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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Pictures of Barnsley

in the county of South Yorkshire

About Barnsley

Barnsley was made rich by the vast coal mines that existed here for hundreds of years, these have long gone, but the heritage and traditions of a proud industrial town live on. The town is also immensely proud of its character as a market town, it received its first Market Charter from Henry III in 1249, and markets have been a feature of the town ever since.

This is an attractive town laid out along the River Dearne, it is enclosed by spectacular Pennine scenery and is an ideal place from which to discover the limestone hills and fresh green valley's of the Yorkshire Dales. In this precious landscape there is a host of pleasant country lanes amidst rolling farmland where the visitor can wander, enjoying perfect peace and stillness, gaze at scampering streams edged with picturesque water-meadows full of grazing cattle and sheep.

In Barnsley itself there are many interesting sites to see, these include the town's impressive Town Hall fronted by an equally impressive War Memorial, the statue to Sir Joseph Locke and the Locke Tower, both of which can be found in the attractive gardens of Locke Park, along with a gaily painted Victorian bandstand used for musical concerts during the summer.

From the town's mining and clothing heritage there remains many beautiful old cottages, these were once occupied by the families of mine and mill workers. Today, these have mostly been refurbished to offer the modern facilities demanded by a different society.

A short distance to the south of Barnsley lies Worsbrough Dale, here visitors can explore a restored corn mill, with parts dating back to 1625 when it would have been driven by water. Today, this mill still produces wheatmeal flour and bran flakes, both can be purchased from the mill shop. Worsbrough Mill Museum, perfectly illustrates the history of the mills of the area, and celebrates the fact that a mill has been in this pretty waterside region since the time of the Doomsday Book.

The town offers plenty of scope for shopping, apart from its famous market, it has individual boutiques and the larger retail out-lets. There are attractive old inns, modern pubs, restaurants and cafe's. A taste of culture is delivered by the Design Centre and the newly refurbished Cooper Gallery. Night Clubs provide entertainment for anyone wishing to dance from dusk to dawn.

A wealth of wildlife habitats can be explored along river, canal and reservoir banks, and visitors can enjoy the experience a Deer Farm at Worsbrough.

On an historic note: Barnsley's origins date back to Norman times, when most of the land in these parts belonged to the great priories of Pontefract and Monk Bretton. The spectacular ruins of Monk Bretton Priory lie two miles to the north of the town, here in a marvellous, atmospheric landscape surrounded by rolling wooded countryside, visitors can explore what is left of the magnificent priory and see how the monks of yester-year lived.

Recommended towns & villages near Barnsley

Dawn in Secker Wood

Wakefield (43 Pictures) in the county of West Yorkshire

(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction N of Barnsley)

Wakefield was the capital of Yorkshire's woollen industry for more than 700 years, it was an important weaving and dying centre as far back as the 13th century...

All Saints Church

Rotherham (107 Pictures) in the county of South Yorkshire

(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction SE of Barnsley)

This town was formerly a Saxon market town which remained largely unaltered until the Industrial Revolution...

Water falls

Sheffield (127 Pictures) in the county of South Yorkshire

(11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction S of Barnsley)

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Went Valley in Winter 2008

Pontefract (181 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of West Yorkshire

(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction NE of Barnsley)

Pontefract has a ruined castle which has seen many tragedies, Richard II was murdered there in 1400, and later it was the scene of bitter, bloody battles between Roundheads and Royalists...

ALL HALLOWS CHURCH, ALMONDBURY, HUDDERSFIELD

Almondbury (6 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of West Yorkshire

(12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction NW of Barnsley)

Almondbury is one of the oldest and prettiest of the villages dominating the edge of the Pennine moors...

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Nearby attractions..

A good view of Stainborough Castle at Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley

Wentworth Castle (50 Pictures)

(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction SW)

Wentworth Castle Gardens have been the subject of an ambitious plan to restore the magnificent estate, once home to the Earls of.....

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Cannon Hall Country Park (24 Pictures)

(4.7 miles, 7.6 km, direction W)

Outstanding country park originally landscaped in the 1760's by Richard Woods. The park surrounds a magnificent hall designed by.....

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Newmillerdam Country Park (20 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction N)

This attractive country park offers a rich and varied country landscape, it is dominated by a large lake ringed by numerous trees.....

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, West Yorkshire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (35 Pictures)

(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction NW)

This is an exciting, fascinating tourist attraction that is both fun and thought provoking for all the family. It has fast.....

Outline of Sandal

Sandal Castle (12 Pictures)

(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction N)

The crumbling, naked ruins of Sandal Castle are now owned by Wakefield council, and what an inspired choice of centre-piece they.....

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National Coal Mining Museum (33 Pictures)

(8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction NW)

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Wakefield Cathedral, West Yorkshire. Viewed from Westgate

Wakefield Cathedral (2 Pictures)

(8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction N)

This was formerly the parish church of All Saints, it only became a cathedral at the end of the 19th century. With its.....


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