Canals

The Industrial Revolution brought the Barnsley Canal to Walton. It ran from the River Calder at Heath to Barnsley, a distance of 16 miles. A cheap means of transport was needed to get coal from the surrounding coalfield to market, and the canal became the means so to do.

Work on the canal began in 1793 and took six years to complete. A total of 15 locks were constructed between the Calder and the high point at Walton. It continued in use for 150 years until it was eventually abandoned in the 1950's after many difficulties caused by subsidence. The section of the canal running through Walton was filled and built on but the towpath is still used by walkers and some stonework on locks 14 and 15 can still be seen.

Soap

In the early 1800's Hodgson & Simpson established a Soap Works on the banks of the Barnsley Canal on Shay Lane. By about 1840 much pollution was causing a problem with their neighbours i.e. Squire Waterton and Sir William Pilkington of Chevet and a number of lawsuits followed. The dispute was eventually resolved in the 1850's when a disused building belonging to the Waterton family was offered to the partners. This was in Thornes and so the soap works moved from Walton to Thornes. Soap House Yard still exists with its old buildings, which were converted into homes.

Railways

The age of steam brought the railways and in the 19th century Walton became surrounded by railways lines, which served different parts of the country. Sandal and Walton station was opened on 1st June 1870.

Coal

In 1890 shafts were being sunk for a colliery at Walton and pit dwellings were built for the miners called Ings Cottages or, as they were known locally, Spike Island or the Spike. The original name was Sharlston West Colliery. By the 1930's there were about 1,200 men working there but in 1979 it was closed. Walton Colliery Nature Reserve was opened on the former colliery site.