Barnsley, Gloucestershire

Barnsley's history dates to the Iron Age settlement in Barnsley Park, later occupied in the 2nd century by a Roman villa. But by 577, after the capture of Cirencester, a Saxon village called Bearmodeslea (Bearmod's glade) existed here.[1] The main building was erected 350-60 AD, but the walls enclosure had been completed by 330 AD. Significant Romano-British occupation took place during the reign of Emperor Trajan. The 'Celtic Fields' so-called covered parkland of about 120 acres. There was a Roman road running through extensive earthwork fortifications northwards to Cadmoor.[2]

The Domesday Book recorded total heads of house or slaves as 24. It was granted to Magaret de Bohun, daughter of the Earl of Hereford by 1180, which she assigned to the monks of Llanthony Priory. After becoming known as Bardesley in 1197. It became part of a Knights fee during the Scottish Wars of Edward I. From 1403 the demesne land was farmed; the large tenanted fields became common pasture, and were later known as Barnsley Wold of 169 acres (0.68 km²) for cow-grazing. The village became royal property under the reign of Henry VIII three hundred years later. Henry was known to let each of his wives solely enjoy the village by turns. During the time of the village's status as royal property, many of its inhabitants earned their living through agriculture, grazing sheep on the 'yardlands' of common mead, helping make the Cotswolds the centre of the wool trade.[3]

During the Reformation the old Barnsley Park was dismantled, the parker dismissed: the Bourchier family became the owners of the village in 1548, thanks to a reversionary grant, and held it for the next two hundred years. The family is responsible for building the village's Barnsley House, Church Cottage and parts of the Church farm. They lived in the centre of the village on the site of the former Nether Court.[4] But in 1700 William married the daughter of the Duke of Chandos, and with the dowry built a new mansion called Barnsley Park. Built in the Baroque style by Henry Perrot and Charles Stanley after Canons, Great Stanmore. Henry Perrot owned the parish in 1762 and enclosed it by private treaty, dividing the land into three farms.[5] By 1778 there were 1,100 sheep on the land and, in season 460 lambs.

Further road building took place in 18th century driving trade to the south of the village. In 1794 the Ablington Road was diverted: the original road went over Wayboll Hill. The Oxford Turpike from 1753 represented a connection with the Welsh Way on the same road to London. Cattle Drovers rested their herds overnight along this route in Barnsley House's field called Ten Acres.[6] But sheep-rearing dominated this part of the Cotswolds. During the 20th century the emphasis gradually shifted to grass and then arable, which came to predominate by 1975.

The village architecture was expanded during 1810-1820 when new cottages were built along the Cirencester-Bibury road when Brereton Bourchier was lord of the manor. Trade such as blacksmith, carpenter and shoemaker thrived with wheelwrights, a butcher and, a village Greyhound Inn. Barnsley's population peaked in 1821 at 318, yet agriculture continued to be the main occupation in 1831 for the 57 families. At that time the Poole family arrived to work as stonemasons. During the First World War, the village had an estimated 200 inhabitants, of which six lost their lives during the war years of 1914–18.[7]

In 2019, the village hit the headlines after Australian snooker player Neil Robertson had to withdraw from qualifying for the World Open due to following sat nav directions to Barnsley instead of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. World Snooker later poked fun at Robertson by sending him a map for the next tournament, the English Open. Robertson's error gave Ian Burns an automatic bye into the next round.

The Church of England parish church, dedicated to St Mary, is a Grade II* listed building, of Norman origin but “with subsequent alterations of every century, including substantial restoration of 1843-1847”.[8] An authoritative modern source comments approvingly that, “The Elizabethan tower with its simple gables and finials look pretty by any standard, and the standard at Barnsley is high”.[9]

Barnsley has a Parish meeting. The current chair is local resident Michael Gledhill.

As of May 2015 the village became part of 'The Ampneys and Hampton Ward' on Cotswold District Council. The current District Councillor is Liberal Democrat Lisa Spivey who was elected in the 2019 United Kingdom local elections.

Ampney Crucis is part of the wider South Cerney electoral division for elections to Gloucestershire County Council, the current County Councillor is Conservative Shaun Parsons who was elected in the 2017 United Kingdom local elections.

Community

Barnsley House in 1992 at the time Rosemary Verey was in residence

According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 162, increasing to 209 at the 2011 census.[10]

One of the village's significant features is Barnsley House, with a garden designed by its former resident Rosemary Verey. Barnsley House was built in 1667 by Brereton Bourchier. On the owner's death, her estate was sold and the residential dwelling is now The Barnsley House Hotel. Brereton Bourchier also built the village's Church Cottage and the oldest part of what is now called the Church farm. By the 1660s, with the village's population at about 100, there was also a village inn. The village today has its own church and pub. Since 2009 the inn has become renowned in the Cotswolds for its quality cuisine.[11]

The Barnsley Village Garden Festival was inaugurated in 1998 and has since played host to many horticultural experts.[12] It celebrated its 20th anniversary on 17 May 2008. Saturday, 19 May 2018 will mark the 30th anniversary.[13] It is held in the grounds of the present Lord Faringdon's home of Barnsley Park.

One notable resident is mountaineer Kenton Cool and his family. As of summer 2017, Kenton has reached the summit of Mount Everest twelve times.

• Gloucestershire: the Cotswolds, The Buildings of England edited by Nikolaus Pevsner, 2nd ed. (1979) ISBN 0-14-071040-X, pp. 96–100

• Media related to Barnsley, Gloucestershire at Wikimedia Commons
• Barnsley Village, residents' site
• Barnsley House Garden
• Barnsley in the Domesday Book