You will have heard in the News bulletins on T.V. and read in the newspapers that the Government have announced plans for several events to be held between 2014 and 2018 to mark the centenary of World War I (the War to end all Wars).

We now have a section on our website dedicated to World War I and invite you send in information and photographs that we could include.

We have names on the War Memorial in the village of those who lost their lives in World War I.  Is anyone whose name is mentioned a member of your family?  Do you have a story that has been passed down through the family?  Do you have any photographs we could include.

Let us know by emailing secretary@killamarsh.org

We look forward to hearing from you.

We are currently looking into the history of the pits in Killamarsh and we are collecting information about Norwood Colliery (which opened in 1865 and closed in 1943), Westthorpe Colliery (which opened in 1923 and closed in 1986) and High Moor Colliery (which opened in 1957 and closed in 1992).

Did you work at any of the pits?

Do you have any information/memories about the pits you could pass on to us?

Do you have any photographs which you would be happy to donate or loan to us to take copies – these could be scenes, people at work etc.

Do you have any memorabilia from any of the pits which you would be happy to donate to us – our aim is to put together a collection of items which reflect the history of the pits.

There are still a lot of people in Killamarsh who worked at the pits, or whose parents and grandparents worked there.  Help us keep the history and heritage alive for future generations.

If you have any of the above, or would like to help with our project, please let us know by emailing secretary@killamarsh.org or telephone 0114 2484812.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We have recently added to the History section of the website an article about Killamarsh Forge which was forwarded to us by Killamash resident John Jennings.

We have now added to the All Our Stories section an article by Jean Shipp and her sisters about living in the Lock Cottage at Norwood during their childhood.  Jean now lives in Ollerton.

Ron Marshall is keeping us supplied with the stories of his childhood on Station Road near to the Killamarsh Central station and these also appear in the All Our Stories section.

Ron Gee, who lives in Sidcup in Kent, but was evacuated to Killamarsh during World War II, has sent us an article about the buses in the area at that time, which we have featured on our All Our Stories section.

We would like to thank Jean, Ron, John and Ron for their articles and for allowing us to include them on the website.

A lot of our supporters are putting their memories and comments on our Memory Bank and underneath the photographs in the Photo Gallery and these are really appreciated.  We are delighted to see that Killamarsh people who have moved to other parts of the UK and also several overseas countries have joined us and are putting messages on our website.

However, if anyone would like to put together a longer article about their memories of growing up in Killamarsh, be it your time at school, the games you played, how you spent your summer holidays, did you go away on holiday and if so where to, what did you like or dislike about living in Killamarsh when you were young.

Or you may wish to let us know what Killamarsh was like as you got older, did you work in the viillage, or did you travel to work elsewhere, what entertainment was available, what type of shops did Killamarsh have, what was the medial care like, what was the community spirit like.

Or you may think of other things you remember which you could tell us about.

Did you work at Westthorpe Colliery or High Moor Colliery.  They are no longer there but we should not just allow them to disappear from memory.

Do you feel that Killamarsh has changed and if so for the better or worse.

We would like to gather as many memories as we can for our All Our Stories project which will be kept for future generations so that the history and heritage of the village is not lost.

We would like to hear from any age group – even the children/teenagers now will have memories and in years to come their memories will be our history.

Perhaps you could get together a small group of great grand parent, grand parent, and grandchildren so that they can exchange memories.

We will also be recording people’s memories to be kept digitally.

We would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to take part in this project.

You can record your memories by writing them down for us, or if you live locally we can arrange to record you on video or on audio.

We do hope you will be able to help us with this project as we feel it is important to preserve and record the history and heritage of the village for future generations.

Don’t let our history and heritage be lost.

If you, or any of your family and friends would like to be involved please email us on secretary@killamarsh.org or telephone 0114 2484812.

Not everyone has access to the internet, especially older people.

If you know anyone who doesn’t have a computer who would like to help us, please tell them about our project and get them to contact us.

And keep all your messages and memories coming for inclusion on the website.

We really appreciate your support.

We are currently gathering information about Nether House/Nether House Farm which was at the top of Quarry Road, but is no longer there.

We understand it was first mentioned in 1599.  It has been suggested that it had connections with the Leah family and may have been known as Leah’s farm.

Can anyone help with information on the history of Nether House?  Do you have any memories of it?  If you can help please email your information and thoughts to secretary@killamarsh.org

Below are two photographs of the house.  Also a small map showing the location of the house, which as you will see was alongside the canal, behind what is now Peacock Close.

Wayne Parkes is asking if anyone can given any information or memories of the Metro Dance Band and the Savannah Band.

Please post your messages on the Memory Bank.

Denis Fox is asking for information as below.  If anyone can help please email secretary@killamarsh.org

My name is Denis Fox the grandson of Dennis Fox age 14 on the 1881 census living in Eckington, father Benjamin.

I have the family all on the 1881 census, I assume Benjamins wife Sarah must have died about 1880.

My grandfather came to Kingstone (Barnsley) and married a lady called Hardstaff who had 3 children with that name.

They had 3 more children 2 girls and 1 boy, my father.

I have a contact with Liz Hallis but would appreciate any information you may have on the family.

Denis Fox

Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3SQ.

We now have an All Our Stories section on our website.

We already have some entries for this which I am sure you will find interesting.

If anyone would like to include their stories please send them to enquiries@killamarsh.org (with a photograph if possible).

We look forward to hearing from you.

Les Matthews of Victoria, Australia is researching his family tree and has found a number of connections with the Chesterfield Canal, Norwood Colliery and Westthorpe Colliery.

Family names he is looking into are Shimwell, Oliver and Matthews.

Can anyone help please?

Any information can initially be passed by email to  enquiries@killamarsh.org

Angela Bold is researching her family tree and is asking for information with a Killamarsh connection.

She says she has found out that her famility originated from Killamarsh.

The information she has is that they ran a Public House and also a Butchers on Shepherd Lane which is now Bridge Street.

Their names were George Walker and his wife Mary Walker and their children Frank, Gweneline and George.

In 1901 George Walker was then married to Annie Eleanor Walker and had three daughters Harriet, Eleanor and Frances and they lived at 11 Bridge Stree, Walkers Lane, Killamarsh.

They later moved to the Hope Valley and ran the Blacksmith’s Arms in Hope.

Can anyone remember this family and the name of the public house they used to run on Shepherd Lane/Bridge Street.

Any information can initially be passed on by emailing  enquiries@killamarsh.org

Glen Rigby of Vancouver B.C., Canada is looking to contact relatives of his Grandmother.  Below is the information that Glen has given us.  Hopefully someone will be able to help him.  If you have any information please email secretary@killamarsh.org and I will put you in touch with him.

My name is Glen Rigby and I am trying to connect with relatives of my grandmother on my father’s side of the family.  Her maiden name was Florence Fox.  She was one of the 8 offspring of Benjamin Fox and Sarah Stocks.  She was born on Green Lane, Killamarsh in 1877 and died in Vancouver B.C., Canada in March 1960.  My father, Arthur Rigby, was also born on Green Lane.

I have also managed to trace my grandmother’s sister, Frances (Fanny) Fox, through her marriage to Joseph Batty and on further to her emigration to Perth, Australia.

I would specifically be wanting to get in touch with any descendants of John Joseph Fox, Benjamin Fox, Sarah Ann Fox, Dennis Fox and William Fox.  It could also be possible that some of the Batty family would have some information on the Fox family.

I am including below two charts, one for Florence and one for her sister, Frances.

Thank you.