Historic Barton upon Humber

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Historic Barton upon Humber

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We hope Past Forward will encourage and enable more visitors and local residents to get involved and appreciate the wealth of Barton upon Humber’s heritage.

Historic Barton upon Humber

Barton upon Humber is a historic market town in North Lincolnshire on the south bank of the River Humber and is often described as being the jewel in North Lincolnshire’s crown. A Museum Resilience Grant has seen the birth of Past Forward, a project that aims to increase awareness of all the town has to offer, from its many notable buildings, to its three accredited museums as well as developing a brand that is unique to Barton.

19/10/2026

Barton Volunteers are working alongside Barton Civic Society to preserve a fascinating collection of old cassette tapes by transferring them into digital format.

The tapes contain interviews with residents of Barton from many years ago, capturing memories, stories and valuable local history. By digitising and preserving these recordings, the volunteers hope to ensure that this important information is not lost for future generations.

The Archive Volunteers are also hoping to have the recordings transcribed, making the information more accessible to visitors and researchers using the archive.
Barton Archives is open by appointment, and Caroline and the volunteers are always happy to show you around and share the information they have.

The volunteers are always on the lookout for new items to add to the archive. So, if you have photographs, documents, recordings, objects or other items that you feel could help preserve the history of Barton-upon-Humber, please think of the archive and consider donating them.

Every item, memory and story can help keep Barton’s history alive!

13/10/2026

📚 Visit Baysgarth Archives!

The Baysgarth Archives are open every Thursday, but all visits must be booked in advance to ensure we can accommodate you.

If you fancy a visit or are looking to research local history, email Caroline at [email protected] to arrange an appointment and book your time slot.

Caroline will be happy to help and look forward to welcoming you! 😊

Please remember, visits must be booked in advance, so please don’t just turn up on the day.

12/10/2026

At the archives, we have a selection of old books and directories that are full of interesting information about the history of Barton. Our archive volunteers have used some of these directories to research the locations of old shops as part of the shopping project.

However, care must be taken to ensure the longevity of these items, as some are in poor condition. With this in mind, some of our archive volunteers will be undertaking training focused on the basics of caring for archive collections.

The training will cover object handling, object packing, labelling, and integrated pest management.

07/10/2026

Rex Russell didn’t just write about Lincolnshire’s past — he transformed how we understand it.

Join local historian and former regional English Heritage Inspector of Historic Buildings and Monuments Keith Miller as he delves into Rex’s life, values and remarkable legacy, from his early years in a London Workhouse to his decades of teaching and community history in Barton.

Discover the man behind more than 80 publications, countless local history groups and the distinctive artwork that made his work instantly recognisable.

A fascinating look at the historian who helped Lincolnshire tell its own story — and why his themes still matter today.

Keith, a friend and former teaching colleague of Rex, looks at how Rex’s values, ideals and artistic talents were reflected in his work at this Barton Civic Society talk which takes place on Friday, October 16, at 2pm in the Joseph Wright Hall on Queen Street

06/10/2026

Step Back in Time is now on a new day - Wednesday. We hope to see you next week at Ropery Hall.

05/10/2026

Archive volunteers enjoy sharing their work with others, and this was particularly evident when the shopping handling box was taken to Wrawby Hall Care Home.

Residents enjoyed sharing their memories and experiences of shopping, creating a valuable opportunity for the volunteers to preserve and collect important historical evidence and personal memories.

These stories and recollections will feed back into the shopping project, which has been funded by Cultural Futures, helping to ensure that local memories and experiences become an important part of the project’s historical record.

22/09/2026

It’s not every day a Big Brother winner stops by Barton to appreciate our town’s wonderful history! Thanks for the visit Jordan Sangha ☺️

21/09/2026

That’s a wrap on Heritage Open Days 2026! And what a fantastically busy several days it has been.

It has been wonderful to see so many of you exploring Barton’s past, whether you stopped by the Applegate House Air Raid Shelter, explored the museums, attended one

of the many walks and talks throughout the town or attended any of the many other events – we would like to say thank you.

Barton is fortunate to have many residents who feel so passionate about preserving and promoting the town’s history and it is rewarding to see that visitors also feel the same way.

What was your highlight of this year’s Heritage Open Days? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you to Ashley Beasley for the photographs.

20/09/2026

✨ Last Day of Heritage Open Days 2026 ✨

Today marks the final day of this year’s Heritage Open Days — and what a brilliant ten days it’s been. Talks, tours, open buildings, shared memories… Barton has truly come alive with its stories.

Although the festival wraps up tonight, one part continues for a few days yet: our Shops & Shopping project boards. You’ll spot these in various shop windows around Barton, each showing a photograph of what that premises used to be — the trades, the shopkeepers, the everyday places people relied on through the decades. A huge thank you to all teh shops that have displayed these.

This display is part of our Cultural Futures engagement project, and we’d love your memories.
What shops do you remember? Where did you buy your treats, your essentials, your bits for tea? What was sold there, and who served you?

Every story helps the Barton Archive build a richer record of the people, places and everyday life that shaped our town.

Take a wander, enjoy the nostalgia, and share your memories — Barton’s history is made stronger when everyone adds their voice.

17/09/2026

Remember the annual chimney clean?
Soot proofing the living room, watching for the sweep's brush to appear from the chimney pot?

Jethro Vivian returns to the Wilderspin & National School Museum in Historic Barton upon Humber to rekindle memories of this everyday history and shed some light on the history of his trade.

The session, part of Heritage Open Days 2026, is free and is on Saturday 19 September at 1.30pm and lasts one hour with refreshments included - booking is not required.

Museum admission is free during Heritage Week. We're open from 10am so there's plenty of time to see the historic schoolrooms and find out who Samuel Wilderspin was and why his Model School at Barton is "one of the most important schools in England".

Our Chatty Café is open between 11am and 2pm serving hot and cold drinks, cake and biscuits.

We have on site parking, level access and accessible toilets / baby changing facilities.

Address

Barton Upon Humber
DN185

Telephone

01652 660380

Website

http://www.barton-upon-humber.org.uk/

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