SHOP LOCAL
giftware. There are traditional and educational wooden toys, handmade solid wood furniture, and even a collection of vinyl records. Like an outdoor mall, the many shops are
complemented by various eateries. There are two cafes, a traditional sweet shop, and a beer shop and tap with plenty of outdoor seating for you to enjoy a hand-pulled ale while watching the sunset over the iconic New Yard chimney. A new addition with an eco-minded vision
is the refill shop opened in April by the team at Paul’s Natural Foods. Here you can bring your own containers to fill with dried foods like pasta, rice, grains, pulses, oats and baking ingredients, and herbs and spices. They also have a selection of refillable household and body care items such as shampoo or laundry detergent, helping you reduce plastic packaging waste and save money in the process. In keeping with the historical character of
Elsecar, step back in time with a visit to the large antiques centre on site, taking you back to yesteryear with an eclectic mix of antiques and collectibles. They also have an in-house valuer if you are looking to sell any items you’ve uncovered while decluttering during the extra time spent at home this last year.
“During the summer
One of Elsecar’s impressive buildings, the
Ironworks, has become a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The extensive building is usually a place buzzing with activity with the many events that take place throughout the year. Hopefully, once restrictions begin to ease, these will resume later in the year so look out on Elsecar Heritage Centre’s Facebook page and website for updates. But one event you can look forward to is the
new three-part art installation that arrives this spring. As part of the Wentworth and Elsecar Great Place programme, supported by the Arts Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund, the New Yard’s cobbled areas will become a backdrop for three visual and sound-based art installations. Some of the 10,000 birds from The Flock at Wentworth Woodhouse will assemble while the bright and bold vaccine-inspired spheres and benches from the Colour Forms trail, in honour of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, will sit atop plinths around the site. And echoing the days when men worked underground with air flowing around them, The Mute Still Air invites visitors to enter a darkened space, experiencing an installation combining breeze, light, and the sound of a series of tuned Aeolian harps. This new sound installation highlights
months, the green spaces are filled with families safely meeting to enjoy picnics, with a large children’s playground and pitch-and-putt mini golf
”
innovative works that improved the safety of the Fitzwilliam mines at Elsecar through mine ventilation, drawing parallels with the mythological story of Aeolus - the Greek God of winds. There will also be opportunities for former miners in the local area and their families to share memories and experiences. One of the sounds that would have once
echoed around the village is that of the mighty Newcomen Engine which was installed in 1795. It
“It is the oldest steam
engine still in place anywhere, making it one of the world’s most important surviving legacies of the Industrial Revolution
”
is the oldest steam engine still in place anywhere, making it one of the world’s most important surviving legacies of the Industrial Revolution. It was designed to extract water from Elsecar New Colliery to allow the exploration of deeper coal seams; at its peak it would draw 600 gallons a minute and ran until 1923. Visitors can learn more about the Newcomen
and the rest of the village’s rich history during one of the guided tours which take place every weekend. Discover stories from the village and what it was like to live there, its industrial achievements, and what makes Elsecar so remarkable. For more information about guided tours or to book tickets, call the visitor centre on 01226 740 203. While you’re at Elsecar, don’t forget about the
stunning park that is as wonderful as ever. During the summer months, the green spaces are filled with families safely meeting to enjoy picnics, with a large children’s playground and pitch-and-putt mini golf. There is also a café and ice cream hut for refreshments. A walk around the reservoir is great all
year round, but there are also plans in the pipeline to improve the Trans Pennine Trail and canal towpath that lead to Hemingfield and Cortonwood. Better footpaths, new benches, and information boards about the history of the collieries and ironworks are hoped to encourage more people to walk around this fascinating landscape.
Elsecar Heritage Centre is open seven days a week 10am-4pm. Individual retailers’ opening days/times may vary so please check before if you plan to visit a certain store. There is ample parking and new electric vehicle charging points are being installed this summer.
For more information about the site, visit
www.elsecar-heritage.com
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