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Barnsley () is a
market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...
in
South Yorkshire South Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the north, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east, Lincolnshire ...
, England. It is the main settlement of the
Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley is a metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England; the main settlement is Barnsley and other notable towns include Wombwell, Worsbrough, Penistone and Hoyland. The borough is bisected by the M1 mo ...
and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. The town's population was 71,422 in 2021, while the wider borough had a population of 244,600 in the 2021 census.
Historically History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some theorists categ ...
in the
West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...
, Barnsley is located on the M1 corridor between the cities of
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
to the south and
Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...
to the north.
Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...
is to the east,
Huddersfield Huddersfield is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confl ...
to the north-west, and
Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
lies west across the
Peak District The Peak District is an Highland, upland area in central-northern England, at the southern end of the Pennines. Mostly in Derbyshire, it extends into Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It is subdivi ...
to which it is connected to via the
A628 road The A628 is a major road connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire in Northern England. It crosses the Pennine hills by way of Longdendale and the Woodhead Pass in the Peak District National Park. The road's altitude and exposure to ...
. Barnsley's former industries include linen,
coal mining Coal mining is the process of resource extraction, extracting coal from the ground or from a mine. Coal is valued for its Energy value of coal, energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to Electricity generation, generate electr ...
,
glass Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline solid, non-crystalline) solid. Because it is often transparency and translucency, transparent and chemically inert, glass has found widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in window pane ...
making and textiles. Barnsley's culture is rooted in its
industrial heritage Industrial heritage refers to the physical and intangible legacy of industrialisation, including buildings, machinery, workshops, sites, and landscapes of historical and technological significance. Stefan Berger and Steven High define industrial h ...
and it has a tradition of
brass band A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting primarily of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands (particularl ...
s, originally created as social clubs by its mining communities.


