This is the reply I sent to Lorraine about the Barnsley Canal. Thought other listers may be interested in the information. Where I have mentioned the Barnsley Canal Group's website stating 'not much else', I mean not much information for family historians. Helen > -----Original Message----- > From: Jones, Helen > Sent: 17 December 2001 13:29 > To: 'lonk@22dr.fsnet.co.uk' > Subject: Barnsley Canal > > Hello Lorraine > > Saw your interest on the canal people list. Don't want to disappoint you > but you may be looking for a needle in a haystack! I am having the same > problem with some of my ancestors (Parkin family)!! > > I don't know if you are familiar with the Barnsley area - forgive me if > you are - the Barnsley Canal is in the shape of a 'J'. The top of the 'J' > is where it meets the Aire and Calder in Wakefield. To the bottom of the > 'J' (the Barnsley end), to the right the Barnsley Canal joins the Dearne > and Dove Canal. This Canal heads east into the Rotherham area and > eventually joins the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. The SYN > goes to Sheffield one way and then out to the River Trent at Keadby > (Lincs) the other way. From there you can head to the Humber and Hull or > south to Gainsborough, Nottingham etc. > > The Barnsley Canal served the many collieries in the area so its a good > chance that your ancestors would be carrying coal. They would have a > keel, probably Manvers size. > > The Barnsley and Dearne and Dove Canals are no longer in use although > there is much evidence of the canal, eg the aqueduct at Barnsley, although > some areas have been built over. There is a group that are hoping to > restore these waterways. They have a web site if you want to have a look > - can't remember the address, but if you do a search for the Barnsley > Canal Group I'm sure you will find it. Has a bit of info and a few > pictures but not much else. > > I live in the Rotherham area and myself and my partner are very interested > in the waterways. Only yesterday we were out walking in Wath trying to > trace the line of the Dearne and Dove. > > So the answer to your query - try looking at the census for Rotherham, > Doncaster and Wakefield, and any other places along the route. > > Good luck! > > Helen