Wombwell

South Yorkshire

The Old Town Hall is now a pubHigh Street, WombwellWombwell is a former coal mining town in the Barnsley metropolitan district of South Yorkshire.

Wombwell is about 4 miles south-east of Barnsley, 5 miles west-north-west of Mexborough and 6½ miles north of Rotherham.

Wombwell has existed as a settlement since before the Domesday Book of 1086, but remained little more than a village in a mostly agricultural area until the mid-19th century when the arrival of coal mining and associated industries and new railway links saw a four-fold increase in population.

Coal mining brought a massive spread of activity in the village. The Wombwell Main Colliery began life in 1853 at a location about a mile to the west of the centre of Wombwell across what were then fields. Another mine, the Lundhill Colliery to the south of Wombwell also started to be sunk in 1853 but was soon to reveal the devastating dangers of working in the mines. A year later, six men were killed by an explosion there. But there was worse to come when on 19 February 1857 another explosion claimed 189 lives — men and boys, several as young as 10 years old.

St Mary's Church, WombwellThe pit had to be flooded to put out the fire but was eventually reopened the following year and continued to be used until the 1890s. While one of the most devastating disasters of its time, it would not be Yorkshire (and England's) worst. That would come nearly 10 years later in December 1866 at The Oaks Colliery, at Barnsley, where the death toll of a pit explosion was recorded initially as 361 men and boys, but may have been more.

To the north-east, just across the River Dove, at Low Valley between Wombwell and Darfield, work had started on a shaft of Darfield Main Colliery in 1856, although flooding problems there resulted in it not opening until 1860. To the north of Wombwell a shaft for Mitchell Main Colliery began to be dug in 1870 with mining starting two years later.

The collieries played a dominant role in life in Wombwell for more than 100 years but now already seem to be long-gone. Lundhill had closed first and is now below a golf course. Mitchell Main, the last to open, was next to close in 1956. Wombwell Main disappeared from the local scene in the 1970s, demolition swiftly following its closure in 1969. Darfield Main survived for another 20 years, before its closure in 1989.

Mining was not Wombwell's only industry. Several other industries co-existed over various periods with the local source of fuel — a foundry near Wombwell Main, a glass bottle works near Mitchell Main and a clay pipe works near Darfield Main. Those, like the mines, have gone and now a mixture of industries can now be found in modern industrial estates around the town.

Many of the areas once blackened by their pits have now returned to being green again. Other areas of green, however, have been consumed by housing over the years. Mining initially brought an expansion of housing in Wombwell with the building of Victorian terrace houses for the mineworkers, but later the Wombwell Urban District Council ambitiously joined in the national programme of building high-standard council housing after the First World War.

Wombwell had its own Local Board and then Urban District Council between 1865 and 1974, also including a number of its surrounding villages. The council was responsible for continuing growth of housing in the area and in 1919 set about building more than 500 council houses for a growing population. Today modern building continues to expand and replace the housing of Wombwell.

The Town still has legacies of its former council, including its Old Town Hall, now converted to a pub. The Urban District Council was amalgamated with several others into the large Barnsley Metropolitan District in 1974.

The Dearne and Dove Canal brought bulk transport of coal and other goods to and through Wombwell, but this was not completed until 1804 after 11 years of slow construction. It was to be superseded after just a few decades by the arrival of the railway in 1840. Railways came as the new mines were being sunk around Wombell and saw the town surrounded by lines and sidings for the coal wagons. Most of the lines have now been removed, including a railway link between Barnsley and Doncaster. It was on that line that Wombwell first had a station, close to the town. A station later opened about a mile to the west of the centre, then near to Wombwell Main colliery, on the line between Sheffield and Barnsley. This is the only rail route at Wombwell today.

Aims to restore the closed canal foundered in 2020, when the Barnsley, Dearne and Dove Canals Trust was wound up following disappointment that a restoration line for the canals was not included in the Barnsley Council local plan.

Town features

The town has pubs and a social club.

The town has shops.

The town has a Post Office.

The town has pharmacies.

Wombwell has a bank.

Wombwell has takeaway food outlets.

A choice of cafes can be found in Wombwell.

The town has a library.

Wombwell has a community hall.

Wombwell has a theatre.

Wombwell has schools.

Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, other.