History

Following the Norman invasion of 1066, many
abbeys An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The conc ...
and priories were built in Yorkshire. Norman landowners increased their revenues and established new towns such as Barnsley,
Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...
,
Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * The hull of an armored fighting vehicle, housing the chassis * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a sea-going craft * Submarine hull Ma ...
,
Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
,
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to: People * Scarborough (surname) * Earl of Scarbrough Places Australia * Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth * Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong * Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
, and
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
, among others. Of towns founded before the conquest, only
Bridlington Bridlington (previously known as Burlington) is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is on the Holderness part (Flamborough Head to the Humber estuary) of the Yorkshire Coast by the North Sea. The town is ...
,
Pocklington Pocklington () is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, its population was 10,123. It lies east of York, and ...
, and
York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
continued at a prominent level. Although settlements had been established in the Barnsley area for centuries prior, and was a well known centre to trade, the first reference to Barnsley occurs in 1086 in the ''
Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
'', in which it is called Berneslai and has a population of around 200. The town was in the parish of
Silkstone Silkstone is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, between the towns of Barnsley and Penistone. The parish includes the village of Sil ...
and developed little until in the 1150s, when it was given to the
Pontefract Priory Pontefract Priory was a Cluniac monastery dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, founded about 1090 by Robert de Lacy, 2nd Baron of Pontefract, and located in Yorkshire, England. It existed until the dissolution of the monasteries. The Church a ...
. The monks built a town where three roads met: the
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
to
Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...
,
Rotherham Rotherham ( ) is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies at the confluence of the River Rother, South Yorkshire, River Rother, from which the town gets its name, and the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don. It is the largest settlement ...
to
Huddersfield Huddersfield is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confl ...
and
Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...
to
Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...
routes. The Domesday village became known as Old Barnsley, and a town grew up on the new site.David Hey, ''Medieval South Yorkshire'' The monks erected a
chapel of ease A chapel of ease (or chapel-of-ease) is a church architecture, church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently, generally due to trav ...
dedicated to
Saint Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
, which survived until 1820 , and established a
market Market is a term used to describe concepts such as: *Market (economics), system in which parties engage in transactions according to supply and demand *Market economy *Marketplace, a physical marketplace or public market *Marketing, the act of sat ...
. In 1249, a
Royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
was granted to Barnsley permitting it to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays and annual four-day fair at
Michaelmas Michaelmas ( ; also known as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels) is a Christian festival observed in many Western Christian liturgical calendars on 29 Se ...
. By the 1290s, three annual fairs were held. The town was the centre of the
Staincross Staincross is a village in South Yorkshire, England, on the border with West Yorkshire. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it formed part of the defunct Barnsley West and Penistone borough constituency, following the Boundary ...
wapentake A hundred is an administrative division that is geographically part of a larger region. It was formerly used in England, Wales, some parts of the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and in Cumberland County in the British Colony of ...
, but in the mid-16th century had only 600 inhabitants. From the 17th century, Barnsley developed into a stop-off point on the route between Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield and London. The traffic generated as a result of its location fuelled trade, with hostelries and related services prospering. A principal centre for
linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong and absorbent, and it dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Lin ...
-weaving during the 18th and 19th century, Barnsley grew into an important manufacturing town. The first passenger station to serve Barnsley was opened by the
North Midland Railway The North Midland Railway was a railway line and Great Britain, British railway company, which opened a line from the city of Derby in Derbyshire to the city of Leeds in Yorkshire in 1840. At Derby, it connected with the Birmingham and Derby J ...
in 1840. Barnsley station (later called
Cudworth railway station Cudworth railway station () was a railway station that served Cudworth, South Yorkshire, England. History The station was built by the North Midland Railway and opened in 1840. It was originally called Barnsley and is referred to in Allens G ...
) was located some away at Cudworth. On 1 January 1850, the
Manchester and Leeds Railway The Manchester and Leeds Railway was a British railway company that built a line from Manchester to Normanton, West Yorkshire, Normanton where it made a junction with the North Midland Railway, over which it relied on running powers to access L ...
opened Barnsley Exchange station, close to the town centre. On 1 May 1870, the
Midland Railway The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 in rail transport, 1844. The Midland was one of the largest railway companies in Britain in the early 20th century, and the largest employer in Derby, where it had ...
opened Regent Street station, a temporary structure. A new station was opened by the MR on the Regent Street site on 23 August 1873. As it incorporated the old court house in its construction Regent Street station was renamed Barnsley Court House station. Barnsley became a
municipal borough A municipal borough was a type of local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of ...
in 1869, and a county borough in 1913. The town's boundaries were extended to absorb Ardsley and
Monk Bretton Monk Bretton is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately two miles north-east from Barnsley town centre. Until 1974 it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire. History Monk Bretton has bee ...
in 1921 and Carlton in 1938. Barnsley was the site of a
human crush Crowd collapses and crowd crushes are catastrophic incidents that can occur when a body of people becomes dangerously overcrowded. When numbers are up to about five people per square meter, the environment may feel cramped but manageable; when nu ...
that resulted in the deaths of 16 children in 1908, at a public hall now known as The Civic, when children were rushing to watch a film in the building. Barnsley has a long tradition of glass-making, however Barnsley is most famous for its coal mines. In 1960, there were 70 collieries within a radius of Barnsley town centre, but the last of these closed in 1994. The National Union of Mineworkers still has its HQ in Barnsley.
George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...
mentioned the town in ''
The Road to Wigan Pier ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' is a book by the English writer George Orwell, first published in 1937. Its first half documents his sociological investigations of the bleak living conditions among the working class in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the ...
''. He arrived in the town on 11 March 1936 and spent a number of days in the town living in the houses of the working class miners while researching for the book. He wrote very critically of the council's expenditure on the construction of
Barnsley Town Hall Barnsley Town Hall is the seat of local government in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. Building Design and construction The site selected for the new building in Church Street had ...
and claimed that the money should have been spent on improving the housing and living conditions of the local miners.


Governance

The Town Hall itself is visible behind some gardens; the building is made of white stone and has an impressive clock tower. Opened on 14 December 1933, Barnsley Town Hall is the seat of local government in the
Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley is a metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England; the main settlement is Barnsley and other notable towns include Wombwell, Worsbrough, Penistone and Hoyland. The borough is bisected by the M1 mo ...
. The
County Borough of Barnsley The County Borough of Barnsley, and its predecessor, the Municipal Borough of Barnsley, was a local government district in the West Riding of Yorkshire, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, from 1869 to 1974. Barnsley became a municipal borough ...
was created in 1913, administered independently of the West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1974, following the
Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...
, the county borough was abolished and Barnsley became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in the new county of South Yorkshire, along with nine urban districts and parts of two rural districts of the surrounding area, including many towns and villages including Penistone and Cudworth. Elections to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have seen the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party retain control of the council at every election. Following the Barnsley Council election, 2012, latest election in 2012 the council has 53 Labour, 5 Barnsley Independent Group and 5 Conservative Party (UK), Conservative councillors. The borough council elects the mayor every year. On the day of the election, a parade takes place in front of the town hall in honour of the new mayor. Barnsley is split into four constituencies, Barnsley North, whose MP is Dan Jarvis of the Labour Party, Barnsley South, whose MP is Stephanie Peacock of the Labour Party, Penistone and Stocksbridge, whose MP is Marie Tidball of the Labour Party, and Wentworth and Dearne, whose MP is John Healey of the Labour Party.


