Grimethorpe Colliery

Grimethorpe is a large village in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. Historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire, it had a population of 4,672 at the 2011 census. Grimethorpe is located to the east of Barnsley and south of Hemsworth; until the local government reorganisation of 1974, it was part of the Hemsworth district and constituency. At the 2011 Census the village was part of the North East ward of Barnsley MBC.

For much of the 20th century Grimethorpe's economy was rooted in coal mining. Since the 1984–85 miners' strike, the downscaling of UK coal mining accelerated and international cheap open-cast mining provoked closure of its colliery in May 1993. In 1994 it was regarded as the poorest village in the country.

There are new roads linking the village to some of the country's major arteries, about 50 businesses have moved in, including the online fashion retailer ASOS.

History

It is believed that the name Grimethorpe originates from "Grim's Torp", a mixture of Anglo-Saxon and Viking names, meaning a torp or hamlet owned by a Viking named Grimey. Grimethorpe is at the foot of the hill upon which is the village of Brierley. In fact, Grimethorpe was likely named such as a Norse farm built close to Brierley village. Following the Norman conquest, the Brierley-Grimethorpe area came under the rule of the De Laceys of Pontefract, with a local Saxon owner. In 1066, this owner was Ernui who was said to have six carucates of land at Brerelia and Hindelia, valued at forty shillings. (A carucate was as much land as could be ploughed in one year by one plough and eight oxen. An acre was as much land as could be ploughed in one day by one plough and a pair of oxen.)Brereley – A History of Brierley, by M. R. Watson & M. Harrison, First Edition 1975, Reprinted 1976, Anchor Press, Barnsley Road, Cudwort

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This land was given after the Norman conquest to Airic who was given the whole of Staincross (wapentake), Staincross wapentake by Ilbert de Lacey, the Norman of Pontefract. All of Yorkshire was divided into wapentakes, Staincross being the one for Barnsley area. It was about ten miles from north to south and about twenty miles from east to west, its boundaries being in the northeast the high ridge on which Brierley stands and in the southwest, the watershed of the Pennines. A stone cross called Ladycross was erected near Grimethorpe, probably by the monks of Monk Bretton Priory, as a place of sanctuary, there being an old law protecting people on Church lands. The Ladycross figures on many deeds relating to the priory. The Lady referred to in the place names of Ladycross, Ladywell and Ladywood is probably Mary Magdalene to whom Monk Bretton Priory was dedicated.

On a well-hidden site between Brierley and Grimethorpe stood the fortified Manor of Hall Steads (the name means 'hall site'), which belonged to the early Brearley estate. Hall Steads is not mentioned until 1284 in connection with a later Lord of Brierley Manor. Hall Steads was surrounded first by a high, stone wall and then by the moat. The site covered an area of about five acres. The building was mainly of local sandstone and many of the stones can still be seen in the soil. Fragments of 14th and 15th-century pottery have been found amongst these stones.Brereley – A History of Brierley, by M. R. Watson & M. Harrison, First Edition 1975, Reprinted 1976, Anchor Press, Barnsley Road, Cudwort

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Mining

The 1981 census recorded 44% of Grimethorpe workers as miners. The two pits in the village were 'Grimethorpe' and 'Ferrymoor' which merged with 'Riddings' in 1967, which in turn merged with 'South Kirkby' in 1985. Grimethorpe colliery was one of the deepest pits in Britain and, following similar mergers with 'Houghton Main' and 'Dearne Valley', employed 6,000 men at the time of its closure in May 1993. During mid-October of the 1984–85 miners' strike, there was a series of riots in Grimethorpe and local residents complained that the policing was too heavy-handed. Relations between the community and the police remained very cold for the next decade.

St Luke’s Church was built in 1904 after St Paul’s Church, Brierley, Brierly was deemed insufficient to accommodate the growing mining population.

Deprivation

After the closure of the mines and other local industries, Grimethorpe entered a period of decline. Unemployment was above 50% for much of the 1990s. Long-term deprivation was identified by local social workers, the public sector, and charities by the 2000s. This sparked a period of regeneration and much of the denser basic housing was demolished and replaced with new housing stock.

Historically Grimethorpe had road links to the major compass points without natural barriers but was distant to major cities and its public transport was represented by long-distance bus routes; comparable ex-mining-centric villages in West Yorkshire such as Fitzwilliam and South Elmsall have rail links to Leeds and a greater population supporting local retail and commerce.

Regeneration projects

Several regeneration projects have taken place. The Dearne Valley link roads have been constructed and Park Springs Industrial Estate has been developed. This has brought many jobs to the area especially the construction of a huge unit occupied by South Yorkshire-based furniture company Symphony. The ex-regional NCB Offices have been converted into managed workshops and offices for small businesses and named 'The Acorn Centre', The largest employer on site is Honest Home Care Ltd which employs over 40 staff. The village has seen the construction of four private housing estates, a medical centre, dental surgery, and a village hall. Regeneration was praised by former Deputy PM Lord Prescott on his visit in March 2010.

Since this time regeneration work has continued with the opening of the large ASOS distribution centre, and many other industrial units on the Park Springs Industrial Estate.

Education

Two junior schools, Milefield and Ladywood, are publicly maintained. Willowgarth High School was demolished to be replaced by larger Outwood Academy Shafton, the secondary school with the main catchment area including Grimethorpe, Shafton, Brierley, Cudworth, Monk Bretton, and Lundwood.

Former schools include Springvale Junior and Middle School, which burned down in the 1980s.

Band

Grimethorpe is known for its past as a mining village, its brass band, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and its use as the location for the film '' Brassed Off'' – a black comedy which tells the plight of the village and the effect on its band. In 2010 Grimethorpe Colliery band recorded a version of the hymn "Jerusalem" which was played when the English team won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

Sport

Grimethorpe has had two senior football clubs – Grimethorpe Athletic, who played in the FA Cup from 1904 to 1953, and Grimethorpe Miners' Welfare, who competed in the FA Vase.

In 2018 former Barnsley FC player Bruce Dyer opened a branch of his 'love life' football academy in the village.

In the Viz comic strip Billy the Fish, the fictional Grimethorpe City is the arch-rival of Fish's team Fulchester United.

See also

* Listed buildings in Brierley and Grimethorpe

References

External links

Interview with former miners' union activist on the recent history of the village
* http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100919185652/http%3A//www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/prescott%2Dpraises%2Dgrimethorpe%2Dregeneration%2Dprogress
* http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features/Grimethorpe-Fall-and-rise-of.3368390.jp
* http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/news/2,0000,3222.html
* http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/1299/Jobs-boost-as-Symphony-owner.1102257.jp

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Villages in South Yorkshire
Mining communities in England
Brierley