WORTLEY MEN'S CLUB

Wortley Village

 

Wortley is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 579. Wortley is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as Wirtleie.

 

Wortley grew up as a settlement where the Sheffield to Halifax road crossed the Cheshire to Rotherham route. In 1250, a Sunday market was briefly established, but this was quickly suppressed by the monks who owned the right to hold markets in Barnsley. In 1307, the village finally received a Royal Charter to hold a weekly Thursday market and an annual three-day fair at Whitsun. The market and fair both soon ceased, and an eighteenth-century attempt to revive the fair was unsuccessful.

 

The village is famous for the Wortley Top Forge, which dates back to the time of the Industrial Revolution, but is most famous for the notorious highwayman Swift Nick (John Nevison, 1639 - 1684) who was born and raised there. It was really he (and not Dick Turpin) who made the infamous ride on horseback from London to York in order to establish an alibi for a robbery. Until 1987, Wortley was home to the Earl of Wharncliffe.

 

Wortley these days, is a busy little village. It is the location of the lovely stately building called Wortley Hall where there are Hotel facilities and a site for the Caravan and Camping Club. The village boasts the AA Rosette awarded Wortley Arms pub where drinks and fine food are served and presented by the Michelin trained Chef . It also boasts the Wortley Mens Club which was voted by CAMRA as the best Club in Britain for 2015 where a warm and friendly welcome awaits you. The Wortley Top Forge is well worth a visit too. The village also has a Farm Shop and Butchers, Post Office, Quaint Tea Rooms and Gift Shop,  Vintage furniture and Gift Shop, a Rugby Club, Shooting Club, Riding Schools, Wortley Golf Club, a guest house and cycle hire which is great for easy access to the nearby Trans Pennine Trail.