Dan Jarvis MP Supports Reinvigoration of Barnsley's Eldon Street
Historic England and Barnsley Council have been showing Dan Jarvis MP how they are working in partnership to restore the historic character of Eldon Street.
Representatives from Historic England and the Council accompanied the Barnsley Central MP on a visit to Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone, where the two organisations and partners have invested more than £4 million to breathe new life into the historic street.
Established in 2020, Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone is a four-year programme, set up to improve the appearance of the street’s historic buildings and bring activity back to the street.
During his visit Mr Jarvis was shown several key projects including the reinstatement of the historic entrance to the Grade II-listed Barnsley Civic Theatre. Work has been underway to display the original Victorian entrance, and a new social and cultural hub to connect local communities.
As part of the £3.2 million development, a new café, bar and restaurant will open on the first and ground floor with an exciting new programme of comedy, music and theatre. This will bring the creative arts hub back into full working use.
During his visit, Dan Jarvis was shown several other in-progress Heritage Action Zone projects, including the refurbishment of Barnsley’s independent Parkway Cinema, where a grant of £123,000 is being used to fund renovations including an improved frontage and the reinstatement of its 50s-style illuminated signage.
It was fascinating to visit Eldon Street to see for myself the important and exciting work being done to reinvigorate our town's rich heritage. Some may not know about the storied history of Eldon Street and it will be brilliant to see a key part of our town centre flourish again. It is particularly satisfying that this work is being done in a way that neatly bridges our proud past with the present.
We were delighted to show Dan Jarvis MP how Historic England and Barnsley Council’s investment in Elton Street is reinvigorating this historic part of the town and making it a more attractive place to visit.
