BARNSLEY, owes all its importance to its manufactures. Wire-works were in existence here in the time of James I., and the town had for a long period the reputation of pro ducing the best wire in the kingdom. This manufacture has, however, greatly declined ; and but little wire is now made in the town. Barnsley has lost its ancient trade, and has acquired a new one, to which its present pros perity is entirely owing ; viz., the linen trade. Its fabrics are linen cloth, damasks, diapers, drills, ducks, checks, and ticks. The great improvements which Barnsley has made during a very recent period in the production of these articles, is a main cause of the pros perous state of the town. In damasks and drills it is said that Barnsley stands unri valled. Some of the above goods are techni cally called anions, from both linen and cotton being united in their production. Much of the flax which is spun in the large flax-mills of Leeds is sent to Barnsley to be woven : there are, however, two flax-spinning mills in Barnsley. Weavers in this town are not gene
rally employed in factories, but the manufac turers give out the yarn to them, which they weave at their own houses.
There are extensive bleaching works and dye-houses connected with the staple com modity of the town. The numerous coal mines, and the iron-works in the immediate neighbourhood find occupation for hundreds of people ; there are also several iron-foundries and a glass-house. The coal-mines became a subject of painful interest in 1847, when by an explosion at the Oaks Colliery 72 lives were lost.
All the varieties of Barnsley linen and flax manufactures will be illustrated by specimens at the Hyde Park Exhibition in 1851.