Population 2,500 (2001) District Barnsley Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county South Yorkshire | OS grid reference SE389001 Country England Local time Thursday 2:47 PM | |
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Region Yorkshire and the Humber Weather 13°C, Wind W at 21 km/h, 51% Humidity Points of interest Elsecar Heritage Centre, Elsecar Park, Elsecar Heritage Railway | ||
Elsecar /ˈɛlsᵻkɑːr/ is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. Like many villages in the area, it was for many years a colliery village until the widespread pit closures during the 1980s. Elsecar is near the town of Hoyland and the villages of Jump and Wentworth. Elsecar is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Hoyland, 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Barnsley and 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Sheffield. The village falls within the Barnsley MBC Ward of Hoyland Milton.
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Map of Elsecar, UK
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.
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 forge 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.
A railway junction named "Elsecar Junction" was located on the (now closed) Woodhead Line, some distance from Elsecar, close to the Wath marshalling yard. The line through Elsecar Junction, including Wath marshalling yard, closed in 1988.
The Elsecar Heritage 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 steam locomotives, along with the "Earl of Strafford" diesel engine.
The Elsecar branch of Dearne and Dove Canal also terminates in the village. Currently only the top pond 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.
It was represented in the FA Cup by Elsecar Main F.C. in the 1900s.