Darton is a large village in the
Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley (part of
South Yorkshire), on the border with
West Yorkshire, England. At the time of the 2001
UK census, it had a population of 14,927,
[ increasing to 21,345 for both Darton Wards (East & West) at the 2011 Census.
]
Parliamentary representation
Formerly part of the now defunct Barnsley West and Penistone borough constituency
In the United Kingdom (UK), each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one member to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons.
Within the United Kingdom there are five bodies with members elected by ...
, following the Boundary Commission for England's report on South Yorkshire's Parliamentary constituencies in 2004 and an inquiry in 2005, it is now part of the Barnsley Central
Barnsley Central is a constituency in South Yorkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2011 by Dan Jarvis of the Labour Party.
Constituency profile
Barnsley Central is generally an urban seat and has a large m ...
borough constituency.
Geography
Darton lies on the River Dearne, directly to the east of Kexbrough, and is situated about west of Mapplewell, north of Barnsley
Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough has ...
, south-west of Wakefield, south-east of Huddersfield, south of Leeds, and north of Sheffield. It is served by the A637 road and is bisected by the M1 motorway (junction 38 being a mile to the north). Its location is approximately , at an elevation of around above mean sea level.
History
The name ''Darton'' is believed to be an amalgamation of ''"Dearne"'' and the Anglo-Saxon
The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
word ''"ton"'' (meaning 'town'). Hence, in ancient times it was known as ''the town on the Dearne''. However, other sources dispute this explanation and claim that the name originates from a description given to a deer enclosure or something similar. In 1086 the hamlet of ''Dertone'' was in the wapentake of Staincross
Staincross is a village in South Yorkshire, England, on the border with West Yorkshire. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it formed part of the defunct Barnsley West and Penistone borough constituency, following the Boundary ...
.
The hamlet grew to become a village so the Parish of Darton was founded in 1150, when the first church was built.[ As elsewhere in England, an official register of baptisms, deaths and marriages did not begin until later, in 1539. The parish was historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire and became a part of the former county of South Yorkshire upon its creation in 1974.
]
Present day
Darton has its own railway station on Northern's Hallam Line which links train journeys between Sheffield and Leeds. The railway station is in South Yorkshire but West Yorkshire Metro tickets are also valid to and from this station. The reason for this is because the West-South Yorkshire boundary ran between the village and its main source of employment, Woolley Colliery.
On 15 June 2007, Darton hit the national headlines after 48 hours of torrential rain caused the River Dearne to burst its banks leading to heavy flooding in the village.[ The main road through the village was rendered impassable and many homes and businesses were damaged, including the village post office, which re-opened in June 2008. Further flooding occurred in January 2008, although the damage and disruption caused this time was not as bad as the previous year's.
]
Education
Darton has its own primary school and a secondary school called Darton Academy actually in Kexborough which opened in 2011.[ The new building (and rebranded school) replaced Darton High School -previously Darton Hall Senior School - that had been on the site since 1957.
]
Sport
*Darton cricket club plays in the Pontefract and District Cricket League.
*North Gawber Colliery F.C. are based in the village and play in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League
The Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1983 by the merger of the former Sheffield Association League and Hatchard League. The league has three divisions – the Premier Divis ...
Premier Division.
Notable people
* David Booth, manager of Laos national football team, was raised in Darton.
* Thomas Brackin, English first-class cricketer, lived here until his death in 1924.
* Ian Butler, English professional footballer was born here.
*Michael Clapham
Michael Clapham (born 15 May 1943) is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Barnsley West and Penistone from 1992 to 2010.
Early life
Born in Darton, in Barnsley, Clapham was educated at the Darton Se ...
, Labour Party politician, was born in Darton.
* Jack Grainger, English professional footballer, was born here.
*Ken Knighton
Kenneth Knighton (born 20 February 1944) is an English former footballer, coach and manager. He is most well known for his spell as manager at Sunderland during which time the club was promoted to the First Division, and he also managed Foot ...
, professional footballer and former manager of Sunderland and Orient.
* Alan Ogley, professional goalkeeper was born here.
* Alban Turner, English first-class cricketer, was born here
*Anna Cotton
Anna Cotton or Anna Welby (died 1721) was an English nonconformist and ironmaster. She was the second wife of William Cotton who was an ironmaster. She took control of his business and became a matriarch head of his family after he died.
Li ...
, nonconformist ironmaster family head, was buried here in 1721`
*Margaret Souyave OBE, England and GB Women’s Hockey Captain and World Cup Winner 1975, UK Player of the Year 1990
See also
* Listed buildings in Darton
References
External links
Darton village
Darton Primary School
Darton College
Darton Cricket Club
{{authority control
Villages in South Yorkshire
Unparished areas in South Yorkshire
Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley