In comparison with April, May was a busy month – a bit too busy in some respects…

Heritage in hand

Volunteers from Hemingfield enjoyed something of a busman’s holiday on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May with the Tankersley Community Association’s Tankersley and Pilley Local History Day at the Tankersley Hub (formerly the Welfare Hall).

The main room was packed with photographs, documents, and objects related to the history of the arts, schools, church and chapels, sports, and workplaces, including collieries. Friends took school photographs and also gave a presentation on the life and work of George Blake Walker of Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery, including the May 1914 Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery Disaster.

Crime and crime again

May brought several highs, as you will read, but it certainly brought significant woes with two unwelcome trespass visits on 5th and 6th of May 2024. Causing criminal damage to our protected, scheduled site – heritage crimes reported to the Police, and who responded swiftly on the 6th.

CCTV video evidence has been shared with the authorities. The main damage was done on 5th May. The Friends responded with rapid repairs, but, unbelievably, 3 young males returned on the 6th when the Police responded to a report and the sirens seemingly persuaded the vandals to make a swift departure.

The damage to the buildings was done opportunistically, the roofless switchgear building being targeted, tearing down boards and breaking in, and also attacking and damaging the security shutter locks.

Some tools were stolen, others discarded as well as being used to try and break into other parts of the site and cause further damage. Three individuals, young males being responsible.

The criminal damage was done, apparently, by 3 local youths with face coverings. We are grateful to neighbours for alerting the authorities and deterring further damage which has destroyed an original wooden door, and damaged sandstone and brickwork masonry, as well as slate roofing and boarding used to prevent access to unsafe areas and used for security. All of this bringing unwanted additional costs to our volunteer group.

Undoubtedly undaunted

Returning to site 25th May the Friends had a bumper day to celebrate – welcoming Gemma Clarke, from Elsecar Heritage Centre, leading the Building Bridges Project. Gemma demonstrated some literally heritage outreach, and sustainable active travel, arriving by bike, carrying some oral history recording equipment to provide some practice to the volunteers from Hemingfield who attended oral history training earlier in the year.

Alongside regular volunteer jobs, selective mowing, weeding and repointing the modern boundary wall, the Friends were also absolutely delighted to welcome a visit from Good Neighbours News.

GNN had awarded the group a cheque for £200 as part of their Community Award Scheme.

This is the second time the Friends have received support from this group. An article about the group, about to celebrate 10 years on site will appear in the next issue of Good Neighbours News magazine.

Stepping out: Elsecar Making History Day, 18th May 2014

The Friends were up bright and early on Saturday 18th May to head to Elsecar Heritage Centre to support the Building Bridges project headed by Gemma Clarke. Gemma and the EHC crew welcomed local people to share their memories and documents of Elsecar’s working past.

On the up

Finally, at the very end of May the Friends also joined in a special treat – a history hike around Elsecar and Wentworth.