The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley is a metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England; the main settlement is Barnsley and other notable towns include Wombwell, Worsbrough, Penistone, Hoyland and the Dearne Towns.
The borough is bisected by the M1 motorway; it is rural to the west, and largely urban/industrial to the east. It is estimated that around 16% of the borough is classed as urban overall, with this area being home to the vast majority of its residents. Additionally, 68% of Barnsley's 32,863 hectares is green belt and 9% is national park land, the majority of which is west of the M1. In 2007, it was estimated that Barnsley had 224,600 residents, measured at the 2011 census as 231,221.
The neighbouring districts are Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, High Peak, Kirklees and Wakefield.
Contents
History
The borough was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the whole area of 12 former districts and parts of another two, which were all abolished at the same time:
The county borough of Barnsley had been self-governing, whereas the other 13 districts were all lower-tier authorities where county-level services were provided by West Riding County Council.
From its creation in 1974 until 1986, the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley was a district-level authority, with county-level services provided by South Yorkshire County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986, since when Barnsley has been responsible for all local government services.
The borough forms part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Much of the modern Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley made up the historic Wapentake of Staincross, areas such as Denby Dale, Clayton West, South Hiendley, Hemsworth, Woolley, Notton, Old Royston, West Bretton, Scissett, Ryhill, Havercroft etc., were part of the Wapentake area but now fall outside the Borough within neighbouring West Yorkshire. Other villages and suburbs outside the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough but with strong historical connections to the Barnsley area are Brampton Bierlow, Wentworth and areas of the Dearne Valley.
Governance
Elections to the council were formerly held in three out of every four years, with one third of the 63 councillors elected at each election. Following boundary changes, all 63 seats were contested in the 2026 election, in which Reform UK took control of the council, ending Labour control dating back to the council’s creation in 1974.
The borough council appoints one councillor to be the mayor every year. On the day of the mayor's appointment, a parade takes place in front of the town hall in honour of the new mayor.
Since the 2023 Boundary review and the 2024 General election, Barnsley borough is represented by three MPs: Dan Jarvis for Barnsley North (Labour), Marie Tidball for Penistone & Stocksbridge (Labour), and Stephanie Peacock for Barnsley South (Labour).
Towns, wards and villages
Ardsley, Athersley
Barnsley, Barugh, Barugh Green, Billingley, Birdwell, Blacker Hill, Bolton upon Dearne, Brierley
Cortonwood, Carlecotes, Carlton, Cawthorne, Crow Edge, Cubley, Cudworth, Crane Moor
Darfield, Darton, Dodworth, Dunford Bridge
Elsecar
Gawber, Gilroyd, Goldthorpe, Great Houghton, Green Moor, Grimethorpe, Gunthwaite
Haigh, Hemingfield, High Hoyland, Higham, Honeywell, Hood Green, High Hoyland, Hoyland, Hoyland Common, Hoylandswaine, Hunshelf
Ingbirchworth
Jump
Kendray, Kexbrough, Kingstone
Langsett, Little Houghton, Lundwood
Mapplewell, Millhouses, Millhouse Green, Monk Bretton
New Lodge
Old Town, Oxspring
Platts Common, Penistone, Pilley, Pogmoor
Royston, Redbrook, Rockley
Shafton, Silkstone, Silkstone Common, Smithies, Springvale, Stainborough, Staincross, Stairfoot
Tankersley, Thurgoland, Thurlstone, Thurnscoe
Ward Green, Wilthorpe, Woolley Colliery, Wombwell, Wortley, Worsbrough Bridge, Worsbrough Dale, Worsbro Common, Worsbrough Village
Education
There are over 100 schools and colleges in the borough. State education is managed by Barnsley Local Education Authority. There are 14 state-run secondary schools and around 80 primary schools. There was an independent school, Hope House School. Post-16 education is provided at Barnsley College and the sixth form of Penistone Grammar School. An adult education college, Northern College, is located at Wentworth Castle in Stainborough.
Media
In terms of television, the area is served by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire broadcasting from the Emley Moor transmitter.
Radio stations for the area are:
BBC Local Radio
BBC Radio Sheffield
Independent Local Radio
Heart Yorkshire
Capital Yorkshire
Hits Radio South Yorkshire
Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire (formerly Dearne FM)
Community Radio
Penistone FM (serving Penistone and Stocksbridge)
The local newspaper for the area is the Barnsley Chronicle.
Places of interest
Barnsley Town Hall
Bretton Country Park
Cannon Hall
Cannon Hall Farm
Cooper Art Gallery
Elsecar Heritage Centre
Lowe Stand
Monk Bretton Priory
Wentworth Castle
Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park