Old Photo Gallery

My collection of old Bentley photos keeps growing, and the vast majority that I acquire are added to this page. Please keep checking for new additions, or to submit photos please email good quality copies (preferably scans) to arkvillhistory@yahoo.co.uk.

The photos are grouped under the following headings:

Contents

  • Bentley New Village
  • The Avenue
  • New Village Streets
  • St Philip And St James Church
  • New Village School
  • Arksey Lane, The Avenue Corner
  • Arksey Lane
  • Central Bentley
  • Cooke Street And Church Street
  • Cooke Street School
  • Masserellas
  • The Railway
  • Jossey Lane (aka Brustlingholme Lane)
  • Watch House Lane
  • High Street
  • Playfair's Corner To Chapel Street
  • Chapel Street And The Tram Terminus
  • High Street, Chapel Street To Railway Bridge
  • St Peter's church
  • Bentley High Street School
  • Mills, Mill Gate And Finkle Street
  • Askern Road
  • West End
  • Bentley Road And Surrounding Streets
  • New Additions - Bentley Road
  • Bentley People
  • Bentley Park
  • Entrances
  • The Bandstand
  • Pavilion
  • Floral Displays And The Park Lodge
  • The Lily Pond
  • The Paddling Pool
  • The Sandpits
  • Children's Playground
  • New Additions - Bentley Park
  • Sporting Teams
  • Random And Unknown Photos
  • Town End
  • Don Cinema
  • Doncaster Avoiding Line
  • The Three Horse Shoes
  • St Mary's Bridge And Mill
  • Scawthorpe And York Road
  • Castle Hills School
  • Don Valley High School
  • York Road And Bodles
  • The Sun Inn
  • New Additions


Bentley New Village

The Avenue


The Avenue (background image for this blog) pre-1913


The Avenue, 1914

Tram on The Avenue.
Photo Courtesy of Pete Dumville

The Avenue

The Avenue pre-1913

The Avenue

The Avenue. Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

The Avenue, near pit gates

The Avenue, near pit gates.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Tram terminus, The Avenue at the junction with Alexander St



New Village Streets


Back of Arthur Street.
Photo courtesy of Lewis Timms, via Graham Westerman

Asquith Road


Balfour Road

Balfour Road

Balfour Road. 
Photo courtesy of Kare Beck

Cawdor Street

Daw Lane

Celebrations on Daw Lane. Photo courtesy of Edwin Maltravers

Kitson's of Daw Lane


Trolleybus at the Victoria Road, Askern Road junction

Victoria Road

Winnipeg Road. 
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning


St Philip And St James Church




The War Memorial

Choir 1935

Sunday School play rehearsal.
Photo courtesy of Janice Lowe
Choir 1962. 
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Choir 1966. 
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Choir. 
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Interior. 
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

New Village School




NVS about 1915

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight





NVS 1920

NVS 1923

NVS 1924


NVS 1953 Coronation Souvenir
Courtesy of Ian Aitken



Note: I have a large number of New Village School photos which, for space reasons I am unable to include here. Please contact me if you have a specific request.



Arksey Lane, The Avenue Corner


Tram on Arksey Lane, near The Avenue

Shops on the corner of Arksey Lane and The Avenue

As above


Shops on the Avenue, Arksey Lane corner


As above
As above

As above

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


As above

Arksey Lane, The Avenue corner

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


Trolleybus on Arksey Lane, Avenue corner

Arksey Lane


Arksey Lane from Playfairs Corner

Arksey Lane looking towards Playfairs Corner
Trolleybus heading up Arksey Lane at Playfairs Corner

Arksey Lane Dance School.
Photo courtesy of Janice Lowe

Arksey Lane.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe



Central Bentley

Cooke Street and Church Street

Cooke Street


As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Cooke Street, 1910

Cooke Street looking towards Askern Road

Cooke Street from Askern Road.
Photo courtesy of Kare Beck
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Manor Farm (aka Jackson's Farm)






Manor Farm (aka Jackson's Farm)


The following seven photos are of the demolition of Manor Farm in 1997. Photos courtesy of Jon Clay.



















