Tailor Made In Barnsley

Welcome to an online exhibition celebrating Barnsley’s textile makers! The borough has centuries of stories of weaving, sewing and quilting to tell. Whether it’s a McLintock’s jacket, a Barnsley linen tea towel or a snappy Sugdens shirt, our fabric products were known for innovation and top quality.

We’ve chosen items from the museum and archive collections which show some of the people, processes and products of this rich textile history.

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A virtual tour of the exhibition

Take a 360° virtual tour of the exhibition

Did you work at a textile factory?

We'd like to hear from you! There is a screen in the exhibition which we are adding your photographs and memories to. Email your images to experiencebarnsley@barnsley.gov.uk or contact us through social media.

Below are a selection of staff photographs from Corah's

  • Black and white photograph of a misty street scene. A large building with multiple windows and a sign reading 'CRAB' is on the right side.
    Corah's Factory
  • Black and white photograph of a textile factory or workshop. A person in the foreground operates an industrial fabric cutting machine over multiple layers of fabric on a large table.
    Staff at Corah's factory
  • Group photo of five people standing closely together, dressed in similar outfits. Some are wearing blue and white striped hats.
    Staff at Corah's factory
  • Group of people standing together in a factory or workshop setting, with faces obscured for privacy.
    Staff at Corah's factory

Online Activities

Aerial view of a large industrial building complex with multiple long, parallel roof sections. The complex is outlined by a red boundary line and is located in a residential area with houses nearby.

Blog

Museum exhibit room with wooden flooring and white walls. Displays include a vertical banner titled 'Quality Quilts', a horizontal glass case with quilts, and a glass case showcasing an ornate dress.

Take a 360° tour of the exhibition

Colorful pom pom creatures with googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennas on a white background. They are in shades of pink, blue, green, and purple, with various expressions and eye designs.

'Textile Tuesdays' Download our activity sheets and get crafting at home!

Photograph of a row of brick terraced houses with steps leading to the front doors. Two people walk along the pavement in front.

Listen to a talk about Barnsley's Textile History by historian Harold Taylor

Two individuals in a room with patterned wallpaper and various furniture pieces including a couch and desk. One person stands pointing at a bookshelf filled with books, while the other sits on a chair holding an open book.

Solve these Tailor Made Jigsaw puzzles

mage showing two sewing-themed magazine covers. The first is 'Simply Sewing' Issue 110, featuring a person in a patterned outfit with headlines like 'The Joni Jumpsuit' and 'Linen luxury'.

Browse a list of crafting & making magazines (Requires BMBC Library Card to access)