The medieval settlement of Wombwell had a linear plan form along this road. There is no evidence that Wombwell was granted a market charter but high tax paid by the town in 1334 is suggestive that a substantial amount of trade was taking place. The towns position on the historic London-Richmond road would have aided its development and it the 17th century it was a known stopping place for Halifax Clothiers on their way to London (Hey 1979, 71). There is unlikely to be a substantial commercial core in the medieval period, this would have been a later development. The 19th century saw significant development of the town. The opening of the Dearne and Dove Canal in 1804 gave a wider market for the areas coal (Glister 1995, 118). A number of large collieries opened around Wombwell in the mid 19th century, which drove a significant population expansion. This expansion lead to the development of the Urban District Council of Wombwell who constructed a number of civic buildings, including the town hall that was built in 1897 (Elliot 2001, 64). The town centre is still dominated by 19th century buildings although there has been some alterations and modern infilling. The surviving street pattern gives fragmentary legibility of the medieval core.