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Share your memories of historic Church Street campus
Posted: 18/07/2025
We are inviting former students, staff and members of the local community to share their personal memories of the historic Church Street campus, ahead of its much-anticipated reopening later this year.
The iconic 92-year-old building – formerly Barnsley Mining and Technical College – has played a vital role in shaping education in the town for generations. As the College prepares to unveil the newly refurbished campus, we are calling on those who studied, taught or worked within its walls to contribute stories, photographs, and reflections that capture its rich history.
These stories will form part of a special showcase event celebrating both the legacy and future of the site, now Barnsley College University Centre. The event on Thursday, 2 October will include guided tours of the redesigned building, offering visitors the chance to revisit old memories while discovering the exciting changes made as part of the College’s transformation.
Barnsley College Principal and Chief Executive David Akeroyd said: “We look forward to welcoming the community into our newly-renovated University Centre, and we are especially excited to hear the stories of people’s time in the ‘Tech’.
“This truly is a remarkable building, which has been a cornerstone of education locally for decades.
“While we have been looking ahead to an exciting future, we are also taking time to maintain and preserve the site’s heritage.
“We’re keen to make sure local people’s memories are rightfully made a key part of the project and we encourage anyone to send their stories, photos and anything else that marks their time at the campus.”
We will also reveal plans for Church Street to house our South Yorkshire Institute of Technology – a hub for cutting-edge courses in subjects such as Engineering, Construction, and IT. The interior has already undergone extensive renovation, with further exterior updates to follow, blending modern design with the building’s historic character.
Anyone who would like to share their Church Street Campus story is encouraged to get in touch. Whether you were a student, tutor, worker or just someone who has history with this building, your story matters and could play a starring role in this memorable event.
To submit your story or find out more, please contact marketing@barnsley.ac.uk or call 01226 216 541.
All pictures reproduced with kind permission of Barnsley Archives and Local Studies. Visit www.experience-barnsley.com/our-archives or email
archives@barnsley.gov.uk to find out more about their collections.
