Out of Town Shopping Centres Have Ruined Rotherham

[@bythecurb]

Get 10% of yfood here: bit.ly/bythecurb_yfood

[@ladystardust2885]

I returned to visit family in Rotherham last year. I was upset, too. The 70s and 80s were vibrant, then the malls started popping up.

[@traceys8065]

I'm Scottish but it breaks my heart to see these beautiful places in England going downhill drastically, its the same up here. So heartbreaking to see the UK like this, hopefully we can recover 🙏 🇬🇧

[@KeithChegwin24]

Unless we get a government who are willing to cose down the out of town shopping centres and start mass deportations, the UK will sadly never recover.

[@jasonsyers3948]

You shouldn’t get disheartened your filming these places is a measure of our social history at a point in time & truth to tell in the north almost everywhere is struggling like Rotherham. Your films & commentary aren’t depressing but honest & inciteful RTC has some beautiful & elegant historic buildings and the park is beautiful great little film keep them coming!

[@bythecurb]

It's a bit soul destroying visiting run down towns so I'm going to take a break from it for a while. nice places only for the foreseeable 😀

[@DavePaints.]

this yes!!! doom and gloom dead pit towns are depressing :P

[@sueterry7300]

Lots of lovely country side n amazing sights out there is what we need to see to cheer us up plz xx

[@xyxox2229]

Hi James bring Helli bobs to Mirfield and try Ravellos cafe I work weds Friday's and Saturdays will give you a great deal. Sue

[@lisalewis8989]

I can imagine. I like watching whatever you post x

[@kathyhayden2499]

Like lots of places,James some good some not so good ❤

[@cythadeus]

Hi! by the curb, it was great to meet you in Rotherham, I was the cobbler we met in the market. Great channel! Keep the good work up, all the best Paul.

[@bythecurb]

Hi Paul, lovely to meet you mate

[@dessysmith2514]

Oh no! no! I don't find you visiting these towns depressing ...thoroughly enjoyable infact....you have shown beautiful architecture and people in each and everyone and you can't put icing on a cake with no base so you have them as it is and I think the towns still have their charms❤

[@davidwoodham1307]

Hi there mate at least you got great memories its sad to see the shops to been not used anymore the town looks dead mate not no many People around the town lots of great old buildings mate its. Seems to be a big town Mate so be safe mate

[@Brazola1872]

No need to overthink the content or how it will be taken by the viewers. Just show the good and the bad sides with honesty like you always do and people will continue to enjoy. The history and changes to the areas you visit and highlight is very interesting. Keep up the good work mate

[@GordonVansey]

You have actually made rovrum look brighter and cleaner than it is Shame over the years our lovely town has been turned into a well I shall not say it on your channel James but we all know what

[@kevinmulligan6858]

It don`t matter in the least James how many of these types of video you do because they are all so interesting . Yes they may be depressing at times but remember this, if you and other blogger`s do not show them for what they are now then they will not be shown at all and in fact, you are doing them a favour by letting folk see how different these places are today compared to how they used to be. Your editing is first class and you are going from strength to strength in my opinion because if you showed us all the great and modern things that are around, we would never get to see the rest .. Many thanks again!

[@gateshead_angel]

Sad looking at Mexborough, Rotherham now, heartbreaking.

[@garypowers6991]

You should do Barnsley town, all the improvements over the last 5 to 10 years the town in particular has never been better, a great place with one of the most prominent town halls in the north of England

[@thebolsta]

Supermarket delivery and internet shopping has killed most town centres. I'm from Sheffield, but live in Rotherham now. I haven't needed to go into town for anything for years. I can't think of any reason to go to Meadowhall or Parkgate. It's much easier to get everything delivered, and not have to deal with carrying shopping home on public transport. Don't have to deal with the public either. Pre 2020, I used to go out to shop. Then I realised how much easier it is to shop online. I remember Meadowhall first opening. The town centres did take a hit, but they were still busy. Times have changed. You see more delivery drivers on the road than police cars and taxis combined now.

