Does anyone know anythng about DARTON nr Barnsley...

[Chunkamatic]

That they would like to share? Good/bad whatever.

We are looking at a house there next week but know very little about the village (is it classed as a village?).

TIA

Hi - just seen your message. We live in Darton officially (though closer to Mapplewell). We like living here - Mapplewell is a nice village with a great butchers. Very friendly area (I say that as a southerner who's moved here)

Primary schools are meant to be good (we're not quite the right age yet) Secondary the new Darton High is meant to be ok - had a big refurbishment and has improved considerably.

Quite good transport links as M1 is close by - trains to Leeds 1 an hour and takes a long time as the fast train from Barnsley to Leeds doesn't stop at Darton.

Was there anything in specific you wanted to know?

I went to school there (Darton High).

It has a church mentioned in the Domesday book.

What do you want to know?

i lived there when i went to uni. found it a bit isolated,a non driver. but it has good m1 links, near sheffield, wakey and barnsley, leeds close by.

Hi- I can't comment on Darton itself although I do know there are some lovely villages around both within the Barnsley and Huddersfield boundaries. I'm a teacher though and have heard not great stories about the high school from a teachers perspective, again o couldn't comment first hand.

It's dreary to drive through.

Oh wow, some replies!

I grew up in Skelmanthorpe and my parents still live there, so I am quite familiar with the villages surrounding there. Darton is a bit further afield and I dont really know much about it at all.

We are considering moving from Berkshire back to Yorkshire in order to be closer to family. DP is a southerner and DS's have Berkshire accents (although still little so will probably change).

So I guess I want to know:
How friendly is it? (to southerners Liskey I'd be interested to hear!!!)
How big is it? How would it compare in size to somewhere like Denby Dale?
Is there much of a community feel?
What is it like for families with young children?

BodyofEeyore that doesnt sound too hopeful!

We moved from South London to Yorkshire and we have found it very friendly - once you get used to the constant comments about your accent, that is! I have found it much nicer to bring a child up in Yorkshire than down south.
Skelmanthorpe is really nice - I don't think Darton can be compared to it really.

I used to live near Reading!

I usually shop in Mapplewell - its a friendly village and the library is really nice. They have a toddlers group on Mondays I believe though DD goes to a group in Silkstone Common on Mondays and Wednesdays as her carer likes it better 9about 6 miles away). She also goes to a toddler group in Cawthorne on Tue and Thursday which isn't that far away and is nice.

Central library in Barnsley has a few childrens groups on various days which are very good.

There's a softplay centre in Mapplewell (behind the co-op) and a children's play area in Darton Park and Mapplewell Park.

Darton itself doesn't seem to have much going on though there is a new children's centre (which I've never yet been in).

I can have some trouble still understanding the Barnsley accent and have to ask DH to translate - espcially at Barnsley market!

Thanks very much for your replies, it's good to hear you've both had good experiences moving north. When my parents moved from London to Yorkshire 30 years ago I dont think the villages were quite so welcoming!