53°32N 1°07W, urban area pop (2001e) 286 900. Town in South Yorkshire, N England, UK; on R Don, 27 km/17 mi NE of Sheffield; founded as a fort 1st-c AD, later an important Roman station on road from Lincoln to York; birthplace of Lesley Garrett; railway; coal, nylon, rope, machinery, railway engineering; South Yorkshire industrial museum; St Leger Stakes, the oldest horse-race in England (Sep); football league team, Doncaster Rovers; nearby Robin Hood Airport opened 2005.
For other places with the same name, see Doncaster (disambiguation).Doncaster is a town in the English county of Yorkshire, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire.
The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster has frequently applied for city status but despite Doncaster's size and history, it has yet to be given the title. Doncaster boasts a new International airport and its centre is undergoing massive regeneration including the development of an Education City campus, the largest budget education investment of its kind in the UK.
According to the 2001 census the urban sub-area of Doncaster had a population of 67,977 - together with Bentley, Armthorpe and Kirk Sandall it forms an urban area with a population of 127,851.
Geography, demographics and regeneration
It is the 15th largest population centre in the UK outside London and its origins lie in Roman times. Following the closure of the coal mines in the 1970s and 1980s, the town is now very much used by new tertiary industries due to its good communications links with the rest of the UK - situated as Doncaster is on the A1(M) and M18 motorways, and within 20 minutes of the key M1 and M62 motorways - and its central location. Doncaster is also a railway town and a GNER hub, serving the East Coast Mainline.
The town has grown from its original size many times over, but since this time, the traditional industrial housing in the town centre has been removed to make way for new commercial ventures. Central Doncaster is now very much a commercial district, and is surrounded by the traditional industrial housing that was once prevalent in the town centre. The town centre has undergone extensive regeneration in recent years with massive private and public investment taking place, this has thus far been deemed a success, however the decreasing levels of unemployment across the borough remain higher than the national average.
New developments, both ongoing and completed include the Doncaster Education City - a massive public investment program bringing a new campus to the town for the Doncaster College, the Lakeside redevelopment - an expansion to the Lakeside Village outlet and the Frenchgate Interchange - a huge investment program to unify the bus and rail stations with the Frenchgate centre, Doncaster's largest town centre shopping centre. The extension to the centre and the new bus station opened on 8th June, 2006, from whence all bus routes started to use the station, which provides easy access to rail services and the shopping centre.
Doncaster is asserting its weight in the region with developments such as a new international airport, Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield which opened in 2005, and the regeneration of the central business district. Future developments will also include a new community sports stadium for sports teams such as Doncaster Rovers and the Doncaster Belles, to be completed in winter 2006 (projected).
Doncaster is home to one of the oldest and largest racecourses in the country. In 2005, Doncaster Racecourse closed temporarily to enable the re-development of the stands and facilities by Arena Leisure Plc. The new facility is expected to feature world-class facilities, built in hotels and business capable facilities extending Doncaster's grip both in this sport and corporate leisure.
Roman Heritage
Doncaster is located at 53°31′N 1°8′W - the site of a Roman fort which was built in the 1st century A.D. Doncaster was home to the Roman Crispinian horse garrison. Crispus, son of the Emperor, lived at Danum (Doncaster) whilst his father lived 40 miles further north at Eboracum (York). Much of Doncaster's Roman past remains to be discovered.
Early and Medieval History
The town was rebuilt by the Normans after William I took the throne.
As the 12th century approached, Doncaster matured into a busy town and in 1194 King Richard I granted Doncaster national recognition with a Royal Charter. During the Middle Ages Doncaster evolved further and it was then later in 1204 that Doncaster suffered and recovered from a disastrous fire.
In 1248, a charter was granted for Doncaster Market and some 750 years on, Doncaster Market still exists with its busy stalls, bustling trade and 17th Century'Corn Exchange' Building.
Today, many Doncaster streets are named 'gate'.
During the 14th century numbers of friars arrived in Doncaster who were known for their religious enthusiasm and preachings.