[@yorkshireteaahhhnice1417]

I live in an ex mining village close to the big house ,it’s great to see a Barnsley lad doing us all proud

[@phantomshenanigans2337]

I remember looking in yr nans shop in early 90s looking at old photos I was about 16. I moved away 24 years ago.

[@tokairic3925]

If the retail parks have gutted the town centre they should convert the buildings into houses and flats. Fill the centre with people, coffee shops, pubs etc and generate some commerce. Then they wouldn't have to build on green field farm land.

[@dlwracer]

Don't be bullied, it's ok to show your emotions and pick the places you want to visit!

[@tonytcb4504]

I've lived in Rotherham for 66 years back in the 1960's and early 70s Rotherham was lovely the town centre had some really nice shops and it was a great place to live. Unfortunately now its a terrible neglected town centre and this is most likely due to Parkgate and Meadowhall shopping centres and mass immigration sorry for the last remarks but its a true statement. Love your channel my friend ❤

[@PurplePerinaise]

How has mass immigration changed shopping habits? Surely more people would imply that more money was being spent in local shops?... Make it make sense

[@atykestales7260]

​@PurplePerinaise you heard of grooming gangs ,believe me it's looking like the 3rd world.

[@maxine1200]

​@PurplePerinaise Missed the point. Mass immigration bringing the area down. Plus a certain ethnic group responsible for the CSE scandal. Rotherham was a bustling beautiful town, the labour government has also contributed to the destruction of the town!

[@mustafarecords369]

@@maxine1200how has mass immigration affected town centre I’m genuinely curious

[@maxine1200]

@mustafarecords369 It's amazing someone needs to explain this to you! Housing for one, jobs for another, not forgetting the child exploitation debacle, do I really need to go on? 🙄

[@SuperCmorris]

Old Bridgegate that you walked up used to be beautiful , old shambles road, when we were kids my lovely dad used to take us onto bridgegate to get a drink from a lovely little shop, full of old wooden counter and shelves: full of old beers shandy and soft drinks in barrels, happy days then back in the 60’s, sad to see it now, we moved away , thanks for posting, we live in kilnhurst now, quiet but green and lovely walks by the river don and canal

[@michaelventola5020]

I love all the places you visit. Good or bad. I have enjoyed them all. Probably because I am in the US. I love em all. Thank you. Hello to Helen and you.❤

[@bridiewright1519]

It's lovely you go out to different places and gr8 for you mentally 😊

[@frederickwilson7284]

hello james what about a visit to beamish open air museum next time your in the tyneside area ,think Helen would also like the place. about a mile from the museum is a pub/restaurant called the black horse where overnight parking for campervans etc is free if you buy a meal in restaurant.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Excellent idea. We went there when it first opened before we left the country, but massive work has been done in creating a fitting monument to the North ⬆️ and its people, when there was work. ❤🤗 (+1) Not REALLY in the Tyneside area, but good call 🤙😎.

[@laurentaylor4933]

Thats a great call. Beamish is a great day out, very evocative.

[@pam164]

Beautiful countryside all around it too.

[@Sheffsteve86]

Some flashbacks to great childhood memories for me too in this vlog. I don't know if it's because of my dodgy health that my feelings are exaggerated when thinking about the past but I found myself getting quite emotional watching this. That said, you seemed to be the same when reminiscing about your family. Maybe us blokes just all get a bit soft as we get older. 🤔 Wentworth is a great place. Like yourself, I'm not keen on the garden center but the little farm and play area is great for the kids. I thought the follies such as Kepple's column may have got a mention but I get you can't cover everything. Great content James. Cheers mate. 👍

[@leightuck1218]

The sculpture was built by MTL Advance at Brinsworth by the apprentices

[@bee3541-y7s]

You are wrong about Wentworth Woodhouse. It is NOT only tours. People can go in and go all around the inside, upstairs & down, no tour guide. The renovations are still ongoing and it is beautiful.

