Swinton, South Yorkshire
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Swinton is a small town in South Yorkshire, on part of the west bank of the River Don.
The town was once a centre for the manufacture of ceramics of international importance; deep coal mining, glassmaking, canal barge-building and engineering also featured. These days employment is provided predominantly by service and light industry in the nearby Manvers area.
It is most famous for being the site of the Rockingham Pottery, a world-famous manufacturer of porcelain. Although the factory closed in 1842 its name is left as defining a style of rococo porcelain. There were several other potteries in the area during the 19th century.
The town is located on a hillside, the higher regions generally being home to older dwellings and the lower regions the location of newer build. The lowest point of the town contains two main rail lines, the River Don, the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation canal and the derelict Dearne and Dove Canal.
Squeezed in amongst these transport systems is the Waddingtons Boat Yard, which has survived the widespread decline in local industry and still operates a limited barge repair and transport business, having also diversified into timber milling and woodworking.
The South Yorkshire Navigation canal, once a major transport route between Sheffield and Goole, underwent substantial modernisation in the mid 80's and is capable of accommodating very large vessels as far as Rotherham, and pleasure craft right into Sheffield. Recently, limited bulk freight has returned to the canal and can occasionally be seen passing through the modern Swinton Lock.
On Swinton's boundary with Kilnhurst is a sizeable area of recently derelict land, formerly home to the Croda chemical works (before that the Yorkshire Tar Distillers). The site and former works are associated with some local controversy, owning to pollution issues during the works' operations and serious environmental concerns regarding the current site.
Swinton is also home to a large site owned by the Morphy Richards brand. Whilst most manufacturing has ceased, substantial warehousing remains.
Swinton's strong working-class traditions gave way during the mid-80's manufacturing upheaval, and the town now has marked divisions between deprived areas and newer "middle class" regions.
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