Goldthorpe
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Goldthorpe is a village in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. The area is commonly referred to as the Dearne Valley and was a major coal mining area, but since the closure of the mines in the late 1980s, it has become a depressed area, only partially improved by the construction of numerous call centres nearby.
Brian Blessed (the actor Flash Gordon, Blackadder, Z Cars) once lived on Probert Avenue in Goldthorpe.
St John and St Mary Magdalene Church, Goldthorpe, built in 1916, is an early example of a ferro-concrete building.
Its strange Italian style is unique in this part of South Yorkshire and is distinctly odd for a Dearne Valley pit village.
According to Pevsner, the pulpit bought by the church in 1931 is 18th century Flemish.
Goldthorpe Market is located just off the A635 in Goldthorpe Town Centre. To be a casual trader you may register at 8.30am at Goldthorpe Market Office. On Monday casuals may register from 7.30am. Stall allocation restrictions limit minimum distance between same lines to two stalls. Monday market is strictly second hand and starts at 7.30am. The main market days are Tuesday and Saturday. The market has 64 stalls.
Goldthorpe Library is a relatively new building conveniently situated in the middle of the town with excellent car-parking facilities and disabled access. Whilst offering the usual library facilities in a particularly comfortable and friendly environment, the following services are available:- Large upstairs meeting room for community use; A brand-new suite of computer terminals for free internet and e-mail use; A Reader’s Group, meeting monthly (first Tuesday, 2.00pm); Courses run throughout the year (mainly Workers’ Educational Association) often covering basic computer skills; Toddler Groups, including ‘Bookstart’ sessions carried out by trained professionals.
The main secondary school in the area is the Dearne High School which caters for pupils aged 11-16 years.