Silkstone

Infobox UK place
map_type = South Yorkshire
country = England
official_name = Silkstone
latitude = 53.5489
longitude = -1.5634
scale = 25000
population = 2,954 (2001 Census) [This population figure is for the civil parish of Silkstone, which also includes the village of Silkstone Common. cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790631&c=Silkstone&d=16&e=15&g=362854&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 |title=Silkstone CP: Parish Headcounts |accessdate=2007-04-08 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics ]
metropolitan_borough = Barnsley
metropolitan_county = South Yorkshire
region = Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster = Barnsley West and Penistone
os_grid_reference = SE289058
website = http://www.silkstone.org/

Silkstone is a village in South Yorkshire, England, situated in the foothills of the Pennines, between the towns of Barnsley and Penistone. The civil parish of Silkstone also includes the village of Silkstone Common.

Silkstone is twinned with Saint-Florent-des-Bois in France.

History

The earliest known written record of Silkstone is the Domesday Book of 1086, when Silkstone is referred to as a part of the manor of Cawthorne:

In Calthorne (Cawthorne) Ailric had three carucates of land to be taxed and there may be two ploughs there. The same now has it of Ilbert; himself two ploughs there, and four villanes with two ploughs. There is a priest and a church, wood pasture two miles long and two broad; the whole manor three miles long and two broad. Value in King Edward’s time forty shillings, now twenty shillings. To this manor belongs Silchestone (Silkstone), one carucate and a half.

The church mentioned may be a predecessor of the current Church of All Saints, the parish church in Silkstone [cite book |last=Hunter |first=Joseph |authorlink=Joseph Hunter (antiquarian) |title=South Yorkshire. The history and topography of the deanery of Doncaster, in the diocese and county of York. Volume II |year=1831 |publisher=J.B. Nichols and Son |location=London ] . Silkstone parish originally included Cawthorne, West Bretton, Cumberland, Barnsley, Dodworth, Stainborough, Thurgoland, and Hoyland Swein.

The Silkstone coal seam is at its shallowest in the Silkstone area, and mining was an important local industry. In 1809 a waggonway was built through the village by the Barnsley Canal Navigation Company [cite web |url=http://www.ealeech.plus.com/SP/hist/waggonway.htm |title=Silkstone Waggonway Trail |accessdate=2006-12-30 |work=Silkstone Parish ] . The waggonway was used to transport coal from collieries in the Silkstone valley to Cawthorne. A memorial commemorating the waggonway stands in the village. [cite web |url=http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/pmsa/barnsley/00000077.htm |title=Silkstone Waggonway Memorial |accessdate=2007-04-08 |work=PMSA National Recording Project - South Yorkshire |publisher=Public Art Research Archive, Sheffield Hallam University ]

port

The village has sporting facilities, in the shape of the Pavilion. It is host to both a football and cricket team, with both sports being played at junior and senior levels. Silkstone is frequented by ramblers as many walking routes start from the village.

Culture and attractions

The Church of All Saints was constructed in the 12th century (with alterations/renovations in the 15th and 19th centuries), it is a Grade I listed building. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=334283 |title=Church of All Saints |accessdate=2006-12-30 |work=Images of England |publisher=English Heritage ] The Grade II listed Noblethorpe Hall near the village was built in the early 19th century for the Clarke family (local colliery owners). [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=334278 |title=Noblethorpe Hall |accessdate=2008-02-01 |work=Images of England |publisher=English Heritage ] During World War II it was used as an army camp.Fact|date=February 2008 Pot House Hamlet is located below Silkstone Church and was the site of a 17th century pottery and 18th century glassworks.Fact|date=February 2008 English Heritage have deemed this an underground national ancient monument. [No 35494 authorised by the Secretary of State for Culutre, Media and Sport on 12 June 2003.]

One of the village's famous sons was John Charles Brooke, Esq, FSA (1748 - 1794) who became Somerset Herald in 1777. He was crushed to death in a crowd at the Haymarket Theatre in London on 3 February 1794.

The Wagonway runs through Silkstone and also as far as its neighbouring village Cawthorne, it was used as a route for the transportation of coal from the nearby mines. The sleeper stones were originally laid in the early 19th century when coal mining was booming, and was used throughout until the 20th century. The stones can still be seen dotted around the route.

Today, the Wagonway is a scenic route ideal for country walks, it is preserved as a historic route and is part of the village's history.

References