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A Brief History of Bentley - Part 2
Bentley High Street19th and 20th Century BentleyFrom Rural Village to Industrial TownshipBy the beginning of the nineteenth century Bentley was established as a rural village with the emphasis on...
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A Brief History of Bentley - Part 1
Bentley Brook Bridge, c1740Â Bentley in the BeginningFrom Woodland to Rural SettlementThe villages of Bentley and Arksey grew up side-by-side, and as such, a lot of their history is shared. Much of that...
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Bentley Colliery Part 2 - Disasters
Funeral procession for the 1931 disaster victimsCoal mining has always been a dangerous occupation, working so far underground in cramped airless conditions amongst heavy machinery, it's no wonder that...
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Bentley Colliery Part 1 - 85 Years of Mining History
Bentley Colliery 1911Industry Comes to BentleyBy the end of the nineteenth century Bentley was still largely a rural village on the outskirts of Doncaster. Imagine then the feelings of horror which...
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Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan VC
Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan VCÂ A War Hero in BentleyWhile I was researching Arksey cemetery I came across a reference to a grave belonging to Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan. He was awarded the Victoria...
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Call The Midwife
Newspaper article from the Daily Express, 1962 Life BeginsI suppose lots of new mums keep records of their children as babies just as mums of the past have. My mum was no exception, and I still have...
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The Godfathers of Ice Cream
Can I have One Mum?How many of us I wonder, ran from our houses yelling "Can I have one Mum?" whenever we heard the distinctive chimes of the Mister Softee ice cream van. With its blue and white...
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I am starting a new project to gather together the names of as many Bentley Colliery accident victims as possible, for a memorial page on this site. Excluding the two disasters, there have been...
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William Marsh, Son of a Miller, Friend of a President
William MarshThis is the extraordinary story of how a miller's son from Bentley became a diplomat, a poet, an entrepreneur, a photographer, and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln.The Most Unfamous,...
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New on the Blog
Bentley Village, A History now has a page dedicated to the Bay Horse Folk Club. The page has been put together in association with Gerald Sables, who has a collection of memorabilia from the clubs...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part Six
Chapel StreetPresenting a special bonus edition to round off Mike Hoyland's wonderful account of growing up in the Bentley area in the 1950's and 1960's.Alison Vainlo 2014Â More CornerstonesPenny for...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part Five
The Coliseum Cinema, BentleyPresenting the final part (or is it?) of Mike Hoyland's wonderful account of growing up in the Bentley area in the 1950's and 1960's.Alison Vainlo 2014Â CornerstonesI have...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part Four
Askern RoadPresenting part four of Mike Hoyland's wonderful account of growing up in the Bentley area in the 1950's and 1960's.Alison Vainlo 2014Â A day in the life ofStreet-Corner GatheringsMany of us...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part Three
The DrumPresenting part three of Mike Hoyland's wonderful account of growing up in the Bentley area in the 1950's and 1960's.Alison Vainlo 2014  Pubs, Clubs and Bentley PitMagical Trips to the Pit As...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part Two
Back yards near Bentley PitPresenting part two of Mike Hoyland's wonderful account of growing up in the Bentley area in the 1950's and 1960's.Alison Vainlo 2014Â Â Paper Rounds and 'The Seat'What is to...
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Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part One
IntroductionHere at Bentley Village, A History I am always happy to receive material for new articles, and when Mike Hoyland got in touch to say he wanted to share his childhood memories, I was only...
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Bentley Bonanza, 21st September 2014
Official re-opening of Bentley Park (courtesy of Keith Wilburn)Thank you to everyone who came to the Bentley Bonanza. It was a fantastic day and extremely well attended. Symeon and I met lots of new...
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Announcing
The Avenue from Arksey LaneNew Facebook PageBentley Village, A History is pleased to announce the launch of a companion facebook page.There you will find hundreds of old photos of Bentley, categorized...
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Please State Your Destination
Tram at junction of Arksey Lane and The AvenueBentley Trams and TrolleybusesDuring the late nineteenth century the growth of industry in the Doncaster area brought with it a need for public transport....
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Happy New Year, Happy First Birthday!
Bentley Village, A Historyis one year old! Happy New Year to all my readers. Thank you for your support, positive comments and contributions during 2014. I will be working hard to bring you more...
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