CAWTHORNE, a parish in the wapentake of
STAINCROSS, West riding of the county of York, 4
miles (W. N. W.) from Barnesley, containing 1518 inhabitants.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of York, endowed with £200
private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of J. S. Stanhope,
Esq., and certain other landowners. The church,
dedicated to All Saints, is principally in the later style
of English architecture. Two hundred and fifty sittings,
two hundred and eight of which are free, have
recently been added, the Incorporated Society for the
enlargement of churches and chapels having granted
£250 towards defraying the expense. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A free school
was founded in 1639, with a small endowment, for
which six boys are taught. The Barnesley canal terminates
in this parish: at its head, at Barnby bridge, is
a large basin, with, wharfs, warehouses, and a wet dock,
besides conveniences .for boat-building. A rail-road
extends from this basin to the extensive collieries here,
and in the adjoining parish of Silkstone. A great
quantity of limestone is burnt; and there are some
veins of iron-stone. There is a mineral spring, the
water of which is slightly impregnated with sulphuretted
hydrogen.