[@agee7777]

We might have crossed paths in coopers toy store. I used to get my He Man figures from there in the eighties.

[@thelmabrindley2369]

Great video of somewhere that you can tell you hold close to your heart. You could fell your emotion when you were showing us your Grandma's and Dad's shops. Lovely to see you reminiscing. The downfall of a lot of these towns are due to the newer retail parks, so sad really as there are some beautiful places in these towns

[@wendydolluk39]

Thanks for the tour James!! I was born in Rotherham and it’s hard to see how run down the town is now. I used to work upstairs in ‘Split ends’ the hairdressers in The imperial buildings as a teen. I used to go to Ring a bells cafe with Mum, can’t believe that’s gone. Can you remember the back entrance to Boots? I was always excited to go through there when I was little, it seemed magical. Too many foreign food shops now they seem to have taken over m. So sad 😢

[@bythecurb]

I used to go there in the 90s when I had hair 🙂

[@suewilkinson910]

I love these town trips. I like seeing the nice bits and the run down depressing bits because that is what this country has become. Depressing but the beautiful architecture and parks and plentiful public spaces make this town quite appealing. So many round sided or ended buildings. It costs a lot to build like that. I feel as if we are at a tipping point for broken town centres now. Like it’s taken a couple of decades to observe the devastation caused by generic out of town shopping parks and to try a few ideas of how to make them functional again. They will never be thriving retail spaces again, or not in full. But hopefully soon they will be reborn as places for community education and social enterprise.

[@williamfence566]

I was interviewed in 1995 in the wilko's ( now demolished ) on corporation street next to the bingo hall . First time I've seen Rotherham town center since then. Remember it being really busy, and the people were great .

[@stevescet]

Wow , not been to Rotherham for 20 years, spent 2 years day release at college. Remember the town centre fountain, kids used to empty a bottle of washing up liquid in , foam everywhere. Keep up the good work 👍

[@JALOPPY]

Haha yes I remember that

[@Remonyyork]

So many towns and cities are like that now. The out of town shopping parks have decimated town centres. I live in York and I couldn’t tell you the last time I was in the city centre. That’s for tourists and for that reason I avoid it. Locals go to the shopping parks - Monks Cross, Clifton Moor. It’s a shame but that’s how it is.

[@Borg1983]

Were lucky our generation have these memories of great shops gone by sadly our kids won’t 😢

[@JoanneWhite-yk2so]

I think because Parkgate is so close it has affected Rotherham town centre .I agree James x

[@blackbob3358]

Every one knows what affected Rotherham, ms White. I do'nt need to spell it out.

[@michaelbbb2271]

My family are ex market traders from 60s to 90/s those were different days . You can't believe the money what was made then by market traders with good pitches in the south . Average wage was 50 a week these boys were hitting 500/2000 a week then . Makes me sad when I see markets today empty . My family went into import / export but thanks to markets it got them in that world .

[@bythecurb]

I totally agree, I've got a mate who became a millionaire from a market pitch. He was one of the people who had a microphone and would auction stuff off.

[@truleee1]

I love all your video genres. Seeing a place during the day midweek will always give a different vibe from seeing it in the evening or on a weekend night. Might be nice to see the contrast, (if there is one) for those who think it's too depressing.

[@NeilWilliams-b6q]

Great video sadly all towns across Britain are struggling out of town shopping is one reason but free parking is a bonus to many councils charging to park everywhere and traffic wardens dishing out tickets is also not helpful we’re doomed 👍

[@lindenthornton9277]

I do remember Hillards, what’s happened to our towns?

[@Kivetonandrew]

As a born and bred Sheffielder, we always looked down our small neughbour of Rotherham. That is until I moved to a job just off the town centre. On fine days we would go in to All Saints Square and sit down and survey the scene. Always busy and many characters. Yes all the big stores were there plus a myriad of smaller businesses. Rotherham wa a lovely place back then. Unfortunately, it has suffered the same fate of many northern towns. Meadowhall and the Parkgate Centre have been a huge factor for its demise. People want to drive to where they can park as near to the shops as possible. Also greedy landlords upping the rents has not helped. However, thanks for this blog and trying to make Rotherham look much better.

