Nostalgic memories of Barnsley's local history
Share your own memories of Barnsley and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 18 in total
‘BARNSLEY BEAUTY’ – THE RE-DISCOVERED ANCESTRY OF A VIOLIN!
from KEN SILVER
Since my early years as a music teacher in the district of Hunslet Carr, South Leeds in about 1970 I have been - thanks to the kindness of a ‘mystery’ caller at my school, the owner of a violin bearing, internally, a hand-written label in fading brown ink, the following information:
J. WILKINSON, ...see more
My wife's grandfather was Herbert Goodwin Cooper (1880 - 1937) who was a professional cornet player and a member of the Cooper Royal Barnsley Brass Band. I think that the band was active from about 1890 to about 1940. Does anyone have any information about the band, please?
This photo is taken from the old Court House Railway Station at the bottom of Regent Street, the only railway station in this country to have that name. There was a stone viaduct following this plate girder bridge, entrance to the goods just where the man is walking. There was a newsagent under one of the arches and I always got a comic bought when visiting my grandma in Barnsley. One day a steam ...see more
I was a student at BGHS an all girls school but I met my best friend /boyfriend at a family night held at the school for our respective sisters and other classmates. They had been on a school trip to Switzerland and we (the families) were being treated to a slide show of their trip. My daily walk to and from the bus station to school; on route we would call in at the confectionary shop (I think ...see more
My twin sister and I were recalling the day of the Coronation all those years ago. Jane and I were 8 years old. That morning we walked to Diggle's gargage next to the Co-operative on Hough Lane.
We were' allowed' to watch the Coronation through a big window at the front of the house/building. It was raining all the time while we watched. We have often wondered why we weren't allowed ...see more
Lundhill is a steep hill that leads into Royston, where the Monkton coking plant lies. Just at the side of Lundhill was Monkton Row, it was to be demolished in the 1980s. But before then a big flat bed lorry failed to take the corner of the hill and ploughed into the wall - there was hardly any give in the wall because there was a raised field behind the wall. The noise of the crash could be heard some half a mile away ...see more
I was a chain lad when the M1 was being constructed. I was working for Amy's, the asphalt company. Amongst other things I was to make cups of tea and also collect thousands of pounds in wages for the work force. My boss who's name I canot recall, told me of some special people coming and that I had to get the china tea-set out and simply make tea and pour it out. When they arrived; some twenty management, I was ...see more
As a young child mother would always take me to Barnsley where she'd do most of the shopping. Barnsley may have been something of a rundown town but one could always have a bargain. There in the old market was Oatfields caravan which would have been a three berth, but it was gutted on the inside with forms to sit on. Nearest to the door was a small cramped kitchen and bar. Oatfields would serve home-made mince ...see more
I was something of a naughty boy back in those years: there were four of us young lads who were to bus it to Barnsley from Royston where we were barely old enough to go sampling Barnsley Bitter. If we were sixteen let alone eighteen we went into the pub which was where the In-door Market stands. although the Landlord asked us of our ages where we were to tell him Porkies, he was to simply frown upon us and poured ...see more
I remember travelling by bus from Wombwell to Barnsley Bus Station to go to school, I then had to go through town past the Town Hall and up to the top of Huddersfield Road where Barnsley Girls High School was situated. I met lots of new people there and made friends with a few, one of them was Susan Margaret Ward as she was known in those days, at that time she lived in Monk Bretton, ...see more