Illuminated Barnsley Brewery SignEstablished in 1888, the Barnsley Brewery at Oakwell was the home of the historic Barnsley Bitter often referred to as ‘the miners pint’. In 1961 it was taken over by John Smith Brewery from Tadcaster (North Yorkshire). This resulted in a public outcry; the Battle for Barnsley Bitter even reached the House of Commons in February 1973. ‘A broadside was fired by Defence Secretary and Barnsley MP Roy Mason who put down a motion – signed by 66 MPs – expressing concern over the growth of the tied house system in beer supply.’ During the weekend of September 7-8, 1974 protest marchers descended on Barnsley in the latest bid to save Barnsley’s bitter. Hundreds of members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) visited 13 pubs which still served the Barnsley brew to sample a pint in each before a march through the town. It was later bought by the company Courage. Production was stopped in 1976 – the buildings were used as distribution warehouse. In 1994 the new owners who bought the brewery, continued production of beer under the name Barnsley Bitter. Unfortunately the history of Oakwell Brewery ended in 2013, when all the equipment was sold, and the buildings entirely demolished however stories of the bitter are still told. Michael Parkinson recently said: ‘Lads who thought they could drink a bit used to come and try Barnsley Bitter. It was only when they felt like their heads were falling off that they realised there was a limit.’

N.U.W.S.S Women’s rights banner The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the Suffragists was an organisation of women’s suffrage societies in the United Kingdom. The banner on display in the museum states that 7,898 men of Barnsley petition for Women’s suffrage in 1913.

Like many towns up and down the country women came together to fight for their rights and the women of Barnsley were no exception. The involvement of working class women in the suffrage movement was important. Barnsley women’s suffrage society was formed in 1902. The town’s foremost campaigner was Celia Wray of Fairfield house who was secretary of the society. (Celia was also an architect and designed houses that still stand today in Cudworth). Meetings were held at the Old Arcade Hall. Barnsley Archives have some images from around 1911 of the Barnsley Suffragettes stood outside the front of The Chronicle offices with their placards. Only one minute book from the society is believed to have survived dated 1913-1933. Celia resigned in October 1920 and soon after the society transformed itself into the Barnsley Society for Equal Citizenship.

Kes Poster Kes is a 1969 film directed by Ken Loach. The film is based on the 1968 novel A Kestral for a Knave, written by Barnsley born author Barry Hines. Kes was Barry Hines second novel and is rumoured to have been based on his brothers experiences as a boy. Hines was born in the mining village of Hoyland Common near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He attended Ecclesfield Grammar School and played football for the England Grammar Schools team. After leaving school with five O levels he took a job with the National Coal Board. Later retraining to become a teacher. He worked as a PE teacher for several years, where he wrote novels in the school library after the children had gone home. He later became a full time writer. The story of Billy Casper (brilliantly played by David Bradley) was a story of a boy who lived in our northern coal-mining community. Billy was bored and hated school. Then he finds a kestrel,

learns to train it and love it, and discovers a purpose in life. The film was shot in and around Barnsley. The Casper family home was a property on Parkside Road in Hoyland. The newsagents was on Princess Street in Barnsley town centre. The School was formerly St Helen’s Secondary Modern, Carlton Rd, Barnsley. The library was filmed in the Civic Hall, Eldon St. Barnsley.

Women against Pit Closures PostersA number of items in the museum including posters and t-shirts tell the story of the miner’s strike of 1984/85 through the story of the Barnsley women who formed their own powerful group to support the striking miners and their families. Thousands of miners faced job losses from pit closures in the 1980s, but Barnsley’s women fought back with a campaign that gained international support. Items on display tell the women’s stories of struggle, hardship and friendship and explores the impact the strike had on the lives of these women, from over 30 years ago to the present day. A quote by Anne Scargill gives a image of the times: ‘One day on the picket line this police inspector said to me, “Oh my God, how many’s here?” I said, about 30. He says, “I’d rather 100 men than 30 women.” I said ‘That’s your problem, not mine.” Although the strike was unsuccessful and the miners eventually marched back to work, campaigners are proud of the achievements of the WAPC. The dimensions of many women’s lives were changed forever. Some women went on speaking tours and wrote books about their experiences and their legacy lives on, Actress Maxine Peake visited the museum and was was inspired by the women involved in the mines campaign. She has recently written and starred in a radio play, ‘Queens of the Coal Age’ which is being turned into a stage production.

