Volunteers Bringing Cannon Hall’s Past to Life
13th August 2026
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust have recently provided funding, along with a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), to help with the volunteer programme at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens. We are very grateful to NLCF, lottery players and our supporters for making this possible.
Volunteers play a vital role in helping museums preserve and share their heritage, and at Cannon Hall Museum, volunteers are helping uncover a fascinating snapshot of life in the early twentieth century.
For more than two years, volunteers have been transcribing a detailed inventory of household items and estate property from 1914 carried out by local valuers Lancasters of Barnsley, transforming a handwritten historical document into a searchable digital resource for future generations. The inventory offers a remarkable insight into daily life at Cannon Hall and estate in 1914, each page helping to build a richer picture of history.
Janet Howden was the first Cannon Hall volunteer to start work on the project in 2024, soon joined by fellow volunteer, Margaret Andrew, in early 2025. Margaret, from Penistone, had already been volunteering as a room steward at Cannon Hall since 2023 when she took up the inventory project alongside her usual role.
‘Working on the inventory is both stimulating and frequently frustrating when I cannot decipher a word! As a house steward, the activity has helped me to develop a deeper understanding of life in the house, and this feeds back into my engagement with visitors. Undertaking a variety of activities during my volunteering day also enhances by enjoyment of the role’. (Margaret, volunteer)
The inventory spans around 180 pages and contains detailed records of furniture, furnishings, household equipment and decorative objects, land and wider estate in the early 20th century. Through patience and dedication, work has now reached page 162, bringing the project ever closer to completion.
Nerile Jurgutaviciute, a third-year history student from the University of Sheffield, began volunteering at Cannon Hall Museum as a room steward this summer during the holidays. Keen to gain hands-on experience working with historical documents, Nerile transcribes the century-old text after it has been painstakingly deciphered.
‘Discovering items the family bought and used at home is such a unique way to learn about their day-to-day life and interests. I am excited to be working so closely to uncover more information through a historical record such as this.’ (Nerile, volunteer)
The work requires concentration and teamwork. Handwriting styles, faded ink and unfamiliar terminology can make some entries difficult to interpret, making it very much a two-person job. By working together, Margaret and Nerile can compare readings, solve transcription puzzles and ensure the final record is as accurate as possible.
Once complete, the transcription will support collections research, exhibitions and public engagement projects, helping museum staff and visitors better understand the history of Cannon Hall and its occupants.
Melissa Gallimore, Curator at Cannon Hall Museum, has praised the value of volunteer contributions to projects such as this, which make important historical information more accessible.
‘The transcription of this inventory has already supported the research for the current exhibition about the history of the building and the family. I am very much looking forward to what else will be revealed as the project progresses.’ (Melissa, Curator)
Through their dedication and enthusiasm, Margaret and Nerile, and Janet before them, are helping preserve an important historical record. Their work demonstrates how volunteers play a crucial role behind the scenes, ensuring the stories contained within Cannon Hall’s archives continue to inform and inspire future generations.
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and to help beat loneliness and isolation. If you would like to find out more about the volunteering opportunities available with Barnsley Museums, please contact museumvolunteering@barnsley.gov.uk