During the 16th and 17th centuries the town of Doncaster continued to expand. Each time the plague struckdown significant numbers of Doncaster's population.
Horse Racing
From around the 16th century, Doncaster embraced the wealthy stagecoach trade. This led to horse breeding in Doncaster, which in turn led to the start of horse races there. There is evidence that horse races were held in Doncaster as far back as the early 17th century, but it is the St. Leger Stakes, first held in the 1770s, which makes the town's races famous. Today, Doncaster's St. Leger Stakes run at Doncaster Racecourse remains the Oldest Classic Horse Race in the world!
Doncaster is traditionally very wealthy.
Doncaster was already a communications centre at this time. Doncaster sat on the Great North Road or A1, due to its strategic geographical importance and essentially Roman inheritance. This was the primary route for all traffic from London to Edinburgh and Doncaster cashed in on its location.
Coal and Industrial Expansion
The late 18th century to 20th century saw Doncaster emerge as a Industrial Centre. Using its communication links and in particular waterways Doncaster became extremely busy and saw vast migration to its centre. Underneath Doncaster lies huge natural resource by way of deep seam Coal. It was Coal that prompted Doncaster's exponential population growth. The waterways, River Don and Don Navigation were used to transport coal from Doncaster to the steel production centres at Rotherham, Sheffield and Scunthorpe.
With coal mining came secondary and tertiary industries:
Large scale glass production soon followed using coal to fire the furnaces. A production facility for chemical polymers - hydrocarbon compounds produced from coal and oil - was built on Wheatley Hall Road. Locomotive WorksContinuing the Industrial Revolution, the railway came to Doncaster, and the Great Northern Railway Locomotive and Carriage Building Works was established there. The reasons for this were due to Doncaster's communication links, the necessity to transport coal quickly and efficiently and Doncaster's expertise in specialist metal products. The Doncaster Plant became famous for building LNER 4-6-2 locomotives Mallard and the Flying Scotsman, as well as many thousands more locomotives.
During World War I and World War II, the rail industry gave way to munitions building. In the early part of the 20th century Doncaster became one of the largest coal mining areas in the country, with the industry employing more people in the area than anything else.
Sport
More recently, the town has sought to reinvent itself, primarily as a commercial and leisure centre. Its horse races remain very famous, and the town also has a men's football club, Doncaster Rovers F.C., and one of the most successful women's football clubs in the country, Doncaster Belles L.F.C.. Its highest ranked men's sport club is the Doncaster Lakers Rugby League Football Club (formerly known as Doncaster Dragons RLFC) who have played consistently in rugby league's National League One.
Logistical Hub
Due to its proximity to major urban centres and Motorway/Rail infrastrcture, Doncaster is home to a number or major distribution centres.
On March 5, 2004, Doncaster was granted Fairtrade Town status.
Twin towns
Dandong, China - (21st November 1988) Avion, France - (13th May 1981) Herten, Germany - (20th February 1989) Gliwice, Poland - (21st May 1979) Wilmington, USA - (5th October 1992)Aviation
Doncaster has an International airport, Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, which opened on April 28, 2005, on the former Royal Air Force station of RAF Finningley, in Doncaster.
Aviation History of Doncaster
RFC Doncaster/RAF Doncaster/Doncaster Airport
In 1909 Doncaster racecourse was chosen as the venue for an airshow, after the world's first air display in Rheims in 1908.
During World War I fighters based first from the racecourse, then a temporary airstrip near Finningley (later RAF Finningley and now Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield International Airport) and finally, in 1916, from a newly built airfield alongside the race course, were deployed to defend the east coast against Zeppelins.
In 1920 the Government asked local authorities to assist in the formation of a chain of airfields so this country would not lack behind other nations in the provision of civil air services. Doncaster took heed and, with expert advice from Alan Cobham, on 26 May 1934, opened a grandly called 'aviation centre'.
RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley was home to the Finningley Airshow for over three decades.
Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport is a new airport that commenced operation on April 28, 2005.
During the first year of operation, the airport had handled over 900,000 passengers.
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