Back in the early 1820's, Rothwell was a parish town in the Agbrigg division of the liberty of Pontefract with a population in the region of 2,155. The parish church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was within the deanry of Pontefract.

By 1868, the parish of Rothwell covered a large extent. It was close to the river Aire and near the recently constructed Leeds canal and North Midland railway. The ancient town was irregularly laid out and now was home to some 3,220 inhabitants, with the parish itself containing just over 8,000 people.

Back then the principal public building was the gaol for the hundred of Pontefract, formerly used as the debtor's prison. The majority of the working population were chiefly employed in agriculture and in the collieries, and in the woollen cloth and hair sieve manufactures. There were also establishments for the making of rope and twine.

The entire district abounded with coal of excellent quality and there were numerous mines in operation within the surrounding area.