Barnsley Archives’ Conservation Programme – Gawber School Log Book

Barnsley Archives and Local Studies have an ongoing conservation programme to ensure that the 4000 collections in our custody can still be safely used by researchers many years, decades and centuries from now. The programme is a crucial part of the work we do and is supported by Barnsley MBC, the Friends of Barnsley Archives and the Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust.  

In 2024, a visit to Gawber Primary School (originally Gawber National School) led to the transfer of the school’s historic records into the custody of Barnsley Archives. These records included the school log books 1863-1968, admission registers from 1910-1999, printed school histories, photographs and other historical items. Whilst the school had recognised the importance of these items, they simply did not have the facilities at the school to properly preserve them, or make them accessible to researchers. School log books are always of particular importance. Going back to Victorian times, school headteachers used log books as a daily diary, recording every aspect of school life. Losing such information would leave a massive gap in the historical record of the school and of Gawber in general. 

The third in the series of school log books was of particular concern to us. It covers the period 1916-1932. It had at some point suffered from water ingress which had caused severe damage and leather deterioration. The boards were damaged, there was evidence of previous mould infestation, the spine was badly damaged, and there were small tears throughout. In fact, a complete rebind was necessary. Thankfully, due to our annual conservation programme, we were able to commission work on the volume within just a few months of it arriving at Barnsley Archives. Such was the poor condition of the volume, coupled with the popularity of school log books, that it did jump the queue! The conservation work on the volume had been completed by April 2025 and we were able to show off the end result to the Gawber Primary School Student Council when they visited the Town Hall for an Archives taster session. They were delighted that the school’s treasures were being well looked after and preserved for future generations. 

Paul Stebbing 

BMBC Archives and Local Studies Manager