About Us

Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust is a fundraising charity founded in 2015 to help preserve, enhance and champion the borough’s heritage for the future.

The Trust – a voluntary independent board of community champions – aims to generate funds and support from individuals, businesses and organisations to safeguard the future of Barnsley Museums as a source of learning, curiosity, inspiration and enjoyment for all.

The Trust funds and supports five free-entry heritage attractions in Barnsley: Experience Barnsley, Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens, Worsbrough Mill and Country Park, The Cooper Gallery, and Elsecar Heritage Centre.

Meet our Trustees
Our trustees are a group of independent community champions who all have a combined interest and wealth of experience to ensure the future of our venues. Their mission is to positively impact Barnsley’s communities by enabling activities and events and protecting our arts, culture, and rich heritage for future generations.

John Hamshere – Chair of BMHT & Chief Executive of Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust
Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust manages three historic industrial museums in Sheffield: Kelham Island Museum, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel.

Ian McMillan – Poet and Broadcaster
Ian is poet-in-residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC. He presents The Verb every week on BBC radio and is regularly on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show.

David Exley – Managing Director, Ledgard Jepson
Ledgard Jepson specialises in branding, marketing and digital services and has worked with high-profile clients across the UK and abroad.  David was responsible for the recent rebranding of Barnsley Museums as well as for Birmingham Museums Trust.  He is a member of the Barnsley Economic Partnership with a special interest in the visitor economy.

Lee Manterfield – HSBC Corporate, Relationship Director, SYCC
Lee is responsible for HSBC’s major corporate clients across the South Yorkshire Region.  He was born and brought up in Barnsley. He is a member of the Barnsley Economic Partnership.

Graham Walker, commercial content editor for Johnston Press
Graham Walker is a multi-award-winning journalist and commercial content editor for Johnston Press. His responsibilities often take him all over the county, but he describes Barnsley as home. Graham currently represents over 50 titles, including The Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post and The Star in Sheffield.

Tracey Johnson, Digital Media Centre, Barnsley
Tracey Johnson is a creative and digital business strategist, project director and founder with many years of experience in the digital, technology and creative industries. She leads the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley, a landmark hub for the creative and digital industries and home to over 50 businesses, as well as a range of programmes to support sector growth. Tracey is also part of the award-winning Enterprising Barnsley business growth team at Barnsley Council.