[@shellvlogs132]

We’ve just got back from the Lake District, filmed a shopping centre there that was virtually empty, so sad to see so many ending up like this 😢

[@richardkell4888]

Thankyou so much, this is close to your heart, seeing the incredible indoor market and your family associations at 13:00 was most touching, thanks fr sharing. On a sombre note, building use will have to change, retail space is vastly over-supplied but its not all negative, after all space is desperately needed for housing, for the best I think.

[@JALOPPY]

I left Rotherham in the early 90s. God seeing The flats really took me back. My great grandad used to live in there. Don't miss Rotherham one bit.

[@betdisciple2477]

Nice nostaligic look at Rotherham - enjoyed it, thanks

[@duckweedy]

Malls are closing everywhere too. Big problem is no one has any money to spend.

[@mum-0217]

Wentworth looks nice and the big house reminds me a bit of Chatsworth House. Rotherham, has some low points but it seems alot of towns are like this these days. On the good side it has some very nice architecture from the past and this needs to be preserved and retained. Thanks for the tour James.

[@amandabarrett3752]

James you still manage to keep me watching from beginning to end ❤

[@JasonDodson-s9z]

Awe James what a lovely Vlog for me personally now I live in Keswick, I remember going to Hillards with my Mum on the bus with the pram and a dozen carrier bags for the big shop, Muntus on a Saturday with my Nan and the Ringobells cafe with my Mum. I used to go into Coopers toy shop upstairs for the Subuteo and I can smell it now when I close my eyes. I worked on the markets in 88/89 on a slipper stall before and after school setting it up, I was paid £5 each shift (I would start at 5.30am and then run up to Oakwood school for 8.30) and then run down after school to take it all down. The clock was moved a few years ago but it has been there my 50 years. There is so much to be proud of but like you say, Parkgate and Meadowhell killed it off. I can smell inside the shop at Danny Williams as well, we used to love going in there. I remember your Nans place, what a stunning beautful building that needs life and love pumping back into it. Great to see you going back to Wentworth Woodhouse, there is a great book called Black Diamonds telling you all about the history of the mining and the house, well worth a read. You can pay daily for a tour, it is definitely worth a visit and the gardens allow you to see the baroc rear property.

[@johnwelsh8737]

Don't forget, to have a look at Matlock and Matlock bath. The cable car to the heights of Abraham is a good trip.

[@michaelbbb2271]

Lovely memories for you . Must be sadness ans happiness going there . As that was part of your life

[@bythecurb]

It did make me a little bit sad

[@hammerite6479]

Thankyou for the matlock video and I do go to Rotherham and you're right it is down to Parkgate and meadowhall that's permanently changed town for the worse such a shame ,Saturday nights round there was brilliant

[@debhulks]

Great tour. Some very interesting areas to explore.

[@garysides636]

Hi James ....this is more like the "old James" mate we've come to know and love 😊......the world / UK/ news / media is full of doom and gloom pal so it's good to see and listen to some positivity. Although some places may have gone "downhill" there are still gems to be seen .. memories to be remembered and even made ... Wentworth looks amazing...a star of architecture. Somewhere I definitely would visit and not a million miles from North Wales. I've always enjoyed your channel but I have to admit for me and Jane it's gone into more of a "slight moan" over your previous articulate humour and Northern spin on things. Like you , we love watching "bald and bankrupt" and some of the places he has visited , people he speaks to and it's still done with an educational vibe over .... Both yourself and Helen are great people and a pleasure to watch. Keep up the great "positive" vlogs. 🙏🙏🙏 Gary and Jane 🦉🦉

[@stuartmcivor2276]

My home town. Don't go there much now except to visit my parents.

