Things I Like about Barnsley that are Still Here

The town hall.

Cannon Hall and the surrounding countryside, including Deffer Woods and the hills and forests leading up to High Hoyland and its fabulous views.

The old houses with character around the Huddersfield Road and Victoria Road areas, and also near Locke Park.

Latinos and the area around Lucorum.

Oakwell.

Langsett and the moors, in fact all that part of the Peak District National Park that's within Barnsley.

Many fine country pubs with meals to suit all tastes and wallets.

Good train services to Leeds, Sheffield and Huddersfield and beyond.

Howden Edge, the highest point in Barnsley at 514m above sea level. When it's not raining.

Good central situation in the UK with good road links both north-south and east-west, ideal for transport related businesses.

Dodworth.

Stainborough cricket club and the thriving local village cricket scene.

Superb country walks of all standards, from short country rambles to strenuous high level hikes.

Greenacre School and its work for vulnerable and disabled children.

Worsbrough Mill and Country Park, and Wigfield Farm.

Friendly (for the most part) people.

Elsecar Heritage Centre.

The free car park at Lidl near the town end roundabout.

 

That view as you come down the A61 from Birdwell across Worsborough reservoir and Stainborough College.

Last time we played Bournemouth at home I brought a couple of Bormuff fans up from Gloucester and made a point of leaving the M1 at Birdwell just so that I could show them this view as we drove down the hill. They were stunned by it and couldn't believe that this was Barnsley. They were expecting filthy back streets and coal mines, and nothing else.

 

I got that a lot.

When I showed people at uni picture of Barnsley they couldn't believe how nice parts of it actually are.

I think Barnsley is lucky that you can drive 5-10 mins away from the town centre and be in some cracking countryside.

 

The staff in the Special Care Baby Unit.

All those who work at the Barnsley Hospice.

Some extremely pleasant restaurants, along with a decent variety.

Cawthorne.

Silkstone.

Cawthorne Park.

The Riding School For The Disabled.

 

Pretty much encompasses mine.......

The accent aswell. Maybe getting diluted but I love hearing young kids talking 'broad'! Tickles me....... sun out this morning. Walking past local shop this morning. Young lad, 10ish, he looked at me so I said 'Eyup'. He said 'aye mister, nice mornin for it int it?' ha ha quality

 

Yes but it's a pity that you HAVE to drive a few miles away to see something worth seeing. Barnsley centre has been going down hill for decades and I don't think it will ever improve

 

Tend to agree but I was trying to make this a positive thread! You never know, it just might improve one day.

 

I love that habit where complete strangers greet each other on the street with "ey up", "how do" or whatever.

When I moved to Germany I had the habit of saying "morning" to people when out with my dog. They looked at me "gone art"! One woman even accused me of stalking her because I spoke to her even though she didn't know me. Miserable sods.

 

I know you mentioned it before on your initial list, mate, but...

Dodworth.
<img src ="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8609681266_37b63e499b_h.jpg">

 

Ah, the old GP surgery, where you used to turn up and sit down and every time someone went in you shuffled up a seat, until eventually you got to the front of the queue. None of this ringing up at 8am sharp, trying to get through for ten minutes with the phone constantly engaged and then when you get through all the appointments have gone.

GPs were canny in those days, as the shuffling up system help spread the germs from those in the queue with the lurgy, as everyone will eventually sit in the same chair as them. This keeps a nice healthy rotation of bugs, keeping the surgery in business. Maybe they did it in conjunction with the chemist over the road, next to the shoe shop, so they could hawk those lollipops on the counter?

 

That's the library in the background, mate. The surgery was next door. We now have the chemist, doctor's surgery & Post Office all in the one building, excellent for convenience. They're straight across from our house, too. Not that I'm an old, idle so and so, you understand?

 

Ah, maybe that's why I never got better and kept getting told to be quiet whenever I started telling who I thought was the doctor what was wrong with me!

 

Brilliant!
Yer gret, big, barmy bugger!!

 

Charlsworths roast pork sandwiches.

 

Shaw's fish and chips and Café Cocoa in Dodworth.

 

BUT, don't forget the people that live in the nice areas mentioned have to drive " a few " miles to get to the town center and a lot of them might never go there anyway. I think there is too much made of " the town center is crap ", most ex industrial town centers are crap and have been for ages. I live in Gawber and I spend a 100 times more time on the dearn valley trail, Cawthorn Waggon Way, Cawthorn Park walking the dog than I do in town and these places are no further away from me than the town center, there isn't another place in this country I would like to live than here. Born and Bred in and proud to be from Barnsley.

 

Not trying to be over critical about the town centre - I've travelled a lot and lived all over the country so I know that Barnsley is no worse than plenty of other places. It's still my home town and I have always been proud to tell people that I come from here, despite only living in the town for about 18 months out of the last 44 years. I'm not there now but only 26 miles away and it's still a novelty for me being able to go to the town for every home game and the odd extra visit besides. I remember when we moved from edge of town (Cemetery Road) to Wilthorpe and thinking it was like living out in the countryside in comparison. Lots of greenery and open fields yet still only a couple of miles to town. Mind you, the fact that we were moving from a house with outside SHARED toilet to one with a bathroom and inside toilet probably coloured my memory a bit. Wilthorpe was definitely a step UP from where I spent the first few years of my life.

 

Well said, old mate. Totally agree.

 

Danny Wilson.

And that record shop in the arcade Debut good music run by a top bloke.

 

Wentworth house

and its garden center.... in fact the village of Wentworth too, couple of great pubs and a good restraunt too. Then the area around that with all the Follies .

Low Stand near Hoyland.
Elsecar park and reservoir... some fabulous bird life around there.
Wharncliffe Craggs.
most of the chip shops in the area.... none outside the area come vaguely close.
Tankersley.
The Bell wood

and all what others have said too.