Darton

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Map sources for Darton at grid reference SE315101
Map sources for Darton at grid reference SE315101
Darton Church
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Darton Church

Darton is a village in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley (part of South Yorkshire, England), on the border with West Yorkshire. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of approximately 16,000.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Darton lies on the River Dearne, directly to the east of Kexbrough, and about 5 miles north of the town of Barnsley. It is served by the A637 road and is bisected by the M1 motorway (junction 38 being a mile to the north). Its location is approximately 53°35′N 1°32′W, at an elevation of around 80 metres above sea level.

[edit] History

The name Darton is believed to be an amalgamation of "Dearne" and the Anglo-Saxon word "ton" (meaning 'town'). Hence, in ancient times it was known as 'the town on the Dearne'. However, other sources dispute this explanation and claim that the name originates from a description given to a deer enclosure or something similar.

A church was built in the village in 1150, but an official register of baptisms, deaths and marriages did not begin until several centuries later in 1539.

[edit] Present day

Darton has its own railway station which runs train journeys between Sheffield and Leeds. It is especially included in the "West Yorkshire Metro". The reason for this is that the West-South Yorkshire boundary historically ran between the village and its main source of employment - Woolley Colliery.

[edit] External links

  • The Darton page (contains a gallery of old and new photographs of the village)


Ceremonial county of South Yorkshire
Metropolitan districts: City of Sheffield • Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham • Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster • Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
Cities/Towns: Adwick le Street • Anston • Armthorpe • Askern • Aughton • Barnsley • Bawtry • Birdwell • Beighton • Bentley • Chapeltown • Conisbrough • Cudworth • Darfield • Darton • Dinnington • Dodworth • Doncaster • Finningley • Great Houghton • Grimethorpe • Harthill • Hatfield • Highlane • Hoyland Nether • Kirk Sandall • Maltby • Mexborough • Moorends • Mosborough • Norton • Oughtibridge • Rawmarsh • Rossington • Rotherham • Royston • Scholes • Sheffield City Centre • Stainforth • Stocksbridge • Swinton • Thorne • Thorpe Hesley • Thurcroft • Thurnscoe • Tickhill • Todwick • Treeton • Wales • Wath upon Dearne • Wharncliffe Side • Wombwell • Woodsetts • Worsbrough
See also: List of civil parishes in South Yorkshire