Geography

Barnsley is located in the valley of the River Dearne at the eastern foothills of the Pennines, near the uplands of the
Peak District The Peak District is an Highland, upland area in central-northern England, at the southern end of the Pennines. Mostly in Derbyshire, it extends into Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It is subdivi ...
to the west. Geologically, the town is located within the area of the South Yorkshire Coalfield, consisting of the middle coal measures and sandstones laid down in the Carboniferous period. The town is approximately north of
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
, south of
Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
, south of
Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...
and east of
Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
.


Divisions and suburbs

Ardsley, Athersley, Barugh Green, Bank End, Birdwell, South Yorkshire, Birdwell, Darton, Carlton, Cawthorne, Cudworth, South Yorkshire, Cudworth, Cundy Cross, Darfield, South Yorkshire, Darfield, Dodworth, Elsecar, Gawber, Higham, South Yorkshire, Higham, Honeywell, South Yorkshire, Honeywell, Hoyland High Hoyland, Hoylandswaine, Kendray, Kexbrough, Kingstone, South Yorkshire, Kingstone, Langsett Lundwood, Mapplewell,
Monk Bretton Monk Bretton is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately two miles north-east from Barnsley town centre. Until 1974 it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire. History Monk Bretton has bee ...
, Tankersley, South Yorkshire, Tankersley, New Lodge, South Yorkshire, New Lodge, Oakwell, Old Town, Barnsley, Old Town, Penistone, Pogmoor, Royston, South Yorkshire, Royston, Shafton, Smithies, South Yorkshire, Smithies,
Silkstone Silkstone is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, between the towns of Barnsley and Penistone. The parish includes the village of Sil ...
, Staincross, Stairfoot, Thurnscoe, Wilthorpe, Woolley Colliery, Worsbrough (includes Worsbrough Bridge, Rockley, Worsbrough Dale, Swaithe, Worsbrough Village, and Ward Green), Worsbro Common, Wombwell, Wortley, South Yorkshire, Wortley.


Green belt

Barnsley is within a Green belt (United Kingdom), green belt region that extends into the borough and wider surrounding counties. It is in place to reduce urban sprawl, prevent the towns in the Barnsley/Dearne Valley conurbation from further convergence, protect the identity of outlying communities, encourage brownfield reuse, and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas, and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building. The green belt surrounds the Barnsley built-up area, separating towns and villages throughout the borough. Larger outlying communities such as Cudworth, Dodworth, Kendray, Monk Bretton, and Worsbrough are also exempt from the green belt area. However, nearby smaller villages, hamlets and rural areas such as Swaithe, Smithley, Low Laithes, and Upper Norcroft are 'washed over' by the designation. Much semi-rural land on the fringes is also included. The green belt was first defined in 1979, and the area in 2017 amounted to some , 77% of the borough. A subsidiary aim of the green belt is to encourage recreation and leisure interests, with rural landscape features, greenfield areas and facilities including the River Dearne valley, and tributaries Cawthorne Dyke and Tanyard Beck; Hugset and Dovecliffe Woods; Worsbrough Mill Park and reservoir; Dearne Valley Park; Trans Pennine Trail; Kendray recreation ground; Locke Park; Stainborough Cricket Club and Park; Wentworth Castle and gardens; Barnsley Colliery; Monk Bretton Priory; Laithes Lane playing fields; and Barnsley Golf Club. Beyond Penistone, the green belt also borders the Peak District National Park.


Demography

The 2011 census recorded that the population of the town was 91,297.


Ethnic groups

According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, Barnsley was 95.5% White people in the United Kingdom, White, 1.4% British Asians, Asian, 1.1% Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category), Mixed, 1.0% Black British people, Black and 1.0% Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom, other. Previously 2011 census data showed the town was 94.7% White British, 1.1% Asian and 0.8% Black.


