| Wombwell | |
|---|---|
 High Street, Wombwell | |
  Wombwell Location withinSouth Yorkshire | |
| Population | 15,316 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SE399028 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BARNSLEY |
| Postcode district | S73 |
| Dialling code | 01226 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
| 53°30′58″N1°24′00″W / 53.516°N 1.400°W /53.516; -1.400 | |
Wombwell (locally/ˈwʊmwɛl/) is a town in theMetropolitan Borough of Barnsley inSouth Yorkshire, England. In the2011 census, data for the town was split between the ward of Wombwell[1] and small sections that fell into the wards ofDarfield (specifically the area south of Pitt Street, including Broomhill)[2] andStairfoot (specifically the area south of Aldham Crescent).[3] Added together, these record the town's population at approximately 15,316.
Historically within theWest Riding of Yorkshire, its name may have originally been "Womba's Well", meaning "well in a hollow".
Wombwell railway station (formerly Wombwell West) serves thePenistone andHallam lines. Until 1959 the town had another station,Wombwell Central, on the Barnsley–Doncaster line; this was closed when the line lost its passenger service. Wombwell was home to twocollieries: Wombwell Main and Mitchells Main. Wombwell is close to the large shopping and leisure facilities ofCortonwood, and also has a number of local business, from cafes to travel agents to high-street chains such asWilko.
Wombwell has one maincemetery, maintained by a voluntary group, the Friends of Wombwell Cemetery.[4] Two chapels stand in the cemetery, bothGrade II listed buildings: one was transformed into a "Peace Garden" after a fire that destroyed its roof; the other has been renovated by the group to become a "community hub".
Wombwell Urban District Council was the administrative body for the town from 1865 until 1974.[5] The district also included Broomhill,Brampton,Aldham, Smithley, Lundhill,Jump andHemingfield.[citation needed]
TheOld Town Hall was completed in 1897.[6]
Parts of Wombwell were affected by the2007 floods in the UK. TheRiver Dove breached its banks on Friday 15 June and then again on Monday 25 June. Many homes and businesses were flooded.[7]
The parish church, St Mary's, located on Church Street, is aGrade II listed building.[8][9] The parish also contains theAnglican church of St George, St Michael and All AngelsRoman Catholic church, WombwellPentecostal Church, aSalvation Army Hall and aMethodist Church.[10]
The town has had a number of football teams –
TheSouth Yorkshire Sports Stadium on Station Road existed from 1928 to 1965 and hostedgreyhound racing andspeedway.[11]
TheWombwell Greyhound Stadium on Hough Lane existed from 1934 to 1972 and hostedgreyhound racing. It had previously been a football ground.[citation needed]
| Metropolitan districts | |
|---|---|
| Major settlements (cities in italics) |
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| Rivers | |
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