Monk Bretton to Darfield

Boxing hares R N E W ● From Grange Lane take the surfaced path across the open space with ● Walk alongside the field ● The farmhouses and outbuildings of Tyers N E Waymarked Walk No. 6 A A R W the ruins of Monk Bretton Priory on your left. Through gaps in the tall boundaries as far as the second Hall and Tyers Hill date back to the 17th and E A Y A hedge are excellent glimpses of the 12th century priory. Apart from the stile on the left. Watch for the 18th centuries. There is a long history E D Y D prior's lodging and the south wall of the refectory, little remains but the waymarkings. of farming here – aerial photographs Monk Bretton foundations and lower courses. have picked up field boundaries and ditches laid down about 2000 Priory to Darfield Trail Pennine Trans years ago by the Romans. Sunny Bank Waymarked Walks CUNDY CROSS Barnsley to Viaduct Starting point Bad habits and good habits Darfield Grange Lane car park, to the Hollins Wood Storrs Wood rear of Monk Bretton Priory, During the 9th and 10th centuries the Church Monk Bretton Priory A628 to Barnsley Tyers Hall Cundy Cross of Rome was in the depths of depravity. Storrs Mill Lane Distance The Cluniac Monastic Order was founded in 5 miles (8 km) Burgundy, France, to restore lost faith. By 1090 Burton Grange Horse Carr Wood the Cluniac empire had established the Priory Mill Trans Pennine Trail ● Time of St John at Pontefract. In 1154 land here at The earliest known reference to the hamlet of Edderthorpe is to the Allow yourself up to 5 hours for name 'Edric-thorpe' – the home of a prosperous Saxon called Edric! More exploring at a leisurely pace Burton Grange was given to the monks and so work began on the Priory of St Magdalene. recently, a Royal coat of arms, cast in plaster, belonging to Elizabeth I was River Dearne discovered in the 16th century farmhouse (now demolished), and now Footwear Bitter disputes with Pontefract Priory led to Tyers Hall Grange Lane Some sections can have wet, (A633 to Stairfoot) resides at Darfield Church. muddy or uneven ground. St Magdalene's turning to the English Benedictine Tyers Hill Stout shoes are recommended Order in 1279 and as lands were acquired the monastery became a powerful local land owner. Waymarks The route is waymarked with a ● On reaching the River Dearne, Besides being a menace to good government, miner's lamp symbol the definitive route is right, up a lane the enormous wealth of the monasteries posed to Doncaster Road. An alternative How to get there too great a temptation to a monarch short of By Bus: Monk Bretton Priory is Edderthorpe concessionary route follows the cash. In 1538 the Priory was surrendered to the easily reached from Barnsley ● Take the path up to the top of the railway bridge right bank of the River Dearne to town centre. Darfield is served Crown during Henry VIII's purge of the and turn right. Look right as you cross the river for ● Follow the path alongside the disused railway on your right. Doncaster Road. The Dearne Valley by regular bus routes from the monasteries. The lands and properties were Early grey moth views of Barnsley town, Dearne Valley Park and Barnsley At about this point, have a look at all the wooded areas around Green Heart Partnership in 2009/10 major towns in South Yorkshire. immediately sold off to the loyal friends and To return to the start from Main Pit Head. Look left down the rural river valley you. Between 1700 and the turn of the 20th century, the amount helped transform Darfield Weir into supporters of the King. Darfield you will first have to towards the high viaduct (your next destination). This of woodland changed little in this part of the valley; but when a more natural river feature that travel to Barnsley, then back to part of the disused Hull-Barnsley railway line is now Cundy Cross Britain was prevented from importing timber during the First allows fish to migrate upstream and part of the Trans Pennine Trail long distance footpath, World War there were fears for the coal industry's reserves of pit- canoeists access downstream. cycleway and bridleway. At the next junction turn left By Train: Barnsley is accessible props. The government looked to home-grown supplies and massive Oak from Huddersfield, Leeds, along another former railway line towards Cudworth Wakefield and Sheffield acreages of woodland were clear-felled, but not re-planted. and the high viaduct. Walk a little way across to enjoy This was the fate of Lund Wood and nearby Horse Carr Wood. By Car: There is a public car the views then back to rejoin the Dearne Way. park adjacent to Monk ● There is no doubt that Darfield was Bretton Priory Reed sweet grass an important settlement in Roman times. Three hordes of gold coins have been River Dearne found and a Roman road is known to Storrs Mill Bridge served as the original river crossing before the present road/rail have passed through the district. Less ● From the viaduct bridge, bridge was built ● In amongst the dense thicket to the left of the certain is the claim for a Roman villa follow the River Dearne until you footpath are the buried remains of Storrs Mill. Nothing Middlewood Hall and earthworks between Darfield and reach the wooded areas. As you as yet is known of its origin but we do know that the Middlewood Hall. walk along the meandering River mill was occupied in 1839. By 1857 the mill was a ruin. Dearne keep your senses sharp The mill race and the foundations still exist. for the sight and sound of DARFIELD kingfishers and herons. Also, if ● This old single-arched stone bridge is thought to be A635 to Doncaster you peer into the waters, you 18th century. Both Storrs Mill and the bridge probably Thaal Restaurant may notice strands of vegetation fell out of use at about the time the railway was built, All Saints Church being drawn by the flow of the when the road between Darfield and Cudworth was river. This is an aquatic buttercup diverted to its present route. The bridge was badly – Ranunculus fluitans – an damaged in the 2007 floods and repaired by the owners, indicator of the improving quality Network Rail, in 2008/9. The sunken footpath away from Monk Bretton Priory Kingfisher of the River Dearne. here to Storrs Mill Lane is a part of that original road..

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