Economy

The town was known for a thriving linen trade prior to the arrival of the coal mining, coal industry. From the 1850s onwards, a large number of coal pits were opened, mostly in the villages surrounding the town, especially those to the east. Coal mining was the major industry of the town until the late 1950s, when a long-term decline set in. All the mines in the borough are now closed, the last to shut being Goldthorpe, Goldthorpe Colliery in 1994. Wire, linen and glass making were also major industries, but only glass making remains, with one company still operating. The coat of arms for the town has both a coal miner and a glass-blower supporting a shield and depicting local families and other industries, above a ribbon bearing the town's motto, ''Spectemur agendo'' ("Let us be judged by our acts"). Major companies in Barnsley include online retailer Asos.com, ASOS, the largest cake bakery in Europe, Premier Foods (formerly Lyons Bakery) who make the Mr Kipling Cake brand, Ardagh Glass (glass bottle makers), Symphony Kitchens, Premdor, several double glazing joinery manufacturers and a number of other large food manufacturers. Most of these businesses are based on industrial parks outside the town centre including many on reclaimed former coal mine sites. The town centre is now moving towards a service economy. In June 2024, unemployment stood at 3.4% in Barnsley North and 4.1% in Barnsley South, compared to the national level of 3.9%. The western half of the borough stretches from the M1 to the edge of the Peak District and is rural in character. This western part includes the market town of Penistone and Wentworth Castle and its Grade I listed gardens, Cannon Hall Park and Museum, Cawthorne Jubilee Museum, Wortley Hall and gardens, and Wortley Top Forge (16th century Forge). In 2002, Barnsley Council and partners launched a consultation, "Rethinking Barnsley". It led to a regeneration programme centred on the town centre which is still underway. Developments included the transport interchange, a cultural centre in the old Civic Hall, a Digital Media Centre (opened August 2007), and new offices and apartments throughout the town centre. At the same time new housing areas were developed. Business parks on the M1 at Junctions 37 and 36, and in the Dearne Valley, have expanded job opportunities. Unemployment is now below the national average. The economic development of Barnsley is led by the Barnsley Development Agency. Significant industrial employers include the Ardagh Group and ASOS.com.


Town centre

A large part of Barnsley town centre was constructed during the 1960s. The area around Cheapside and May Day Green, the Metropolitan Centre, is home to the market and many national high street chains such as Marks & Spencer, Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone, Boots Group, Boots, and The Body Shop. It is in the process of renovation to make space for a new retail and leisure development. Alhambra Shopping Centre, which was opened in 1991, houses retailers such as Next (clothing), Next, Poundstretcher, and Primark. Other prominent areas include Queen Street, home to Marks and Spencer, Market Street, Eldon Street and the Victorian Arcade, which houses the majority of the independent and designer retailers in Barnsley. The town also has a large concentration of pubs and bars in the central district. There is also a twin auditorium cinema called Parkway Cinema Barnsley occupying what once was the Odeon Cinema on Eldon Street. Outside the town centre are large retail units, retail parks and supermarkets, which include Asda, Morrisons, Currys, and Halfords. The development of a new shopping centre was started in the town centre in late 2015.


Development

Barnsley town centre is undergoing a period of change. Projects include: *The new Barnsley Interchange (now completed). *The Digital Media Centre (now completed). *Gateway Plaza at Town End (now completed). *Experience Barnsley – The creation of the Barnsley People's Museum and Archives Centre. This project was awarded almost £3m of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which means two floors of Barnsley's town hall were transformed into museum galleries. (now completed) *Barnsley College A Block was completed and opened in September 2011. *Aimed for opening in 2021, a new area of town, covering the current Cheapside and semi-open market area is intended to open by spring 2021. The facility is under construction, and is named the Glass Works. The first stage of the development has opened and consists of the town's market. The new facility will create an urban, glass and steel fronted open-top shopping area, comparable to that of Trinity Walk in
Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...
. The development includes a 13-screen Cineworld cinema, bowling alley and high street shops. (now completed)


