Information on three Barnsley Civic Trust events in January, February and March 2025 are given here. Do have a look. Further events are being planned.
‘The Lancasters, a Barnsley Dynasty’: Thursday 23 January
An illustrated talk entitled: ‘Lancaster and Sons: A Barnsley Dynasty‘ is to be given by James Stevenson, Barnsley Archives’ Project Archivist. This is the fascinating story of one of Barnsley’s most interesting and influential families, the Lancasters, who rose to become prominent auctioneers, valuers and estate agents for more than four generations.
This talk was first hosted by the Friends of Barnsley Archives in September but is to be rerun as an evening event due to popular demand.
The talk is on Thursday 23rd January , starting at 6.30pm, in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall. All welcome.
In association with Barnsley Archives and Local Studies
‘Women artists in Barnsley’: Thursday 20th February
The history of ‘Women artists in Barnsley, their inspiration and influences, an illustrated talk by Hugh Polehampton and colleagues from Barnsley ‘Art on Your Doorstep’.
Thursday 20th February at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall. All welcome.
Joseph Locke, his life and legacy: Monday 17th March, 2025
An illustrated talk on the life and legacy of Joseph Locke is being given by Peter Roberts on Monday 17 March at Barnsley Town Hall, starting at 6.30pm. All welcome.
Who was Joseph Locke?
What did he do in his life?
What were his achievements?
Where can we see his impact on the world today?
Joseph Locke was one of the three Victorian pioneers of civil and railway engineering, alongside Robert Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brought up in Barnsley, his legacy includes railways still used across Britain and Europe, and in Barnsley: Locke Park.
This event is the 2025 Bramah Lecture, sponsored by Barnsley Council, jointly organised by South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and Barnsley Civic Trust . We thank Barnsley Archives and Local Studies for their support. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge but donations are welcome.
Barnsley Civic Trust events, from November 2024
1 Saturday 16 November at 11.30am at The Old Bank (opposite the Town Hall). Join us for the unveiling of 5 Blue Plaques in Barnsley Town Centre.
The plaques, developed in partnership between Barnsley Civic Trust, the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone, Barnsley Museums and Historic England, commemorate notable 19th Century figures and the buildings they were associated with, in and around Eldon Street:
1 Thomas Lister, Postmaster, Poet and Naturalist – The Old Bank, Church Street
2 John Whitworth, Architect, Surveyor, Town Planner – 14 Regent Street
3 Ann Porter, Business woman and Barnsley entrepreneur – 58 Eldon Street
4 Matthew and Eliza Wardhaugh, creators of Barnsley’s first wooden theatre, – Parkway Cinema, Eldon Street.
5 Catherine Mawer, Master Stonemason, and Benjamin Payler, Sculptor,– Queens Hotel, Regent Street.
2 On Thursday 21st November at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber , Town Hall. A presentation by Rob Younger, proprietor of the Parkway Cinema, a site which has been in entertainment use for approximately 150 years.
The illustrated presentation is entitled ‘A lifetime in cinema; from Barnsley to Malta and back! incorporating the story of the Parkway cinema and its site’
3 Thursday 23rd January at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber , Town Hall. An illustrated talk entitled: ‘Lancaster and Sons: A Barnsley Dynasty‘ is to be given by James Stevenson, Barnsley Archives’ Project Archivist, which tells the story of one of Barnsley’s most interesting and influential families, the Lancasters, who rose to become prominent auctioneers, valuers and estate agents for more than four generations. This talk was first hosted by Barnsley Archives in September but is to be rerun as an evening event due to popular demand. This fascinating story is not to be missed.
4 Thursday 20th February at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber , Town Hall. A presentation on the Hidden Art of Barnsley. The talk will be given by Hugh Polehapton and colleagues from Barnsley ‘Art on Your Doorstep’ and will be about the history of ‘Women artists in Barnsley, their inspiration and influences’.
5 Monday 17th March at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall. The Annual Joseph Bramah Lecture will be held in partnership with the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society (SYIHS) and will be an illustrated talk by Peter Roberts on The Life and Legacy of Joseph Locke the celebrated pioneer of civil and railway engineering, ranked alongside Robert Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The talk will include references to Locke Park.
6 BCT is in the process of arranging a presentation on The history of Monk Bretton Priory, to be given by Fred Thompson and also a guided tour of the priory and its site. The presentation will be in the Town Centre and arrangements will be confirmed.
