Wombwell


Wombwell is a town near Barnsley, located in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. The town in the 2011 census was split between a ward called Wombwell, as well as small parts that fell under two other wards called Darfield and Stairfoot. Added together, these list the town's population as roughly 15,316.
Historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire, its name's origin may mean "Womba's Well", or "well in a hollow".
Wombwell railway station serves the Penistone and Hallam lines. Until 1959 it had another station on the Barnsley-Doncaster line that was closed when that line lost its passenger service. Wombwell was home to two collieries; Wombwell Main and Mitchells Main. Wombwell is close to the large shopping and leisure facilities of Cortonwood, and also has a number of local business from cafes to travel agents and high street chains like Wilko store on High Street.
Wombwell has one main cemetery, tended to by a voluntary group named the Friends of Wombwell Cemetery. The cemetery houses two chapels that are Grade II listed buildings: one of which was transformed into an outdoor "Peace Garden" without a roof due to a fire before the group materialised; the other renovated into a "Community Hub".

Churches

The parish church, St Mary's, located on Church Street, is a Grade II listed building. The parish also contains the Anglican church of St George, St Michael and All Angels Roman Catholic church,
Wombwell Pentecostal Church, a Salvation Army Hall and a Methodist Church.

Education

Football

The town has had a number of football teams –
Mark Jones, one of the eight Manchester United players who died in the Munich air disaster of 6 February 1958, is buried in Wombwell Cemetery, having been born in Wombwell in 1933.

Other sports

, Yorkshire CCC and England cricketer was born in Wombwell and is buried in Wombwell Cemetery.
The South Yorkshire Sports Stadium on Station Road existed from 1928–1965 and hosted greyhound racing and speedway.
The Wombwell Greyhound Stadium on Hough Lane existed from 1934–1972 and hosted greyhound racing. It had previously been a football ground.

Floods

Parts of Wombwell were affected by the 2007 floods in the UK. The River Dove breached its banks on Friday 15 June and then again on Monday 25 June. Many homes and businesses were flooded.