[@Shefflad]

I can remember going to pennywise with my nan back in the 80s. I also trained as a sparky at Rotherham college on Alma road from 1989.

[@anthonke]

I remember Hillards. There was a Hillards in Ilkley - Friday night shop

[@deltaman1804]

Hi James, I took the grandkids to clifton park after watching your previous video with you and Helen, the kids loved it. The Lion in the museum was used as the model for the lions in Trafalger square.

[@lucyadams706]

My dad had a menswear business on Corporation Street for years until the Council demolished the building and made the rates too high for him to relocate, very sad.

[@johnr4066]

Wow James your are really knocking these things out 😊 I'm from Isle of Bute, have you been to any Scottish Islands?

[@davidmonkman1767]

Yet another interesting video james. You make my day when I see you talking about places you vist. As I said all your videos are well worth watching.

[@jackdunn7673]

I'd be interested in visit to wentworth

[@NatalieSmith-dz3ee]

Really enjoyed your vlog as per usual 😊 me and my man also love graveyards and churches for the history and architecture. Keep up the good work James ❤

[@lynnescaddan8919]

Thankyou for the video There's a lot of adults around for a work day. Then again a lot are on shifts or work from home.

[@maxinew4703]

keep doing what you want to do, I find all your vlogs interesting and entertaining. you could visit any city in the UK and you will always find a part of it that's run down xx

[@JimBob-iz2by]

That Fire bug is very prevalent in Bradford.

[@gingerali]

Another Great watch , some serious money must have gone into building the last mansion you showed. It’s a crying shame as to what’s happening to our beautiful country today. I don’t need to go any further. Keep I the good work mate .

[@elizabethdunn2992]

Very good video James. And wow that place at the end, I’ve never heard of it.

[@angeroper6839]

Hi James you are looking well ,it would be nice to visit that big house and the church thank you for showing us ,keep up the good work looking forward to your next vlog Ange

[@bythecurb]

Thank you Ange :-)

[@susaneaton5608]

Another good video, but a bit hard not to be negative when the town is so depressing , Only beautiful happy towns from now on please James, but I love how informative you are, so thank you 😊

[@angelamass8405]

It's hard for you because your coming on the back of these types of vlogs. I think you can only do what your doing 😊

[@SusieBall-v7v]

We enjoyed this video. Me and my husband thought Rotherham had a lot to offer. Beautiful buildings . Town well laid out. Stunning parks and country houses. Lots of shops too. The area looks well looked after. We were impressed. Susie and Phil

[@bythecurb]

Thank you Susie & Phil

[@Cosmicreepers13]

Good vid this. I haven’t been to Rotherham but it’s nicer than expected. Your family shops are lovely. I hope they can invest in Rotherham. Nice and upbeat.

[@jimjsfjsf2258]

From barnsley used to take kids to Clifton park never had a wander round Rotherham centre ,Wentworth woodhouse Rotherham Wentworth Castle barnsley same family but were in competition with houses and monuments

[@mrjiggs3761]

Coopers toys....i remember saving up the stars in Action Man purchases to buy a new action man!

[@PatriciaMegna]

Nice clean looking town,great kids park,shame its so quiet.🦘

[@Marigolded]

We have some really exceptional Streetpride workers who try their best to keep the town centre clean.

[@paulinewoods6177]

Hooked on your vlogs and channel, enjoy every minute xx

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Great walk round James some really nice buildings there.. especially the Huge Hall just outside ,it’s the same tho as every nice big city centre I’m afraid but doesn’t look too bad 😊Roche abbey now that’s a beautiful place been there great one in summer we’re English Heritage members so visited most abbeys in the area 😊 Temporarily closed at the moment 😮😮

[@QuentinStonier]

Interesting to see how you are developing your channel. One of the great entertainment outlets for Northerners was bingo. Back in the day it was so popular that it became known as the 'national game'. It would be nice to see you visit a club and report on how bingo has changed over the years.