Railway Tavern, Cooke Street

Railway Tavern

Infirmary Demonstration, Cooke Street

Cooke Street Infirmary Demonstration 1910


Cooke Street Infirmary Demonstration.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman



DP Breach & Son, Church Street

DP Breach & Son, Church Street, next to Bentley crossing

Church Farm, Church Street

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Church Street looking towards Cooke Street




Cooke Street School


Cooke Street School 1914

Cooke Street School 1916
Cooke Street School 1918
Cooke Street School 1916 or 1918

Cooke Street School 1925.
Photo courtesy of Alison Southward

Cooke Street School 1957 or 1958 


Cooke Street School unknown date.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath


Cooke Street School unknown date.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath






Massarellas


Massarella's first hand cart.
Photo courtesy of Kare Beck

Photo courtesy of Kare Beck

Lewis Massarella with ice cream carts.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Photo courtesy of Michael John Massarella

Massarella's cart pictured on The Avenue

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Early ice cream van.
Photo courtesy of Kare Beck


Massarella's factory workers (on Hunt Lane) c1950

 Massarellas' Staff 1949.
Photo courtesy of Christine Shaw
As above.
Photo courtesy of Christine Shaw


Massarella's ice cream vans
Massarella's ice cream van. 
Photo courtesy of Lisa Troughton



The Railway



Bentley Crossing, Church Street and Pipering Lane

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Bentley signal box

Bentley signal box at night.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe
Bentley crossing looking south toward Bentley Road bridge

Bentley crossing looking north to the
Cementation footbridge 1987

Bentley Junction signal box

Pipering Lane Crossing 1980.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe


Bentley Colliery signal box 1980.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe


Train passing Bentley recreation ground




Jossey Lane (aka Brustlingholme Lane)


Brustlingholme Lane Farm


Brustlingholme Lane Farm

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight



Infirmary Demo in Forrington's Field, Jossey Lane 1909 or 1910


Caption on photo reads - Bentley Hospital Sunday Demonstration June 27th 1909


Prefab on Jossey Lane.
Photo courtesy of Hazel Hull





Watch House Lane

Bentley Hotel (latterly The Drum), Watch House Lane

As above
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Watch House Lane and Broughton Avenue.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Watch House Lane and The Drum
End of the War party at The Drum.
Photo courtesy of Christine Pemberton
As above


Watch House Lane


Watch House Lane near York Road



John Carr's wood yard in the 1960's.
Photo courtesy of Kay Campling



High Street

Playfair's Corner To Chapel Street


Trolleybus at Playfair's Corner 1950's
As above

Trolleybus at Arksey Lane and Playfair's Corner junction

As above

Playfair's Corner, facing Askern Road

Trolleybus at Playfair's Corner

Early photo taken on Bentley Bridge. The houses behind were there before Payfair's Corner. The large house behind the telegraph pole was on Askern Road.

Bentley Bridge, High Street 1910.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

As above (slightly closer shot).
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
High Street from Playfair's Corner.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning

High Street looking towards 'Playfair's Corner', 1902

High Street facing Bentley Bridge



High Street near Post Office, about 1902


High Street


Bentley Post Office

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


High Street, Mill Gate, Chapel Street junction

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Close up of the previous photo.
Photo courtesy of Kare Beck


Coliseum Cinema, High Street

Coliseum and Co-op on High Street. 
Photo courtesy of Paul Mitcheson


Co-op on the corner of Mill Gate

Co-op on High Street
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


Chapel Street And The Tram Terminus


Tram Terminus, High Street and Chapel Street, c1910

As above

Tram terminus (and some roofing going on too!)


