Each Saturday a different film will be playing on a loop in the main gallery in Experience Barnsley, meaning there’s no need for you to book in advance.
Saturday 25 July: Memories of Maurice Dobson
Celebrating Barnsley Pride which returns to Mandela Gardens today our first film show of the summer will be about Maurice Dobson and his partner Fred Halliday, an openly gay couple who ran a shop together in Darfield which is now the Maurice Dobson Museum & Heritage Centre.
Saturday 1 August: Barnsley On Film
We’re celebrating Yorkshire Day with Barnsley on Film, highlights from the Barnsley Archives film archive. Step back in time with films spanning the last century, see how Barnsley looked in the 1930s with the oldest film in our collections. The 30 minute film also includes parades, Barnsley Market and Queen Elizabeth II arriving in Barnsley in 1957
Saturday 8 August: Barnsley Museums Gets Animated
This week Barnsley Museums gets animated: A 30 minute montage of animated films including the Barnsley co-op, behind the scenes in Barnsley Archives as well as our digital reconstructions of Elsecar and Eldon Street.
Saturday 15 August: Now That's What I Call Barnsley Museums Music
This week Barnsley Museums gets musical with a collection of videos that we have made over the years that contain music. You will hear from Simon Armitage and his band LYR as well as songs that have been inspired by the River Dearne and the swanee pond in Kendray. During the 30 minutes screening you will also hear two original songs written by our Feels Like Home Group
Saturday 22 August: Barnsley in the 1960s
Our penultimate film show is one of the most popular films from the collections of Barnsley Archives. A portrait of a town and its people was produced by the Barnsley Rotary Club. See bustling Barnsley Market - famous far and wide, take a trip back to school, be transported back to thriving Barnsley’s industries, rewatch memorable sporting events and see well-loved green spaces like Locke Park and Cannon Hall sixty years ago.
Saturday 29 August: The History of Monk Bretton Priory
Our final film of the summer celebrates Barnsley’s heritage and the upcoming Heritage Open Days in September. Learn about the history of Monk Bretton Priory with an illustrated talk by Fred Thompson which was recorded for the Barnsley Civic Trust in 2025
The pre-recorded talk lasts for about an hour, there is no need to book in advance as the film plays during the museums opening hours.
