Latest News
‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ project
9th May 2024
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust was awarded funding from Historic England as part of the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ program, to deliver activities aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation, building on the work of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage … Continue reading
Medieval Mayhem
Head to Monk Bretton Priory on the 18th or 19th May to explore life from the 12th Century onwards. Find out about how battles were fought and won, how armour and weaponry developed through the ages. Learn about the lives … Continue reading
Queen Anne’s Monument at Wentworth Castle Gardens
If you have been walking in the parkland at Wentworth Castle Gardens, you may well have noticed or even walked past an obelisk, known as the Queen Anne monument. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, was a loyal supporter of Queen … Continue reading
The silver screen comes to life at Cannon Hall with the opening of their latest exhibition.
Cannon Hall Museum will become the backdrop to a movie set with the arrival of its new exhibition. ‘Costume from the Classics’ will open at the Museum, the set is a Georgian Country House, on Friday, 24 May and run … Continue reading
Historic Engine Ready to Mark a Special Year at Elsecar Colliery
The world’s oldest steam engine that remains where originally built is ready to celebrate a special anniversary this year, thanks to local volunteers. The Newcomen Beam Engine, the oldest steam engine in the world still in its original location, is … Continue reading
Conservation Update – Brierley Parish Council Minute books
Here is another update from Paul Stebbing, Archives and Local Studies Manager, about the conservation of the minute books of the former Brierley Parish Council. “During 2023 we continued to have repair work done on the minute books of the … Continue reading
Bring your piece of treasure and share your stories of Barnsley.
Barnsley Council are on a mission to find out what culture means to the people of the borough. Culture is not just about arts and heritage, it’s about everything that makes us who we are and connects us to our … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Doncaster Receive Funding to Support Community Wellbeing through Arts and Heritage
A joint project by Barnsley Museums and Heritage Doncaster has received generous funding from the Association of Independent Museums Connected Communities fund. The project will offer free arts and heritage activities for older people who are lonely or isolated in … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums”What’s On” Guide
Check out the latest “What’s On” guide highlighting what’s going on from May to August 2024 across the Barnsley borough. Don’t miss out on the wide variety of activities happening across our five museum sites including: Download the May – August 2024 … Continue reading
Barnsley “goes wild” for Brian Wildsmith
19th April 2024
The World of Brian Wildsmith: a new exhibition of art and illustrations will enchant children and parents alike. World-renowned children’s book author and illustrator Brian Wildsmith will be celebrated through a season of exhibitions spanning two of Barnsley Museums fantastic … Continue reading
Tesco Stronger Starts – Vote for us!
We’re in the customer vote for the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme which gives projects like ours grants of up to £1,500. We will use the Stronger Starts grant to replace much loved but now worn-out toys in Experience Barnsley with … Continue reading
Join the charitable arm of Barnsley Museums and help shape its future.
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust is the charity that supports Barnsley Museums, an innovative and successful museums service that runs five free heritage sites across the borough. The Trust has launched a campaign to recruit new trustees who can offer … Continue reading
Elsecar Heritage Centre is getting a makeover!
Early this summer, a major project will begin to improve our wonderful heritage attraction at Elsecar, conserving buildings and creating new spaces for people to enjoy. Through the project, new creative studios in unused historic spaces, new museum galleries co-curated … Continue reading
Transferring court registers to Barnsley Archives
Earlier this year Barnsley Archives and Local Studies’ staff went to the Magistrates’ Court on Westgate to help with the transfer of a large batch of the court’s non-current registers. Magistrates’ courts are one of a number of public bodies … Continue reading
Worsbrough miller embraces ‘daily grind’ after quitting teaching job
Making sure the stones keep turning in a 400-year-old flour mill might sound to some people like a fantastic way to escape the pressures of the 21st Century. But for ex-teacher Simon Dodd it is a reality, and often hard … Continue reading
The Pigment Project – Working with Nature.
Since 2022 local artist, Louise Ann Wright, has been growing and foraging colour within the landscape of Cannon Hall Museum Park and Gardens to create pigments for use in watercolour and ink. Inspired many years ago by Victorian artist Able … Continue reading
Open Archives days at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Wentworth Castle Gardens is home to a dedicated team of volunteers who have been researching the archives there. They will be sharing the riches of the archives with visitors on a number of Open Archive days this year, the first … Continue reading
Read our Latest Newsletter
21st March 2024
In our Easter edition we’re delighted to share with you everything happening around Barnsley and at Barnsley Museum sites this month. Find out about all the latest exhibitions, news and events happening throughout March & April that you, your family & friends … Continue reading
The Cooper Gallery launches new online tour
The Cooper Gallery has launched a new interactive digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes the gallery and its … Continue reading
Imitation of Life – Barnsley College Print Show
Imitation of Life is an exhibition of multi-discipline prints of plant life and natural forms based on biomimicry created by Barnsley College UAL L3 Creative Practice Diploma students. The exhibition is an annual event which takes place in the Sadler … Continue reading
‘Ghost’ signs of Eldon Street reveal hidden history
Conservation works on historic shopfronts have uncovered hidden traces of past businesses. As part of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), major conservation works have been taking place at 32-38 Eldon Street, a historic street in Barnsley … Continue reading
‘Resurrecting Ancient Egypt’ touring exhibition comes to Bradford.
Egyptology professor puts a spotlight on Bradford and the wider Yorkshire area, revealing their links to Ancient Egypt ‘Resurrecting Ancient Egypt: A Monumental Yorkshire Journey’ will soon be on display in the Holding Space Gallery, John Street, Saltaire, Bradford. The … Continue reading
Fascinating Family Photograph Album Added to Barnsley Archives
Barnsley Archives and Local Studies have an ongoing conservation programme to ensure that the 4000 collections in their custody can still be safely used by researchers many years, decades and centuries from now. This programme is a crucial part of … Continue reading
Worsbrough Mill receives funding boost to preserve its history
Worsbrough Mill has secured funding of £244,111 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate its unique industrial heritage and future proof its history through new volunteering opportunities, community engagement, and creative commissions. Worsbrough Mill is a working 17th-century water … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Marks the 40th Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike
Barnsley Museums will mark the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, one of the most significant episodes in Barnsley and Britain’s history, with a year-long programme of events and activity which launched on Wednesday, 6 March 2024. The programme will … Continue reading
