SCUNTHORPE

There are many who like to refer to it as “sunny Scunny.”

While the weather may not sustain that claim too frequently this thriving town of 72,600 people is also known as the “industrial garden town” which does more accurately reflect its standing.

Despite the tendency by comedians to ridicule it Scunthorpe is in fact a pleasant and bustling community which came to the forefront of industrial output through the steel industry which today provides an industrial cornerstone, although diverse businesses are now moving in.

A settlement has existed here for at least 1,000 years, the place being listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Escumetorp, which is Old Norse for “Skuma's homestead.”

As far back as Roman times ironstone was mined in this area, but it was not until the 19th Century that Scunthorpe began its industrial development with iron ore being mined in 1860. Thirty years later, on March 21, 1890, the first steel was produced.

As a major steel centre, the town began to grow rapidly, eventually taking in the
neighbouring townships of Brumby and Frodingham (including Crosby) and later the parish of Ashby in 1919 to form a new Scunthorpe urban district.

It was a town built on steel and its motto reflects the fact -: Refulget labores nostros coelo or the heavens reflect our labours. This refers to the glow observed in the night sky from the steelmaking activities.

Over a century on and steel is still a major employer in the area and the largest operator within it is the Indian-owned firm Corus. However the industry has shrunk in recent years, following the closure of the Normanby Park works (also known as Lysaght's) and the huge Redbourne complex in the early 1980s; the number employed in the industry fell from 27,000 at its height to around 4,500 (not including outside contractors, such as Hansons plc) today.

The steel industry also saw the creation of a variety of associated businesses such as engineering. But the modern town is more diversified and is now a centre food production, distribution and retailing - most of these now employing a large Polish and Slovakian workforce.

For a town of its size Scunthorpe enjoys good shopping facilities through the uncovered Foundry Shopping Centre and the part-covered Parishes Centre. The Foundry Centre was built in the late 1960s and early 70s as part of a major reconstruction project of the old town area.

The Parishes was built in the early 1990s. Retail parks can be found near the football stadium and the steelworks.

It's a fact...

• Scunthorpe was featured in novels about gangster Jack Carter. They were written by Ted Lewis, who lived in the Northern Lincolnshire town of Barton on Humber

Famous Scunthorpe residents and former residents include:

• Darren Bett, BBC weather presenter


• Samantha Cameron, nee Sheffield, formerly of Thealby, near Scunthorpe: wife of the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron


• Allan Clarke, ex-Leeds United and England player, former manager of Scunthorpe United, now living in the area.


• Ray Clemence, former goalkeeper of the English national football team


• Tony Jacklin, golfer. U.S. open winner, 1970


• Joan Plowright, actress


• Liz Smith, actress


• Graham Taylor, former manager of the English national football team


• Ian Botham, cricketer also used to play football for Scunthorpe United


• Kevin Keegan, former England Manager also played for Scunthorpe United in his early days

Our recommended links...

www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk

www.scunthorpe.towntalk.co.uk

www.thisisbarton.co.uk