Travel

Bus travel

The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages.

Wombwell station

Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN.

NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info

External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).

Places to visit

Worsbrough Mill

Worsbrough Bridge
This working 17th century flour mill uses water power from the River Dove at Worsbrough Bridge, 2.5 miles south of Barnsley town centre. Visitors can learn about the milling process and explore the surrounding country park, set around Worsbrough Reservoir. Admission is free, but there are charges in the car park. The mill is off the A61 at Worsbrough Bridge. Buses from Barnsley, including 66 and 265, stop nearby. The mill is run by Barnsley Metropolitan District Council.
Find out more on the

Worsborough Mill web pages.

Monk Bretton Priory

Abbey Lane, Cundy Cross
The ruins of Monk Bretton Priory, a monastery originating in 1154, can be found at Abbey Lane, Cundy Cross, two miles east of Barnsley town centre, hidden behind housing just off the A628 Pontefract Road. The priory was of the order of Cluny, originally established in La Charite-sur-Loire in France. The Cluniac monks had originally established a priory at Pontefract in the 1090s and Monk Bretton was set up as a daughter of that priory. As well as the ruins of the stone-plundered monastery there is a gatehouse dating from a rebuild in the 15th century which is almost intact and an administrative building, originating from the 13th century with a 17th century upper storey, recently renewed and reroofed. The site has free admission, is open most days from 10am to 3pm and is managed by English Heritage. Several bus services operate from Barnsley along the road to Cundy Cross, from where it is a short walk.

More information at the

English Heritage - Monk Bretton Priory website.

Find Monk Bretton Priory on map

Cannon Hall

Bark House Lane, Cawthorne
Visitors can explore the Georgian country house museum and gardens and parkland, extending across 28 hectares (70 acres). The hall also stages a wide range of events from art exhibitions to baking days and re-enactment events. Cannon Hall is 6 miles by road west-north-west of Barnsley town centre just off the A635 road near the village of Cawthorne. It has a large pay and display car park. Bus 92 connects Barnsley to Cawthorne village with a walk of about a mile to Cannon Hall. On Sundays three 92A services run to Cannon Hall.
More information at these

Cannon Hall web pages.

Cannon Hall Farm

Bark House Lane, Cawthorne
Cannon Hall Farm is an award-winning open farm attraction just up the road from the hall itself. The farm has grown to become one of the largest such attractions in the country, now including adventure playgrounds, a gift shop, farm shop and restaurants. The animals themselves are the main appeal though, with a rare breeds barn and milking demonstrations. There are car parking and admission charges, though parking is free and admission reduced after 3.30pm, follow the link to the farm website for details. The farm is also host to the Underneath The Stars Festival of art, music, food and drink in July. Bus 92 connects Barnsley to Cawthorne village, a walk of about a mile to Cannon Hall Farm. On Sundays three 92A services run to Cannon Hall.
More information at the

Cannon Hall Farm website.

Elsecar Heritage Centre

Wath Road, Elsecar
The heritage centre is located in a former ironworks and colliery workshops and houses an antique centre, craft workshops and exhibitions of the past history of the conservation village of Elsecar. Key attractions include the 1795 Newcomen Beam Engine, the only one of its kind to have been preserved in its original location. The Elsecar Heritage Railway previously operated mainly at weekends along a restored part of a branch line which served collieries and iron works, but faced closure in 2020. The centre stages a series of events, including children's activities, car shows and auctions. The Heritage Centre is 6 miles south-south-east of Barnsley. It can be reached from Barnsley by bus on route 66 or by train to Elsecar station, from where it is a walk of about half a mile.
Find out more at the

Elsecar Heritage Centre web pages.

Wentworth Castle Gardens

Wentworth CastleStainborough
The Grade I listed gardens and parkland of Wentworth Castle, a country house at Stainborough, near Barnsley, were reopened in 2019 by the National Trust in partnership with Barnsley Council and Northern College, which occupies the house, which is closed to visitors.

The gardens, like the house itself, are largely the result of family rivalry in the 18th century with the inheriters of Wentworth Woodhouse, a spectacular country house around six miles away. Miles of parkland include various monuments and also Stainborough Castle, a folly ruined castle of medieval appearance which continues the name of an earlier house at Wentworth Castle. A Union Jack Garden commemorates the union of England and Scotland in 1707 and there is also a Victorian conservatory.

