Barnsley Museum & Discovery Centre

The Museum is jam-packed with stories of life in Barnsley. It’s a great place for locals to explore their heritage and for visitors to discover our amazing borough.

By the people, for the people, and about the people!

Experience Barnsley opened in 2013 but collecting the objects, photos, documents, films and stories happened over several years before opening. Telling these stories has only been possible because of the amazing support and donations of material from people living in the borough, and from those who left Barnsley but still feel the strong ties of shared heritage. Our staff were over the moon at the volume of material and the generosity of donors.

What is there to see at the Museum? Along one side of the main gallery ‘The Barnsley Wall’ has rare archaeological artefacts, object and archive displays, films and interactives which all trace the known history of Barnsley from pre-historical times to the 21st century. As a town and borough predominantly known by many for its coal industry it was really important to create a museum which told the many stories tucked away over the centuries.