Tram leaving Chapel Street

Tram in 1915 on the newly extended track at High Street
1920's Tram
Chapel Street near Cooke Street School



Cottages on Chapel Street to the right of the Bay Horse Inn

Bay Horse trip 1952. 
Photo courtesy of Mike Hoyland

Chapel Street taken from where Bentley Library is now.
Photo courtesy of Adam Butler

Beresford's butchers on Chapel Street.
Photo courtesy of the Beresford family



High Street, Chapel Street To Railway Bridge


Wesleyan Chapel, High Street

The chapel from High Street 1903

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Children stood outside Bentley Wesleyan Chapel 
with their Mission boxes in 1910. 
Photo courtesy of Gill Boothroyd


Chapel Street and the Wesleyan Chapel on High Street in the 1960's
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


High Street looking towards St Peter's Church

High Street looking east, pre 1914

As above 
One of the shops on the right of the photo above

High Street looking west.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty


Infirmary Demonstration 1910

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Infirmary Demonstration, unknown year

Druid's Arms, old building c1900

Druid's Arms 'new' building c1910

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Druid's Arms, unknown date

Pauline's Boutique, High Street 1960's.
Photo courtesy of Adam Butler

High Street, Church Street corner pre 1914

Same corner as above, unknown year
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Church Street corner as above but slightly later

1930's

High Street 1928
Trolleybus on High Street 1955

Bus on High Street 1970's

Central Bentley from the air

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


First Communion.
Outside Priest's residence for RC church.
Photo courtesy of Michael Rose


The Catholic Church




St Peter's Church


1895

1903

c1910

c1912

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

1914, now with added church hall

Church and vicarage from the rear

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

As above



Bentley High Street School


1940's aerial view.
Photo courtesy of Mick Dutchak

Children in the 1930's.
Photo courtesy of Ian Jackson


Paul Todd of Doncaster Rovers giving a lesson on football tactics in Peter Gething's class in the late 1940's. 
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

1967

Head boys and prefects from c1958.
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Unknown year.
Photo Courtesy of Lorraine Bolger

1960's

1966

Staff photo 1971.
Photo courtesy of Mick Dutchak
Early 1950's.
Photo courtesy of Janet Atkinson
As above

As above

As above

Early 1960's staff.
Photo courtesy of Bill Wright

Dinner Ladies of 1963.
Photo courtesy of Ian Butterfield

Many more school photos can be found on the 'Bentley High Street Secondary Modern ex pupils' Facebook group page.







Mills, Mill Gate And Finkle Street


Marsh's Mill, Finkle Street

Finkle Street

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Finkle Street 1956, looking towards High Street.
Photo courtesy of Pauline Philip

Houses on Finkle Street.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

Bentley Mill, Mill Gate, 1890
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight



Bentley Mill and pond

Bentley Mill.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville

Bentley Mill derelict

Inside Bentley Reform Club, Mill Gate


Bonfire night on Mill Gate.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight




Askern Road


Askern Road looking west towards Bentley Park

Askern Road with Radcliffe Road on the left

Askern Road looking east

Trolleybus on Askern Road
As above
1974
1974
The Magnet
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Yew Tree Farm

Yew Tree Farm

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Yew Tree Farm


Joseph Walker Memorial,
entrance to Winnipeg Road

The Memorial held a roadside medical
cabinet. Dr Walker gave 17 years
service to the St John Ambulance
Brigade

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

The Memorial came to a sticky end
when a lorry crashed into in the 1970's.
It was removed soon after.

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Askern Road Baptist Church 1918

This house used to stand on Askern road, near the entrance
to Winnipeg Road. This photo dates from the 1890's

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Askern Road looking towards Playfair's Corner,
Bentley Park is on the right

Askern Road and Mill Stream.




West End

Bentley Road And Surrounding Streets


Trolleybus on the railway bridge, 1954.
This bridge was originally named 'Selby Road Bridge',
but appears on maps today as 'St Peter's Bridge'.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville

Another trolleybus crossing the railway bridge

Bus crash 1948 or 1949. The bus fell off the railway bridge and rolled down the embankment fatally injuring one person. The houses behind are on Austerfield Avenue.


