Cannons Hall is a fine 18th century house surrounded by a beautiful park.
The core of the building is a plain stone house, constructed in 1710. The builder was a member of the Spencer family, who made their wealth from the local iron industry.
In 1764 - 68 John Spencer commissioned John Carr of York to add wings to the house and modernise the interior. He engaged Richard Woods, the landscape gardener, to improve the grounds, beginning in 1761.
Later, his nephew and heir heightened the wings and in 1890 - 91 his descendant, Sir Walter Spencer-Stanhope, added a Ballroom.
In 1951 the family removed the contents and sold Cannon Hall to the Barnsley local authority.
They refurnished the principal rooms with 18th century items and pictures, and the remainder of the building was converted into a museum.
The museum houses decorative art collections including paintings, Art Nouveau objects, glass and ceramics. The Regimental Museum of the 13th/18th Hussars is also located here.
The Tuscan-columned Entrance Hall leads to the other rooms.
This includes the late-19th century Ballroom, decorated in neo-Tudor style, and a former outbuilding with a collection of glass.
The finest rooms are on the ground floor of the south front, overlooking the park, furnished with 18th century furniture and some paintings, including works by Philip Mercier, Joseph Highmore and John Constable.
The Dining Room has a Rococo-style plaster ceiling, created in 1767 by James Henderson of York.
The two drawing rooms in the older part of the house were redecorated in neo-classical style at the end of the 18th century.
In the Library there is a Rococo chimneypiece created by craftsmen from York in the 1760's. A selection of late-19th century Arts and Crafts furniture is on display in another ground floor room.
On the first floor there is a collection of ceramics which includes work by Walter Crane, whilst another room houses a collection of local views by the artist, J.C. Nattes.
The rest of the rooms have collections of Dutch and Flemish pictures.
Cannon Hall is surrounded by the attractive park, which was landscaped by Woods in the 18th century. There is also a Walled Garden.
Gardens & Park: Open all year: Museum: Apr-Oct: Wed-Fri 10:30-17:0, Sat-Sun 12:00-17:00 Last entry 16:15 Open Mon and Tues during Barnsley school & bank holidays. Nov-Dec & Mar: Sun only 12:00-16:00 Last entry 15:15 House: Guided tour groups only.
Tel: 01226 790270 Cannon Hall Website
