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

This year’s Bramah Lecture is ‘The Rise and Fall of the Linen Industry in Barnsley’, given by Bill Gaunt. It draws on research carried out by the late Harold Taylor, the author of the SYIHS occasional paper ‘Wilson’s Piece.’

The 2024 Bramah Lecture is held on Monday 8th April in Barnsley Town Hall at 6.30pm. Use Barnsley Town Hall’s ‘Experience Barnsley’ entrance from Barnsley Pals Centenary Square. All welcome.

So that we have an idea of numbers, please tell us if you will be there, clicking the ‘Going’ button at the bottom of this post. No button? Click on the heading!

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.

What was in the News about Barnsley in the 1800s?

A talk on ‘What was in the News about Barnsley in the 1800s’ by Josh Daniels. To be held in Barnsley Town Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday 21 March. Hear all about it!  Click on this post to tell us if you intend to attend.

Barnsley was flourishing in the 1800s —and the media knew the country had to be told of what was going on in this industrial powerhouse. This talk will go over some of the daily goings on and the major events that the press picked up on, ranging from tragedies, to successes, to places that are vastly different to where we know and love today.

Joshua Daniels is a historian, filmmaker, and heritage tour guide. Barnsley Civic Trust talks are held in partnership with Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Service and are open to all to attend. Tell us if you intend to come. 

Presentation by Ronnie Steele

‘Build It For Barry’, ‘A Blue Plaque For Brian Glover’ and ‘Norman Rimmington – Forever One Of Our Own’.

Barnsley Civic Trust is delighted to present a talk by local author, Ronnie Steele: Dramatic tales of Barry Hines, Brian Glover, and Norman Rimmington —and growing up in the 1960s! The talk will be held in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall, commencing at 6.30pm, on Thursday 25th January 2024.

Encouraged by author, Milly Johnson, and sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, Ronnie wrote stories about his heroes and published three highly acclaimed books containing 70 tales about growing up in Barnsley.

28 years a teacher in Barnsley, Ronnie seized the opportunity of honouring his favourite teachers, Barry Hines, author of Kes, and actor, Brian Glover who taught him at Longcar Central School during the 1960s, before they became famous. Norman Rimmington, of course, is a legendary figure of Barnsley FC.

Ronnie led projects for a statue in honour of Barry Hines, and a Barnsley Civic Trust Blue Plaque for Brian Glover.

We were pleased to see Barnsley Chronicle’s article about Ronnie’s talk …

Mining under Barnsley, a talk in the Miners’ Hall, Thursday 19 October

Paul Darlow giving a talk to a group in the Miners Hall

Paul Darlow gave a great talk on the fascinating history of the mining of coal under Barnsley Town Centre and the area around it. Paul Darlow is an Author, Historian, Curator and former Miner.

The talk was held in the NUM Miners’ Hall in Victoria Road, itself steeped in history and well worth a visit in its own right.

A Barnsley Civic Trust talk: Thursday 19 October, 7pm in the Miners’ Hall in Victoria Road, next door to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) building. All welcome.

A blue plaque for Joseph Bramah

We celebrated Joseph Bramah at Wentworth Castle Gardens on Tuesday 12th September, during Heritage Open Days.

Joseph Bramah (1748 to 1814), from Stainborough, was one of Britain’s most important inventors and the father of hydraulic power. Amongst many other things, he invented a lock that could not be picked, a beer pump, a flushing toilet, hydraulic presses and devices for pulling up trees.

Barnsley Museums have the original 1791 continuous fire pump made by Joseph Bramah for Wentworth Castle, the first of its kind. It can be seen at Experience Barnsley at Barnsley Town Hall.

Barnsley Civic Trust and
National Trust Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Heritage Open Day: Free Entrance to Wentworth Castle Gardens
#BarnsleyHeritageMonth

Barnsley Civic Trust Talks

The Barnsley Civic trust programme of talks includes:

Thursday 19 October ‘Mining under Barnsley’. Paul Darlow will give a talk on the fascinating history of the mining of coal under Barnsley Town Centre and the surrounding area. Venue: Miners Hall. 

Thursday 16 November: History of the Barnsley Trinity Players, a presentation on the history of the theatre group by Phil Johnson.

Thursday 30 November: Development of Barnsley Town Centre, a presentation on recent and forthcoming developments by Kathy McArdle, Service Director Culture and Regeneration, Barnsley Council.

Other talks include: Blue Plaques for Brian Glover and Barry Hines by Ronnie Steele on 25 January; Barnsley Canal by Stephen Woodcock on 29 February and  Barnsley News in the 1800s by Josh Daniels on 21 March 2024

Talks are open to members and non-members

Watch this space for details of other talks and activities.

Victorian Society visit August 2023

Barnsley Civic Trust welcomed Victorian Society members for a tour, guided by Allen Parks, of some of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings in Barnsley town centre and nearby conservation areas.

We explored the iconic NUM Miners Hall with Paul Darlow and this time called in at the home of Barnsley Civic Trust Chairman John Love for tea with Victorian cakes produced in Barnsley!

BCT events

Coming up this year with Barnsley Civic Trust …

Town Tours
We have two tours of Barnsley Town Centre coming up for visiting groups, looking at significant buildings, both historic and new:
Saturday 22 July: Huddersfield Civic Trust visit for tour of Barnsley Town Centre

Sunday 20 August 20: Yorkshire Victorian Society tour of Victorian buildings.

We also intend to repeat the tours for Barnsley Civic Trust members and Barnsley residents.

Blue Plaques
Two Barnsley Civic Trust Blue Plaques are being unveiled in the next few months.

Tuesday 12 September: Blue Plaque for Joseph Bramah, Engineer and Inventor, at Wentworth Castle, in association with the National Trust Wentworth Castle Gardens. This is one of the national Heritage Open Days and access to Wentworth Castle Gardens will be free of charge.

Thursday 14 September: Blue Plaque for Ernest Harold Jones, Artist and Egyptologist, with a talk by Joann Fletcher.

Saturday 15 July: There is also the unveiling of another Blue Plaque at Wentworth Castle to commemorate the achievements of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. This is a Royal Society of Biology and National Trust event with talks. 

Barnsley Civic Trust would be interested to hear of nominations for Blue Plaques especially where funding can be provided by a sponsor.
 
Further Talks
Thursday 19 October at the Miners Hall (NUM Offices). Paul Darlow will give a talk on the fascinating history of the mining of coal under Barnsley Town Centre and the surrounding area.

Thursday 16 November: History of the Barnsley Trinity Players, a presentation on the history of the theatre group by Phil Johnson.

Talks are open to members and non-members

Watch this space for details of other talks and activities