Joseph Bramah patented the flushing toilet.
The first reference to Barnsley occurs in 1086 in the Domesday Book, in which it is called
Berneslai and has a population of around 200. The
origin of the name Barnsley is subject to debate, but Barnsley Council claims that its origins lie in the Saxon word "Berne", for barn or storehouse, and "Lay", for field.
Arthur Scargill was from Barnsley.
The first
bottle bank for
glass recycling collection in the
United Kingdom was opened in Barnsley.
Ken Loach's 1969 film
Kes was set and filmed in several villages in Barnsley.