Barnsley Co-op

Having previously visited Barnsley to construct a Barnsley Walk, I returned to take the Modernists on the walk.

Previously puzzled by this mosaic clad Festival of Britain facade.

Subsequent observation and research revealed it to be an extension to a group of Barnsley Co-operative buildings.

I should have noted that the building of 1910, was the work of architect Arthur Walshingham, the terracotta and green faience, very much in the style of Northmoor Road.

And also his work here in Pendleton.

According to author Lynn Pearson:

The building housed grocery and footwear shops, an elegant marble floored entrance hall, a restaurant and assembly room. Its original shopfronts were mahogany with metal sills on a granite base, the windows were divided by columns with green faience shafts.

England’s Cooperative movement – an Architectural History.

The Barnsley building is loaded with decorative details.

Sadly the columns mentioned above were replaced, the mosaic from the later extension extended to give a misplaced sense of cohesion to the pairing.

The extension has a charm of its own – with an upper tier terrace bordered by a metal fence.

A concrete relief to the side.

The adjacent buildings were the 1885 central offices of the Barnsley British Cooperative Society.

The building is Grade II Listed.

In 2016 the Barnsley British Co-operative building, sited opposite the existing buildings, suffered a large fire and unfortunately had to be demolished due to safety concerns.

For more than a century it had been considered the place to shop in town. Many will recall it as the Co-op’s toy department where, every year, excited children would queue with mums and dads to meet Santa in his grotto at Christmas.

It closed in the 1980s.

In 1993 the plan was to turn the imposing Victorian Grade II listed building into a ’high class’ venue which it was anticipated would be aimed at a clientele in the 25-plus age group.

Barnsley Chronicle.