1819 Yorkshire Miners’ Strike talk

On Thursday 5th June in the NUM Miners Hall in Barnsley, Dr Joe Stanley gave a presentation entitled ‘Five Shillings Per Day’: The 1819 Yorkshire Miners’ Strike and its significance to the formation of Mining Unions.

The talk took place in the year of the 150th anniversary of the NUM Offices building designed by Barnsley architects Wade and Turner. The Miners’ Hall is next door in Victoria Road; the splendid banners were a great backdrop.

The talk is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcg9e-0XAQw

BCT Annual General Meeting 2025

The Barnsley Civic Trust 2025 Annual General Meeting took place on May 1st. Linda Burgess, BCT Chair, gave her report on activities since the last AGM in the autumn and Melvyn Lunn, Treasurer, presented the accounts for 2024-25.

The first priority of the Executive committee, elected at the last general meeting in October 2024, has been to look at, and simplify, the Constitution of the Society, reaffirming

  • our commitment to being a non-political, voluntary organisation focused on promoting Barnsley, its heritage, buildings and future.
  • that this covers Barnsley Metropolitan Borough, not just the town
  • that the subscription period is the calendar year, reviewed annually

The revised constitution was accepted.

The current executive members and officers, elected in October 2024 were returned without opposition. They are: Linda Burgess, chair; Allen Parkes, secretary; Melvyn Lunn, treasurer. Committee members: Susan Browne, Edana Guest, Ian Harley, Michael Hardy, Peter Roberts, Janet Richardson and Ronnie Steele. Subsequently to the meeting Susan Browne offered take on the role of membership secretary.

Documents for the meeting can be downloaded below. …

Monk Bretton Priory, its history

Monk Bretton: its History and Influence. Monk Bretton Priory is one of the most important heritage sites in Barnsley Fred Thompson gave an illustrated presentation on its history on 1st May in Barnsley Town Hall.

The priory was very influential in the early days of Barnsley and Fred covered this —and more— in his talk. He illustrated the life of the monks and highlighted monastic influence on the town, particularly in establishing Barnsley Market.

We are hoping to follow this up with a guided tour of the Priory later in the year. Watch out for the date!

Joseph Locke, his life and legacy: Monday 17th March, 2025

Statue of Joseph Locke in Locke Park. St Edwards in background

An illustrated talk on the life and legacy of Joseph Locke was given by Peter Roberts on Monday 17 March at Barnsley Town Hall. A recording is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYC5PELNq-8


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 was 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.

‘The Lancasters, a Barnsley Dynasty’: Thursday 23 January

James Steverson, Barnsley Archives’ Project Archivist, gave an illustrated talk ‘Lancaster and Sons: A Barnsley Dynasty‘, was given by James Stevenson. Full of interesting information, it was much appreciated by those who attended.

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 was rerun as an evening event due to popular demand. Ans some people came to hear it a second time!

Held in association with Barnsley Archives and Local Studies, here’s an image taken by Paul Stebbing of the event.

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

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.

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. Tegwen Roberts gave a talk after the AGM 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.  

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.