"The Parish of Wales is situated in South Yorkshire (the old West Riding) adjacent to the borders of both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Wales has a long history evident from the architecture of part of St Johns church (the parish church) that dates from Norman times. However it was the coming of the colliery at Kiveton Park that sparked a rapid growth in both population and wealth for the parish. Kiveton Park had originally been a hamlet within Harthill parish, but when the Duke of Leeds gave permission for the Kiveton Park Coal Company to sink a mine (receiving hefty royalties in return) the hamlet was transferred to Wales parish..."