The Darfield Area Amenity Society Limited.
Where We have Come From........
Our Society was founded at a
meeting in the village in December 1973. The Barnsley Civic Trust had suggested
that villages around the town of Barnsley should set up their own Civic
Societies to maintain standards within their own small areas. From the outset
our Society was non-political">
The
Darfield Area Amenity Society Limited. Where
We have Come From........ Our Society was founded at a
meeting in the village in December 1973. The Barnsley Civic Trust had suggested
that villages around the town of Barnsley should set up their own Civic
Societies to maintain standards within their own small areas. From the outset
our Society was non-political, but it has never been afraid to give local
politicians its views on changes taking place. In its history, the Society has
only ever had three Chairmen, Mrs. C. Clarney, Mr. A Clarney and Mr. Geoffrey
Hutchinson; and three Secretaries, Mr. Geoffrey Hutchinson, Mrs. Margaret Mann and
Mrs. Margaret Venables. During our 26years, the Society
has taken on projects that have usually stemmed from the interests and concerns
of members, always with the intent of retaining Darfield as a village in a time
of rapid change. Our activities can be grouped under four heads. ENVIRONMENTAL WORK - Footpaths have been walked,
checked and campaigned for; Trees have been planted, tree
preservation orders sought, and orchids rescued from a dumping site. Litter-picks have been
organised; The River Dove has been
cleaned of considerable silt and and rubbish from the Darfield Main Colliery
when it was working to allow fish back into it. QUASI-POLITICAL - Councillor and M.P.`s
Surgeries have been attended to press
for village improvements; A Campaign was organised to
establish the Conservation Area in the village; Work was undertaken to set up
a Police Liaison Committee in the village; Organised a house by house
petition and been represented at appeal to oppose planning approval for
housing that would have destroyed the green belt between Darfield and the
Barnsley conurbation. ACADEMIC - Work on general or particular
aspects of the history of the village has been undertaken and encouraged; Published a Village Trail in
leaflet form; Assisted the Darfield W.I. in
publishing their booklet the "Three Halls Walk". ENHANCED VILLAGE LIFE - When the village bowls club
collapsed, Society members reformed it by being guardians of the greens for
a summer and loaning out bowls; Founded
the Darfield Walking Group, at first as part of the Society, then as a
separate group; Recommenced the annual
village Hospital Sing Sunday that had not been held since
the outbreak of war in 1939; Organised an Annual two day
Art, Craft & Memorabilia Exhibition each August; Held monthly meetings with
speakers and as a forum for village discussion. Undertaken the restoration of
2 Vicar Road, Darfield, by application for Heritage Lottery and European
grants, to create the Heritage Centre. The Society became a Limited
Company in 1994 when it began the process of establishing the Maurice Dobson
Museum & Heritage Centre. (See
http://www.darfield.co.uk/Heritcentpro.htm)
) Membership is open to all for a modest annual fee. .......And
Where We Are Going. The Society hopes to continue to
fulfil the basic aims for which it was founded as we move on into 2002 and
beyond. We opened the Maurice Dobson Museum & Heritage Centre at Easter 2001
which comprises a museum of local artefacts
and antiques, a shop selling locally made crafts, a small cafe, a
small meeting place for local organisations, an art gallery with a monthly
changing display of work by artists from the district, and an outdoor paved area for sales
and similar village activities. The
Annual Exhibition of Arts, Crafts & Memorabilia.
What's New? Up to date news &
happenings.
