Introduction to Bawtry and Tickhill
The Bawtry and Tickhill Neighbourhood covers the villages of Bawtry, Tickhill, Auckley, Hayfield, Blaxton, Wadworth, Finningley, Stainton, Micklebring, Braithwell and Austerfield.
Geographically, Bawtry and Tickhill is the largest Neighbourhood in the South of the Borough and serves nine town and Parish Councils.
Tickhill
Tickhill is a small town located in the borough of Doncaster, 7 miles south of the Town Centre in the Torne Valley. It is a rural town, viewed by many local residents as a place with important historical connections and high conservation value. Both the castle (with connections as far back as 1066) and the 13th century church of St Mary, feature in many historical documents. Both remain significant places of interest to visitors in addition to the Mill Dam and the Buttercross.
Occupying the centre of the town are shops, restaurants, pubs and houses. There are convenient road links to Doncaster, Worksop and Sheffield with access to the MI at Maltby and the M18 and A1 at Warmsworth.
There are two local primary schools and a secondary school based in nearby Edlington. It has its own local library, youth club, sports field and play areas, community centre and GP Practice and is regulated by a Town Council.
Tickhill is one of only six villages in Britain that still has an original jousting field which now has a Public Right of Way running alongside in which local historians take an interest.
Bawtry
Bawtry was a former coaching town of Georgian origin centred around a Market place that resembles a High street. It lies south of Doncaster on the border with Lincolnshire and was one of the main points of entry into Yorkshire from the south.
Occupying the centre of the town are shops, restaurants, pubs and a library.
Austerfield
Austerfield village, just to the north of Bawtry, was the birthplace of William Bradford, a Puritan who had to flee to Holland to escape religous persecution. He later sailed with the Pilgrim Fathers to America in 1620 and went on to become the second governor of Plymouth, New England. He kept a diary of his journey, which is now a very important document of American history. He died in 1657.
Austerfield is home to the Field Study Centre which is an environmental education service provider for Schools and Youth Groups.
Finningley
Doncaster’s airport is in the village of Finningley, previously this airport was the RAF base which closed in 1995.
Auckley
The Parish of Auckley is a traditional semi-rural settlement located approximately 6 miles east of Doncaster town centre, and is in close proximity to the former Finningley RAF Base that has been developed to operate as a commercial airport for Doncaster. A development of this size is significant for Auckley, and one that will inevitably impact on this small semi-rural community. It is anticipated that the development will attract investment, promote local tourism, and thus provide more jobs for local people. However, the negative impacts of noise and air pollution from both aircraft and increased traffic may also be felt on the local environment.
Wadworth
Wadworth is five miles from Doncaster on the main A60 to Nottingham which runs through Tickhill, Worksop and Mansfield. It is bisected by the M18 and A1(M) which are unaccesible from Wadworth.
Loversall
Loversall remains little more than a hamlet housing a couple of hundred people, with a fine medieval church.
Rural Communities
There are several other small villages in the south of Doncaster including Blaxton, Braithwell, Micklebring, Wellingley, Stancil and Stainton. They are of rural character and have very few or no services.
