Explore Barnsley’s Past with the Pop-Up Archives! 

Join the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies team as they bring their fascinating ‘Pop-Up Archives’ sessions to different library venues across the Barnsley borough each month. These special events offer a unique opportunity to explore the local history and uncover hidden stories about the area, right in the heart of your community. 

This year, the team will be visiting a variety of locations, starting with Hoyland Library on Monday 17^th February, from 10am to 1pm, followed by Royston Library on Friday 14^th March, from 10am to 1pm. Throughout the year, they will also be making stops in other principal towns across Barnsley, including Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Penistone, and Wombwell, ensuring that as many people as possible have access to their expert knowledge and resources. 

During these district days, the Barnsley Archives & Local Studies staff will be available to assist with family and local history enquiries, helping visitors trace their ancestors, learn more about historic buildings, and discover more about the borough’s rich past. Attendees will have access to a range of digital resources, including the Barnsley Chronicle archives dating from 1858 to 2023, as well as indexes to cemetery burials and historical building plans.  

Although the Archive Team can’t bring their original archive documents with them, they will be on hand to provide expert guidance on using online research tools such as Ancestry, Find My Past, and the British Newspaper Archive. For those wishing to view original archival materials in person, these can be accessed in Barnsley Town Hall.