Wombwell Circular Walk

Michael Palmer
2 days ago
2 min read

Womwell Circular Walk

A Brief History of Wombwell, Barnsley

Wombwell is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, with a population of around 15,000 (2011 census). Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, its name is thought to come from “Womba’s Well” (or “well in a hollow”).

Early & Rural Origins

There is evidence of prehistoric activity around the Wombwell area, including Mesolithic and Neolithic findspots, plus Iron Age and Romano-British field systems.
Medieval documents record “Wanbella” in the Domesday Book (1086), pointing to early settlement. Wombwell also had watermills and a manorial system in place long before the arrival of modern industry.
For many centuries, Wombwell was rural, centred on agriculture, small farms, watercourses and natural features. The landscape before the mid-19th century was typical of rural Yorkshire, with fields, woods, farmhouses and local trade.

Industrial Transformation

The mid-1800s marked a turning point: Wombwell Main Colliery opened in 1855, followed by Mitchell’s Main in 1883, signaling the shift from a rural settlement to a mining town.
Transport links grew: the South Yorkshire Railway arrived in 1851, helping coal and goods move, which in turn supported population growth and commercial development in Wombwell.
As mining expanded, housing, services, shops, churches, and public institutions followed. Wombwell became both a place where miners lived and a hub for surrounding smaller mining settlements.

20th Century to Present

Coal-mining dominated much of Wombwell life for over a century. The decline and eventual closure of its collieries in the mid to late 20th century had significant social and economic impact.
Today, Wombwell is a town that balances its heritage with modern life. It has good transport links (via railway), community amenities, churches, parks, local businesses, and green spaces like Wombwell Woods and Wombwell Park.
Historical artifacts and community memory are preserved via Barnsley Archives (for example, early maps, field boundaries, old mills etc.), which help walkers and locals alike connect with how the landscape used to be.

Why It Makes a Great Walking Location

Because of its layered history, walks around Wombwell offer more than nature — you’ll often see traces of its past: old field systems, paths that once led to collieries or water mills, and buildings tied to its industrial heritage.
The shift from mining to green spaces gives a mix: wooded areas, open fields, local parks, old railway cuttings or disused infrastructure that nature is reclaiming.
Proximity to Barnsley and good access make it ideal for countryside walks that don’t require long travel.