Railway bridge upgrade 1987.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe
As above

As above

As above


Bentley Road, Cusworth Road off to the left

Looking east, 1930

Bentley Road near to Cusworth Road


Bentley Road 1912

Tram on Bentley Road
Bentley Road. 
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville
Bentley Road 1916

Burkitts shop and Post Office, Bentley Road
As above.
coloured version by Tony Sleight


Bentley Road (east side)


Trolleybus on Bentley Road


Primitive Methodist Chapel, Bentley Road

Bentley Road and the Avoiding line bridge



Royston Avenue

Archer Hall's shop on the corner of Cusworth Road
and Royston Avenue, c 1911.
Photo courtesy of Jean Cranshaw via Janet Roberts


Royston Avenue 1911

Royston Avenue bomb damage, 1940


As above


VE party for Broughton Avenue and Royston Avenue.
Photo courtesy of Steven Walker


Wartime at Kirkby Avenue School


Nissen huts on Queen's Drive.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe


Tattersfield Rugby Ground, Bentley Road


Tattersfield from Yarborough Terrace.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty


Yarborough Terrace/Bentley Road junction


Trolleybus approaching the flood arches in 1955.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville


Flood arches, possibly early 2000's.
Photo courtesy of Johnathan Clitheroe


Flood arches in the early 2000's.
Photo courtesy of Tom Beardsley


Rail depot and Booth's scrapyard from Bentley Road


Rail depot 1968. this depot was behind Booth's scrapyard.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning


Rail depot 1936 (same depot as above).
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning

Train leaving rail depot in 1960.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning


New Additions - Bentley Road

'Roseville' with Henry and Charlotte Naylor in 1904.
Photo courtesy of Rod Naylor


Bentley Road looking towards the avoiding bridge,
a little later than the earlier photo.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty



Bentley People


Thomas Lister 1795-1859, bricklayer of Bentley

Frances (Fanny) Lister formerly Youle 1798-1858, 
wife of Thomas Lister

Irene Tasker delivering milk on 
Finkle Street in 1938. 
Photo courtesy of Nicky Tasker



Bentley Salvation Army Band

Ann Brown, midwife of Bentley retirement presentation in 1962
Nurse Woodhouse of Bentley retirement presentation

Bentley Labour Party (unknown year).
Photo courtesy of Howard Connell
Bentley Orpheus Male Choir

Coronation party 1953. Photo courtesy of Lynda Pell

Elizabeth Cousins, daughter of John Daniel Broughton. Part of the well known Broughton family of Bentley.
Photo courtesy of Alan Clark

Coronation party 1953, Rosslyn Crescent. 
Photo courtesy of Lynda Pell


Another Coronation party photo, 1953.
Photo courtesy of Lynda Pell

Betty Woolsey at St Peter's Church, 1990.
Photo courtesy of John Hufton


Bob Cockin, (left) with Sir David Cooke
at St Peter's church in 1990.
Photo courtesy of John Hufton

Volunteer Firefighter Joseph Hunt (b.1914)
Lived on Askern Road.
Photo courtesy of Ian Philip Jefferies

Volunteer Firefighter David P Breach (b.1907)
with wife Nora and son David N.
Lived on Fairfield Road.
(Grandparents and father of author)




Bentley Park


Aerial view of Bentley Park in 1939. The park first opened in 1923 and the pavilion was added in 1931.
Photo courtesy of Mick Dutchak


Entrances


Cooke Street entrance 1923
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Askern Road entrance


The Bandstand


The Bandstand pictured between 1925 and 1930

The Bandstand c.1930's

As above

The Bandstand.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe


Pavilion


Pavilion and drinking fountain
Pavilion
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Pavilion
Pavilion side view with the bowling green
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Pavilion entrance and water fountain 
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Pavilion and lily pond


