Elsecar
Canal. Railway. Colliery.
The canal was cut in the 1790s and the railway arrived in 1850. The colliery shown here is Elsecar Main, 1905-1983.
Collections
Barnsley's museum and archive collections include fine and decorative art, social and industrial history, archaeology, archival documents and photographs, local studies literature and sound and film.
If you would like to make an enquiry about the collections, please email artsmuseumsandarchives@barnsley.gov.uk
Showing 51 to 57 of 57
Experience Barnsley
PRISONER OF WAR MESS TIN, 1942
Frank Hadfield was a gunner in the Royal Artillery and was taken prisoner of war on 15th February 1942 in Singapore where he entered a Japanese camp for three years. He was treated very badly; beaten, tortured and starved. He was seventeen stone when he left and six and half when he returned. Frank never should have gone to the Far East, he was destined for Iceland but their ship from Liverpool was given the wrong orders. As they arrived they were ordered to surrender and taken in cattle trucks to camps. He was made to work on the railways and kept a diary of events throughout the war. Some entries are very brief, as being caught writing his diary was almost certain death. This mess tin was carved by Frank with a nail during his time as a prisoner of war. You can see his name, number and regiment. He was released on 16th August 1945 and put on the first ship back to Southampton, arriving in October. He spent nine months recovering in hospital and suffered all his life with the terrible memories. He lived until 76 years old and worked at brickworks at Monk Bretton Colliery when he returned to Barnsley. Photo © Norman Taylor
Worsbrough Mill
Reg Steel
One of the many millers whose stories can be discovered at the mill. Reg was here in the 1920s and 1930s.
Elsecar
Thriving industrial village
Hundreds came to live here as the village thrived. Many stories have been passed down through generations.
Experience Barnsley
Bronze Roman bracelet, 2nd to 3rd century AD.
Bronze Roman bracelet, 2nd to 3rd century AD. This roman bracelet was found during open cast coal mining at Billingley in 1950. The ends of the bracelet are moulded in the form of a serpents head. BMBC.TH.1362 Photo © Norman Taylor
Experience Barnsley
Helmet
Helmet worn by women on the picket lines against pit closures in 1984
Cannon Hall
Child Holding an Apple
Child Holding an Apple by Caesar van Everdingen, 1664