Landmarks

*
Barnsley Town Hall Barnsley Town Hall is the seat of local government in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. Building Design and construction The site selected for the new building in Church Street had ...
, recently turned into Experience Barnsley, a locally focused museum *Cannon Hall, a Museum, Park & Gardens in Cawthorne *Cannon Hall Farm, working farm and tourist attraction in Cawthorne * The Civic, an 1877 listed building now housing a theatre and art gallery *Houndhill, Worsbrough *Locke Park *Monk Bretton Priory,
Monk Bretton Monk Bretton is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately two miles north-east from Barnsley town centre. Until 1974 it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire. History Monk Bretton has bee ...
*Oakwell Stadium football ground, home of Barnsley Football Club *Wentworth Castle, country house and gardens in Stainborough *Barnsley Main, a Grade II listed building and the last remaining pithead in Barnsley, currently under development. The first bottle bank for glass recycling collection in the United Kingdom was introduced by both Stanley Race CBE, then president of the Glass Manufacturers' Federation and major employer Redfearn's (now Ardagh Glass) and Ron England in Barnsley. The bottle bank opened on 24 August 1977.


Transport

The main transport hub is Barnsley Interchange, a combined rail and bus station that was opened on Sunday 20 May 2007; it was the first project of the ''Remaking Barnsley'' scheme.


Buses

Stagecoach Yorkshire run most bus services within Barnsley, operating to and from Barnsley Interchange. Stagecoach Group, Stagecoach acquired the company from Yorkshire Traction in 2005.


Railway

Passenger services are provided by Northern Trains. The standard hourly service pattern is as follows. Northbound services: *Two express services to , taking around 35 minutes; *One slower service to Leeds, along the Hallam Line via , taking around 50 minutes; *One service to , via the Penistone Line. Southbound services: *Four trains to Meadowhall Interchange and , including two local and two express routes; of these, one service continues to & and one service continues to & . Evening and Sunday services operate less frequently. Barnsley is also served by: *Dodworth railway station is west of the town centre, on the Penistone Line and has one platform; *Darton railway station is in north Barnsley, on the Hallam Line and has two platforms.


Air

Since the closure of Robin Hood Airport the nearest airport is Leeds Bradford Airport, which is approximately away.


Education

Barnsley College is situated on a number of sites throughout the town centre, chiefly Old Mill Lane campus, SciTech Centre, Honeywell Sports campus, CUBE Construction Centre and STEM Centre. The University of Huddersfield has recently opened a campus in the town on Church Street beside
Barnsley Town Hall Barnsley Town Hall is the seat of local government in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. Building Design and construction The site selected for the new building in Church Street had ...
. This is known as the University Campus Barnsley. All 14 secondary schools in Barnsley were demolished and replaced by academy education centres, named 'SuperSchools'. These new schools combined all the previous Local education authority, LEA run comprehensive schools in the area into newly Private finance initiative, PFI built Academy (English school), academies under the Building Schools for the Future programme.


Notable people

* Bethany England (born 1994), professional association football, football player for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women, Tottenham Hotspur and the England women's national football team, England national team * Brian Glover (1934–1997), actor and wrestler who grew up in Barnsley * Joanne Harris (born 1964), author, born and brought up in Barnsley * Callum Simpson (boxer), Callum Simpson (1996–), British Professional boxing, professional boxer. He holds the British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles from August 2024. * John Stones (born 1994), professional association football, football player for Manchester City and the England national football team, England national team * The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican comedy folk band, founded by lead singer, Scott Doonican, in Barnsley in 2006 to present day. * Delilah Bon, Lauren Tate (born 1997), vocalist, songwriter and producer, formerly the frontwoman of Hands Off Gretel. She currently releases music under the pseudonym Delilah Bon.


Culture


Theatre

The Civic, in Barnsley town centre, is a multi-purpose performance venue in a grade II listed building. The building was originally the Barnsley Mechanics Institute and Public Hall, built by Henry Harvey in 1877. His brother Charles Harvey, gave the building to the people of the town a few years later, renaming it the Harvey Institute. The Harvey Institute was host to many types of entertainment, including variety shows and movie theater, cinema. It was also home to the public library and shops; public meetings and celebrations were held in the hall; and education was provided. The School of Art occupied the Public Hall from 1878 to 1948, which was also used as first headquarters and billets for "Barnsley Pals" during World War I. In 1962, the building became Barnsley Civic Theatre, closing in 1998. The Civic was re-opened in March 2009 after a major redevelopment, which included provision for a theatre and public art gallery. The Civic has hosted high-profile acts such as Al Murray and Russell Howard. The Civic houses a contemporary art gallery that hosts touring exhibition from the V&A and the Flow Gallery in London. The Civic also curates its own work for touring. The Lamproom Theatre has four theatrical companies, and showcases theatre in the town. The Academy Theatre is part of the Take 2 Centre where performances range from comedy to Musical theatre, musicals. The Take 2 Centre houses The Take 2 Performing Arts Academy, The Stage Door Restaurant, and The Take 2 Music Centre.