Pavilion entrance on Askern Road


Inside the pavilion,
Doncaster Press Ball 1935


Unknown event at the pavilion 1950.
Photo Courtesy of Alan Walker
Unknown performance at the pavilion.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Houghton


Soup kitchen at the pavilion during the miner's strike, 1984



Floral Displays And The Park Lodge


Floral display near the children's corner


The park keeper's lodge.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

Park Lodge.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Smart

Park Lodge


The Lily Pond


The lily pond.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty


As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
The lily pond in 1970


The lily pond.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe


The Paddling Pool


The paddling pool, possibly in the 1920's

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight


The Sandpits


Built when the park was originally laid out in 1923, there were two octagonal sandpits near to the bandstand.


One of the sandpits, possibly in the 1920's

An early photo of one of the sandpits


Sandpit
Sandpit
Sandpit


Children's Playground


Swings on the playground
As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Playground
Playground.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville
'Bobby's Helmet' at the playground
Children sat on the roundabout in the playground, 1954/55.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe 


New Additions - Bentley Park

Children's play park in the 1970's.
Photo courtesy of Keith Wilbun

Sand pit in the 1970's.
Photo courtesy of Keith Wilburn


For more park photos sent in by readers, go to 'Let's Go To The Park'.


Sporting Teams


Unknown football team outside the Druid's Arms, 1917.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe

Town End Juniors 1930 - 31.
Photo Courtesy of Lyn Taylor Picken 

Town End Juniors 1920 - 21

New Village Ladies 1921

Kirkby Avenue School football team 1955

Cricket team 1992. 
Photo courtesy of Nigel Bates




Ladies of the Bentley Cricket Team in the 1940's.
Photo courtesy of Ann Jessop

Tennis club possibly at New Village, 1930's.
Photo courtesy of Joy Cropper

Bentley West End FC 1926-27. 
Photo courtesy of David Barham

Photo courtesy of Ian Aitken



Random And Unknown Photos

Photos we would like to know more about!

The only information given on this postcard
is on the reverse (below).
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Reverse of above postcard




Town End

The area between the Avoiding Line railway bridge and St Mary's Bridge is classed as a part of Bentley, with a Bentley postcode.


Don Cinema

Don Bingo Club, formerly Don Cinema

As above
Interior of the Don cinema

The Doncaster Avoiding Line

This bridge was built to allow freight trains to avoid going through Doncaster station. It opened in 1910.

The bridge under construction in 1909.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville

Road widening at the avoiding bridge in the 1950's

Trolleybus passing under the Bentley Avoiding Line bridge

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

As above

Junction of the A19 and the A638,
taken from the avoiding bridge,
possibly in the 1930's

Town End shops,
unknown year

Bus at Town End in 1958.
Photo courtesy of Ann Beckwith





The Three Horse Shoes

This public house by the banks of the River Don has been in existence since 1783. It was rebuilt in 1914. 


The Three Horse Shoes (original building) in 1900
The Three Horse Shoes about 1910.
Photo courtesy of Tom Beardsley 


The Three Horse Shoes (new building) in 1914

As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight

The Three Horse Shoes in the 1950's

The Three Hose Shoes in 1988


St Mary's Bridge And Mill

Named St Mary's Bridge today, the bridge over the River Don has provided the main crossing point for centuries. The bridge used to be much wider than it is now and mill once existed on it, as can be seen in the photo below, hence it's older name - Mill Bridge. The bridge has been rebuilt several times over the centuries.


