The Oaks Disaster in Barnsley in 1866 saw the deaths of 361 men and boys a few days before Christmas that year
160 years later, it is still the biggest mining disaster in England.
The Annual Bramah Lecture in 2026 is an illustrated presentation by Paul Darlow, author of the book on the disaster, and Paul Hardman. Both were involved in the Oaks Disaster Memorial Appeal.
The event is on Monday 16th March, at 6.30pm, in the Council Chamber in Barnsley Town Hall —Entrance via the Experience Barnsley doorway. Just ring the bell! Open to everyone. It’s free; donations are, of course, appreciated.
The Bramah Lecture is presented in a partnership of South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and Barnsley Civic Trust, supported by Barnsley Council and in particular Barnsley Archives and Local Studies.
We would like to welcome you to an illustrated presentation by the renowned Barnsley based Sculptor Graham Ibbeson and Barnsley Chronicle columnist and local author Ronnie Steele. It’s on Thursday 29th January in the Council Chamber in Barnsley Town Hall at 6.30pm.
Graham Ibbeson’s sculpture of Kes in Cheapside, Barnsley
Graham will be talking about his career as an artist and Ronnie will read stories from his latest book: ‘A Tribute to Ken Loach and Kes’.
The two will also describe their close association with Graham’s latest sculpture, ‘The Spirit of Defiance’, and the forthcoming TV documentary that will accompany it.
Everyone is welcome to this open talk hosted by Barnsley Civic Trust, supported by Barnsley Archives and Local Studies. Donations welcome.
The first Mines Rescue station in the country was established in Birdwell! Want to know more?
There’s a talk from Phil Clifford, an expert on the subject, on Thursday 4th December in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall, beginning at 6.30pm.
Phil Clifford will give an illustrated presentation detailing the early years in the development of the Mines Rescue Service in the UK and explain how the first ever mines rescue station came to be built in Birdwell: the Tankersley Mines Rescue Station.
His talk will explain how the service developed, influenced by local Yorkshire entrepreneurial mining officials, a disaster near Birmingham attended by a handful of local colliers, an oil well fire in Mexico, and then the Great War and its aftermath.
Free to all, no need to book in advance. In partnership with Barnsley Archives and Local Studies.
On Thursday 13th November in the Council Chamber in Barnsley Town Hall at 6.30pm, there will be an illustrated talk by James Thomson on how we can protect the cherished buildings and structures in our borough.
Barnsley has so much amazing heritage and we want to ensure it gets the protection it deserves. Local heritage listing is not new, but this presentation will tell us how to get more of our heritage protected; our borough still has many unrecognised heritage assets.
We want local people to have the chance to make it a truly local list: building that are important to people who live with and experience them every day. We will see great examples of what has already been recognised but to make it more comprehensive, we need you!
This is your opportunity to stand up for the heritage assets in our area. We need people from across Barnsley to get involved and tell us about the historic buildings, landscapes, monuments, places etc. that make our area special – and aren’t already protected.
It might be somewhere you already know a lot about or it might be somewhere you’ve just noticed. Either way, it’s a chance to learn something of its history and to protect our heritage.
It’s quite easy to take part in the Local Heritage Listing Project, by learning how to nominate and what to look out for in potential candidates. You can get involved with the identification process on your own or with local groups in your area.
James works with South Yorkshire Archaeology which leads the Local Heritage Listing Project. His special presentation will explain in more detail what the Local Heritage Listing project is all about and how you can take part.
So come along on Thursday 13th November, at 6.30pm in Barnsley Town Hall.
Darfield Area Amenity Society, with the help of Barnsley Civic Trust, have produced a blue plaque to commemorate Maurice Dobson and Fred Halliday. It will be unveiled on Friday August 29th at the museum Maurice left to Darfield. Barnsley Civic Trust members are invited.
At the next Civic Trust event, on Thursday September 18th, Kenneth Brookes will give a talk about Maurice and Fred –and the story of the Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre.
The talk is at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber at Barnsley Town Hall. All welcome.
Hull and Barnsley platform at Cudworth Station, c.1952 Barnsley Archives
On Thursday 22nd of May in the Town Hall Council Chamber, at 6.30pm, Peter Cox gave an illustrated presentation on The Hull and Barnsley Railway formed in 1880 and one of the last large scale railway companies.
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.
Fred offered to take us on a tour of the site; this has now been arranged at 10am on Wednesday 6th August. Fred says that the tour will be an opportunity to find out more about the priory’s history and the site. We will also be able to find out about the plants the monks used for food and medicine.
The invitation is being sent initially to BCT members and in a few days time to our full mailing list. If you would like to join the tour, please let us know as soon as you can by emailing BarnsleyCivicTrust.info@gmail.com.
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.
A great presentation by a quartet of speakers from Art on Your Doorstep, appreciated by everyone present, and there were lots of us! Great research with really interesting information to share with us. Thank you, Art on Your Doorstep
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.
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.
