The Montrous Balloon - 1855
The Monstrous Balloon 1855
In 1901 the Barnsley Chronicle published a series of articles by GH Teasdale titled "The Ancient Parish of Silkstone". Teasdale was a mining surveyor employed by the Clarke's of Noblethorpe Hall who lived at the time at Bloomfield House, Silkstone Common.
In one of the articles, he recounted an incident of 46 years earlier which must have been talked about for years by the local inhabitants of Silkstone and district. The story is best told in Teasdale's own words written back in 1901 in the Chronicle.
"During the summer (September) of 1855 much excitement prevailed at Silkstone one evening. An object in the sky approached and gradually descended to terra firma. It was a monstrous balloon. Many of the inhabitants were afraid - some said the world was going to be at an end, and so on.
The aeronaut would have dropped into the close known as Slack Well, but it being standing corn, and knowing that the farmer would resent his intrusion, and probably claim exhorbitant damages, he emptied a sand bag or two and just landed in the field adjoining Royd Hill Farm, near Blacker Green Dam, now in the occupation of John Whitely.
William Garnett, who lived near, was the first person on the scene. He said, "it wobbled about from one side to t'other, and t'man jump't out, and tried to howd it dahn." Very soon all the Silkstone and Hoylandswaine inhabitants were on the spot to view the object they had long been watching, wondering whatever it could be. One man, named Audin, detected a smell of gas, and proposed to strike a match and see if it would light, but the balloonist, scenting danger, at once let off the gas with a hiss, and the balloon collapsed.
One or two of the men helped the aeronaut to pack the machine into the basket, and he gave them ten shillings for their assistance and for carrying it to the railway station.
Evidently it had something to do with a demonstration held to commemorate the fall of Sebastopol*, which took place on 8th September, the news being received by telegraph two days afterwards.
The end of the balloon money was that the Silkstonians did not share with the Swainites, and the usual battles were fought in honour of the event. It was the first ballooon that had ever been seen in the neighbourhood. I have heard it said that it had ascended at Bradford or Leeds."
*The fall of Sebastopol was seen as the final act of the Crimean War as allied troops, including the British, defeated the Russians. Great celebrations were held all over Britain including a mass demonstration of flags from almost window of every main building in Barnsley together with the illumination of public buildings, the gathering of musical bands, the ringing of church bells and the firing of cannon on an elevated part of Churchfield. Large bonfires were lit on Market Hill and May Day Green, as thousands gathered to celebrate.
In Dodworth a tea party was organised, in the public houses fiddlers kept the dancing going until midnight and nearly every house or chimney top was decorated with flags of every description.
In High Hoyland an effigy of the Czar of Russia was paraded through the streets on horseback behind the Clayton West brass band followed by hundreds of the inhabitants. After visiting Cannon Hall and surrounding villages the effigy was filled with gunpowder, set up on a pole and set alight.
I have not been able to find any references to celebrations held in Silkstone at that time or to the balloon landing.
Text and Research - Andy Horsfield (with recognition to George Henry Teasdale) - Heritage Silkstone December 2025
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