St Mary's Bridge with the Three Horse Shoes on the left and the mill centre in the early 1900's

St Mary's Bridge on the right with the Three Horse Shoes centre. Taken from beside the west bank of the river

The mill on the bridge, taken from a boat on the river.
The Three Horse Shoes is just visible on the left

Photo taken from the back of the mill.
The Three Horse Shoes is on the right, behind the tree

Another shot of the rear of the mill and the weir

St Mary's Bridge during the 1932 floods.
Note the mill is now a garage

Crowds flock on to the bridge to watch
the flooded River Don in 1932
St Mary's Bridge from the Town Garage (old mill) in the 1930's.
The avoiding line and A638 are visible top centre

Trolleybus passing over St Mary's Bridge in 1954

View across St Mary's Bridge towards North Bridge, 1958 

Approaching St Mary's Bridge in the 1950's

St Mary's Bridge in the 1960's,
note the old mill is being demolished.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

St Mary's Bridge rebuild in 1958





Scawthorpe And York Road


Scawthorpe Hall

Scawthorpe Farm
Possibly Scawthorpe Farm


Scawthorpe Farm

WW1 soldiers billeted at Scawthorpe Hall 1918

Scawthorpe development in the 1950's
Amersall Road and the Adam & Eve pub


As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
Flooding on Amersall Road.
Photo courtesy of Suzy Deeley
(apologies for photo quality)

Ballam Avenue Coronation Party 1953.
 Photo courtesy of Bill Wright


Coronation party 1953. Photo courtesy of Bill Wright


Middlegate Coronation party 1953. Photo courtesy of Bill Wright

Darby and Joan Club, 1950's, Scawthorpe Junior School. 
Photo courtesy of Bill Wright
Scawthorpe Methodist Church fancy dress, 1950's.
Photo courtesy of Bill Wright 

Flying Scotsman passing through Castle Hills Junction 1932.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning



Castle Hills School

Primary school on Jossey Lane, previously Scawthorpe County Primary School.

School building

Scawthorpe County Primary School 1955.
Photo courtesy of Bill Wright. 
See photo below for names. 


Addition: Top right - Elizabeth Davy (cook)


1966
Photo courtesy of Susanne Merryweather

1966
Photo courtesy of Susanne Merryweather


Castle Hills dinner ladies.
Photo courtesy of Michael Rose

Infants 1 1970.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Goddard


1970 Infants 2.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Goddard


Juniors 1 c1970



Juniors 2 c1970




Don Valley High School


Teaching staff 1982
Graham Topliss and Sixth Form pupils May 1977
Teacher's football team 1981
Pupil's football team 1981
Lower School quad before demolition
As above
Lower School hall before demolition
Pool before demolition
Lower School corridor to dining hall and hall, before demolition



York Road And Bodles

Bodles was the name of a small hamlet where the Sun Inn now stands. 

Tram on York Road 1910-1920

Guest House on York Road

York Road and Sprotborough Road 1986


Ringway's Garage, York Road, 1970's


Toll House which used to stand at the end of
Barnsley Road between 1837 and 1901


The Sun Inn


The Sun Inn 1905

The Sun Inn 1915


The Sun Inn 1925


As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight
View of York Road and Barnsley Road juction with the Sun Inn in the background, pre-1936 

In 1936 a new Sun Inn was built a little further south than the original. The photo below shows both buildings before the older one was demolished. 

The new Sun Inn with the old one behind, around 1936

York Road and the new Sun Inn

The Sun Inn


For pit photos go to Pit Photo Gallery

For flooding photos go to Flood Photo Gallery



Many thanks to all contributors, and to Tony Sleight for the coloured versions.


New Additions

With a large gallery such as this, sometimes it's difficult to slot new photos into their correct categories. Where this is the case, new additions will be added here.

