Worsbrough Mill Wins Sandford Award

Worsbrough Mill and Country Park is delighted to announce that it has received the Sandford Award for Heritage Learning. The award is in recognition of its high-quality learning opportunities and outstanding audience engagement. 

Judges were particularly impressed by the team’s enthusiastic and expert knowledge, which ensured that pupils engaged well with all the activities throughout the exciting workshop.

 Using the surrounding natural environment and focusing on the uniqueness of the 17th-century working water mill, pupils visiting learn about the process of milling flour and the history of the area in an engaging and interesting way.

 Alongside the formal learning programme, the museum also provides informal learning for families during school holidays, as well as for Barnsley’s diverse cultural communities and visitors with a range of learning and health needs.

Judges commented: “Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park contains one of the very few working watermills in England still producing flour for commercial purposes. Workshops provided by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable learning team focus on the mill and the park. As a result, a visit offers the opportunity to explore not only the workings of a unique building but also its place as part of the history of the local community. A morning workshop at the mill also enables pupils to explore links to science, food and nutrition, technology, and engineering and an afternoon self-led tour of the park adds curriculum breadth through activities linked to understanding much more about biodiversity and the natural world. A visit to Worsbrough is highly recommended.”

Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “It’s such a huge achievement that our school learning sessions at Worsbrough Mill and Country Park have been recognised by being awarded such a prestigious award. The Mill is a fascinating place to visit and an important part of our borough’s history. It not only offers a great day out but learning opportunities that will stay with children for a lifetime.”

 For more about Barnsley Museums Learning, visit www.barnsley-museums.com/schools