Dodworth

Dodworth
Yorkshire West Riding
First World War memorial in Dodworth
Location
Grid reference:	SE318051
Location:	53°32’30"N, 1°31’17"W
Data
Population:	9,777  (2011)
Post town:	Barnsley
Postcode:	S75
Dialling code:	01226
Local Government
Council:	Barnsley
Parliamentary constituency:	Penistone and Stocksbridge

Dodworth is a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire, three miles to the west of Barnsley. It had a population of 5,742 in 2001, increasing to 9,777 at the 2011 Census.

History

Dodworth originates as a township of the ancient parish of Silkstone. It was also a civil parish between 1866 and 1974.

Dodworth is a former coal mining village. The land occupying the former pit is now the Dodworth Business Park. The "muck" stack from the pit is clearly visible throughout the village. During the early 1980s a mass planting of silver birch trees began to halt erosion and create a wildlife habitat. Over the past twenty years, trees and wildlife have flourished. Now the whole of the east, south and west side are covered with trees. The north side is occupied by farmland and the former 'muck stack' is completely invisible apart from the rise.

The crossroads between High Street, Station Road and Barnsley Road lead to Barnsley and Manchester. The crossroads acted as a trading point for salt brought from Cheshire during mediæval times proving to be one of the oldest trading routes in the area. Along High Street are a number of old weavers' cottages. These three-storey buildings supplied fine linen cloth. Opposite the library is one of the village's oldest buildings. It dates back to 1600, with evidence of this above its High Street front door. During the village's 'hey-day', ten public houses over a half-mile stretch of High Street reflected the large mining population at the time.

Development

The Dodworth Bypass, near junction 37 on the M1, was completed in early 2007. The bypass allows commuters to travel from central Barnsley, or the motorway, to Silkstone and surrounding areas without travelling through Dodworth. A new business park called Capitol Park is under construction along the bypass.

Pharmaceutical company Galpharm International operate from a purpose-built distribution and office complex in the village.

A memorial dedicated to the families of the 1,500 miners killed in the area has now been erected in a prominent position on the High Street. A charity music festival was held at the Dodworth Miners' Welfare on 3 June 2012 to raise money for the memorial fund.

Transport

Proximity to the M1 Junction 37 means that Dodworth has a high proportion of commuters to Sheffield and Leeds. It also has easy access to Manchester along the A628 through Woodhead. Many people also work in Barnsley town centre, three miles away.

Dodworth railway station, on the Huddersfield to Sheffield line, provides access to Barnsley centre, Sheffield, Leeds and other nearby towns and cities.

There are two leading bus company operating through Dodworth Stagecoach And Tates . Recently there have been changes to service routes in the village, diverting buses from the main road to less populated areas.

Amenities

Dodworth has three hotels. Brooklands Hotel (formerly Brooklands Motel), Ramada Encore and the Fairway Inn. Brooklands has been re-built by the Brook Group. It contains a restaurant, lounge bar, club and an on-site Bannatyne's health club.

Village pubs include the Travellers' Inn on Green Road, the Thornely Arms on High Street. There is also Dodworth Central Social Club and Gilroyd Social Club. Recent pubs to be built are the Fairway (formerly the Bluebell) & Dodworth Valley.

In July 2007 the Station Inn closed for refurbishment, and re-opened as an out-of-town wine bar. The Pheasant Inn was demolished in 2007 and is due to become residential housing. The Miners' Inn closed about 2003 and was converted to a children's nursery. The former Horse and Jockey has become an Indian restaurant.

Dodworth has two Indian restaurants, a Chinese take-away and two fish and chip shops. There is a Budgens on High Street, and a post office which includes a pharmacy, doctor's surgery and a beauty salon. Further shops specialise in music, shoes, crafts and hobbies and jewellery. There is also a sandwich outlet, café and a hairdresser's.

The Miners' Welfare has bowling greens, two football pitches, a cricket field and a rugby pitch. It is the home of the Dodworth Colliery M.W. Brass Band. Dodworth ARLFC compete in the Pennine Division One and won the Southwest Yorkshire Cup in the 2007–08 season.

Education

Dodworth has two primary schools, Keresforth Primary School and Dodworth St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy. Dodworth St John (formerly Dodworth Junior School) amalgamated with Dodworth CofE Infant School in 2002.

Local secondary schools are Horizon Community College on Dodworth Road, and Penistone Grammar School in nearby Penistone.

Dodworth Branch Library is situated on High Street next to the war memorial. It functions as a local library, and provides internet access and 'Study Support' for local children.

Churches

There are three churches in Dodworth, Dodworth Methodist Church, St John the Baptist Parish Church with three military graves, and Rosehill Wesleyan Reform Church on Keresforth Road adjacent to the school.

Sport

Dodworth F.C. represented the village in the FA Cup during the 1920s.

References

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Dodworth)