Love Where You Live improvements celebrate pride and heritage in Grimethorpe

Improvements at Millennium Park are helping celebrate Grimethorpe’s mining heritage while creating a welcoming and meaningful space for the local community, supported through Barnsley Council’s Love Where You Live programme. 

At the heart of the work, the Millennium Park obelisk has been refurbished to give it a fresh new look.

The structure has been carefully jet washed, with damaged tiles replaced and stonework repaired, helping protect this important landmark for years to come. 

Alongside this, a well-known symbol of Grimethorpe’s mining past, the pit head winding wheel, is being relocated to a more prominent position within the park, beside the obelisk.

Changes to the road layout over time meant the wheel was no longer widely seen at its previous location.

Moving it into the park will allow more people to see it, pause and reflect on the heritage that helped shape the community. 

To maintain the school’s link to that history, a new silhouette wheel will be installed on the plinth outside Milefield Primary School, reflecting the pit wheel that also forms part of the school’s logo. 

Two new miners’ memorial benches have also been installed close to the obelisk, replacing older damaged seating and providing a quiet place for reflection within the park. 

Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said:

“Projects like this help keep local history visible and valued. By restoring the obelisk and bringing the pit wheel into Millennium Park, we’re protecting an important part of Grimethorpe’s identity and creating a space where people can reflect, remember and connect.” 

Work to relocate the winding wheel has been temporarily delayed due to wet weather, as the ground needs to be firm enough to safely bring vehicles onto site. This part of the project will be completed as soon as conditions allow. 

The scheme was chosen by North East ward councillors and members of the North East Ward Alliance, recognising its role in enhancing Millennium Park while celebrating local heritage and the strength of the Grimethorpe community. 

Love Where You Live continues to support community led projects in every ward across Barnsley, shaped by local priorities and focused on caring for the places people value most. 
 

To find out more, visit www.barnsley.gov.uk/LoveWhereYouLive.