Forging Ahead

A future vision for Elsecar Heritage Centre 

In November 2023, after extensive consultation, we launched the Forging Ahead future vision for Elsecar. This set out our aspirations for the historic Elsecar Ironworks site, transforming it into something unique, sustainable, and will thrive long into the future. 

Our thanks to everyone who shared ideas about this special historic site with a proud history, which is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Thanks also go to our Heritage Action Zone Partnership with Historic England. 

This is a long-term vision. It will take time to make the new development a reality and to secure funding to make it happen, but we are confident of being able to do so, and all the positive benefits it will mean for our region. 

Read the Forging Ahead Vision by downloading the PDF below. 

To fund the majority of what we want to do, we put forward Levelling Up Fund bids to the previous government. Unfortunately, those bids were unsuccessful.  

We’re closely monitoring this government’s announcements on relevant funding streams that we could apply for, and we’re regularly in conversation with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. 

However, we have still progressed exciting projects at Elsecar Heritage Centre over the past year. 

Progress since November 2023 

Building Bridges project 

Over the past year, we’ve been working with the local community to discover stories and heritage at Elsecar. Made possible with £90,000 funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust, the project has developed: 

• A new volunteer programme 

• STEM sessions for school groups  

• A People's Oral History Archive, which will help us in developing the new visitor centre 

• New trails such as 'Echoes through Time' and a new sensory tour. 

The initial inspiration of the project was a celebration and deeper understanding of two iron bridges designed by Marc Brunel and cast at nearby Milton Ironworks, 200 years ago.  

Working with community groups, schools and families we have explored history and STEM through creating our own bridges and understanding the history of La Reunion where the bridges were sent to.  

The project finished at the end of October with a celebration event, featuring a stunning light projection. 

Read more about the project in our blog

Cultural Development Fund 

We’re using over £3 million from the Cultural Development Fund to improve several buildings at Elsecar Heritage Centre, the existing visitor centre, and the public realm. This is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) and Arts Council England. 

This project will turn derelict historic spaces into new creative spaces, and create stunning new indoor and outdoor areas for events and cultural activities.  

The transformation aims to breathe new life into the site, making it a hub of creativity and innovation. Most works will take place during 2025 calendar year. Key works include: 

• The IronWorks and the unit next door to it – improving and creating new events spaces  

• Creating new workspaces for businesses 

• Updating the Visitor Centre 

• Improving the surface and layout of the public realm 

• Creating a new accessible creative space 

We’re also using council funds to invest in and improve drainage across the site. This will address current issues and help us get ready for greater visitor numbers in the future. 

FAQs 

When will this be done? 

Projects and improvements will be progressed as funding becomes available. 

We already have advanced designs for several key aspects of the Forging Ahead proposals and carried out extensive investigations and discussions on the historic site, including with Historic England.  
 
For the original works on several buildings across the centre (the Cultural Development Fund project), we shared an estimated completion date of December 2024.

However, since the start of the project, we have added other elements, such as plans to improve the site-wide drainage. This means that the programme will take longer than originally shared.

Improvements to the drainage and public spaces should be completed by autumn-winter 2025/26, with lots of our key event buildings available by spring 2026.

A brand new, exciting visitor centre will be open during summer 2025, giving visitors an interactive experience and warm welcome to Elsecar’s heritage.

How much will it cost? 
 
The total cost for the whole scheme is around £25 million, which we may be able to secure to deliver all the elements at the same time, or it may be necessary to deliver the project in stages over a longer period. 
 
It will have major economic, social and cultural impact for Barnsley and for the whole of South Yorkshire. We are confident about securing the required funding going forward. 

Why can’t the station be kept as it is? 

The replica station was newly built in the 1990s, on the site of the historic ironworks. There was no station there before. It is now recognised to have been an inappropriate addition to what is an extremely important site. 

The replica station is in a deteriorating condition, as are its outbuildings. 

By creating a new heritage railway station, new volunteer facilities and more, in buildings inspired by what was there originally, the proposal is considered acceptable by Historic England. 

The only historic parts of the station are the bridge and parts of the ironwork, brought here from elsewhere in Barnsley. We will look to re-use and install these here at Elsecar and at other locations. 

What happened to the railway trust and its railway engines and rolling stock? 

The heritage railway trust faced difficulties towards the start of the COVID pandemic, which led to them transferring the lease to the land back to Barnsley Council.   

The rolling stock and engines were not part of that lease and did not belong to the Council. At no time have they been transferred to the Council. 

Does the future vision affect the existing heritage centre and the existing event space? 

The proposed future vision development does not affect the heritage centre core (traditionally known as The New Yard) or the existing event space in the rolling mill of the former ironworks (known as The Ironworks). 
 
Major investment has already been secured from the Cultural Development Fund for parts of the heritage centre and its historic buildings, to support local businesses, create more jobs, and create special experiences for local communities. 

Those works will be completed in 2025-26. 
 

If this will mean more visitors, what will it mean for the quality of life of local residents who live in the village? 

We are committed to making sure that the success of Elsecar as a visitor destination, and a place that means so much for South Yorkshire communities, will not detract from what it means to live in such a special place. 
 
Active steps are being taken to develop car parking in such a way to reduce the impact of visitor cars on the centre of the village. We are also committed to working with transport providers to increase the number of people using public transport to come here and to provide new facilities for those who choose to walk and ride. 

We are aware that particularly popular days can create issues in the village, so we are committed to ensuring visitors to the village are more evenly spread, to reduce that impact.