Mexborough
South Yorkshire
The town has a history of settlement dating back to at least Norman times. In the Domesday Book it was described as Mechesburg, with a recorded population of 8 villagers, 4 smallholders, 4 ploughlands and a mill.
A motte and bailey earthwork in the town, now tree-covered and set in a park, suggests further Norman development in the years that followed. Although nothing so grand as the castle at nearby Conisbrough, a tower here would have provided a commanding view over an ancient crossing point of the River Don.
Traces of 12th-century building can also be found in St John the Baptist parish church, a Grade I listed building which has gone through several phases of expansion and rebuilding over its long history.
A Market Hall combined with a town hall was built in 1880 and the market stayed there for 88 years until the building of a new road bypass in 1968. Old buildings along Mexborough's Market Street disappeared to make way for the dual carriageway, but the old market building survived at its edge and has now been converted to a pub. The market itself moved into a new brick building in 1974.
The town's own industry included brick and glass-making, while Mexborough locomotive depot was another local employer at what was once a busy railway junction just to the west of Mexborough station, although just within the boundary of neighbouring Swinton. The depot closed in the mid-1960s and some of the railway has also gone, including the lines towards Barnsley and to Manchester via Penistone.
While some of Mexborough's local rail connectivity has been lost over the years, the town hit the headlines with one of the biggest controversies of adjusted High Speed 2 rail line proposals to put the line from London to Leeds (28 miles to the north) through a new housing estate being built east of the town. The station-less section of high speed line brings no benefit to residents of Mexborough, who would continue to have traditional journeys to change trains at Doncaster or Sheffield if they wished to reach London.
Montagu Hospital is an NHS hospital in the town. Although much-changed in recent years, the hospital's origins were as a cottage hospital set up through voluntary contributions with the idea of commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and providing treatment for the area's many industrial injuries. It eventually opened in 1890, at first in an old Methodist schoolroom acquired at nominal rent from landlord Mr Montagu.
The loss of much industry, high street closures and Mexborough's position mid-way between the principal towns of two of South Yorkshire's large metropolitan districts, Doncaster and Rotherham, has led to a notion in recent years of it having become "a forgotten town". Indeed, its three councillors on the elected-mayor-led Doncaster Council successfully stood as "Working for Mexborough, the forgotten town" candidates in recent elections.
Town features
Mexborough is on the River Don Navigation. 
The town is near to the River Don.
Mexborough has a choice of pubs. 
Mexborough has local traders and a supermarket. 
Mexborough has an indoor and an outdoor market.
The town has Post Offices.
The town has pharmacies.
Mexborough has banks.
Restaurant dining can be found in Mexborough.
A choice of cafes can be found in Mexborough.
Mexborough has takeaway food outlets.
The town has a library. 
Mexborough has schools.
Places of worship: Anglican, other. Mexborough was formerly in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Travel
Mexborough station
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN. 
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus travel
The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages. 
Road travel
Mexborough can be reached via the A6022 A6023 Places to visit
Cusworth Hall
Cusworth Lane, Doncaster
Situated two miles north of Doncaster, off the More information at these 
Doncaster Council - Cusworth Hall
Doncaster Council - Cusworth Hall South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
Dakota Way, Airbourne Road, Doncaster
The museum has a collection of aircraft from the first air show to be held in Britain, held at Doncaster Racecourse in 1909, together with more modern preserved light aircraft and jets. It is located about a mile to the south east of the town centre. For opening times see the museum's website. Details at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum website.
South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
Conisbrough Castle
The castle is situated in the small town of Conisbrough, about five miles south-west of Doncaster and seven miles north-east of Rotherham. Its tall circular cylindrical keep has had its walls and roofs restored to create a feeling of how the castle would have been in the late 12th century when it was built. In 1201, the castle had a royal visit, when King John stayed there. The castle became famous through fiction as the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe'. The historic site is managed by English Heritage.
Find out more at the
English Heritage - Conisbrough CastleFind on map:
Conisbrough Castle
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
BrodsworthThe Victorian country house at Brodsworth, about 5 miles north-west of Doncaster, was built in 1860, surrounded by beautiful gardens. It remained largely unchanged through its lifetime and is now being conserved by English Heritage. Yorkshire bands perform at the hall most Sundays during the summer. A car park for the hall can be accessed from Church Lane, between the villages of Marr and Brodsworth.
More information at the
English Heritage - Brodsworth Hall Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, about 4 miles south-east of Doncaster, was created at a former farm and riding school in 2009. Over the years it has grown and it is now the outdoor home of 400 animals of 70 different species, including polar bears, lions, tigers and leopards and a whole range of other animals native to Africa, South America and other parts of the world. A few of the species can be visited within their enclosures. A recent addition has been the addition of animatronic versions of long-extinct dinosaur species. Just outside the park gates, The Hive offers craft and gift shops, dining and a hotel. Further details at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park website.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Find on map: Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Yorkshire Wildlife Park The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
Belton Road, Sandtoft, North Lincolnshire
Although just outside the Yorkshire border at the former RAF Sandtoft airfield in North Lincolnshire, the museum is only a 12-mile drive from Doncaster. It lays claim to having the world's largest collection of preserved trolleybuses and includes many examples of trolleybuses used in Yorkshire, including those from the fleets of More information at The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft website.
The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
Emergency services
South Yorkshire Police South Yorkshire PoliceSouth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
South Yorkshire Fire and RescueYorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Local government
Metropolitan district council
Doncaster is one of four metropolitan district authorities within the county of South Yorkshire.
It covers Doncaster and many other towns and villages within a radius of between 7 to 10 miles from centrally-placed Doncaster.
Unusually within Yorkshire, the district council is run by an executive-powered elected mayor, who is supported by a cabinet. The mayor chooses the cabinet from elected councillors.
The elected mayor system means that Doncaster Council has two elections to organise, one for the elected mayor and one for councillors. The mayor and all councillors are selected in elections every four years, the most recent election being in 2021.
The election of 55 councillors is done across 21 wards with two or three councillors elected in each ward. Eight councillors currently serve under the chairmanship of the mayor on the cabinet.
May 2025 mayoral election:
Political composition of the councillors after the May 2025 election:
55 members
Link to Doncaster council website.
Doncaster councilCounty strategic authority
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityCovers combined services including public transport, housing, infrastructure and regeneration and adult education in
Barnsley
Doncaster
Rotherham
SheffieldElected mayor:
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityPolice and Crime Commissioner
This role becomes the responsibility of the elected South Yorkshire mayor after the May 2024 election. South Yorkshire Police and Crime CommissionerFire Authority
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four metropolitan district councils of South Yorkshire - Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue AuthorityParliamentary constituency
Doncaster NorthElected MP: