Dodworth

History

The name Dodworth derives from an Old English personal name, such as Dod or Dodda, and worð meaning 'enclosure'. Dodworth was historically a township in the ancient parish of Silkstone, in the Wapentake of Staincross, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It became a separate civil parish in 1866, and an urban district in 1894. The urban district and civil parish were abolished in 1974, when Dodworth was transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in the new county of South Yorkshire. Dodworth is now an unparished area. Dodworth is a former coal mining village with approximately 5,800 people. The land occupying the former pit is now the Dodworth Business Park. The "muck" stack from the pit is clearly visible throughout the village. The spoil heaps are now covered with grass, scrub and birch trees. Over the past twenty years, trees and wildlife have flourished. Now the whole of the east, south and west side are covered with trees. The north side is occupied by farmland and the former 'muck stack' is completely invisible apart from the rise. The crossroads between High Street, Station Road and Barnsley Road lead to Barnsley and Manchester. Dodworth's High Street acted as part of a historical trade route for salt brought from Cheshire to Barnsley, proving to be one of the oldest trading routes in the area. Along High Street are a number of old weavers' cottages. Opposite the library is one of the village's oldest buildings. It dates back to 1600, with evidence of this above its High Street front door.