Leave car park and turn right into village. Take first right (Clayfield Lane) and follow lane to T-junction.  Note the disused windmill near the end of Clayfield Lane. It was in use until the 19th Century when it was replaced by a new one on Mill Lane which is now also disused.  Turn left into Cortworth Lane and keep forward to cross Coaley Lane. In approximately 200m near bus stop turn left into drive for Cortworth House. After 100m where drive curves left keep forward through kissing gate and continue up field keeping hedge to left. Continue forward to reach road and turn left into Street Lane. At T Junction cross road and go through kissing gate with cottage on left. Follow footpath and when you reach a gap between trees on the left about half way down the field you will see the Needles Eye folly.  This dates from 1780 and is the oldest of the Wentworth follies. Local folklore maintains that the folly was built in order that the Earl of the time could win a wager that he could drive a coach & four through the ‘Eye of a Needle’. This however would have been impossible as the archway is far too narrow.  Keep forward along path.  Note Wentworth village to the left with distant views of the Pennines beyond. Kepples Column another folly can be seen to the left of Wentworth and slightly behind you.  Cross over stile and continue forward down hill keeping fence to left. Halfway down field ignore track to farm and keep forward crossing stile and continuing forward down hill.  As the path starts to descend there are fine views of Elsecar and Hoyland in front you and on a clear day you can see a windfarm high on the Pennines.  Go through fence and continue downhill. At bottom corner of field cross stile and take footpath to right. When you reach bushes follow path to left and descend towards Elsecar Heritage Centre.   Keep forward passing Elsecar Heritage centre on left to reach road (do not visit the centre yet as we will be returning). At road turn right and then keep forward passing Elsecar Church and several rows of old cottages on left.  The various rows of cottages were erected by the Earls Fitzwilliam to house miners and their families. The Fitzwilliam’s were very forward looking owners and the conditions in their mines were far better than most other mines in the area. Note that the larger houses that can be seen at the far end of the village would have housed the colliery officials.

Q1: What date was ‘Reform Row’ built?

Just before bridge turn right onto footpath and follow path along side of disused canal.  As you turn back along the canal, the site of Elsecar Main Colliery lies just beyond the railway line to your left. This colliery was in production from approx. 1800 until the death of the coal mining industry in the 1980’s. The site has now been landscaped and there is little evidence that the colliery ever existed.  Continue along canal to reach canal basin and then keep forward to road.  This canal is the Elsecar branch of the Dearne and Dove Canal which joined the Barnsley Canal with the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation and was used mainly for carrying coal. The Elsecar branch opened in 1798 and closed in 1928 due to subsidence.  Bear left along road and in a short distance at brown ‘Elsecar Heritage Servicing’ sign turn left and then bear right. Enter Elsecar Heritage Centre through metal gates. Note dogs are not allowed in the centre, but if you continue along the road you can rejoin the route with your dog at the Market Public House.  The Elsecar Heritage Centre stand on the site of the old Elsecar Workshops which maintained machinery for the colliery and the private railway both owned by the Fitzwilliam family. The Centre houses various craft shops and small industrial workshops. It also has several small museums and the ‘Powerhouse’ which is an interactive world of power, forces and energy. One of the treasures of the Centre is the Newcomen Beam Engine constructed in 1795, and used to pump water from the Elsecar colliery. It is the only engine of its type in the world to remain in its original location.  Toilets and a Café can also be found in the Heritage Centre.  Keep straight forward through the Centre to the information point and exit. Go under the archway and leave the centre. Turn right and at road turn left and go in front of the Market Public House. Cross road and in approximately 30 metres take footpath between houses on your right. Keep forward between cricket field and golf course and at end of path turn left into Elsecar Park. There is a children’s play area here with swings, slides and a crazy golf course. Go diagonally across field and in far corner descend bank and turn right. Follow path keeping reservoir to left. (This reservoir was constructed to feed the Canal) Where path divides bear left keeping reservoir to left. Head forward towards pylon and turn left over wooden bridge.

Q2: What is the name of the trail signposted on right?

Keep forward along path to reach road. Turn left at road and at road junction turn right. Keep forward passing disused windmill and at end of lane turn left along road. Immediately after first house on right turn right and then right again between house and garage. Follow path along side of field keeping open field to right (this path in not frequently walked and tends to be overgrown). Keep field to right and hedge to left and at footpath marker keep straight forward in direction of farm buildings. At end of field bear left over stile in corner and continue forward with hedge on left and fence on right. Go through kissing gate and bear left and then right through farm yard. At end of barn go over stile and turn right. In a short distance take signposted footpath down steps and over stile to left. Keep forward towards next set of farm buildings keeping fence to left At end of field cross stile in corner. Turn left on tarmac track and keep straight forward just after the 20 mile hour road sign turn right along front of School.

Q3: Whose name is on the cross on the right hand side just inside the gate?

Keep forward passing ‘new’ church on right and at end go through gate and turn left onto road. At war memorial turn left and follow road back to start.

When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form

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This trail is registered until 31 December 2008.

PAGE UPDATED Monday, 08 September 2008