Barnsley Main Colliery
đź“Ť 55 Oaks Ln, Barnsley S70 3ET, UK
About Barnsley Main Colliery
Barnsley Main Colliery stands as a significant historical site, preserving a vital part of Yorkshire's industrial past in Barnsley. This former coal mine, celebrated with a strong 4.6/5 star Google rating, offers visitors a poignant glimpse into the region's mining heritage. Its preserved headgear and engine house serve as powerful reminders of the industry that shaped the community, reflecting the stories and experiences of those who worked there.
The site provides informative boards that guide visitors through its history, highlighting the lives of the miners. Nestled close to the Trans Pennine Trail, it's a unique spot for reflection and exploration, often described by visitors as a hidden gem offering a serene yet historically rich experience amidst natural surroundings, perfect for combining with a scenic walk.
Visiting Information
While specific opening hours are not provided, visitors can explore the site's external features at their leisure. Barnsley Main Colliery is committed to accessibility, featuring wheelchair-accessible parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, making it welcoming for all. Payment options are not specified, suggesting it is a free-to-access historical monument.
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đź“Ť 55 Oaks Ln, Barnsley S70 3ET, UK
from 68 reviews
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Showing 5 of 68 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 5 February 2026.
A left over tribute. Barnsley coal was known far and wide, this site especially. Yet the gates only open when the volunteers tend to the landscape. It could be so much more. Open up the building, get some old machinery on site and let the public enjoy it. Government grants could go here instead of pointless metal roses. If you want a photo then you've to park elsewhere and walk or scrape into the junction.
An important relic of the areas mining history. Next to the Trans Pennine Trail. There is a car park but there's a locked gate at the road entrance to prevent access which is pretty pointless. The headgear and engine house remain and there are useful information boards. The immediate area is obviously cared for with gardens. The colliery was once connected to the worst English mining disaster with the loss of 383 lives but surprisingly there's no memorial to the men.
Barnsley Main Colliery is hidden from main view and can be found walking the entrance of the Pennine Trail in Barnsley and a 5 mins walk or so though a public foot path and the place reveals itself, holding the souls of the people who worked there and some very young children lost their lives too . It’s has now been preserved as a grade 2 listing . Beautiful surroundings as it’s in woodland and close to the river Dearn. Lots of birds and butterflies if you’re interested in nature.
Nice walk, small area around the mining building to walk round but more land to explore across the road, beautiful between the trees and views across Barnsley after climbing the hill, there's other fields then that come onto the pennine trail. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of litter coming in near the road, and the area doesn't look worth a visit but soon as you get past the initial part and into the trees its lovely
Interesting piece of local history if you're looking for a flying visit.