Broughton Avenue 1911

An 'abnormal' load passing Yew Tree Farm on Askern Road
in 1960, on it's way to Thorpe Marsh Power Station.
Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson


Painting of Yew Tree Farm and the Rostholme area of Askern
Road. Painted in 1914.
Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson



Photo of a Bentley charabanc outing, possibly in the 
1920's. Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson







17 comments:

  1. Christine Didcott1 January 2014 at 16:11

    I love the uniformity of the houses its such a shame they've been messed about with over the years

    ReplyDelete
  2. I lived in Bentley next to St Peters Church in the school house from 1969 aged 12 used to cut the grass for rev milner my reward was a borrow of his bike a great site very interesting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember father david milner he used to keep bees i went to Bentley high street school i was born in the front room in fern avenue. I live in london but still look to remind myself

      Delete
    2. I remember father david milner he used to keep bees i went to Bentley high street school i was born in the front room in fern avenue. I live in london but still look to remind myself

      Delete
  3. Just love looking at these,especially one of Marshes mill on Finkle St, my friend now lives in the big house, and we lived in the houses which were built where the Mill used to be :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Pauline. Look out for a major new article on the Marshes coming out in the next few weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beverley Steeper nee Deakin9 March 2014 at 22:39

    Loved looking at the pictures I and my mother were both born on Finkle St my mothers uncle was called Sydney Hall and he was the Headmaster at Bentley High St School many years ago he was the brother of Archer Hall of Arksey

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fanastic photos. I remember the trolley buses coming round the corner of The Avenue. Also the co-op on the other side of the road. As a small child I was always frightened of the pullies that used to shoot across the ceiling, presumably dishing out change.!!!

    I also lived, for a short time, on Bentley Road, and I'm sure the house I lived in was on one of the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I REMEMBER BENTLEY very well my nana and grandad Swapp lived on Bentley road and my grandad worked at the pit ,thier house is now the VETS , i remember the long garden apple trees
    i have an aunt Prue who married Eddy Buck at doncater church and now live in Wales
    i was brought up in Adwick le-st ( Planet rd ) my name was PAT ECCLES i have a twin SUSAN and 2 sisters PAMELA and HILARY pluse a brother ROY all still alive ,, my dad was TED ECCLES he worked down the pit untill 1965
    i remember my mum and my sister worked at SR GENTS for a while before we came to Goole where i still live
    my gran lived on Intake road in Doncaster all her married life
    ,she had4 boys EDWARD NORMAN, PATRICK, AND ROY PLUS A DAUGHTER MARY


    i went to Carcroft primary then Skellow high . sos all in all we lived in and around Doncaster and none have moved too far away

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fantastic site, I was born in Bentley and lived there for years. I'll be back

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! There will be more added in the coming months.

      Delete
  9. We lived in Fisher st in the mid 40s and then moved to Arthur st . My Mum Mrs Rose Acornley was postwoman for Bentley and Arksey for many years,she used to start work at 3.am sorting the mail at Bentley post office deliver it and be home to get us up for school before 8am god bless her.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi there I just wondered if anyone had any more photos of watch house Lane around Wellington Grove end! My dad's dad moved here as a child into 111 watch house Lane. Yours hopefully Pete

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Watchouse Lane photos are quite rare, I've only ever seen the three that I have on here. If you are on Facebook please feel free to join my group 'Arksey & Bentley Bygone Years', you could put out your appeal on there to reach a wider audience.

      Delete
  11. I was born in Watchouse Lane, went to Kirkby Avenue School.Grew up in Bentley and married at St Peter Church as did my parents and most of my relatives. My grandfather Mycroft was Manager of Bentley Colliery as such lived in the big house next to the colliery gate. Sadly like many others, including three of my uncles,he died from underground accidents. My father,a joiner, fell whilst removing the wartime blackouts from colliery roofs. His injuries so severe he was unable to continue his employment.The allotments opposite our house in Watchouse Lane enabled him and mother to provide at least some income growing plants.The photos are an excellent insight as to our forbears lived and worked in Bentley.Well done all contributors.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Marvellous photos of Bentley's history- great to see. I lived at 63 Royston Avenue 1956-1965, one of the pictured houses flattened in the WW2 bombing. Went to Kirkby Avenue primary and juniors where Mr Bluman and and his wife were respectively headmaster and headmistress.
    Robert Wilson

    ReplyDelete

Please note, all comments now come to me for moderation before publishing. You can also email me at arkvillhistory@yahoo.co.uk for a personal reply.