Barnsley Plaque Unveiling

The third of the towns visited by George Orwell in 1936, after Wigan and Sheffield, was Barnsley. He arrived in mid-March. The Orwell Society, and its Chair, Quentin Kopp, were pleased to join civic dignitaries on April 26th 2024, to see a plaque installed close to Orwell’s lodgings on Agnes Terrace .

Quentin Kopp praised the work of Edana Guest, who was a driving spirit, in recording Orwell’s visit.

The first part of the day was in a Miner’s Union Hall with every wall space covered in Colliery Union branch flags. Edana Guest, who has moved people in Barnsley and Barnsley Civic Trust to recognise Orwell, gave an excellent talk. As well as covering the factual elements of Orwell’s work, she also illustrated very well Orwell’s humour and love of nature with quotations from his diary. Ms Guest was born around the corner, about 150 yards where Orwell lodged in much more comfort than the tripe shop in Wigan. Her mother would have walked past where he lodged on her way to school while Orwell lodged there.

The Yorkshire Post report of April 29th has a photograph of the plaque unveiling.

Our thanks to Barnsley Civic Trust and Barnsley Recovery Steps for their participation.