Barnsley Archives and Local Studies, based in Barnsley Town Hall and part of Barnsley Museums, have new opening times.
From the week commencing Monday, 27 May 2024, the new opening hours for Barnsley Archives and Local Studies will be as follows:
- Tuesday – 9.30-12.45 and 1.30-6.00
- Wednesday – 9.30-12.45 and 1.30-4.30
- Thursday – 9.30-12.45 and 1.30-4.30
The Archives will be closed on Mondays and Fridays. The new opening hours will provide researchers extra time for research on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, outside traditional opening times.
Barnsley Archives and Local Studies is the official repository for the historical records relating to Barnsley. It holds a wealth of material relating to the history, culture and heritage of the area, dating from the 12th century to the present day. The collections include parish registers, census returns, maps, photographs, newspapers, directories, school records, court records, family papers and more.
The Archives are committed to providing wider access to their collections and will be focused on making more archives and resources available online in the coming years. They will also be planning a new range of outreach activities and events over the forthcoming months, focusing on introducing the collections to all communities across the borough.
Jon Finch, Head of Culture and Visitor Economy, said: “The new opening hours at Barnsley Archives will allow the service to be more efficient in the future. As well as being able to visit them in the Town Hall, they will also be travelling around the borough so people can find out more about the history of our amazing borough in their local communities. We hope to make more documents accessible online in the future for thousands more people to enjoy.”
Visitors are encouraged to contact the Archives in advance to order original archives, either by telephone on 01226 773950 or by email at Archives@barnsley.gov.uk. Document requests made on the day cannot be guaranteed.