OUT & ABOUT
Restoring the Glory,
We have all enjoyed the fruits of nature’s labour over the last year or so as the pandemic has encouraged us to get out and walk more.
But now, the public can reap the rewards of vast funding and the extensive hard work of the team which has revitalised the parklands at Cannon Hall. As part of the Parks for People project, a combined initiative between the Big Lottery and the Heritage Lottery Fund, Barnsley Museums received a grant of almost £3million to restore and conserve the 76 acres of parklands at the historic Cannon Hall site in Cawthorne, Barnsley. The project also received £40,000 raised by the Friends of Cannon Hall, as well as further funding from Barnsley Council and the Country Houses Foundation, taking the budget to £3.8m. ‘Restoring the Glory, Revealing the Secrets’ has been managed by Sharon Sutton who has been instrumental in securing more funding to enable the plans to be completed to their full potential. Over the last few years, invasive work has been completed around the site to improve accessibility,
renovate derelict buildings, and establish the lost views and vistas. There are of course great benefits for visitors, but a lot of the enhancements made will also enable the small team to conserve and protect the heritage of the park for the future.
The immense parkland was first developed by landscape architect, Richard Woods, in the 1760s for the Hall’s owner, John Spencer. He created an ornate walled garden that would go on to house an eclectic mix of fruit trees, along with vast sloping lawns leading down to the serene lakes. Woods’ Georgian vision was then embellished in the Victorian era to add a dream-like fairyland with follies and stone archways. On a glorious sunny morning in
May, we were given a guided tour by park ranger, Marcus Staples, who shared a knowledgeable and passionate insight into the work that has been done since the project began in 2017. It was due to be a three-year plan but, owing to
Covid-19 and the influx of visitors they’ve had on site since the start of the pandemic, some jobs have been pushed back while the team focus solely on maintenance of the park. To enable all visitors to reap the rewards of the project, there is a new tarmac path which encompasses the perimeter of the park. The old dirt paths made a large majority of the park difficult to access for visitors in adverse weather; the new path means people with wheelchairs, pushchairs and limited mobility can enjoy the full breadth of the park.
The Lakes
The exciting news is that boating will be back on the lakes for the first time in generations.
The Lake 30
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
The three lakes were once a prized possession for the Spencer-Stanhope family, and each one had its respective use of fishing, swimming or boating. Sadly, over the years these ‘glittering lakes’ had become lost under reams of silt, soil and overgrowth. But thanks to an intense renovation project, the central lake can once again be used for recreation purposes with the addition of a jetty and leisure boats.
Revealing the Secrets of Cannon Hall
Cannon Hall
The Little Boat Company’s collection of rowing and pedal boats will bring life back to the stunning lakes in the parklands. They will be run by Jonathan whose parents had a catering concession at the Hall some 30 years ago so it is quite fitting that he will be returning to the well-loved parklands with his own business.
“My childhood was spent exploring the parklands so it’s always been a dream to come back,” he says. With a background in the leisure
industry, Jonathan employs two outdoor sports apprentices from Barnsley College to help during peak times.
Before boats could be used, the old lakes were dredged, with the silt used to reform the banks to their original shape. Some of the trees within the wooded area were removed to open up the vista. Improving the water quality has encouraged the aquatic habitats to thrive, with herons and geese now making the lakes their home. The lakes are situated at the bottom of the park, with access from the corner of the car park by the children’s play area. If you’d rather stay on dry land, then why not pose for a photo in the giant deckchair which has a donation box for Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust.
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