History

History

Wombwell

Wombwell dates back to pre-Norman times and at the time of the Domesday Survey of the Normans was a small agricultural village known as Wambella - the place of the well

The first Church

Following the Norman Conquest the whole of the area of land around Barnsley (which was also only a small village at the time) was granted to Ilbert de Laci who had taken up arms with William against England in the hope of gaining plunder and riches. His son, Robert, founded the Cluniac monastery at Pontefract whilst John de Laci became Earl of Lincoln. John was responsible for building several churches in the Barnsley area of which Wombwell was possibly one. At the west end of the present church are the preserved stones from the original building and they date from 1170.

The 13th Century Church

The original church was probably drastically rebuilt in the late 13th Century by the Friars of Monk Bretton Priory and the new - or rebuilt church survived until the 19th Century. It is known that the area around Wombwell saw many desperate battles during both the War of the Roses and the Civil War but there is no record of skirmishes actually in Wombwell and, therefore, it is presumed that the Church escaped without damage of any sort.

The Church of 1835

The 19th century saw a rise of Wombwell as an industrialised community and whilst coal was mined in the area from the 15th century it was not until the late 17th that the industry became important. After 1800, coal mining became vital to the area and more and more mines were opened in the Wombwell area to exploit the rich Barnsley Coal Seam. As the industrial life of the area increased, so did the population and by the 1830’s the church was found to be too small for the congregation.

The Discrepancy within the historical records.

At this point there is a discrepancy with the Church historical records which state "As a result, the 13th Century Church was pulled down and a new on built in its place and opened for worship in 1835". This fact is not, however borne out by the plans held at Lamberth Palace which indicate that the 13th century Church was extended in 1835 with the addition of a new south aisle and Gallery

This is the Ground Plan (after work had been completed) At the bottom, edged in pink, you can just about see the new south aisle together with, in the centre (again in pink) the Gallery. The architect for the project was John Whitworth of Barnsley who died in 1863.

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