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Paul Rowland is a passionate historian, accomplished artist, archaeologist, and devoted champion of his beloved rural village of Harthill with Woodall. For more than fifty years, he has poured his energy, creativity, and expertise into uncovering the past while actively enriching the present for the community he holds so dear.

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Paul’s lifelong fascination with genealogy began at the age of ten when a school project sparked an enduring passion. He spent five decades meticulously tracing every branch of his own family tree until a DNA test delivered a dramatic breakthrough he had spent years searching for.

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The identification of a long-sought after ancestor after 50 years of searching finally resolved family myths passed down through three generations. His deep expertise in genealogy led to a professional career spanning over twenty years, during which he has helped countless individuals and families around the world discover their roots. 

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For over 20 years he wrote and published The Indiaman Magazine - a genealogical and history magazine that was read in 25 countries around the world. His expert knowledge was often sought after and he was asked to assist with genealogical research for three episodes of the BBC’s BAFTA-winning series Who Do You Think You Are? for Alistair McGowan, Rupert Penry-Jones, and Billy Connolly, he has written commissioned articles for leading genealogical and history magazines including Burke's Peerage, and appeared as a guest on various BBC radio stations. Through his work, Paul has not only satisfied his own curiosity but generously guided others on their own genealogical journeys of discovery.

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Equally dedicated to the visual arts, Paul developed his talent as a young child under the guidance of his two older brothers. After attending art college, he enjoyed a rewarding 40-year career as a graphic and web designer in the advertising and print industry. Today, he works freely across oils, watercolours, sketching, photography, and digital art. Drawn to people, light, colour, texture, shadows, and the picturesque or unusual in everyday scenes, Paul finds endless inspiration in landscapes, portraits, planes, trains, and automobiles. 

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His work has been exhibited at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London with the Guild of Aviation Artists, featured in newspapers and on television, and reproduced on merchandise and wallpaper. He has created significant public pieces, including the painting for the Mi Amigo interpretation board in Sheffield’s Endcliffe Park and local heritage boards in Harthill and Kiveton. While he rarely parts with original paintings — describing them as “his children” — he makes giclée prints available and occasionally accepts commissions although he prefers to paint mainly for himself.

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Paul’s love for history and archaeology runs particularly deep in Harthill with Woodall, the rural South Yorkshire village he calls home and cherishes profoundly. He founded the Harthill with Woodall Archaeology Group and has made several important discoveries, including an Iron Age camp, a Bronze Age burial mound and burial urn dating back to 2,500 BC, a prehistoric camp and located two watermill sites - one dating from the 12th-century and the other dating from the 17th-century, plus several other sites in the area.

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He has authored several books, including Sheffield Castle: A Trench By Trench Photographic Record; two volumes about the undiscovered archaeological landscape around Harthill and the search for the original settlement site of the village; The Life of Major Maurice Joseph Turnbull - The best of his generation who never captained England; plus 2 volumes about his own family history in A Journey Through Time - The Story of a family; and The Quiet Quest - a motivational self-help book.

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He wrote and created the audio guide for All Hallows Church to help the church raise much needed funds, he has designed multiple websites for local heritage projects, and produced interpretation boards that help residents and visitors better understand and appreciate the area’s rich past.

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His community spirit shines brightly across everything he does. As a former Parish Councillor, Paul has fought tirelessly to protect Harthill’s rural character — successfully campaigning against unnecessary development, the demolition of historic buildings, and fracking in the village and more recently the solar farm that is sadly earmarked for the village and beyond. 

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He has planted thousands of daffodils, bluebells, and snowdrops on Spens Field with a couple of friends for the Parish Council; was responsible for installing the bench facing Harthill and the wildflower planting along Hard Lane, Harthill. He designed and built the 7 wooden flower troughs located outside Harthill Precinct, designed and created the artwork for the circular plaque at the Festival Verge, Harthill, made numerous bird and bat boxes for the Parish Council and Harthill Primary School with the assistance of Harthill Workbench to mark the coronation of King Charles III, then installed them around Harthill Primary School and around the village. He is currently working on a memorial to mark the location of the long lost Anglo-Saxon cross that once stood near the village of Harthill. 

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Every summer he gives his time freely to photograph the Harthill Carnival for the Harthill Carnival Society and has supported most of the village organisations with his time, design skills, and enthusiasm over the years. Whether writing, painting, sculpting, or researching, Paul’s work is rooted in a genuine love for Harthill and its people. He believes deeply in preserving the village’s heritage, beauty, and strong sense of community for future generations.

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A self-described restless soul with boundless curiosity, Paul Rowland continues to follow wherever his passions lead. Through his expertise, generosity, and unwavering dedication, he has become one of Harthill with Woodall’s most passionate ambassadors — a man who not only uncovers history but actively helps shape a proud and vibrant future for this South Yorkshire rural village and the neighbouring villages and all of their residents.

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Our villages are under constant threat. Our local councils and developers seem to see nothing here but empty fields ripe for development. The local farmers are constantly seeing their livelihoods under threat so understandably they often give in to the temptation of easy money by renting out their land for industrial developments. Let's keep farmland as farmland - we can't eat solar panels!

 

However, what many people do not know, is that this area has a rich and very old historical landscape hidden just beneath the surface stretching back as far as the last Ice Age. It's time everyone was made aware of what is hidden in plain site in and around our villages. Once you become aware of our shared heritage I hope you will feel a sense of pride and a desire to prevent its destruction and protect our villages for future generations. The farmers may 'own' the land but in truth, the history and the heritage it holds really belongs to all of us. Let's not lose it.

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