Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Barnsley Museums advent calendar!

Each day features a unique digital jigsaw puzzle to complete, so feel free to share the link and challenge your family to achieve the fastest time!

Access the advent calendar here: www.barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/the...

It's National Young Readers Week!

There's no better time to inspire a love of reading - and the Pre-Loved Bookshop at Cannon Hall Museum is the perfect place to start!

Every purchase not only sparks young imaginations but also helps protect a piece of local heritage.

Would you like to get into running but you’re not sure where to begin, or you’re in need of some support?

Every Wednesday there’s a running club for beginners that meet in the beautiful surrounds of Wentworth Castle Gardens. Find out more: www.barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/beg...

The Pre-Loved Bookshop at Cannon Hall is open again!

From classics to cookbooks, every purchase helps to protect a piece of heritage and support the beautiful Cannon Hall.

Drop in while visiting the museum and browse the shelves - and if you have any good-quality books, please donate.

Have you been to The Pleasure of Collecting exhibition over at The Cooper Gallery yet?

The Pleasure of Collecting is an exhibition of works from Amanda Stoner’s personal collection.

This exhibition can also be viewed online! Take a look now: www.cooper-gallery.com/whats-on/exh...

Epicormic growth removal is the process of clearing away those small, fast-growing shoots that sprout along a tree’s trunk or branches.

Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to carry out this important work over at Cannon Hall Museum with some of our Board, helping the lime tree avenue thrive.

Today we welcome the autumn equinox, the moment when day and night are perfectly balanced.

Why not take a walk through the beautiful parklands, explore Barnsley’s history, or visit one of the Barnsley Museums to mark the day?

Did you know its World Literacy Day?

The @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social and heritage sites provide unique opportunities for children to explore extraordinary spaces through immersive and enriching activities.

See more about the Barnsley Museums learning offers: www.barnsley-museums.com/schools

Hands on History - Exploring School Days Join the Archives team in the Town Hall to explore documents and photographs about school days, focusing in this session on the east of Barnsley borough.

As part of the activities for the 'Stories of Childhood' exhibition, join the Barnsley Archives team in the Town Hall tomorrow to explore documents and photographs about school days.

Learn more: www.barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/han...

House Tours at Wentworth Castle | National Trust Take a peek inside the grand house at the centre of the estate on a select number of volunteer-led tours through Wentworth Castle, now Northern College.

Have you ever wanted to peek inside the
grand Wentworth Castle? Now's your chance on Friday 5th September!

Take a peek inside the house at the centre of the estate on a select number of volunteer-led tours through Wentworth Castle.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorksh...

Looking for a fun, hands-on workshop for the children tomorrow?

Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens are hosting Music Makers in the Ballroom tomorrow, 12th August.

This FREE event is funded by Barnsley Council's Great Childhoods Ambition. Find out more: www.barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/mus...

Step into a hidden treasure trove of British art at The Cooper Gallery. Barnsley's Radical Collector: The Sadler Gift from Turner to Bloomsbury reveals a bold and eclectic collection featuring masterpieces by JMW Turner, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and more.

Celebrate World Watercolour Month with Ladies (or Figures with a Dog Beneath a Tree) by Eugène Isabey. This elegant 19th-century watercolour depicts a group of women in 18th-century dress beneath a tree, accompanied by two dogs and an infant. See this beautiful work on display at The Cooper Gallery.

Curious about what lies beyond the garden gates at Wentworth Castle Gardens?

Join a volunteer-led, behind-the-scenes tour of the Orangery and Walled Gardens at Wentworth Castle Gardens on Friday 18th July.

Book your place now! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorksh...

The Pop-Up Archives are at Wombwell Library today from 10am to 1pm!

Join the Barnsley Archives team as they visit a different library each month across the borough. Today, their friendly staff will be available at Wombwell Library to assist with your family and local history questions.

The Childhood Exhibition at Experience Barnsley: Museum & Discovery Centre is still open and continues to spark memories and curiosity for visitors of all ages.

We're pleased to have supported this exhibition and to see it being so well enjoyed. #CharityTuesday

Looking for a quiet reset in the middle of your week?

Sketchbook Circle is back at The Cooper Gallery tomorrow from 1pm to 3pm. This free session offers a relaxed space to explore drawing through simple, guided exercises.

You can now explore Barnsley Museums' exhibitions from the comfort of your home! Christy Keeney: Formed and Reformed at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens and Barnsley in Sight: Leeds Fine Artists at The Cooper Gallery are the latest to be added.

Find out more: bmht.org/news/barnsle...

It's International Picnic Day, and there's no better place to celebrate than Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens. With its beautiful gardens and open parkland, it's the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and enjoy a picnic in the fresh air. Don't forget your blanket and sandwiches.

@barnsleymuseums.bsky.social has hit a major milestone, welcoming a record-breaking two million visitors in 2024–25 - the highest number ever recorded.

Find out more: bmht.org/.../barnsley...

How did the ancient Egyptians understand the brain without modern science?

Find out on 7th June 2025 at 4:15pm, when biomedical Egyptologist Sofia Aziz speaks at The CooperBarnsley in Barnsley. www.barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/att...

Join Peter Cox at Barnsley Town Hall on 22nd May at 6.30pm to explore how this ambitious line reshaped the region’s coal transport and challenged the railway giants of its day.

Hosted by Barnsley Civic Trust in partnership with Barnsley Archives & Local Studies.

Step back into South Yorkshire’s industrial past with a free illustrated talk on the Hull and Barnsley Railway, one of the last great railway companies of the 19th century.

Teeny Time Travellers Held on Fridays during term time, our little adventurers have the chance to play, explore, make, share stories and sing.

Each week features a different themed activity, with plenty of toys to enjoy. The session takes place in the Museum’s Learning Lab inside the Town Hall.

It's a wonderful way to spark creativity and curiosity in young minds. Tickets are required. Book now: barnsley-museums.com/whats-on/tee...

Today is Children's Day, the perfect time to plan for this Friday's Teeny Time Travellers session at Experience Barnsley.

Held every Friday during term time, this fun and engaging session gives little adventurers the chance to play, explore, create, share stories, and sing.

In contrast, the 'Iris' jug by Rachel Bishop brings a modern twist with red, yellow, and purple flowers set against a cream and blue ground, finished with a distinctive triangular handle.

#IrisDay #Moorcroft #CannonHallMuseum

The 'Iris' vase by William Moorcroft features a mottled blue-green background with deep purple irises and green foliage, a classic design from the late 1910s.

Celebrate Iris Day with a burst of colour and craftsmanship at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens.

On display are two stunning interpretations of the beloved iris flower by Moorcroft.

It offers rare insight into the estate's history. This project is part of our ongoing conservation programme, supported by Barnsley MBC, the Friends of Barnsley Archives, and Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust.

Find out more: bmht.org/news/barnsle...

In 2024, Barnsley Archives and Local Studies catalogued the records of Lancaster and Sons, uncovering a previously unknown gardeners' wage book from NT Wentworth Castle Gardens. Once damaged and unstable, the volume has now been professionally covered and is accessible for the first time.