Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone

The Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) is an exciting 4-year partnership project between Barnsley Council and Historic England. It launched in 2020 and will run until the end of March 2024.

Eldon Street, in Barnsley town centre was first laid out in the 1840s. It quickly became an important gateway to the town, with the first railway station opening on Eldon Street in 1850. Eldon Street also quickly became a commercial and cultural hub, with bustling theatres, shops, pubs and markets. Today Eldon Street forms an important link between the Old Town and the new Glassworks development, at the heart of Barnsley Town Centre. However, as with many historic high streets, the area has faced challenges in recent years. The HSHAZ will help to rejuvenate Eldon Street and improve connectivity within the town.

The HSHAZ is working with local businesses and property owners to fund conservation repairs to key historic buildings on the west side of Eldon Street. The landmark project is the Civic, Barnsley, formerly the Barnsley Mechanics Institute and Public Hall. Despite delays caused by the pandemic, planning is going well and we’re hoping to see activity start on site in 2022.

The HSHAZ has also worked with the local community to uncover and celebrate the stories and often overlooked heritage of one of Barnsley’s most important historic high streets.

Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage, England’s Poet Laureate, took up a residency in Barnsley as part of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone. In his role, Simon created a series of new works inspired by the stories of Eldon Street

The Un-Naturalists

The Un-Naturalists

The HSHAZ worked with Barnsley street theatre company Mark Mark Productions to create the ‘Barnsley Unnaturalists Wonders of Eldon Street’ an alternative history tour.

The Brides of Eldon Street

The Brides of Eldon Street

The Eldon Street Brides aka We Great Ladies have visited shops with photographer James Mulkeen, to explore and illustrate local people’s love for Eldon Street

Eldon Street Blogs

Eldon Street Blogs

Over the last four years we have created several blogs about the history of Eldon Street and the HSHAZ project

BeastEL: Eldon Street HSHAZ game

BeastEL: Eldon Street HSHAZ game

BeastEL is a maze-building creature card-game, set in the Goblin Market beaneath Eldon Street!It’s a fun game, enjoyed by friends and families alike.

Eldon Street Archives

Eldon Street Archives

In the last four years of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone we've uncovered some amazing stories in the collections of Barnsley Archives.

Secret Blues of Eldon Street

Secret Blues of Eldon Street

Created by students from Horizon College these 14 temporary plaques took visitors on an unexpected journey through some of the colourful characters and surprising stories of historic Eldon Street.

Talks and Tours

Talks and Tours

Watch talks and take a virtual stroll back in time with 360° tours