Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, 11.8 miles north of the city of Sheffield , and 14.5 miles west of Doncaster . Barnsley is notable as a former industrial town centred on coal mining and glassmaking, and it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in England . George Orwell (an English writer and journalist well-noted as a novelist, critic, and commentator on politics and culture) briefly mentions the town in The Road to Wigan Pier. Barnsley Business Innovation Centre (BBIC) on Huddersfield Road provides a home to many new businesses and is one the most successful business innovation centres in Europe . Just outside the town centre are a number of large retail units, retail parks and supermarkets, which include Asda, Morrisons, PC World, Currys, MFI, Halfords, and B&Q.