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Albert Hirst BikeThe first shop to bear the name of Albert Hirst was opened in Cheapside in 1897 by Albert’s father and it

soon became a well-known family buisness. Albert was known to many as ‘the greatest black pudding maker in the history of Barnsley and all of Yorkshire’ becoming a minor television celebrity — thanks to the success of his black puddings in international contests. Born in 1910, Albert was not only famous for his black pudding but also for his pork pies and Barnsley chops. When asked about the Barnsley chop, Albert would present the enquirer with a card which stated, ‘Food fit for a king. Barnsley chops, supplied for luncheon at the opening of the Town Hall by HRH the Prince of Wales in 1933 by Albert Hirst’. On display in the museum is a small number of items relating to Albert Hirst Butchers, my favourite being a bike used by Albert Hirst Junior to deliver items in the local area which highlights a faboulous story ‘Six Miles there, Six miles back’. In 2013 Albert Hirst junior recalled, ‘The shop bike, I remember riding that, I used to ride to Cawthorne just to take a tea cake up Silkstone Lane to a farm. I remember one day, when I got back to the shop my father said Mrs Halls been on the phone, you haven’t closed the gate, go back and close it. I had to go all the way back. Six miles there. Six miles back’.

Charlie Williams This is your life Book. Charlie Adolphus Williams MBE was a mixed-race English professional footballer, and later became Britain’s first well-known black stand-up comedian. He was born in Royston, near Barnsley in 1927. He became

famous from his appearances on Granada Television’s The Comedians and ATV’s The Golden Shot, delivering his catchphrase, ‘me old flower’ in his broad Yorkshire accent. After a successful career he spent the latter part of his life at Birdwell and died in 2006, his funeral taking place at St. Mary’s Church in Worsbrough, Barnsley, where he is buried.

This Is Your Life was a popular TV show. At its peak of popularity, in the 1970s and 80s, millions of television viewers regularly tuned in every Wednesday at 7pm with excited anticipation of whose name would be embossed on that week’s Big Red Book. Receiving his ‘Big Red Book’, in February 1972, Charlie was surprised by Eamonn Andrews on the stage of the Batley Variety Club. At the club to greet Charlie were his wife, relatives, Alick Jeffrey, Freddie Trueman, Jackie Charlton and John Charles and others from the world of sport, as well as fellow comedians. Theatre manager, David H Robinson, had arranged for a large colour set TV to be placed on stage for the audience’s enjoyment as the surprise was broadcast live on Granda TV.

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Experience Barnsley Museum at the Town hall will celebrate its 5th birthday on 27 June this year. Tracey Hebron takes a look at some of her favourite objects on display.

EXPERIENCEBARNSLEYMUSEUM & DISCOVERY CENTRE

Celebrating 5 years of

Experience Barnsley is the town’s first museum and it explores the borough’s fascinating history. It is an inspiring place for all the family to visit. There is lots of fun to be had in the interactive galleries and the Discovery Centre holds priceless treasures. The museum and galleries span two floors of Barnsley’s distinctive town hall. Hundreds of exhibits have been donated by local people ranging from a leather jacket worn by local rockers Saxon in the US, Barnsley bricks and coal to a prehistoric axe head that had been used as a doorstop for over 40 years. From the moment it opened its doors on Thursday 27 June 2013 it became a museum by the people, for the people. To celebrate its fifth birthday I decided to take a walk around the galleries and take a closer look at some of my favorite objects on display that tell stories of recent Barnsley and uncover the people and places behind them.

All items mentioned can be seen in the galleries. Experience Barnsley is open seven days a week and admission is free.