Caring for our borough and shaping its future
‘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.
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 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
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.
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..
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.
Barnsley Civic Trust had a guided walk around Barnsley Town Centre on Friday 13th September. It told the history of the Town through some of the historic and architecturally interesting buildings which can be seen today.
The tour included a visit to the historic Miners Hall in Barnsley …
Barnsley Civic Trust folk on the way to the NUM building and Miners Hall
Once there, Paul Darlow introduced us to the many historic NUM colliery banners on display and showed us many artefacts from mining history.
The tour was open to members but some non-members came along too. If there is the demand, there will be more tours to come.
Email contact@barnsleycivictrust.org.uk to express your interest.
Barnsley Civic Trust is also willing to conduct tours of the historic sites and buildings in Barnsley town centre for groups of around 10-20 people.
Just get in touch.
Heritage Open Days take place in 2024 between the 6th and 15th of September. Barnsley Civic Trust will advertise these on social media.
See also: heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/search-2024-events.html or
barnsley-museums.com/community/heritage-open-days-in-barnsley-2024
Friday 13th September: Guided Walk around Barnsley Town Centre, telling the history of the Town through its buildings and including a visit to the historic Miners Hall. Led by Allen Parks,Barnsley Civic Trust
Thursday 10th October: 6pm-6.20pm. Barnsley Civic Trust AGM.
Thursday 10th October: 6.30pm ‘Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street’, a talk by Dr Tegwen Roberts, based on research during the recently completed Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ).
Look out for five new Blue Plaques funded by the Heritage Action Zone coming to Regent Street and Eldon Street and an event associated with them.
Wednesday 23rd October: Blue Plaque commemorating Barnsley’s welcome to 200 Hungarian refugees following the crushed Hungarian revolution. The Hungarian Consul General Dr L Risko-Nagy will unveil the blue plaque. There will be a series of talks including by Dr Andrew Zsigmond, one of the refugees.
Thursday 14th November: ‘A Lifetime in Cinema, from Barnsley to Malta and back’, a talk by Rob Younger of the Parkway Cinema. His talk will include the story of the Parkway Cinema and the history of its site which has been occupied by cinemas, theatres and other entertainment usage for over 150 years.
Barnsley Civic Trust is in the process of arranging other talks and events including a presentation on the history of Monk Bretton Priory, by Fred Thompson, and a separate guided tour of the priory and its site. Watch out for more news.
Barnsley Civic Trust is also willing to conduct tours of the historic sites and buildings in Barnsley town centre for groups of around 15-20 people.
And a date for your 2025 diary
Monday 17 March 2025: Bramah lecture – The Life and Legacy of Joseph Locke. Peter Roberts will give a talk on the life of the celebrated pioneer of Victorian civil and railway engineering brought up in Barnsley and on his impact on the world and on Barnsley. The history of Locke Park will feature in the talk.
Held in association with the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society.
Barnsley Civic Trust Events are arranged and presented in partnership with the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies team of Barnsley MBC. They are open to everyone to attend, free of charge but donations welcome.
Look for more information and updates on these events on our website and social media.
One of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, George Orwell stayed in Barnsley in 1936. He wanted to see for himself the living conditions of working class people for his book ‘The Road To Wigan Pier’. He stayed at a house in Agnes Terrace, still there today. A Blue Plaque commemorating George Orwell’s stay in Barnsley was unveiled on Friday 26 April.
The main event to mark the occasion was a talk by Edana Guest about George Orwell’s time in Barnsley, his experiences and what he found out. It was in the Miners’ Hall, Victoria Road, next door to the NUM building.
Edana has written an article about George Orwell’s stay in Barnsley in the excellent ‘Memories of Barnsley’.
The unveiling of the Blue Plaque then took place as a small event in Day Street at the end of Agnes Terrace.
Edana Guest, Quintin Kopp, Linda Burgess and Milly Johnson at the unveiling.
This event was held in partnership with Barnsley Archives & Local Studies. We are pleased that the Chair of the Orwell Society, Quentin Kopp, was present and made some interesting comments. Richard Blair, George Orwell’s son and Patron of the Society was unfortunately not able to be there.
Our thanks to Edana Guest for all she has done to arrange this event.
Linen industry weavers’ cottages. Thanks to the Tasker Trust for the image.
In the period either side of 1800, Barnsley was the leading linen producer in England. This is the fascinating story of the linen industry in Barnsley and will cover the physical and cultural heritage of that bygone prosperity.
The 2024 Bramah Lecture is on Monday 8th April in the Learning Lab at Barnsley Town Hall, starting at 6.30pm. Use Barnsley Town Hall’s ‘Experience Barnsley’ entrance from Barnsley Pals Centenary Square. All welcome.
On this occasion there is a limit on numbers able to get in the room, so it’s essential to let us know if you intend to come. We can’t let people in beyond the capacity of the room!
Email allenparks22@hotmail.com to reserve a place.
The Bramah Lecture is an annual lecture commemorating the inventor, Joseph Bramah; it has taken place in Barnsley since 1999, sponsored by Barnsley Council. Barnsley Archives and Local Studies, Barnsley Civic Trust and South Yorkshire Industrial History Society are jointly organising this year’s lecture.
