the LNER Garratt, then the most powerful locomotive in the UK. The depot closed in 1964. Following the demise of coal-mining in the 1980s, Mexborough, like many ex-mining towns and villages, is still in the process of economic and social recovery. The history of the town is charted on the Mexborough & District Heritage Society's extensive website: Ceramics The Rock Pottery, it is believed, traded during its early years as Beevers & Ford. In 1839, it was purchased by James Reed, who was succeeded ten years later by his son John, who changed the name of the business to the "Mexborough Pottery", and the pottery was extended and more kilns constructed. When the Rockingham Pottery closed, John Reed bought most of its moulds and produced many items from them but with differing transfer prints and also plain green with raised leaf design impressed simply with "Reed". Politics Before 2010, Mexborough was in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. Since then, it has been in the Doncaster North constituency, whose current MP is Ed Miliband, former leader of the Labour Party. Local party Mexborough First currently holds all three seats in the Mexborough ward on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. Transport Rail Mexborough railway station is located on the south bank of the River Don on Station Road, a short cul-de-sac off the A6023 Greens Way dual carriageway on the south side of the town. It is served by local stopping trains towards and , operated by Northern Trains, with generally an hourly service in each direction. Bus Mexborough also has a bus station in the town centre, Mexborough Interchange, operated by Travel South Yorkshire. The Interchange is located between the A6023 Greens Way dual carriageway, John Street, Main Street and Hartley Street, around from Mexborough High Street and on foot from Mexborough railway station. The bus station consists of three stands (numbered A1–A3) located in a bus-only lay-by on the northern side of the eastbound carriageway of Greens Way, a single stand (numbered B1) at a right angle to these accessed from John Street, and three stands (numbered HS1–HS3) situated a short distance away at the side of Hartley Street. The three sets of stands are in close proximity, linked by car parks and pathways. The majority of bus routes traverse Mexborough town centre on a one-way loop, with the Greens Way stops serving routes heading generally eastbound towards Doncaster and