Unforgettable Gardens of Yorkshire – Online Talks
9th February 2023
In this series of talks, the speakers will introduce a variety of landscapes, gardens and themes enjoyed by Yorkshire Gardens Trust members, which portray the wide diversity of designed landscapes in Yorkshire.
The second talk in the series is Historic Parks for the Future – Cannon Hall with Sharon Sutton.
Cannon Hall dates back to the 14th century, but it doesn’t become the parkland we see today until the 1760s onwards, with an obvious transition from Georgian splendour to Victorian folly. It has since remained unchanged throughout the 20th century.
Sold to Barnsley Council in 1951, the parkland and Hall have welcomed visitors for over 70 years. As the new millennium dawned, the parkland and gardens needed fundamental repairs, so £3.4 million was invested to ‘Restore the Glory and Reveal the Secrets.’ This talk looks at the appointment of the Project Manager, Sharon Sutton, and how she navigated her way through the 4-year project. Historic Parks for the Future – Cannon Hall provided visitors with a destination parkland and gardens but also delivered improvements the Council and visitors didn’t expect.
Sharon Sutton started her career in the Agricultural Industry and became increasingly interested in the places where she worked. The landscape, woodland, plants and wildlife were all fascinating, so a change of career was needed. A HND (Higher National Diploma) in Landscape Science was obtained in 1998, and as a result, she joined the local government working in the Parks and Gardens sector for the next 24 years. During this period, she developed a particular interest in Historic Parks and Gardens and their associated buildings, renovating them for the benefit of the public and wildlife and searching for ways to ensure their long-term use and protection.
The full programme of talks is as follows:
Week 1. 1 March. From Naumachia to Naval Warfare: Nautical Frolics in British Parks.
Week 2. 8 March. Historic Parks for the Future – Cannon Hall.
Week 3. 15 March. ‘Exceeding Fine Country’: An Eighteenth-Century Tour of Yorkshire.
Week 4. 22 March. The Gardens of Harewood House: past, present & future.
Week 5. 29 March. George Dillistone and the ‘other’ Goddards, York.
A ticket for the entire course of 5 sessions costs £20, or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £5, via the links below. [Gardens Trust members may use their promo code for an additional 10% discount.]
Unforgettable Gardens – Yorkshire Tickets, Wed 1 Mar 2023 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust will receive a donation from every ticket bought for the Cannon Hall online session.
