Cooper Gallery, Barnsley

The Gallery, built in 1769 is located in the original centre of Barnsley old town. It originally housed Barnsley Grammar School and throughout its long life has been used as a Sunday School, a Church Institute, a Conservative Reading Room and during World War II as a hospital annexe. Samuel Joshua Cooper (12830-1913) a local benefactor purchased the building c. 1912 when the Grammar School relocated and left the building in perpetuity to the Town. He also donated more than 200 of his paintings and in 1914 the gallery opened to the public. Since then the collection has expanded and included works by Vanessa Bell, Prunella Clough, Graham Ibbeson, Edward Lear, Frederick Lord Leighton, Walter Sickert and Edward Wadsworth