Birdwell is a village in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England.

Birdwell is located approximately 4.5 miles south of Barnsley (measured from Barnsley town centre to the Northern edge of Birdwell) and Neighbouring villages include Worsbrough Village, Tankersley (accessible via a footbridge which crosses the M1 motorway), and Hoyland Common.

The A61 (Sheffield Road) passes North-South through the length of Birdwell and at the Southern end is Birdwell Roundabout which is the Junction between the M1 motorway at Junction 36 and the A61. Birdwell Roundabout also marks the start of the Dearne Valley Parkway - a relatively new dual carriageway / by-pass system which effectively links the M1 at Junction 36 to the A1 at Marr (near Doncaster).

Birdwell runs under the auspices of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC).

Towards the southern end of Birdwell stands a large obelisk which was constructed in 1775 (according to the plaque) to mark the distance (3 miles) to Wentworth Castle (at nearby Stainbrough). The obelisk was struck by lightning on 6 June, 1906.

Local schooling

Birdwell has a primary school (Birdwell Primary School) and there is also a smaller school located in Worsbrough Village (Worsbrough St Mary's CofE Primary School). This will officially close on 31st December 2007, there is also a private day-nursery (Chatterbox) in Birdwell.

Entertainment & places of interest

Birdwell Club is a former working men's club located on Sheffield Road in Birdwell that hosts a variety of entertainment. In 2005 it played host to a highly-rated gig by local band the Arctic Monkeys^[1], which was voted 9th best gig of the year by the Observer Music Monthly, notably surpassing Live8^[2].

The Take 2 centre at the South end of Birdwell houses the Academy Theatre - a full theatre facility with a varied programme of live entertainment, licensed bar and a new Bistro.

Birdwell Lodge Craft & Antique Centre.

Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park.

Famous residents (past and present)

Charlie Williams (OBE) lived in Birdwell until his death, in September, 2006.

Silvia Young (founder and Principal of the famous Sylvia Young Theatre School in London) lived in Birdwell as a child evacuee from London during the second world war.

History

The origins of the village date back to the time of the English Civil War, around 1642, is when the village name is first mentioned. Its name is derived from the old Anglo Saxon "Brydd-Wella" or "Bird-Well". Legend has it that the servants from the nearby Tankersley Hall found a well of clear water. After watching some large birds drinking from it, decided it must be fit to drink, and started to collect their water from it, naming it, the 'bird-well'. It seems that a horse doctor, named Longley, stayed behind after the Civil War Battle of Tankersley Moor (April 1643) to form a coaching inn for the travellers between the estates of two rival brothers, from the nearby Wentworth(Stainborough) Castle and Wentworth Woodhouse. Obviously an inn needed water for the travellers and the horses, so it was built near the well. The inn became known as the 'Cock Inn'. Its' name may have become so after the tap on a barrel of ale, being the source of a reputable drink, still good to this day, or, it could have come from the 'cock-horse', an extra horse added to the carriages being pulled up the steep incline from Wentworth Castle. This road was known as 'Well-Gate', another reference to the well, & 'gate' which was another name for a bridleway. Until 1967, there had only been one family name over the door as licensees, the Eastwoods, since the time when a 'licence' was required to sell ale.

Then, there is the 'Cock Inn Treasure', but that's another story.

The first purpose-built mines rescue station (Tankersley Rescue Station) opened in Birdwell in 1902 and still stands today albeit as a beauty salon and private house. The dated rescue station plaque can still be seen on the side of the building.

External links

• Barnsley MBC
• The take2 centre
• Birdwell Club entertainment guide
• Birdwell Woods (the Woodland trust)
• Birdwell community forum
• Birdwell Methodist church