Latest News
Check Out Our Blog Site
9th August 2022
Have you discovered the Barnsley Museums Blog site at our website yet? As well as a wealth of fascinating blogs, you will also find the museum podcasts there, the latest one being an interview with local artist, Graham Ibbeson, to coincide with … Continue reading
Graham Ibbeson Summer Season
7th July 2022
For a limited time only, it’s possible to visit not one but 2 fabulous exhibitions featuring the work of local artist, Graham Ibbeson. Casting Characters Showing in The Gallery @TheGlassworks until Sunday, 31 July, this exhibition includes moulds of well-loved … Continue reading
Help Us Repair The Barnsley Pals Memorial
Some of you, like us, will have been saddened to hear of the damage to the wonderful memorial ‘Light Lines,’ which commemorates the Barnsley Pals who lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme. The Trust were one of … Continue reading
Experience Barnsley Museum Shortlisted
Experience Barnsley Museum has been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award. Charity Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award for 16 years, recognising the most family-friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the … Continue reading
Unique Egyptian Exhibition @ Experience Barnsley
With this year marking the centenary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, Barnsley is set to celebrate with a unique exhibition. A new exhibition, TUT22: from Cradle to Grave, will open at Experience Barnsley in October … Continue reading
Barnsley Archives & Local Studies Hosting In-Person Event
On Monday 11th July, Barnsley Archives and Local Studies are excited to host an in-person event! Join the Friends of Barnsley Archives for a short talk on the ‘Wicked Project’, which ran from 2019–2020 and involved cataloguing and making accessible … Continue reading
Wedding Dress of Notable Family on Display at Cannon Hall Museum
The wedding dress of Miss Mary Joan Vernon-Wentworth of Wentworth Castle worn for her marriage to Mr Frank Huntsman, West Retford Hall has gone on display for the very first time at Cannon Hall Museum. Recently acquired by Barnsley Museums, … Continue reading
International Zine Month Featuring Elmer the Elephant
International Zine month is the perfect time to feature some fabulous work done with young people in Cudworth by the Barnsley Museums Community Engagement team. You may have noticed that elephants have appeared across the Borough and have even made … Continue reading
Awards Nomination
14th June 2022
We are delighted to announce that our friends at Barnsley Archives and Local Studies have been nominated for an Archives & Records Association Excellence Award in the record keeping service of the year category. Barnsley Archives was founded in 1987 … Continue reading
Cooper Gallery Auction
On Friday, 24 June the Cooper Gallery will be hosting a special fundraising event to raise essential money to preserve and conserve key pieces from their outstanding art collection. The collection which includes work by Bell, Ruskin and Turner was … Continue reading
Eldon Street
Eldon Street is one of Barnsley’s most important historic high streets. It was built in 1840 and quickly became home to houses, shops, theatres, railways stations and even a circus! The Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) is … Continue reading
Elscar 1880
An Earl’s Village of Iron and Coal Step Back in Time to the Elsecar of 1880 in this stunning fly-through digital reconstruction of Elsecar at the height of its industrial might. Experience what it was like to live and work there in … Continue reading
Royal Visits & Celebrations
Royal Visits and Celebrations – A Film to Mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II As the Jubilee celebrations approached, Michael Hardy (Digital Engagement Curator at Barnsley Museums) explored the museum collections to look back on times when Her … Continue reading
Teacher Training
We now know more about the training of teachers in early 20th century Barnsley thanks to this find, spotted on an on-line auction by one of the volunteers for Barnsley Archives and Local Studies. Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust were … Continue reading
Worsbrough Workshop
New Schools workshops launch at Worsbrough Mill and Country Park Barnsley Museums Learning team have been piloting three new half day workshops for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 at Worsbrough Mill to be launched … Continue reading
When Spencer Met Stanhope 
14th May 2022
Family Portraits at the Cannon Hall Museum Cannon Hall was the home of the Spencer Stanhopes from the 17th century until the 1950’s. For the first time, portraits of the family are on display, making connections between the different members of … Continue reading
Unique Item Transferred to Barnsley Archives & Local Studies
Back in 2016, Barnsley Museums commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Oaks Colliery Explosion with an exhibition at Experience Barnsley; a short film; and a volunteer project to produce a detailed and definitive list of the many victims. On that … Continue reading
Fantastic Barnsley Town Centre Events Throughout May
There are some fabulous events taking place in the Town Centre during the month of May. Coming up first is the Flavours Food Festival featuring a programme of food demonstrations and themed entertainment, along with more than 30 traders and … Continue reading
Exciting New Art Commissions Around The Borough
At the end of 2021, Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust was fortunate to secure an Additional Restrictions Grant awarded by the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority. This was part of the South Yorkshire Mayor’s Renewal Action Plan to support businesses … Continue reading
Walking at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Wentworth Castle Gardens is supporting the Barnsley Walking Festival this May. Earlier this year we held workshops for staff and volunteers interested in sharing our story and site through walks and tours. The wide range of ideas and the interest … Continue reading
Worsbrough Mill To Receive £180,000 Funding For Community Volunteering Opportunities
14th April 2022
Over 160 community organisations, including Worsbrough Mill are set to support 7,800 new volunteering opportunities over the next two years, as the Government has confirmed the beneficiaries of a £4.6 million fund that will level up access to the benefits … Continue reading
Boats Are Back at Cannon Hall Park and Gardens
With spring weather hopefully on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to explore Cannon Hall’s stunning park and gardens. There are trails, walks, play equipment and of course, the boats are sailing back for a second season! A real hit … Continue reading
Diana’s Legacy – Tales & Treasures From A Family In Service
We have recently been contacted by Diana Pattison whose family had for many years lived and worked at Wentworth Castle. Diana has very kindly offered to share her family treasures and stories with us, and here she tells us a … Continue reading
Women Business Owners of Eldon Street
As part of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) we have been working to uncover some of the hidden and untold stories of Eldon Street and the Victorian Arcade. These include many stories of women business owners … Continue reading
Exclusive Graham Ibbeson Exhibition Arrives @ The Glass Works
Opening in The Gallery @TheGlassworks is an exclusive new Graham Ibbeson Exhibition, showcasing iconic sculptures created by the Barnsley born artist. Casting Characters: The worlds of Graham Ibbeson is free to enter and runs from Saturday 26 March until Sunday … Continue reading
