Discover Barnsley’s Past
12th November 2025
If you’re interested in history, Barnsley Archives and Local Studies are hosting a fantastic series of events celebrating the borough’s rich heritage. From fascinating talks on local landmarks and mining history to pop-up archives and hands-on sessions, there’s something for everyone who wants to uncover Barnsley’s past and learn more about the people, places, and stories that shaped our community.
South Yorkshire Local Heritage List Talk
13th November – Town Hall, Council Chamber, 6-30pm – 8pm
Join James Thomson from the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service for an illustrated talk exploring Barnsley’s rich and varied heritage. From the town’s industrial roots in linen, coal, and metalworking, to the rise of the co-operative movement and the grandeur of Victorian public buildings, this talk will shine a light on the places we pass every day.
Pop-Up Archives
17th November – Goldthorpe Library, 10am – 1pm
8th December – Penistone Library, 10am – 1pm
Join the Archives and Local Studies team as they travel around the borough each month to a different library venue. Our staff will be on hand to help with your family and local history enquiries. There will be a range of digital resources on offer including the Barnsley Chronicle from 1858-2023 as well as indexes to cemetery burials and building plans.
House History Surgeries
2nd December – Barnsley Town Hall, 2pm – 5pm
Ever wondered about the history of a house in the borough? Try the free one-to-one 30-minute sessions for a guide to house history, introducing you to various resources such as building plans, house sales brochures, maps, electoral registers and relevant websites. Booking Essential on 01226 773950 or at archives@barnsley.gov.uk
Hands on History – Mining the Past Project
3rd December – Learning Lab, Barnsley Town Hall, 10am – 4pm
As part of the 2025 #Explore Your Archive Focus Week, head along to Barnsley Archives and Local Studies’ latest ‘Hands on History’ event to find out more about the University of Warwick’s ‘Mining the Past’ project, a project to conserve, catalogue and open up the archives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
History of the Mines Rescue Service Talk
4th December – Council Chamber, Barnsley Town Hall, 6.30pm – 8pm
Phil Clifford, a retired local government officer, will give an illustrated presentation detailing the early years in the development of the Mines Rescue Service in the UK and explain how the first ever mines rescue station came to be built at Birdwell, a few miles south of Barnsley. His talk will explain how the service developed, influenced by local Yorkshire entrepreneurial mining officials, a disaster near Birmingham attended by a handful of local colliers, an oil well fire in Mexico, and then the Great War and its aftermath.
All events are free and drop-in (except the House History Surgeries where booking is required).
