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Ackworth...
A Historic ‘Four-Part’ Village
By Brian Elliott
 Ackworth is a large, somewhat sprawling village, set aside the A628 (Barnsley/Pontefract) and A638 (Doncaster/Wakefield) roads and by the small River Went. It is a former coalmining, quarrying and agricultural centre, an important routeway; and famous for its independent Quaker-founded school. The village’s historic constituent parts: Brackenhill, Ackworth Moor Top, High Ackworth and Low Ackworth are less distinctive than they were in earlier times. Not surprising given the amount of new housing development in this attractive area, but the place does retain considerable character and interest.
My visit took place on a lovely Spring morning. Reaching Moor Top from Doncaster, I started my tour at the war memorial. This is a fine tribute to local men lost in times of conflict and was dedicated in September 1999 as part of a millennium project. It’s a pleasant spot, with memorial seats close by. Across the Barnsley Road lies another relatively modern building: the Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, brick-built and welcoming. Then I looked across to a large public house, the Beverley Arms; and to the Stoneacre Garage and popular Ackworth Garden Centre, all strategically placed by the busy roundabout.
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 Walking along Wakefield Road towards Brackenhill, I noticed several well-fashioned stone houses, formerly small mansions or villas, dating from the reign of Queen Victoria. When W C Banks visited more that 130 years ago he was clearly impressed by the area, its buildings and status, saying: ‘Ackworth is a large village, one of the best in our district. Probably we have no other which shows more signs of prosperity than this,’ concluding with ‘Ackworth has many superior buildings, chiefly dwellings.’ Banks’ comments really referred to the substantial properties in High Ackworth rather than those at Moor Top which were probably erected for the quarry owners.
On my left, with its unusual timber bell-cote, is All Saints’ Church. It stands well, built from fine quality sandstone. Ackworth has a long tradition of quarrying and masonry. Apart from building stone, high quality grindstones were produced, for agricultural and other tool makers. In 1822, the principal examples were James Camplin, Greenfield & Camplin, William Sykes and William Wilson. Ackworth Stone Co Ltd functioned at Brackenhill in 1936 as did the grindstone maker, Harold Parker. W W Bowman, William Hardaker and Samuel Seal quarried at Moor Top. Warners were the local monumental masons.
Leaving All Saints’, I diverted by the side of the well known Boot and Shoe pub, to another great community assets of Ackworth: its 138 year old cricket club. Here I was fortunate to meet a great local character, Keith Stevenson, a former player, groundsman and local umpire. Keith is the uncle of one of Ackworth’s most famous cricketers: Graham Stevenson, the Yorkshire and England fast-bowler - and a talented batsman. Soon we were joined by two of his friends, Barry Wathen and Edgar Parkes. It was like an episode from Last of the Summer Wine. The club has achieved a great deal in recent years in order to create a welcoming ground with excellent facilities. The new electric scoreboard will certainly be an asset for the coming season. There’s an excellent clubhouse (built with the help of pitlads during the miners’ strike), with an honours board and old photographs proudly on display. The refreshments from the tea room, on match days, are, apparently, superb - thanks to the legendary services of Cath and Madge. I asked Keith who he considered to be Ackworth’s greatest ever player. He had no doubt: the late Arnold Norton, a local teacher who also served as club treasurer. Arnold’s contribution is commemorated by a small plaque near the tea room as is one of the most promising young cricketers of recent years, Neil Lloyd. Keith also mentioned that a very young Geoffrey Boycott played cricket here, brought by his father, Tom, who then lived nearby. Before reluctantly leaving, I paused at the impressive new gates of Ackworth C C, having wished Keith and his friends all the very best for the 2007 season in the Pontefract Section of the Yorkshire Council.
 Moving further in the direction of Brackenhill, rooks were nesting in trees by Heaton Farm and another old Ackworth pub, The Angel, was soon reached. Like the Boot & Shoe, it was a convenient location for passing stagecoaches before continuing their journeys via Bell Lane. At Brackenhill there were glimpses of an important community which developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, serving pit and quarries: rows of terrace houses off Dicky Sykes Lane and an area of allotments; and nearby Moor Top Working Men’s Club. The Onward Business Park and new housing developments provided contrast.
 For me, Bell Lane is one of the most interesting parts of Ackworth. It’s hard to imagine that this narrow winding road was once a main thoroughfare, though the old stone ‘signpost’ obelisk at the end reminding us of its former status. Down the lane I stopped to look at the Ackworth Parish Council Community Centre, housed in a stone building (a former Adult School?) which has an 1907 datestone and a plaque paying tribute His Honour Judge Cadman ‘who was ever ready to help any good cause for the benefit of his fellow men’. The original stone-built Bell Lane Primary School was erected in 1896 and is now a Community School. I called in and met the head, Mrs C Oldham who made me most welcome. I sensed a friendly learning environment, with 272 pupils on roll, including the Nursery or Early Foundation Stage Unit; and one where parental and community links were important. It has achieved awards for Educational Achievement and Investors in People. The lane has several interesting old buildings including the Mason’s Arms which has an 1682 date carved on the lintel over the main entrance, a further reminder, along with old workings of the quarrying activity. Towards the main road is evidence of the co-operative influence: an 1893 plaque for Pontefract Industrial Society over the present Bell Lane Stores.
 Proceeding to High Ackworth, I paused at the stone signpost to admire the impressive frontage of Ackworth School and Meeting House. A Quaker co-educational boarding and day school for 4-18 year olds, it was founded in 1779 by the redoubtable Dr John Fothergill, the great social reformer who campaigned against slavery, advocated prison reform and the benefits of vaccination against smallpox. This amazing Yorkshire philanthropist also contributed to the work of his friend Benjamin Franklin in respect of a reconstruction scheme for American colonies. The original schoolhouse was a Thomas Coram foundling hospital of c.1757, recruiting 2,665 poor children from all over the country during its existence, though some died whilst in care. A combination of ‘vice, frequent contests with parishes and cruelty of the masters’ led to closure.
 I moved on towards parish church, passing the Lamprey family’s nursery on the left side of the road. St Cuthbert’s is in a very pleasant setting, though not easy to see amid tall yews overlooking the sloping green with its cross and adjacent almshouses (Mary Lowther Hospital, founded 1741) and, nearby, the manor house and rectory. Re-built in the 1850s, the west tower, currently undergoing restoration, appears to be late medieval, along with the porch which has a sculpture of St Cuthbert in a niche. At the church I had a pleasant chat with Mick Clamp, a former local Ackworth cricket stalwart and Featherstone rugby league player. Passing the Brown Cow pub another stroll took me by a series of impressive houses of the kind whose owners Banks considered in the 1870s as ‘residents of ample pecuniary means’ (eg Ackworth Lodge) and smaller dwellings where ‘the occupiers are not only comparatively well-off, but also have culture and good taste’.
 Before leaving old Ackworth, I managed to walk up to the Rustic Arms and Brown Trout Restaurant where the adjacent fishery appears to be popular and, on my way home, called at Low Ackworth, passing an unusual Gothic lodge on the way. The C of E Primary School here, dates from its founding by Rachel Howard in 1833. Ackworth is well worth a visit and I was pleased to learn from Mick that a local Heritage Group is working to record and promote its history.
Published Spring 2007. All information correct at time of print
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