Barnsley Main Heritage Group

02/09/2026

Don't forget - Heritage Open Day, on site, Monday 14 Sep 26, 10am until 2pm. It's an annual event, but thoughts for this year - Barnsley Main Colliery site is a place to remember the coal mining endeavors of previous generations. This year is the 160th Anniversary of the worst coal mining disaster in English history and this site ensures it is remembered and commemorated. Additionally, the names of all those killed at collieries connected to this site over the many years of mining are being compiled, together with their ages, dates and circumstances of the incidents. This is an ongoing project, and should anyone have information they consider should be included, it will be well received. The museum on site houses donated mining artefacts, historical information and items found on site. Call by and learn more about your mining heritage and maybe your own family history. See you there, come and enjoy a cuppa and a chat, see what you can learn - or tell us!

29/08/2026

Coming along this Bank Holiday Sunday, Brigger's Bar's world famous Karaoke is on, PLUS Prize BINGO with guaranteed full house payments of at least £50!!!
HOLIDAY FUN NOT TO BE MISSED!

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

Unveiling ceremony of a newly erected memorial.
At 11 o'clock Thursday 3rd Sep, opposite the Engineers Arms, Higham, a new memorial will be unveiled to commemorate and remember those that lost their lives in the Higham Colliery disaster of 1860. Thirteen men and boys were killed in an underground explosion, including boys not even teenagers. A verdict of 'Accidental Deaths' was inevitably recorded, despite previous warnings to colliery owners that naked flames should not be used - they were. In all probability, if Davy Lamps had been provided, the disaster would not have occurred. Remember and respect those that have gone before and made such dreadful sacrifices - attend next Thursday.

17/08/2026

13/08/2026

So, we didn't get any spectacular eclipse pics, even from the best lookout in Barnsley - the Barnsley Main muckstack. But hey, we were reminded just what we can see from up there. And a pic of Barnsley Main building in her warm evening colours - which we are not usually there to see 😍.

13/08/2026

Save Dodworth St John's!

I attended the packed meeting at the Methodist Church in Dodworth last night about the future of Dodworth St John's Church, which has been at the heart of our community for 180 years. The Diocese explained that it had been working with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to explore closure and was intending to open a public consultation on this within a matter of weeks. I emphasised the strength of feeling in the room about protecting the future of this Grade II-listed building, and members of the Diocese have now decided to allow until the end of the year before opening a consultation to explore full closure options. Such a consultation would last between six and nine months.

We now have time to bring the community together to see whether there is the will and appetite to save the church, including raising £250,000 as a community group and working with local tradespeople and organisations to secure its long-term future, while finding ways to meet the building's ongoing costs.

At the meeting, I offered to facilitate a session to bring together a working group of local people to organise fundraising and community action to save our church and support the PCC. I'm grateful to the 30 people who have already signed up to offer their support and be part of a community group championing the church's future, and I will be working with them to arrange another meeting in September.

We need all hands on deck to save this local gem, so if you would like to take part in this meeting, or simply stay updated on my work to save the church, please sign up at https://www.marietidball.com/campaigns/save-dodworth-st-john-s-church or email me at [email protected].

In the meantime, I will be meeting with Canon Keith Farrow to discuss how else I can help, as well as writing to the Church of England, the Diocese, the Church Commissioners, and the relevant Government departments to explore what additional funding and support may be available. Thank you to the amazing group of people who have already signed up to help. I'm looking forward to working together!

08/08/2026

We were able to give local Councillor Paul Kelly a full tour of our site this week, including the memorial for all miners who have died in the pits here over 150 years of mining. Our current research has identified a total of 623 men and boys killed in mining here and we always remember that many bodies still remain beneath our feet. The Dearne Valley Project into the Oaks disaster showed that there were 161 victims with 'no known grave'. Yes, these bodies are likely scattered over a wide area underground, but surely it's way overdue to recognise the location as the final resting place of so many.