Restoration of Cannon Hall’s Plunge Pool

If you have visited the Fairyland area of Cannon Hall, Park and Gardens recently you will have seen that the plunge pool has undergone restoration work. As part of the restoration of the pool some other fascinating pieces of history were uncovered. 

Plunge pools were a popular feature of grand gardens, and this one was likely installed during the re-modelling of part of the pleasure grounds into Fairyland, a collaboration between Cecily Spencer-Stanhope and her uncle, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope in the 1860’s. 

In recent years, the west bank of the plunge pool has become unstable and so works to restore it began in August 2023. Some fascinating things were discovered during its excavation, including a stone corbel matching the ones on the south front of Cannon Hall. 

To find out more about the restoration and the history of the plunge pool, visit the Barnsley Museums blogsite.      

Restoration of Cannon Hall’s Plunge Pool (art.blog)