Tag: Industrial History

Oaks Disaster 1866: a presentation by Paul Darlow & Paul Hardman



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.

Mines Rescue

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.

Barnsley-Hull Railway talk

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.

Our sister society, Howden Civic Society, have a page on their website on the Hull and Barnsley Railway. Well worth a look! https://howdencivicsociety.co.uk/hull-and-barnsley-railway/

Joseph Locke, his life and legacy

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.