LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVES
|
BRIERLEY GAP and THE HOYLAND FAMILY
Back to LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVES index
Photograph on the right shows Brierley Gap date unknown
|
|
|
One
of the earliest references to the Hoyland family living in the Barnsley
area is that of one John Hoyland of Wolsley Croft, Hemingfield, in 1627.
Following the branches of the family tree, the first connection we have
to Brierley appears to be another John Hoyland listed as a resident on
the Brierley Manor Court Roll for 1665. He may have been the father of
John Hoyland who died at Brierley in February 1732. There
were quite a few Hoylands in the district from this date and further
information on the family can be seen in Richard Watson - Mary
Harrison’s book (Details on the next page). Indeed, there is a record
of a Miss Sarah Hoyland born in 1830 who resided at Lindley House, who
married, in December 1855, the Rev. Godfrey Pigott Cordeux, who later
became the first curate of St Paul’s Church. The corner which Lindley
House stands on still carries the name Cordeux’s corner. Brierley
Gap taken in 2000. Now the Robin Hood. Another
John Hoyland, referred to in the archives as the ‘elder’, must have
purchased land at Brierley gap extending to five acres sometime during
his life, for in his will dated 1871, he mentions the possession of this
land and as executor of his estate appoints his son, the Rev. John
Hoyland who was vicar of Felkirk at the time.
History In
1903,
the
Rev. John Hoyland conveyed to his son, Clement Edward Hoyland of
Cumberland, a piece of land at Brierley Gap, which measured five acres.
He erected property there in the same year and it became known as
“Brierley Gap”, better known today as the Robin Hood. Their stay
there however was short lived, and on 16 March 1911, just eight years
after having the property built, it was conveyed by the Hoylands to the
Hemsworth Rural District Council. The
Rev. John Hoyland died in 1910, and after his death, his widow Mary Ann
Hoyland who was residing at Brierley Hall at the time, went to live in
Harrogate (see history Brierley Hall), these being the parents of
Clement Edward Hoyland, it is possible (and purely speculation on my
part), that on the sale of the property at Brierley Gap, Clement
followed his mother to live in Harrogate as nothing more was heard of
him, or indeed the Hoyland family. Hemsworth
Rural District Council used the property as a home for the nurses
working at the fever hospital nearby (now Burntwood sports centre), and
also as a sanatorium. In 1964, they conveyed the property to Brierley
Gap Holdings Limited with Mr W Child as chairman of the Board of
Directors. It was converted into a gambling casino ideally named “The
Five Acres Country Club”, and some time in the seventies, it became
the first night club Brierley had ever hosted. It was aptly named
“Eight Miles Out”, the reason being that it was approximately eight
miles from Barnsley, Wakefield and Pontefract. The
property still stands proud and local lad, Roger Butterworth now owns
the property, which is known today as “The Robin Hood”. More
detailed information on the Hoyland family can be seen in ‘Brereley’
a history of Brierley. Richard Watson and Mary Harrison 1975/76. Brereley a history of Brierley Back to LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVES index
|
