Cannon Hall Museum Park And Gardens Barnsley

Cannon Hall is a fine example of a grand stately home that was developed to its grand proportions through the riches gained by a family in the 18th Century.

The family in question, in the case of Cannon Hall, was the Spencer family who gained their wealth in the iron and coal industry of South Yorkshire.

The site dates back at least as far as the Domesday Book which shows there was a house on the site in 1086. However none of the current structure is thought to date back to that time.

The Hall itself gets its name from Gilbert Canun who lived there in the 13th century. By the late 14th Century the house was in the hands of the Bosville family.

While today there might be an ethereal and a romantic feel to the surroundings, the house holds a dark secret; a gruesome murder that took place somewhere in the late 14th century. The story will definitely intrigue all the lovers of history, who will want to find out more about it.

Cannon Hall was purchased by the Spencer family in 1660 and the wealth the family gained through local industry allowed them to rebuild the house at the start of the 18th Century.

The house went through a major restructure in the 18th century; it was enlarged and new wings were added by a noted Georgian architect around 1764-67. It was also then that the landscaping of the estate took place and it was given it’s today’s almost poetic form. The parklands have everything you’d see in a fairytale; from waterfalls to lakes, vistas and follies. You can spend your day taking a leisurely stroll in the parklands and stopping for a picnic with your loved ones in these charmed surrounding.

The Hall and Estate were sold to Barnsley Council in 1951 by the last member of the Spencer family, Elizabeth. Since then the Estate has been run by the council as a tourist attraction.

Cannon Hall, itself also houses a museum today and holds some of the most outstanding work you will see when it comes to ceramics and glassware. The furniture and paintings on display are also top notch and will surely appeal to the art lovers. The Regimental Museum is another attraction here, which cannot be missed.

Entry to the grounds and museum is free.

There is a daily car park charge of £3