Happy New Year! From us here at Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust, we wish everyone a year filled with joy, health, and happiness! Explore the wonderful sites Barnsley Museums has to offer this 2026.

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

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Sadler Room at The Cooper Gallery is currently hosting the latest exhibition from Barnsley College's UAL Level 3 Creative Practice students. Working with the theme Places & People, the students have produced a diverse collection of thoughtful and carefully crafted pieces.

Looking for something fun to do in Barnsley this Sunday, 27th April? Head along to the Spring Farmers Market at Monk Bretton Priory, hosted by Jolly Good Communities!

For #Archive30, we're celebrating #SomethingNew by sharing the latest treasures added to the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies collection - made possible thanks to the supporters of Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust.

Have you enjoyed exploring the beautiful country park or taking part in the activities at Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park? Kids in Museums is looking for the best family-friendly museums across the country, and your nomination could help shine a light on a local favourite.

To celebrate World Table Tennis Day, we're revisiting an incredible story by Tracey Hebron from the collections team at Barnsley Museums, which honours Barnsley's very own table tennis legend - Alan Hydes.

Happy Earth Day! There's no better time to reconnect with nature and history. Why not spend the day exploring the amazing Barnsley Museums? Some even have beautiful gardens and green spaces perfect for a peaceful stroll.

We have a question for you! No matter how many times we visit Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, there's always something new to discover. This time, we stumbled across something magical in Fairyland! Do you know what it is or where it came from?

Would you like to leave a lasting mark at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens? Our beautiful celebration tree sculpture located in this treasured place, will help you to remember special times or mark one of life's major milestones.

Happy Day of the Mushroom! We're celebrating with a peek at some fungi-inspired ceramics from the 'Claremont' collection by William Moorcroft at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens.

Did you know it's World Art Day? We're celebrating by shining a spotlight on a gem at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens - 'Still Life with Games'. This masterpiece is inset above the fireplace in the Library, and it's believed to be one of only two original paintings still in the Hall.

Looking for something to do with the kids? Head over to Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park on thursday 17th April for the World Underneath - a fun, hands-on model making workshop.

The flowers are in full bloom at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, and now that the hall is open again, it's the perfect time to visit and enjoy the vibrant beauty!

This National Farm Animals Day, we're celebrating Wigfield Farm, located right across from Worsbough Mill. As a thriving working livestock farm, Wigfield Farm supports local agriculture while also serving as an educational resource for Barnsley College's Horticulture and Animal Management programme.

Head to The Cooper Gallery at Blooming Marvellous for a fun crafting session inspired by the 'Four Seasons in One Day' exhibition. Create your own funky flowers using vibrant colours and unique designs, with friendly staff on hand to offer tips and guidance. All materials are provided!

Experience Barnsley: Museum & Discovery Centre are hosting Brilliant Board Games tomorrow, with two drop-in sessions running from 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm.

Have you ever imagined your wedding in a Georgian country house, surrounded by beautiful gardens and parklands? If so, Cannon Hall Museum could be the perfect venue for your special day. With licensed spaces both inside the Hall and outside in the gardens, you can make your dreams come true.

Barnsley Archives and Local Studies have an ongoing conservation programme to ensure that the 4000 collections in their custody can still be safely used by researchers many years, decades and centuries from now.

Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens' popular employer supported volunteer days are back for 2025. Several days are available across the year, with a range of activities on offer. From clearing self-set trees by the lakes to pruning lime trees along Lime Walk, there's plenty to get involved with.

Do you have a creative side? If so, why not help our friends at Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park with a new project. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust, they have recently been making improvements to their Learning Hub.

Experience Barnsley: Museum and Discovery Centre are excited to share that they have been named a finalist in the Best Free Day Out Category at the Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards! They thank everyone who has nominated them, and they would love for everyone who hasnt already to vote for them to win.

Time is running out to see Sam Sherborne: Softening the Blow at The Cooper Gallery! The exhibition, showcasing a stunning collection of steel sculptures, will close on 29th March 2025.

Barnsley Museums have an eggcellent Easter planned with lots of activities happening across the five museums. Take on the Easter Egg-Stravaganza at Elsecar Heritage Centre or explore Victorian Easter traditions with a scavenger hunt at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens.

Wentworth Castle Gardens, with its 26 listed buildings and monuments spread across the estate, is a true hidden gem. This spring, there's a unique opportunity to explore the history behind these stunning structures with a range of activities taking place throughout March and April.

Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park are looking for a new site manager! Worsbrough Mill and Country Park is one of the five spaces owned and operated by Barnsley Council. The site celebrates its 400th birthday in 2025 and as site manager, you will help shape its future.