Rotherham The Unofficial Website An unofficial website about the Town and Borough of Rotherham

Cannon Hall & Cawthorne

Cannon Hall

Cannon Hall stands on the site of a house mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is a Georgian lesser country house principally designed and built by John Carr of York. The house is set in 70 acres of parkland and formal gardens. These were the creation of John Spencer the Third who spent £30,000 on improvements in 1761.

The hall belonged to the Spencer, later the Spencer-Stanhope family for about 300 years but they sold it to Barnsley Corporation in 1951. It is now a museum which houses furniture, paintings, plasterwork and glass, together with the regimental museum of the 13/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own). The Regimental Collection of the 13th/18th Hussars (now the Light Dragoons) is housed at Cannon Hall and is a must for anyone interested in military history. Recently refurbished into a fantastic interactive experience, it illustrates the part played by the Regiment in many major battles such as the Charge of the Light Brigade and includes memorabilia dedicated to Lord Baden Powell.

The gardens were effected by the landscape gardener Richard Woods and the Spencers' head gardener Thomas Peach. The formal gardens include a walled kitchen garden from the 1760s with a historic collection of pear trees trained both as espaliers along the wall and as hedges. There are several greenhouses one of which contains the Cannon Hall Muscat, a famous grape vine. There is a sunken rose garden and an orangery. The park contains many beautiful mature trees and banks of rhododendrons, whilst the three long lakes along the valley bottom are joined by cascades. There are picturesque views towards Cawthorne village.

The hall was renovated in about 2000 and about time - we thoroughly enjoyed our visit especially the collections of glass and Moorcroft pottery, but it was desperately shabby. The dog thoroughly enjoyed the lakes; I think he swam in every one. And since the sun shone and the sky was blue - ah those were the days - we had a picnic in the grounds and a good time was had by all.

There is a visitors centre, café and Museum shop. Grounds are open all year round. Telephone for details of house and garden opening - closed Thursday and Fridays. To arrange educational visits to the Victorian Kitchen or the Walled Garden Tel. the Education Officer on 01226 773587. For more information visit the website.

Address:- Cannon Hall Museum, Cawthorne, Barnsley. Tel. 01226 790270. Fax. 01226 792117. Email cannonhallatbarnsley.gov.uk (replace at with @). Website www.barnsley.gov.uk and search for Cannon Hall.

Cannon Hall Open Farm

Cannon Hall Open Farm is situated in the grounds of Cannon Hall Country Park. It is a real working farm yet you can feed the animals and watch the babies being born. There is a tea room, a farm shop and a gift shop, and adventure playground for children of all ages. For more information visit their website www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk.

Cannon Hall Garden Centre

Garden Centres are perennial favourites, and this is the usual hardy perennial.

The Maize Maze

The Maize Maze next to Cannon Hall Garden Centre is back. Opening Times Mid-July to end of September (weather permitting) - contact the Maize Maze for full details. Family Fun and Games. BBQ's, Group and evening tickets available on request. For more information visit their website www.maizemaze.co.uk.

Cawthorne Village

Cawthorne is a pretty village nestled in the countryside. There is the 15th Century church of All Saints and many old houses and cottages. As usual in this area there was an iron industry around here with the Barnby Furnace a mile or so from the village. There is a nice pub - there may be more bit I've only tried the one,

Cawthorne Links