Silkstone Feast in Victorian Times

 SILKSTONE FEAST IN VICTORIAN TIMES 1857 - 1862

The local feast holidays generally originated from historical religious festivals and medieval traditions surrounding churches, patron saints or annual events such as harvest time etc. They eventually evolved into community events and industrial holidays. 

"Silkstone Feast" is written in the diary of John Hobson a gentleman tanner of Dodworth Green on Monday 1st August 1726. In 1727 his diary entry was "July 30th, at Church, Silkstone Feast", and in 1728, "August 4th, at Church, Silkstone Feast". By the mid 1850s, tradition was that it began on the first Sunday after 9th August and lasted for 3 or 4 days into the following week. Once a year for a few days only, the employees at local collieries, factories and other places of work were given time off by their employers.

The villages of Silkstone and Silkstone Common would be thronged with locals and visitors alike as trains from Barnsley and Penistone would stop at the station on the Common full of passengers eager to enjoy the festivities.

A report in the local newspapers of the 1862 feast paints a colourful picture, "Silkstone with its' many pleasing reminiscences has, during the past week, been visited by relatives and acquaintances in greater numbers than usual, owing, no doubt, to the fine weather that prevailed on the occasion. The streets appeared much crowded on Monday, owing to the many attractions to be seen. The nut and gingerbread stalls were well patronised by the rising generation. The sharp crack of the rifle at the shooting gallery was often heard. A fancy bazaar drew its' share of visitors with the rustics often trying their luck at the wheel of fortune. A photographic gallery, bedecked with specimens of first-class portraits, so charmed the stout lads and buxom lasses that they could not resist securing "the substance, ere the shadow faded*" and all for the small charge of sixpence". (* this was a common advertising slogan used by early photographers emphasising their ability to create a lasting image of a person before they aged or died). In addition to the many stalls would be the roundabouts and swings powered by steam engines often situated in the Roggins area behind the Ring O' Bells.

This photograph taken much later than the 1850s shows the swings and traction engines in the Roggins area of the village during Silkstone Feast (probably in the 1920s).

The map above shows the location of The Roggins - the roundabouts and swings etc were located in the fields between the Roggins and Silkstone Beck

Sports also featured heavily with traditional cricket matches taking place on the Monday and the Tuesday between the village team and local rivals or teams made up of local dignatories etc. These were followed by sports and games - sometimes for prizes, other times just for fun with a gala in the evening featuring the village band who would play music for the gathering to dance to until dark. The following is also from the report of 1862, "on the Monday a cricket match was played on the Silkstone cricket ground, which was kindly lent by Mr Clarke, between the two elevens of the Silkstone and Thurgoland clubs. A gala was afterwards held in the same field. The Burton Victoria Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr S Cooper, played some excellent dance music, which was taken advantage of by the villagers to trip it on the "light fantastic toe", until the dark shades of night was cast around. Mr T Harrop, of the Ring O Bells Inn, provided first class refreshments on a liberal scale on the ground".

The report went on, "from the public houses of the village, sounds of mirth and revelry were sent forth, betokening a good stroke of business. The scraping of violins might be heard on every side, amidst the sound of voices returning homewards." 

The Sunday Schools would also hold their annual feasts during the few days off. In 1857 it was reported that "On Tuesday the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Sunday Schools had their annual feast. The children, numbering about 250, assembled in their respective school-rooms at ten o'clock and at eleven o'clock walked in procession to the garden grounds of Mr William Tattershall, where an address was given to them by Mr Luddington, of Barnsley. Having sung several hymns, in which they were accompanied by the Clayton Brass Band, they returned to the school-rooms where they were plentifully regaled with tea and spice-cake."

In later years, they would parade to Noblethorpe Hall and sing hymns there or stop to sing hymns at various other places in the village, accompanied by the Silkstone Brass Band. This would later evolve into the Silkstone Hospital Sing which would raise funds for the Barnsley Beckett Hospital and is still going today.

Sunday School Gatherings, Silkstone Feast 1905 - outside the Co-op at the top of High Street.

Postcard of the "School Feast, Silkstone 1909" as villagers gathered for the camera outside the Co-op. Members of the band can be seen in the background. 

The wall and the gates in the foreground of the two photographs were to Sunnybank Farm which was located at the entrance to presentday Towngate.

A gala held in the garden grounds attached to the Bonny Bunch of Roses public house on Silkstone Common the previous day in 1857 was attended by at least 500 people. It was reported that over the three days the feast "owing to the very fine weather, was numerously attended" and that "the feast this year has passed off in a remarkably quiet manner, very little disturbance of any kind having occured." 

It was not always the case that there was "very little disturbance" at this and other feast celebrations in the area. Let loose from their daily toils for a few days there were many instances of over indulgence and cases of drunkenness, brawling and gambling were often brought before the local magistrates in the days following local feast celebrations. These disturbances, and worse, will be covered another time.

Research and Text by Andy Horsfield - Heritage Silkstone - Dec 2025 

email andyhorsfield63@gmail.com