Boston Castle

Boston Castle Closed during the winter. The Castle opens April to end of September every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Originally built as a shooting lodge by the Earl of Effingham, Boston Castle is a square, two-storied building standing on one of the highest points in Rotherham. The Castle is a Grade II listed building that has been recently restored to its former glory, with the addition of modern visitor facilities. It stands in the grounds of Boston Park, an eight hectare park with an attractive garden area a

nd large open area for recreation. The Castle has a viewing platform offering panoramic views of Rotherham and Sheffield, which you can access for a small charge. Access to the viewing platform is only available by appointment, and flat shoes must be worn. As well as Boston Castle itself, a range of exciting events and activities are staged throughout the season. On-site car parking and toilet and baby changing facilities are also available.

📣📣Notice: It is not an April Fool’s joke.We wish it was, but it’s not.We are looking forward to welcoming you to our sit...
01/04/2026

📣📣Notice: It is not an April Fool’s joke.
We wish it was, but it’s not.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our site soon.

11/08/2025

DID YOU KNOW THE EARL OF EFFINGHAM RENTED THE LAND FOR THE PARK? 🌳

Henry Howard, the 2nd Earl of Effingham 🎩 (of the second creation) gave a 40 year lease for 20 acres of land to be used as a park🍃. The rental agreement 🤝 was for £50 a year, making it £2000 rent for the full 40 years! 🧐

This equates to around £7,000 a year today! 😮

09/08/2025

HOW DID JOHN GUEST SECURE THE LAND FOR BOSTON PARK? 🤔

John Guest 🎩 laid the matter before Henry Howard, the 2nd Earl of Effingham (1845-1889), as he owned the land. 🏡

The Earl granted a 40 year lease on the Castle and 20 acre Park, for an annual rental of £50. 🌳🍂🍃

And that is how we got 'The People's Park' - Rotherham's first public park! 😄

DID YOU KNOW THE EARLDOM BECAME EXTINCT? 😮The Earl of Effingham title was first established in 1731, with Francis Howard...
04/08/2025

DID YOU KNOW THE EARLDOM BECAME EXTINCT? 😮

The Earl of Effingham title was first established in 1731, with Francis Howard as the 1st Earl of Effingham. After Richard Howard, the 4th Earl of Effingham, the Earldom became extinct.

The title was re-established in 1837 with Kenneth Alexander Howard becoming the new 1st Earl of Effingham.

The title still exists today, with Edward Mowbray Nicholas being the 8th Earl of Effingham.

We have created a timeline to show you the history of the title 'Earl of Effingham'!

01/08/2025

IT'S YORKSHIRE DAY! 🎉

Why not celebrate with a visit to Boston Castle and Parklands this weekend? 🙌

We'd love to see you all! ☺️

📍 Boston Castle
📆 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
⏰ 11am-3pm (last admission 2:45pm)

DID YOU KNOW HOW BOSTON PARK CAME TO BE? 🌳🍂🍃It was Rotherham's Historian, Mr Alderman John Guest, who first had the visi...
25/07/2025

DID YOU KNOW HOW BOSTON PARK CAME TO BE? 🌳🍂🍃

It was Rotherham's Historian, Mr Alderman John Guest, who first had the vision to turn a former quarry in to Rotherham's first public park!

"It would not be easy to find a spot from which a more rare and remarkable intermingling of scenes of great natural beauty, old world memories or objects of present and everyday interest could be found".

DID YOU KNOW THAT BOSTON PARK USED TO BE A QUARRY? 😮Before the Park, Boston Wood was merely woodland and quarries, worke...
21/07/2025

DID YOU KNOW THAT BOSTON PARK USED TO BE A QUARRY? 😮

Before the Park, Boston Wood was merely woodland and quarries, worked by Mr. Birks. The remnants of the quarry walls can still be seen today!

When it first opened, a major feature of the park was the face of an old quarry of a sandstone known as Rotherham or Mexborough Red Rock.

This was extensively quarried in the area and was used in many of Rotherham's buildings, such as the Parish Church ⛪, and Boston Castle itself 🏰.

DID YOU KNOW BOSTON PARK OPENED DURING THE VICTORIAN PERIOD? 👑During the Victorian period, there was a growth in municip...
18/07/2025

DID YOU KNOW BOSTON PARK OPENED DURING THE VICTORIAN PERIOD? 👑

During the Victorian period, there was a growth in municipal parks, which were referred to as "The Lungs of the City" by Frederick Law Olstead, an American landscape architect. 🍃

The purpose of these parks was to provide enjoyment away from the smoky, cramped conditions of industrial town and city life. 😄

It was noticed that during the weekend, large crowds of working class families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 would enjoy visiting the park, breathing in the pure air of the natural surroundings. 🌳

DID YOU KNOW BOSTON PARK OPENED 15 YEARS BEFORE CLIFTON PARK?🌳🍂🐦🦋👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Rotherham opened two parks during the 19th centu...
14/07/2025

DID YOU KNOW BOSTON PARK OPENED 15 YEARS BEFORE CLIFTON PARK?🌳🍂🐦🦋👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Rotherham opened two parks during the 19th century, at the height of the industrial revolution.

The first public park to open in Rotherham was Boston Park on 4th July 1876. Clifton Park was the second, which opened 15 years later on 25th June 1891

As Boston Park was the first to open, it was originally know as 'Rotherham Park' or 'The People’s Park', then as Boston Castle and Park.

IT'S A LOVELY SUNNY DAY TODAY!🌞How are you enjoying the sun this weekend? How about a trip to Boston Castle? 🌳🍂🍃We have ...
12/07/2025

IT'S A LOVELY SUNNY DAY TODAY!🌞

How are you enjoying the sun this weekend? How about a trip to Boston Castle? 🌳🍂🍃

We have lots of picnic benches for families to enjoy 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, and the views from our viewing platform go on for miles! We also have lots of toys and activities for the little ones (and the big ones 😜) to enjoy!

📍Boston Castle
📆 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
⏰11am-3pm (last admission 2:45pm)

🚨 POLITE NOTICE: PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE CASTLE BEFORE OUR OFFICIAL OPENING TIMES 🚨It has come to our attention that som...
12/07/2025

🚨 POLITE NOTICE: PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE CASTLE BEFORE OUR OFFICIAL OPENING TIMES 🚨

It has come to our attention that some visitors have tried to access the building/toilets before our official opening time of 11am. For Health and Safety reasons, members of the public are NOT allowed to enter the building before our official opening times.

Our staff and volunteers only have a small amount of time to open the building, and the door will be unlocked/open because our staff need to have access to the inside, and the outside, in order to fully open up the building.

We also have events on at the Castle, where our members of staff need to enter the building early, so that they have enough time to set everything up. The door will also be unlocked/open as staff will be constantly in and out of the building, bringing in items for the event.

Please do not be disrespectful towards our staff if they inform you that you are not able to enter before 11am.

Thank You!

Address

Boston Castle Grove Off Moorgate Road
Rotherham
S602BD

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 3pm
Wednesday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

01709 336633

Website

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