Author: Barnsley Civic Trust

Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street

Dr Tegwen Roberts will give 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 at 6.30pm. Open to everyone. No charge but donations welcome.

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.

This event is open to all whether or not you are a Member but will follow a short AGM for the Civic Trust.

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 will take place at 6.00pm on Thursday 10th October in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall. Further information will be emailed to members.

The AGM proceedings will be kept short before an illustrated presentation on “Fascinating Stories of Eldon Street” by Dr Tegwen Roberts.

Historic Buildings in Barnsley Town Centre: Friday 13th September Tour

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.

Barnsley Civic Trust tour of town centre outside the former Ann Porter and Sons Department Store

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.

Barnsley Civic Trust events, from September 2024

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.

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 will unveil the blue plaque at the Miners Hall in Victoria Road on Wednesday 23rd October at 2.00pm.

Dr Andrew Zsigmond, one of the refugees, will give a short presentation. The Mayor of Barnsley and the Area Chairman of the NUM, Chris Skidmore, will welcome our guests.

Open to everyone to attend, any of the original 1956 refugees or their descendants will be particularly welcome to come 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.

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.

Five new blue plaques in Barnsley Town Centre

Five new blue plaques will be installed in early September 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.

These include commemorating the work of the man who redesigned the town centre in the 19th century. And celebrating the woman who brought the first department store specifically for women to the town.

Have you seen the one already there? Watch out for more!

 

George Orwell’s stay in Barnsley: Blue Plaque and Talk

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.

The Rise and Fall of the Linen Industry in Barnsley’, the 2024 Bramah Lecture, given by Bill Gaunt.

Linen Weavers Cottages

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.

John Love


Barnsley Civic Trust has been very saddened by the death of its Chairman, John Love.

John was a hardworking and dedicated member of the Trust and was very fond of his home town.

He passed away peacefully on February 26th.

John has chaired the Trust since Covid times and helped to get it going again after it temporarily ceased to operate.

John had served on the Trust’s Executive Committee for many years before the pandemic and was responsible, among other things, for the success of its Blue Plaques scheme.

John Love (central) with the Blue Plaque to Joseph Bramah at Wentworth Castle.

john Love (centre), Chair Barnsley Civic Trust, with the Joseph Bramah Blue Plaque at Wentworth Castle

John will be much missed. He was active in many walks of life.