[@cassvonsnoffen]

I love this. Thank you for your honest and emotional travels. Good guy. I always look forward to the next mooch. See Thi soonies 😉

[@jaynedrayton9511]

That skate park was spotless! Never seen one that wasn't covered in graffiti. Lots of interesting stuff on this one. Most city centres are much the same nowadays I reckon. Nottingham is a shadow of it's former self. Half demolished a shopping centre then not had the ££ to finish it. Its an eyesore. Your vlogs are varied. Can't fault them 😊

[@iandeeley5035]

Thank you James, another good video. Could I suggest a "driving" video around the Garstang, Cockerham, Pilling and Cleveleys area taking in the countryside for the benefit of the housebound and those who aren't aware of the beauty surrounding towns, sheep and cows etc.

[@sarahstorey8492]

It’s worth reading Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey. Is a fantastic history of Wentworth house.

[@sarahdavies7851]

Really enjoyed the video thank you.

[@shaunsmith690]

I live in between Rotherham and Wentworth and i know what you mean Rotherham town centre as seen better days but they are spending some money on it , they are nearly finished on the Forge island what used to be the old Tesco .Then like you say 5 mins away from the town is Wentworth a nice little place and the big house as been used in a lot of films ,Gentleman Jack and i think the one about Churchill as well ,so there is a few positives. lol.

[@user-up5vp8gk4k]

I enjoyed your walk around Rotherham.

[@Michael-z2y]

I'm also from a family of retailers grandparents had tobaconists In hackney and romford one was bombed in the 40s just after selling it and moving to romford and in the 50s to southend on sea mike

[@tyrednexhausted9274]

Who knew a gaff like that would be in rotherham Dave. Beautiful ❤

[@fionaduval6764]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, yes it is becoming rundown but the streets are beautifully clean. Lovely parks and country houses. Obviously the shopping centres just outside town, not to mention online shopping is clearly ruining the independent businesses. Thank you 😊

[@deadlevelwillie]

Another great video James, with your family connections, towns were great in the 70's, 80's, bypassing meters causes fires apparently🤔

[@hikingthehills1335]

James these videos of towns that are in decline are still very interesting and informative, sad too I suppose. The town I'm from is in a very similar situation.

[@paulfisher7911]

i never new there was another hillardes as we had one in peterborough yrs ago and looking at your picture of it i thought look at all those classic cars

[@kimhodkin]

Loved the video felt sorry for you with going back to where your family worked but I just wanted to say thank you for doing it love kim xxx

[@countmurcielago9802]

Very interesting video James these once vibrant shopping towns with shops, disappearing is has to be with internet shopping and before that shopping malls being introduced The visit to Wentworth was stunning you could just imagine the horses and coaches arriving all them years ago for big dinners and functions back then. Imagine living there now with your fleet of Ferraris and Lamborghinis parked up 😂😂

[@Amiguru]

I enjoyed the punning double- entendre remarks about the clock James. 😜

[@DF-yw7gr]

Rotherham looks like it was great years ago and could be great again with some investment

[@g1fsh]

The biggest positive I could see in Rotherham town centre was that it was full of stunning architecture. Yes it was mostly empty but still beautiful to look at. Just had to commit on this one James because this was a cracking video about a stunning place that you obviously love. Thanks for a superb channel you and Helen are great people.a pleasure to watch you both.

[@samandjennysambrook]

Ayup Jamsey Boy...I worked in Rotherham fitting all the new windows in the interchange...not a bad little town...try Retford, that's small compact and a vibrant place on Saturdays..great vlog mate, informative as per usual.✅👍

[@bythecurb]

Thanks mate

[@Jennifer-ep1sr]

Some really nice buildings and arcades. ❤🇦🇺

[@johnbailey4618]

It's grim in most towns these days . De industrialised, online shopping, retail parks have killed big towns unfortunately

[@nicolatowers7571]

Hi glad u showed some positives