North Elmsall & Upton
Origins of the Place Names
The name Elmsall comes from the Old English elm (elm tree) and the Anglian halh (a nook of land or small valley). Upton means Higher Town, appearing historically as Uptune, Uptone and Opton. Both villages are listed in the Domesday Book (1086), showing that established communities existed here at the time of the Norman Conquest. More detailed Domesday records list Elmsall within the Osgodcross Hundred, with one villager and five smallholders recorded. After the conquest, the lands were granted to Ilbert de Lacy, whose family shaped the area for generations.
Parishes and Early Settlement
Until 1866, North Elmsall formed part of the Parish of South Kirkby, while Upton belonged to Badsworth Parish. For centuries, both villages remained predominantly agricultural, with small, stable populations. Each had its own manor house or hall, and the area remained largely rural well into the nineteenth century.
Domesday Book — 1086
Listed in the Osgodcross Hundred — the total tax assessed was very large in comparison to other Domesday settlements.
Historic Landmarks
One of Upton’s earliest landmarks is the windmill at the top of Field Lane, known locally as the Beacon. Local history records that it was given to John Foster by Joan Grey of Upton Hall in 1405.
St Margaret’s Church remains one of North Elmsall’s key historic landmarks. Built in 1896, it still forms part of village life today and has been Grade II listed since 2001. It was designed by A. H. Hoole of London and paid for by Mrs Georgina Longueville-Jones, whose marble bust is located in the vestry. The church also contains a memorial to those from the parish who died in the First World War.
The parish contains several other Grade II listed buildings, including The Old Hall, Lodge Farmhouse, and its nearby coach house and barn.
The Railway and the First Major Changes
The Hull and Barnsley Railway, built in the 1880s, marked the first significant industrial development. The line created a clear physical divide:
- Upton to the north
- North Elmsall to the south
This new transport link signalled the beginning of modernisation.
Upton Colliery and the Growth of “New Upton”
The most dramatic change came with the sinking of Upton Colliery in 1925. More than 1,000 houses were built for miners and their families, most of them on the Harewood Estate in the Parish of North Elmsall, across the railway line from the original village.
This new settlement became known locally as “New Upton”, despite having no postal link to its actual parish.
Population growth was rapid:
- 1921 – fewer than 1,000 residents
- 1930 – more than 5,000, driven by colliery development
The expanding community gained a police station, shops, a cinema, two pubs, five working men’s clubs, sports facilities, two schools, and a church.
Colliery Remembrance
During its operation, 61 men lost their lives at Upton Colliery. Their deaths remain an important part of the parish’s mining heritage and collective memory.
Changes Within the Old Villages
In 1936, 19 of the 20 cottages in North Elmsall village were demolished, leaving only:
- Milestone House
- St Margaret’s Church
- Street Farm
- White Hart Farm
- Pear Tree Farm
- Elm Farm
- The Village Reading Room and cottage
- The cottage containing the village shop and butcher’s shop
These buildings formed the surviving historic core of the village.
Post Colliery Years
The colliery closed in 1964 due to geological faults and spontaneous combustion. Miners were transferred to neighbouring pits. New industries briefly emerged: sewing factories operated in the former cinema and colliery shower block until the 1980s.
School reorganisation in the 1990s led to the closure of the schools on School Street and Common Lane, replaced by a new facility on Waggon Lane.
Sporting Heritage
Upton and North Elmsall have long been associated with sporting activity and success, including football and cricket clubs for both junior and adult teams. The area’s sporting history also included Upton Colliery F.C., which appeared in the FA Cup and counted Charlie Williams among its players. In 1978, Upton Amateur Rugby League Football Club was formed and has continued to develop as a significant part of local sporting life.
Modern Development and Community Life
In more recent years, Upton and North Elmsall have seen further change and growth. The Dale Lane industrial site has developed into a major employment area, attracting a number of large firms and businesses over the years.
Both villages have expanded with the building of new homes. The community also benefits from a successful Junior School, which has gained a number of awards, and a new library opened in 2007 that continues to be well used by residents.
Together, these changes, alongside the area’s strong community identity, have helped Upton and North Elmsall become a desirable place to live.
Towards a Single Community
By 1866, Upton and North Elmsall had each become separate civil parishes, having previously formed part of Badsworth and South Kirkby respectively. Parish councils were later established nationally under the Local Government Act 1894, creating the modern framework for local parish governance.
From the late 1940s, the two villages increasingly worked together, holding joint parish meetings while still retaining separate councillors. This long-standing cooperation was formalised in 2023, following a community governance review, when Upton Parish and North Elmsall Parish were brought together to create the single Parish of Upton and North Elmsall, as it exists today.
Notable People
The parish has been home to several nationally recognised figures. These individuals reflect the rich cultural and social heritage of the parish, including:
John Godber
One of Britain’s most performed playwrights
Charlie Williams
Comedian and former professional footballer
Joe Shaw
Sheffield United legend with over 600 appearances (1945–1966)
Leonard Parkin
Respected television journalist and newsreader
Dennis Hartley
Great Britain rugby league international
Ada Mason
Lived to 111, once the oldest woman in the UK