For more information see the

National Trust - Wentworth Castle Gardens web pages.
Locate on map:

Wentworth Castle Gardens

Wortley Top Forge

Forge Lane, Thurgoland

Wortley Top Forge was a heavy iron forge powered by water which traces its history back to at least 1640. It is situated in the secluded wooded valley of the River Don just over half-a-mile south-south-east of the village of Thurgoland and about a mile north-west of Wortley. The forge continued in use until 1910 after many decades through the Victorian era producing railway axles. Today Wortley Top Forge is an industrial museum, restored by volunteers of the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. It is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument reflecting the importance of the iron industry to South Yorkshire. The forge has three water wheels and the water-powered drop hammers that were used, together with stationary steam engines and displays of old tools. While the forge produced railway axles in its latter days, it was never connected to a railway, nor had them on site, but it now has a narrow gauge railway exhibits acquired from York Water Works and also a miniature railway run by the Wortley Top Forge Model Engineers which provides rides behind miniature locomotives on forge opening days. The forge is open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter Sunday to early November.

For more details see the Wortley Top Forge website.

Find on map: Wortley Top Forge

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

West Bretton

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is the UK's leading open-air sculpture gallery, situated at West Bretton, between Barnsley, Huddersfield and Wakefield. Set in around 500 acres of beautiful parkland within the Bretton Estate adjoining Bretton Hall, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park offers what is probably the finest outdoor exhibition space in the country for modern and contemporary sculpture, attracting regional, national and international exhibits. The museum also has indoor exhibition spaces, cafes and shops. The museum car parks are accessed off the A637 Huddersfield Road between West Bretton and junction 38 of the M1. From 2020, the Yorkshire Sculpture Pak has introduced an admission charge with advance booking required. Parking is included in the admission fee.

More information at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park website.

Find on map: Yorkshire Sculpture Park

National Coal Mining Museum for England

National Coal Mining Museum for EnglandNational Coal Mining MuseumWakefield Road, Overton
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is mid-way between Wakefield and Huddersfield, about 6 miles from each, on the main A642 road at Overton. It is also around 10 miles from Barnsley and just under 5 miles from Dewsbury. The former Caphouse Colliery has exhibits showing the history of mining in the Yorkshire coalfield and beyond. The museum also offers the chance to don a miner's helmet to take an underground tour down the mine. The tour takes about an hour and shows the changes in mining and conditions in the pit through its history. There's also chance to meet pit ponies, to take a trip on a colliery railway, to walk its nature trail or relax with food or a drink in its cafe.
More details at the

National Coal Mining Museum website.

Peak District National Park

The vast area of the Peak District National Park starts around 10 miles to the west of Barnsley town centre, stretching from Yorkshire into Derbyshire and beyond. For more details see our Peak District page.

Emergency services

South Yorkshire Police

South Yorkshire Police website.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue website.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust website.

Local government

Metropolitan district council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley is one of four metropolitan district authorities within the county of South Yorkshire.

It covers Barnsley and dozens of other towns, villages and hamlets, stretching for around 20 miles east to west and around 10 miles north to south. The western part of the borough includes an area of the Peak District National Park.

Barnsley council's 63 councillors serve three per ward across 13 wards for a four-year term. An election of one councillor per ward takes place each year with no election in the fourth year.

Link to Barnsley MBC website.

Political composition after May 2024 election is:

481121 Con1 R
63 members R = Reform UK

County strategic authority

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Covers combined services including public transport, housing, infrastructure and regeneration and adult education in South Yorkshire, including the metropolitan districts of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. The authority has been mayor-led since 2018. The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is added to the list of mayoral responsibilities after the May 2024 election.

Elected mayor: ❚ Oliver Coppard Labour & Cooperative

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority website.

Police and Crime Commissioner

This role becomes the responsibility of the elected South Yorkshire mayor after the May 2024 election.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner website.

Fire Authority

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
The fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four metropolitan district councils of South Yorkshire - Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority web pages.

Parliamentary constituency

Barnsley South
Elected MP: ❚ Stephanie Peacock Labour

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Ceremonial county

South Yorkshire

Historic

-1974 within the West Riding of Yorkshire

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