Barnsley Museums celebrates record-breaking milestone of two million visitors

Barnsley Museums is thrilled to announce a historic achievement, welcoming two million visitors in 2024-25. This is the first time, in the council’s records, that the Museums service has reached this number in a year. It beats last year’s 1.9 million visitors and impressively surpasses pre-COVID levels of 1.3 million.  

Visitors are encouraged to come along to Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens and have a picture in our ‘You’re One in Two Million’ giant deckchair, celebrating this achievement!  

This accomplishment will be discussed by cabinet members on Wednesday 11 June, as part of the council’s Quarter 4 2024-25 corporate reports. 

This landmark achievement is a testament to the museum’s and council's dedication to providing excellent cultural experiences, diverse exhibitions, and engaging community projects, all achieved through a team effort of our staff and volunteers. The 2024-25 period had several notable projects and achievements that have attracted visitors locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Projects and achievements include: 

• Cannon Hall Museum, Park, and Gardens was honoured as one of the most visited free attractions by Visit England. 

• Awards gained this year such as Cannon Hall Museum winning the National Sandford Award for Heritage Learning, Cooper Gallery winning the National Best Accessible Museum Award, and Barnsley Archives and Local Studies achieving national accreditation for the second time. 

• Improvements at Elsecar Heritage Centre included new interactive trails, new Changing Places toilet facility and volunteering programmes. 

• Worsbrough Mill secured £40,000 essential funding for repairs to the mill shaft. The Mill also began celebrations for its 400th anniversary, including a design and photography partnership with Barnsley College, a new mural, artist interpretations and soundscapes. 

• Two new exhibitions opened, Stories of Childhood at Experience Barnsley, and Four Seasons in One Day at Cooper Gallery. 

• The Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone project was completed, which revitalised historic streets and preserved heritage. 

• Cannon Hall Museum took part in National Takeover Day, engaging young people in heritage activities. 

• Roof repairs commenced on Cannon Hall. 

• Barnsley Museums produced a new film celebrating the rediscovery of a 90-year-old Christmas carol. 

This is alongside the day-to-day free culture activities, exhibitions and events that visitors and residents can enjoy all year round at Barnsley Museums sites. Whilst the sites are free to access, with many events and activities being free too, donations are always welcome to Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust. This helps keep our historic landmarks protected and accessible for the future. 

Cllr Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are so proud to have welcomed two million visitors to Cannon Hall Museum, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Worsbrough Mill, Experience Barnsley and Archives, and Cooper Gallery this last year. Cultural experiences enrich lives, make childhoods great, make visits to Barnsley fascinating and contribute to our amazing communities. This achievement is testament to how popular our sites are, and I’m thrilled so many people have visited!”