Museums and galleries

Barnsley Council operates five museums, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Cannon Hall, the Cooper Gallery Worsbrough Mill and Experience Barnsley which opened in the Town Hall in 2015. Other museums in Barnsley include the volunteer-run Darfield, South Yorkshire#Museum, Darfield Museum and the Cawthorne Victoria Jubilee Museum. Other heritage sites include Wortley Top Forge, Wortley Hall, Wentworth Castle, Monk Bretton Priory, and Pot House Hamlet. HIVE Gallery is a contemporary art gallery set up in 2007. It is in Elsecar Heritage Centre and puts on eight contemporary art exhibitions per year. The HIVE programme ranges from supporting emerging contemporary artists to exhibiting the work of nationally and internationally known artists.


Music

Barnsley is home to a tradition of
brass band A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting primarily of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands (particularl ...
s, which were originally created as social clubs for the mining communities. Grimethorpe Colliery Band, located in Grimethorpe, to the east of Barnsley, is perhaps the best known brass band in Britain. It rose to fame in the film ''Brassed Off'' and is now the 'artist in residence' at the Royal College of Music, London. The band has performed in Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park during the Last Night of the Proms. Other events include Picnic In The Park, being held annually to raise funds for Barnsley Hospice. There is a live Rock music, rock and hip hop music scene, which reached its height in the Britpop years, around 1997, due to its close proximity to
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
and
Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
. The 1980s saw the rise of Saxon (band), Saxon (metal band), Danse Society (Goth) and Party Day (Indie-rock). Both Alex Turner and Matt Helders, of the Arctic Monkeys, studied music at Barnsley College. Barnsley is the home of several live music venues such as The Underground, The Garrison, The Old No 7 and The Old School House. Barnsley formerly hosted the Barnsley Origin Music festival (BOMfest), an outdoor summer music festival which catered for local and national artists. It now hosts Barnsley Live, an annual music festival featuring local acts that takes place in the town centre over a weekend in June. In December 2023, a Christmas carol, written by local musician Arthur Godfrey in 1933, was rediscovered in the archives of the ''Barnsley Chronicle''. It was re-recorded to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Town Hall.


Media

Regional television is provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. Television signals are received from the Emley Moor TV transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Sheffield on 104.1 FM, Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire on 102.0 FM, Heart Yorkshire on 107.7 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.1 FM, and Hits Radio South Yorkshire on 102.9 FM. The town is served by these local newspapers: * ''Barnsley Chronicle'' * ''Sheffield Star, The Star'' * ''We Are Barnsley'', an online newspaper.


Other arts

The "Bard of Barnsley" Ian McMillan (poet), Ian McMillan writes a column in the ''Barnsley Chronicle''. He was nominated for a chair of poetry at Oxford University, and appears on BBC Radio 4. Barnsley has long been known as ''Tarn'' by locals. Ken Loach's 1969 film ''Kes (film), Kes'' was set and filmed in several villages in Barnsley, including Lundwood and
Monk Bretton Monk Bretton is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately two miles north-east from Barnsley town centre. Until 1974 it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire. History Monk Bretton has bee ...
, using local actors such as Freddie Fletcher. His 1977 film ''The Price of Coal'' was set at a fictional Milton colliery in the Barnsley area, although the site of filming was Thorpe Hesley, near Rotherham. The developers of the 2024 adventure game ''Thank Goodness You're Here!'' are from Barnsley, and it serves as the primary basis for the game's setting of Barnsworth.


