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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Connor Teale & Jake Brigstock

Nottinghamshire town where residents say they're 'Yorkshire and proud'

Harworth is a town that falls under the jurisdiction of Bassetlaw District Council, but has a Doncaster postcode, giving it a peculiar identity. Some people in the town consider themselves to be Yorkshire folk, even though Harworth is widely considered to be part of Nottinghamshire.

Residents told Yorkshire Live they feel better connected to South Yorkshire and often choose to shop in that direction, rather than heading south and further into Nottinghamshire. Others said they feel part of both counties, while some admitted they had no interest in the debate.

When residents were asked if the area was dealing with an 'identity crisis', mixed views were shared. Mary Keir said she has always been "Yorkshire and proud". She said: "I always thought it was a bit weird. There is a border and we have a Doncaster postcode but we're part of Nottinghamshire - it's just a bit strange.

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"I've always felt Yorkshire and proud. When people ask me where I come from I always say Yorkshire. I think most people think of it as Yorkshire, although I couldn't speak for everyone else." Ms Keir explained she moved away from Harworth for 21 years but recently came back to be closer to family.

Harworth is on the border between South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire (Yorkshire Live)

Jeff Clarke, 78, has lived in the area for most of his life. He said there was one big benefit to having a Doncaster postcode. "I do like the idea that South Yorkshire's domestic rates are cheaper than Nottinghamshire's," he said.

Mr Clarke added he considers himself to be from both counties. "The border is just below my house," he said. "Personally, I feel both sides. We shop in South Yorkshire because Doncaster is a bigger place. Prior to supermarkets coming to Harworth we had to go to a bigger town to shop."

A woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I feel more part of Yorkshire because of the links to Doncaster, but living between both has its advantages - particularly for shopping. It's just normal to me because I'm used to it.

"I was born here but I moved to Bawtry and now I'm back. I didn't like Bawtry as there are a lot more shops here and people here are a lot friendlier. That could be Yorkshire spirit."

Linda Elliott explained her parents, who lived in Harworth, always considered themselves to be Yorkshire folk. "The buses and public transport were more drawn to Doncaster, rather than Retford," she said. "You could go to the cinema and things like that."

Michael Heeley said he "wasn't really bothered" about whether Harworth was in Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire, but said he had one main 'gripe'. "Bawtry gets its roads cleared because it's in the Doncaster area, but we get missed out because we're on the border."

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