Two islands, an extensive moat and the probable interpretation of the site as the location of a manor house give the Moat Hills moated site its historical character. Nearby are buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a park with its own history, a woodland on a former mining site, and communal outdoor cooking. Bentley can therefore be viewed from a variety of perspectives: archaeological history, architecture, green spaces and communal food culture each offer a different focus.
Heritage and Architecture
The Moat Hills moated site in Bentley is a Scheduled Monument. It comprises two islands surrounded by an extensive moat. A manor house was probably located there. Both the layout of the site and its possible former function are therefore of historical interest; the manor house interpretation remains a probability.
The Bentley Pavilion offers a different architectural theme. Built in 1931, it is an early example of the use of ferroconcrete in the modern movement. The Church of St Peter offers a different period and style: it was built between 1891 and 1894 in the Gothic Revival style. Together, the two buildings illustrate the range of architectural themes in Bentley: the late 19th-century Gothic Revival church and the Pavilion’s connection with the modern movement.
Park, Walk and Woodland
Bentley Park was established in 1923 in the centre of Bentley as a miners’ welfare recreation ground. Its origins point to a social function that goes beyond the design of a green space. The park is also part of the 6,000-step Toll Bar Fit and Fun Walks. Here, the park’s history is linked to a specific opportunity for exercise.
Bentley Community Woodland is located on the site of the former Bentley Colliery. Its connection with the site’s former mining use gives it a different theme from the park, whose origins are described as a miners’ welfare recreation ground. A sculpture on the ridge adds an artistic element to the woodland. Those interested in the connection between local history and landscape will find a different focus here than in the architectural history of Moat Hills, the Pavilion and the Church of St Peter.
Market Garden and Communal Dining
Bentley Urban Farm in Bentley, Doncaster, is an enhanced market garden that uses reclaimed materials. Its focus therefore extends beyond historic architecture to include urban gardening and reuse. At the Commensality Kitchen, people regularly cook and eat together outdoors in a safe environment; the kitchen welcomes participants. This offers a different focus from an outing centred primarily on buildings or local history: here, cooking and eating together take centre stage.
Getting There and Choosing a Location
Bus routes 361, 362 and 363 run from Doncaster via Bentley and Toll Bar to Carcroft, Askern, Skellow and Norton. Some services cover only part of the route. As bus routes can change, check the timetable before travelling and plan around the specific service you intend to use.
When looking for a hotel in Bentley, use your interests as a guide: heritage and architectural history, the park and walk, the woodland on the former colliery site, or communal outdoor cooking. This can help you choose a suitable thematic starting point for your trip, rather than assuming a fixed itinerary across Bentley’s varied offerings.
Discover more destinations: Wentworth, Sheffield, Armthorpe, Dinnington, Branton, Barnby Dun, Wath upon Dearne, Edenthorpe.
For the wider travel guide: South Yorkshire.
