was designed to replace the existing South Yorkshire Structure Plan and adopted Local Plans with a single statutory Plan for the whole Borough. Although the UDP covered the 15 year period, April 1986 to March 2001 it was not formally adopted by the Council until June 1999. It is now intended that the Local Development Framework will eventually replace the existing UDP.

 

2011 saw the introduction of an annual Rotherham Archaeological Society Dissertation Prize for Level 3 students in the Department of Archaeology at Sheffield University. The prize is designed to encourage, and reward, research into the archaeology of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

 

The Society organises a number of events each year and the 2011 Events Programme is now available.

 

Current Members of the Executive Committee are Prof. P Buckland (President), Brian Cutts (Vice President), Richard Gray (Chairman), Philip Senior (Vice Chair/Treasurer), Sylvia Basford (Secretary), David Sotheran, Margaret Gray and Sylvia Jordan.

 

The Society has been collecting artifacts over a number of years. The collection is housed in Clifton House Museum and Rotherham Archives and has been catalogued by volunteers so that they can be accessed by the public.

 

We have a limited amount of Archive Information available online. More will be added over time. If you need any information about our work please contact us and we will do our best to help. You may find useful links to other sources of information on our Useful Links page.

 

Membership

The Society is a registered charity (No. 504513) and depends upon its members and friends for support. It needs a strong and active membership and volunteer base if it is to be effective. Membership is open to all - please support us now or email: admin@rasociety.co.uk for more information.