Barnsley Local Information: 10 top things to know... more
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1. History
Barnsley has a long history with the coal mining industry – it is thought one of the first mines in the area was opened in 1491. Coal mining remained a large part of the town’s life until the decline of the industry in the 1980s. Barnsley is a market town and it also played a large role in the linen weaving industry during the 19th century. The glass industry has also been...Read more
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2. Now
The market is still a central part of the town’s life today, with both an open market and an indoor market hall. There is plenty of history to discover both in the town and in its surrounding countryside and historic parklands. Barnsley football is at the heart of town life and is based at the Oakwell Stadium. Regular fixtures attract thousands of fans to the stadium.
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3. Events
Pear Day is an annual event at the Cannon Hall Museum, Cawthorne. Activities include pear tasting and cookery demonstrations. The celebrations take place in September. BOMfest is an annual music festival in July and includes live performances on nine stages. The event takes place at Worsbrough Mill and Country Park. A summer carnival takes place in the town every July and inc...Read more
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4. Attractions
Wigfield Farm, in the Worsborough Country Park, gives visitors a chance to meet cattle, goats, Shetland ponies, pigs, sheep, poultry, cage birds, chipmunks, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits and more. Wentworth Castle, in Stainborough, includes 500 acres of historic gardens, an adventure play area and a collection of 26 listed buildings and monuments. Cannon Hall Museum Park ...Read more
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5. Things To Do
The Metrodome is a sports and leisure centre including swimming pools, fitness centre and sports hall. The RSPB Old Moor, on the outskirts of Barnsley, has a visitor centre, plenty of wildlife and a family play area. Regular wildlife themed events take place at the site. The Cooper Gallery, in Barnsley town centre, displays work by international, national and local artists. T...Read more
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6. Business
Barnsley has an indoor market hall containing more than 300 stalls. It also has an open-air market, in an area known as the Metropolitan Centre, and an antiques market. The Alhambra shopping centre houses many high street names as well as cafes and restaurants. Many independent stores can be found in the Market Street, Eldon Street and Arcade areas of the town centre.
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7. Transport
Barnsley is close to the M1 motorway, giving good access to the north and south. Main A-roads linking the town to the east and west are the A628 and the A635. The major cities of Leeds, Sheffield and Huddersfield are only a short train journey from Barnsley. The nearest airport to Barnsley is Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, which is about 20 miles away. Leeds Internat...Read more
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8. Entertainment
The Barnsley Lamproom Theatre offers a programme of comedy, drama, musicals, pantomime and more. The theatre is built from a derelict church building. Venues for live music in the town include the Lucorum bar and club, Pulse bar, Bar Axis and Barnsley Trades Club.
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9. Famous Landmarks
Monk Bretton Priory was founded in the 1150s and originally belonged to the powerful French order of Cluny. Its medieval watermill also still survives and is now The Mill of the Black Monks Restaurant.
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10. Interesting Fact
Famous faces to come out of Barnsley include Michael Parkinson, cricket umpire Dickie Bird, cricketer Darren Gough and former miners' leader Arthur Scargill.
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Barnsley Blog
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Children get website and university
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Museum project gets sticky bomb
A sticky bomb is one of the latest items to be donated to a people’s museum project. Former Barnsley resident Stanley Beach, 75, travelled from his home in Leicester to donate the bomb to the Experience Barnsley project after...
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