7 BCT is also arranging an illustrated talk on the Barnsley Oaks Colliery disaster of 1866 which took the lives of 366 men and boys By Paul Darlow, the Author of ‘Black Snow’. This presentation will also be in the Town Centre and arrangements will be confirmed.
Watch out online for more information online or ask to be on our mailing list, or even become a member of Barnsley Civic Trust
Five new blue plaques in Barnsley Town Centre
Five new blue plaques have been installed in Barnsley Town Centre. Barnsley Civic Trust has been working with the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone —which has funded the plaques— to tell some of the stories of Eldon Street and its surroundings.
These include commemorating the work of the man who redesigned the town centre in the 19th century, John Whitworth, and celebrating the woman who brought the first department store specifically for women to the town, Ann Porter.
Here are Barnsley Mayor John Clark, the Mayoress, and the Young Mayor, together with Linda Burgess, Chair of Barnsley Civic Trust, and Jeff Lunn, the 2024 President of Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, at the first plaque unveiling.
This first blue plaque commemorates Thomas Lister, Quaker, Poet and Naturalist, who was Barnsley Postmaster on this site from 1839 to 1870. As well as being President of Barnsley Naturalist and Scientific Society for 20 years, he was a prominent member of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union which had their annual general meeting in Barnsley on the day of the unveiling. Thomas Lister attended the first YNU AGM held in Barnsley in 1884, 140 years ago!
More information will follow on the other four plaques
Blue Plaque: Hungarian refugees welcomed in Barnsley in 1956
In 1956 and 1957, Barnsley welcomed 200 Hungarian refugees following the crushed Hungarian revolution; they found work in the coal industry. We are commemorating this with a blue plaque.
The Hungarian Consul General Dr L Risko-Nagy unveiled the blue plaque at the Miners’ Hall in Victoria Road on Wednesday 23rd October at 2.00pm.
It was another great opportunity to visit the stunning Miners’ Hall!
Dr Andrew Zsigmond, one of the refugees, told us his story and how he was welcomed in Barnsley.
The Mayor of Barnsley John Clarke and the Area Chairman of the NUM, Chris Skidmore, welcomed our guests.
It was great to welcome some of the original 1956 refugees and their relatives to the event.
A Lifetime in Cinema: a talk by Rob Younger of the Parkway Cinema
‘A Lifetime in Cinema; from Barnsley to Malta and back’, a talk by Rob Younger, proprietor of the Parkway Cinema: Thursday 21st November, 6.30pm in the Council Chamber in Barnsley Town Hall.
Rob’s talk includes the story of the Parkway Cinema and its site on Eldon Street.
The site has been occupied by cinemas, theatres and other entertainment usage for over 150 years. This has been commemorated by a Blue Plaque.
Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street
The recently completed Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) has worked with the local community to uncover and celebrate the stories and often overlooked heritage of one of Barnsley’s most important historic high streets.
The restoration of the historic fabric of Eldon Street has also been part of the HAZ; it has worked with local businesses and property owners to fund conservation repairs to key historic buildings on the west side of Eldon Street.
Dr Tegwen Roberts gave an illustrated presentation on the ‘Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street, unearthed in the High Street Heritage Action Zone, on Thursday 10 October in the Council Chamber of Barnsley Town Hall.
Tegwen’s well-attended talk was really appreciated by those present: the council chamber was buzzing! Quite a number of us had participated in the HAZ and it was great to hear about its overall impact and the stories it had revealed.
The Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone was a four year joint project between Barnsley Council and Historic England, completed in 2024. Dr Tegwen Roberts was the Eldon Street HSHAZ Project Leader. Barnsley Civic Trust contributed to aspects of the Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone. Barnsley Civic Trust talks are arranged in partnership with the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies..
Barnsley Civic Trust 2024 AGM
The Barnsley Civic Trust AGM took place at 6.00pm on Thursday 10th October in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall before the talk by Tegwen Roberts on the ‘Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street, unearthed in the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone.
Allen Parks gave a summary of the activities of Barnsley Civic Trust over the last year and publicised the talks planned for the next year. Bill Gaunt told members of the financial position which had been helped by the increase in members.
The executive committee was elected: Allen Parks, Edana Guest, Ian Harley,
Janet Richardson, Linda Burgess, Melvin Lunn, Michael Hardy, Peter Roberts, Ronnie Steele and Susan Browne. Allen has agreed to continue as secretary and Linda has agreed to be chair for the next year. Bill Gaunt has stepped down as treasurer and from the executive committee; he was thanked for all he has done for the society.
The association with the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies team was proving very successful.