Twin towns

Barnsley is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with: * Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany *Horlivka, Ukraine


Sport

Barnsley F.C. play in EFL League One, League One, the third tier of English football. Their home ground, Oakwell Stadium is situated in Oakwell, just outside the town centre. The club has had a mixed recent history. In the late 1990s, they had a brief spell in the Premier League, but were relegated after one season. Subsequent seasons saw them relegated to the third tier of English football; they were promoted to the second tier in 2006, beating Swansea in the play off final. They were relegated in the 2013–14 season. After two seasons, Barnsley regained a place in the second tier, following a victory at Wembley in the 2016 Football League One play-off final, and the winners of the 2016 Football League Trophy Final. They were again relegated to the third tier at the end of the 2017–18 season. Also in Barnsley, there is a women's football (soccer), women's football team called Barnsley W.F.C., Barnsley WFC, who currently play in the North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division. Speedway racing was staged at a track near Barnsley at Lundwood. The track entered a team in the Northern Leagues of 1929 and 1930. Two-time British Speedway Under 21 Championship, British Under-21 Championship rider Josh Bates (speedway rider), Josh Bates hails from the town. Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom, Greyhound racing was held at Dillington Park Stadium from 1934 -1990 and at the Dearne Athletic and Sports Stadium in Old Mill Lane, from 1934 to 1935. A third venue at the Barnsley Metrodome, Queen's Ground was refused three times by the Corporation in 1936. Rugby league is played in the town, at a number of clubs, past and present. Dodworth ARLFC played in the second division of the BARLA run Pennine League, playing through the winter. They played at the Miners Welfare ground in Dodworth until deteriorating player participation forced the club to fold 5 games into the 2013/14 season. The same fate befell Hoyland Vikings ARLFC, prompting talk of a merger. This however failed to materialise leaving only one club to represent the town. The only representation now comes from the Dearne Valley Bulldogs in nearby Bolton on Dearne. Like Dodworth and Hoyland, they participate in the Pennine League. Barnsley Broncos play in the RFL conference, which is a summer competition and runs from May to September. Also based at the Miners Welfare, Barnsley Broncos were set up to play in the less intense summer season. Shaw Lane is the home to many sports in town, cricket, rugby union, squash, bowls, football, athletics, and archery are all played to a high standard and host many of the towns teams including Barnsley CC and Barnsley RUFC. Peoples Sport in Barnsley is a project writing the history of participation in sport in Barnsley is in progress and is expected to be complete in 2015. The town also has a high standard badminton league, with three separate tiers. The town is home to Barnsley Harriers, a nationally recognised running club. Ardsley Golf Club, Barnsley, (now defunct) first appeared in the 1930s. The club disappeared at the onset of the Second World War. Golf can still be played at Hillies in Wombwell and there is also a driving range at Staincross. There are a number of cycling clubs in and around Barnsley, including Barnsley Road Club itself, the long-established Birdwell Wheelers and Team Cystic Fibrosis (a charity-focused team), together covering many different forms of cycle sport and leisure. There have also been various other initiatives set up to promote cycling in the town and district of Barnsley.


Freedom of the Town

The following people, military units and organisations and groups have received the Freedom of the Town of Barnsley.


Individuals

* Henry Horsfield (Town Clerk): 1912 * Charles Wray (Alderman and former Mayor 1896–1898 and 1903–1905): 1921 * Lieut-Colonel W. E. Raley (Alderman, 34 years service to Barnsley Corporation): 1921 * David Lloyd George (Prime Minister): 1921 * Harold "Dickie" Bird: 2000. * Rita Britton: 2000. * Lord Mason of Barnsley: 2007. * Joann Fletcher, Dr Joann Fletcher: 7 June 2016. * Ian McMillan (poet), Ian McMillan: 7 June 2016. * David Moody Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire: 7 June 2016. * Kate Rusby: 7 June 2016. * Graham Ibbeson: 15 April 2022. * Katherine Brunt: 15 April 2022. * Patrick Murphy (artist), Patrick Murphy artist and designer * Katherine Kelly (actress), Katherine Kelly: 15 April 2022.


Military units

* The Light Dragoons * The Yorkshire Regiment


Organisations and groups

* The Intensive care unit, ICU Staff at Barnsley Hospital: 15 April 2022.


See also

* Holy Rood Church, Barnsley * Listed buildings in Barnsley (Central Ward)


References


External links


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Barnsley Development Agency

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce

Barnsley and Surrounding Villages History
* * {{Authority control Barnsley, Former civil parishes in South Yorkshire Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley Towns in South Yorkshire Unparished areas in South Yorkshire