History of South Kirkby

In history, the villages of South Kirkby and Moorthorpe were first mentioned in 1086 . For some centuries they were farming villages but all this changed with the coming of the Industrial Revolution.  "South Kirkby Colliery" was founded in 1881 and this resulted in an increase in the population and the villages expanded more and more. At it's height 3000 workers were employed at the colliery but, 1988 saw the closure of the pits in this area after the unsuccessful outcome to the miners' strike of 1984. The site was later cleared for future development.

 The "All Saints' Church" in South Kirkby is worth seeing with a tower which is 30 metres in height. Parts of the foundations and walls are from the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods.

The establishment of "The Sprockhövel International Friendship Circle" led to a similarly named organisation in South Kirkby & Moorthorpe.  Mrs Sylvia Harrison is secretary to "The South Kirkby & Moorthorpe International Friendship Circle".

Since that time the Sprockhövel IFC and the South Kirkby & Moorthorpe IFC have organized yearly exchange visits between the two towns. The visitors stay with private families each time and an interesting programme of activities and day trips is organised for the group. Over the years, long-standing friendships have developed which makes the task of accommodating our guests much easier as they tend to make repeat visits to their host families.

The Old Mill, a journey in time
The old mill was first mentioned in 1229. Damaged by storms and repaired on several occasions throughout its lifetime, the old mill was eventually abandoned as a working mill about 1875 as a new steam-driven mill became operational in South Elmsall.
From then on its mechanisms and wood work were gradually dismantled. By 1915 it was an empty shell and was being used by a local evangelist for prayer services.  It was eventually pulled down in the 1950s to make way for the present Stockingate Infants' School.