Doncaster in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Doncaster, mun. bor., market town, par., and township, S. div. West-Riding Yorkshire, on river Don, and on the line of the ancient Roman road of Watling Street, 32 miles S. of York and 156 miles N. of London by rail -- par., 10,197 ac., pop. 25,887; bor. and township, 1691 ac., pop. 21,139; 4 Banks, 4 newspapers. Market-day, Saturday. D. was the Danum of the Romans and the Dona Ceastre (Camp on the Don) of the Saxons. Previous to the Reformation it was the seat of several monastic establishments. Its corn market is of considerable importance, and its trade is mainly agricultural; it has, however, mfrs. of canvas, sacks, and ropes, some iron and brass foundries, and agricultural implement works, besides the extensive locomotive and carriage works of the Great Northern Ry. About 1 mile to the SE. of the town is the racecourse, one of the oldest and finest in the kingdom.