Elsecar

Elsecar
Elsecar
Population	2,500
OS grid reference	SE389001
District	Barnsley;
Shire county	South Yorkshire;
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BARNSLEY
Postcode district	S74
Dialling code	01226
Police	South Yorkshire
Fire	South Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
UK Parliament	Barnsley West and Penistone;
	List of places UK England Yorkshire

Elsecar (Template:Pron-en) is a village forming part of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. Like many villages in the area, it was for many years a coal mining village until the widespread pit closures during the 1980s. Elsecar is next to the villages of Hoyland and Jump.

Elsecar is unique as a name: the origins are not entirely clear. Else or Elsi was the name of a local Saxon lord who owned land in the area. It is also the Saxon name for a marsh that may have existed in the bottom valley.^{[citation needed]}

History

Industry

Elsecar was nothing more than a series of farms up until the 18th century. Although coal had been mined in the area since the 14th century the first colliery, Elsecar Old, did not open until 1750. The first proper mine shaft was sunk in 1795 at Elsecar New Colliery. The village was formed to take advantage of the coal resources in the area. Many of the new buildings were built by the Earl Fitzwilliam, who resided in nearby Wentworth Woodhouse, to house their workers. By the end of the century several pits were opened.

Two independent iron forges were opened at the turn of the 19th century; these also came under the ownership of the Fitzwilliam family after their respective companies collapsed. There was also a distillery which opened in 1814; however this only lasted four years. Two smaller family run forges were also established in the mid 19th century and they survived well into the 20th century. The two main forges were closed by the end of the century.

The last colliery to open was Elsecar Main in 1908: It was also the last to close in 1983. In 1988 the last pit in the area, Cortonwood, also closed. Elsecar Workshops were sold off by British Coal the following year, ending the village's ties to the coal industry. The village suffered from similar economic problems to all the mining villages in the region. There are still outstanding applications for mining parts of the village but these are unlikely to be acted upon.

Elsecar-by-the-Sea

In 1910 a local amateur photographer, Herbert Parkin, took some photographs of the local reservoir and surrounding areas and sent them into the Sheffield Star under the caption Elsecar-by-the-Sea. The name caught on and with the help of good transports link from Sheffield via the local railway station a thriving tourism business was established. The Hoyland council decided to create the public park to take advantage of the influx. The name is still jokingly used by some locals and to advertise events around the reservoir.

Attractions

Elsecar features the popular Elsecar Heritage Centre a living history centre and contains the only Newcomen steam engine in the world to have remained in its original location. Craft workshops, a monthly antiques fair and other special events are also held here.

There is also a public park with a bandstand, children's playground, a refreshment room, and a pitch and putt golf course. The reservoir, now a local nature reserve, is adjacent to the upper park.

Various remains of the industry of the village also remain. There is a plaque next to the top lock on the canal marking the former location of a colliery. Along the canal there are also some shaft heads from pumping stations left standing. The remains of iron mines can be found in undergrowth on the wooded section of Broadcar Lane.

Transport

Elsecar has its own railway station on the Hallam and Penistone lines so it is possible to make direct journeys to Sheffield, Leeds and Huddersfield. Buses run to and from Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.

The Elsecar Steam Railway is based at the heritage centre. It currently runs between Rockingham Station (at the back of the heritage centre) and Hemingfield Basin. This service is currently for pleasure only; you cannot alight at Hemingfield Basin. There are plans to extend the line to Cortonwood and add regular stops. The railway is operated by the steam locomotives and the "Earl of Strafford" diesel engine.

The Elsecar branch of Dearne and Dove Canal also terminates in the village. Currently only the top pound is usable but there are plans to restore the entire length.

Sport

The village has its own cricket club, established in 1854, which plays in the South Yorkshire Cricket League. It also has several junior teams that play in the Barnsley & District Junior Cricket Association.

Notable persons

George Utley, Football player who turned out for Barnsley F.C., captained Sheffield United F.C. and played once England was born in Reform Row in Elsecar. He also won two FA Cup winners medals, one with each of his clubs.
Geoffrey Howse, actor, author and local historian, as a boy in the mid 1950's until 1965, lived in Ebenezer Place (now demolished). As an actor he has appeared extensively on the stage and has made several TV appearances. As a producer and impresario he has been responsible for numerous touring plays and musicals and several pantomimes. He has written over twenty books including several about South Yorkshire, as well as various True Crime titles. He spends part of each year in the area researching and writing. Howse Street, Elsecar, was named in honour of Joseph Richard Howse (local councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate, who died prematurely in 1923), Geoffrey's great-uncle; and Howse's Corner, situated at the junction of Fitzwilliam Street and Wentworth Road, named after the Howse family home and shop, which stood on the site until the late 1960s.
Sir Thomas Tomlinson Kt, BEM, JP (1877-1959) Tommy Tomlinson, as he was affectionately known locally, was one of the area's best known residents for over forty years and lived at 20 Fitzwilliam Street. In 1910 he became branch secretary of the Yorkshire Miners' Association and was elected to Hoyland UDC for the Elsecar ward in 1912 and to the West Riding County Council in 1921. Continuing as a Councillor for Hoyland UDC until 1940, he was Chairman in 1921-3 and 1933-5. He occupied various posts at the Wesleyan Reform Church. He became a County Alderman in 1929 and was Chairman of the West Riding County Council 1946-9 and 1952-5. He was awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) in 1945 and knighted in 1954.
Arthur O'Loughlin, retired undefeated World kickboxing champion, was brought up in Hoyland and now lives in Elsecar with his wife, Christine. Arthur now owns 'Locky's', a bar in nearby Wombwell.
Bobby Knutt, popular comedian and entertainer, has lived in Elsecar for several years.
Laban Solomon, who lived on Church Street and died in 1903, aged 61, is buried in Elsecar churchyard beneath a kneeling angel, near the Wath Road.He was a well known composer, he being a particular favourite of Queen Victoria. He composed hymn tunes and other sacred music. He wrote tunes for such well known hymns as 'Oh, so bright' and 'All hail the power of Jesus' name,' as well as some more obscure ones, some written by the Rev E Doughty Solomon, a relation of his. For Sunday School Anniversaries he also supplied orchestral parts by post.

Photos

View from the banks of Elsecar Reservoir.
View from the banks of Elsecar Reservoir.
View showing stone houses in Elsecar.
Photo showing road leading into Elsecar Village.

References

Population figures
Howse, Geoffrey (1999), Around Hoyland, Sutton Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7509-2268-0
Howse, Geoffrey (2000), Around Hoyland A Second Selection, Sutton Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7509-2726-7
Howse, Geoffrey (2002) Around Hoyland People & Places, Sutton Publishing, ISBN 0-7509-3148-5

External links