Barnsley is well known as a former centre of the mining industry and as a lively market town, but did you know that …

• The first bottle bank for glass recycling was in Barnsley
• James Hudson Taylor, Christian Missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission was born in Barnsley
• The book ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’ and the film version ‘Kes’ were set and filmed in Barnsley

Barnsley received its market charter in 1249 and has had a lively market based community ever since with the indoor market open 6 days a week and the lively outdoor market open 4 days a week. 

The borough was once home to a large number of working mines and the industrial heritage of the area is celebrated at sites such as Elsecar Heritage Centre with its Newcomen Beam Engine, Worsborough Mill and Wortley Top Forge. The nearby National Coalmining Museum in Wakefield gives a flavour of life in the mining and related industries.

The company managing Barnsley’s housing is named Berneslai Homes after the name Barnsley was given in the Domesday Book.

Barnsley is home to the estates of Cannon Hall and Wentworth Castle, and parts of the area fall into the Wentworth Estate. The wealthy owners of these estates have left enjoyable parkland and country estates now available for the public to enjoy. Wentworth Castle Gardens were included in BBC TVs Restoration programme a few years ago and work continues with vital public funding support to restore the Victorian glasshouse conservatory for future generations. 

Barnsley has a wealth of history and this will be brought to life in the new Experience Barnsley museum and discovery centre opening in the Town Hall in summer 2013. Stories and artefacts from Roman and Viking times to more recent history will be brought to life in this celebration of local heritage and history.