Repairs to Georgian country house and museum begin

Cannon Hall Museum will remain open while the refurbishment takes place

Work has begun to repair the roof of an 18th Century Grade II listed Georgian country house and museum in South Yorkshire.

Barnsley Council said Cannon Hall Museum’s "defective" roof needed "urgent" work to protect its collections, which include ceramics, furniture, paintings and drawings.

The refurbishment is expected to be complete by early 2025, with the museum remaining open to the public throughout.

Barnsley Council's cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, Robin Franklin, said the repairs would "not only preserve the historic building and its collections, but also improve the visitor experience".

The £900,000 renovation has been funded by the government’s Museum Estate and Development Fund, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It will see the existing roof replaced with a fully ventilated lead roof with new patent glazed rooflights.

'Jewel in the crown'

The project will also include stonework repairs, replacements and repointing to the chimneys, parapets and cornices of the hall, which dates back to the 18th century and is listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England.

Councillor Franklin described the museum as "a jewel in the crown of Barnsley’s cultural offer" visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Pete Massey, director for Yorkshire and the Humber at Arts Council England, said: "It’s vital to ensure that the collections and the building itself are protected and preserved so that the local community and visitors can continue to enjoy the exhibitions and events in the future.

"It’s also fantastic that the work will help increase the museum’s resilience to the changing climate condition and improve its environmental sustainability.”

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