Royston, South Yorkshire

Royston is a town in South Yorkshire, England. Historically it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but is now in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, on the border with West Yorkshire. It is part of the Barnsley Central borough constituency.

Royston lies on the Barnsley Canal, and on the intersection of the B6132 and B6428 roads. It is located due north of Monk Bretton, at approximately 53.59444°N, -1.45°W, and at an elevation of around 75 metres above sea level. The Trans Pennine Trail runs through it along the canal bank.

Originally a farming village, it joined the industrial revolution with the construction of the canal (built 1790s, now disused) then the railway (opened 1840, now disused). It had a mine, clay works and brick works. These are now closed, but a coke works is still in operation, processing coal brought in by road. A large shirt factory (brandname Valusta) provided employment from the 1940s to 1980s.

The Anglican parish church, St John the Baptist (built about 1234) has a clock and a sundial and 8 bells. The parish is part of the diocese of Wakefield. Other churches are the Bethel Church, the Royston Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church: Our Lady and St Joseph.

It is the birthplace of comedian Charlie Williams.