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. 

Barnsley Canal presentation–Thursday 29 February

An illustrated presentation on ‘The fascinating story of The Barnsley Canal – its history and its route’ by Stephen Woodcock. To be held in the Barnsley Town Hall commencing at 6.30pm.

All our talks are held in partnership with Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Service and are free to all to attend. Non members of the trust will be particularly welcome . Booking is not necessary

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 …

The Development of Barnsley Town Centre, Thursday 30 November.

Kathy McArdle, Barnsley Council Service Director for Regeneration and Culture, is giving a talk on the development of Barnsley Town Centre. This will bring us right up to date with what has taken place and what the future may hold to keep the town centre vibrant with the pressures that it faces.

The presentation is in the Learning Lab of Experience Barnsley in the Town Hall with the kind cooperation of Barnsley Archives and Local Studies.
Please note the earlier start time and the venue: 
6.30pm, Barnsley Town Hall Learning Lab
Thursday 30 November: All welcome

History of Barnsley’s Trinity Players, Thursday 9 November

Barnsley Civic Trust had a fascinating talk on November 9th by Phil Johnson: The History of the Trinity Players. Founded in the 1930s, the Players are one of the oldest theatre groups in Yorkshire. They are based at the Trinity Church Hall, up from Summer Lane. Paul described their early history when they were called the Farrar Street Players, their popular local dialect plays and the time when they went ‘On the Move’ performing in many local venues.

Mining under Barnsley: NLS maps

One of the sources for Paul Darlow’s talk on Mining under Barnsley was the treasure trove of historic maps on the National Library of Scotland’s website, enlaced of course by Paul’s local knowledge and research.

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.

Developments in Barnsley Town Centre, a talk by Kathy McArdle

Interested in development in Barnsley Town Centre both now and in the future? Barnsley Civic Trust has a talk on the development of Barnsley Town Centre by Kathy McArdle. Kathy is the Service Director covering regeneration and development in Barnsley Council. The talk is open to everyone

Thursday 30 November starting at 6.30pm in Barnsley Town Hall.
All welcome.

Sackville Street to the Valley of the Kings: A Blue Plaque for Harold Jones

Ernest Harold Jones —Artist, Excavator, Archaeologist, Egyptologist — was born in Barnsley. A Blue Plaque for him was unveiled on Thursday 14 September — celebrating his life and connection to Barnsley.

Ernest Harold Jones. Image: National Library of Wales.

1.30 – 2.30pm — Barnsley Town Hall
Illustrated talk by Lady Carnarvon, with an introduction and welcome by Professor Joann Fletcher and Sir Stephen Houghton.

3.00-3.15pm — Sackville Street
Unveiling of Blue Plaque to Ernest Harold Jones by the Mayor of Barnsley.

Born in Barnsley in 1877 – his father was the headmaster of Barnsley School of Art – Harold Jones died in Luxor in Egypt in 1911. The Jones family lived in Sackville Street in Barnsley until his father moved to become head of the Carmarthen School of Art.

Harold Jones became a well-regarded artist; his work inspired by what he’d heard of Egypt and the pre-Raphaelite artists who painted Egyptian themes.

He moved to Egypt for health reasons, employed as an archaeological artist and then excavator. He unearthed rings and small objects bearing the name —not known at that time— Tutankhamun, and sparked interest in finding his tomb.

Unfortunately, he died in 1911, before the tomb of Tutankhamun was finally discovered. His funeral was held in Luxor, organised by Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter who went on to discover Tut’s tomb in 1922.

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