South Elmsall Tourist Information

South Elmsall lies just off the A1, a few miles south it's junction with the M62. It is part of Wakefield Metropolitan district.

Wakefield is 10 miles to the west and Doncaster is 10 miles to the east, while Pontefract is the same distance to the north. A little farther south lie Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.

South Elmsall railway station stands on the main Leeds to Doncaster rail line and South Elmsall also boasts Moorthorpe station on the Sheffield to York line (both less than an hour away). These excellent rail links mean that people commute into Doncaster, Sheffield, Wakefield and Leeds for shopping and employment. Local shopping is limited to the main street, Barnsley Road, and the three times weekly market.

South Elmsall was a mediaeval village with a twin, North Elmsall some three miles away and until the coming of the railways was little more than a crossroads.

The major turning point in South Elmsall's history, was the sinking of Frickley Colliery coal mine in the early 20th Century. From this time the village grew to a significant size. Today it is home to a major secondary school, Minsthorpe, which services the immediate area. North Elmsall remained a simple hamlet.

Eighty years later, the mine has closed and now South Elmsall is one of a string of mining towns just recovering from the devastation. Major employers are now Next PLC along with other distribution companies on the Dale Lane Industrial Estate to the north of the town.

Immediately to the south of the town, just over the border with South Yorkshire lies Hooton Pagnell, a beautifully preserved village containing the Hall.

To the west of that village is the equally pretty village of Frickley with its own Hall. Though low on facilities, the walking in and around these villages from South Elmsall is excellent.

A little further to the south is RSPB Old Moor, one of the RSPB's Dearne Valley Reserves while twelve miles to the North is another RSPB reserve at Fairburn Ings.

The town boasts a non league football club, Frickley Athletic, currently playing in the Unibond League. Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley and Rotherham United are all League teams local to South Elmsall.

Rugby League can be seen locally, notably at Wakefield, Castleford, Featherstone and Doncaster.

Horseracing takes place during the summer at both Pontefract and Doncaster, the latter boasting the St Leger each September, the last classic race of the season.

There is easy access to Leeds Bradford Airport to the north using the A1, and the new Robin Hood airport is just the other side of Doncaster. Humberside airport is less than an hour away via the M18 and East Midlands airport is an hour down the M1.

Description by Stephen Lockett