PMSA National Recording Project - South Yorkshire

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough

We are carrying out research on the pieces on these pages.
If you have further information or revisions to the material above please contact me, Dave Ball, by e-mail or telephone: 0114 225 6213 with the details.
We would also like to hear from you with details of any sculptures or monuments which we may have missed.
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ArtistMaker: not known
TitleOfWork: Oaks Colliery Disaster Memorial
DescriptionOfPhoto: plaque on east face
DateOfCreation: 186?
Dimensions: memorial: 360cm high
Medium: red sandstone; marble
Location: In the churchyard of Christ Church
AtoZReference: p.25 1G
Postcode: S71 5EF
Street: Doncaster Road
TownOrVillage: Barnsley
AreaInTown: Ardsley
MetropolitanBorough: Barnsley
Photographer: Dave Ball
ImageCopyright: Sheffield Hallam University
AccessionNumber: b088d
Description: A sandstone pedestal with four marble faces, each inscribed, surmounted by a small obelisk, and with a marble pillar at each corner. Some floral decoration. The whole on two steps, which have been pointed around their base. There may have been a small decorative feature on teh top of the monument, if so this is now missing.

Dimensions: memorial: 360cm high
pedestal: 65cm square; base: 102cm square
4 columns: 41cm high x 7cm diameter
4 plaques: 52cm high x 34cm wide

Condition: Surface - Corrosion beneath upper cornice. Some cracks in carved stone around marble plaques. Lichen on base and obelisk.
Structural - Cornice of base broken beneath south side plaque; base of pillar broken;

Inscriptions: ERECTED / BY / PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION / TO COMMEMORATE THE / DEATHS OF 354 MEN AND / BOYS, WHO LOST THEIR / LIVES IN THE EXPLOSION / AT THE OAKS COLLIERY ON / DECR 12TH AND 13TH 1866, / OF WHOM 35 ARE / INTERRED HERE.
"IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO / FALL INTO THE HANDS OF / THE LIVING GOD HEB. VER. 10 CHAP. 31"
"WATCH THEREFORE FOR YE / KNOW NEITHER THE DAY / NOR THE HOUR WHEREIN / THE SON OF MAN COMETH / MATT. CHAP. 25. VER. 13"
"BOAST NOT THYSELF OF / TO MORROW FOR THOU / KNOWEST NOT WHAT A / DAY MAY BRING FORTH / PROV. CHAP. 27. VER. 1"
The source details at the end of these inscriptions are virtually indecipherable.

Commission: Public subscription.

Comment: Several miners' graves can be seen in the churchyard adjacent to this monument.





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Last updated July 18, 2005