Billingley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 53°32′N 1°21′W / 53.53°N 1.35°W
| Billingley | |
  Billingley shown within South Yorkshire |
|
| Population | 177 (2001) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | Barnsley |
| Metropolitan county | South Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BARNSLEY |
| Postcode district | S72 |
| Dialling code | 01709 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| European Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Barnsley East and Mexborough |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Billingley is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England, 7 miles (11 km) east of Barnsley. At the 2001 census it had a population of 177. [1]
Billingley was founded in the late 15th century by a small number of Dutch cattle farmers who lived on the surrounding land. Notable among them were Leeuwen and Gerte Van Halen, of whom rock legend Eddie Van Halen is a direct descendant. The village served as a place to meet and trade farm produce, as well as exchange news and stock market tips.
Tragedy struck, however, in the aftermath of the Dutch Tulip Bubble, in which many of Billingley's wealthy speculators blamed their heavy losses on their Dutch neighbours, by now a minority in the thriving village. Among the victims of the ensuing violence were the by then long deceased Van Halens, who were unceremoniously dug up from Billingley cemetery and thrown into a peat bog. Eddie has never spoken publicly about his feelings regarding this incident, but many interpret the signature Van Halen tune Jump as an angry response to the treatment of his ancestors.
[edit] References
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