Elsecar Heritage Centre is a Living History centre in Elsecar, South Yorkshire. Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of Elsecar ( IPA /ɛlsɪ'kɑː/ is a Village forming part of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. Divisions and environs South Yorkshire is divided into four local government districts they are the City of Sheffield, the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster It also comprises various shops, galleries, art studios and an exhibition hall. It runs craft workshops, special events, and a monthly antiques fair. A craft is a Skill, especially involving practical arts. It may refer to a Trade or particular art An antique ( Latin: antiquus; old is an old Collectible item It is collected or desirable because of its age rarity condition utility or other unique The buildings were originally used for various industries including ironworks and forges, a distillery, and engineering workshops. A forge is the workplace of a smith or a Blacksmith. A forge is sometimes referred to as a smithy. These fell into decline when the coal mines in the village closed. Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining.
It also has its own railway station (called Rockingham Station) on the Elsecar Steam Railway, with a running shed behind the main centre. |}A train station, railway station, railroad station, or station yard is a facility at which Passengers may board and alight from Trains The Elsecar Steam Railway is located on the southern part of the former South Yorkshire Railway freight-only branch which ran from Elsecar Junction on its Mexborough to During some special events, trips are run to Hemingfield Basin. Hemingfield is a village in the Metropolitan borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. There are plans to extend the line to Cortonwood and build two stations (one at Cortonwood and the other at Hemingfield). In 1872 the Brampton Colliery Company was formed taking its name from the local parish of Brampton Bierlow, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The railway's depot is home to a selection of steam locomotives as well as a diesel locomotive. A steam locomotive is a Locomotive powered by Steam. The term usually refers to its use on Railways but can also refer to a "road locomotive" A Diesel locomotive is a type of Railroad Locomotive in which the prime mover is a Diesel engine.
The centre is also the site of the only Newcomen beam engine in the world to have remained in its original location. The atmospheric engine invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712 today referred to as a Newcomen steam engine (or simply Newcomen engine was the first practical It was used to pump water out of Elsecar New Colliery and ran from 1795 until 1923 when is was replaced by electric pumps. It also ran briefly in 1928 when the electric pumps were overwhelmed by flooding. At its peak it could draw 600 gallons a minute. In 1972 the engine was classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In the United Kingdom, a Scheduled Monument is a 'nationally important' Archaeological site or historic building given protection against unauthorised change The engine is not currently in working order but there are plans to restore it back to its original state.
External links
- Elsecar Heritage Centre (centre website)
- The Newcomen engine
- Elsecar Heritage Centre, at Barnsley MBC official website