Students partner with Worsbrough Mill to celebrate 400-year anniversary

Digital and Creative students at the College are collaborating with Worsbrough Mill on a new campaign to mark the mill’s 400th anniversary in 2025.

Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park is one of the oldest working mills in the UK, dating back to 1625.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Worsbrough Mill will recognise this incredible milestone with a year-long celebration, launching a series of events and initiatives to enhance the visitor experience.

Graphic Design students have been tasked with designing the Worsbrough Mill 400 logo that will be used throughout the 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, Photography students have been invited to create a new portfolio of photographs that capture the history of Worsbrough Mill.

If selected, the winning work will be featured as part of the #WorsbroughMill400 celebrations throughout 2025.

It is an exciting year for the site, as alongside community engagement work, essential maintenance for the mill will be carried out, thanks to fundraising from Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust’s #Savethemill campaign, Barnsley Council and the generosity of  the mill’s visitors.

Sally Elkington, Sector Specialist Officer at Worsbrough Mill, said: “2025 is an exciting year for Worsbrough Mill and Country Park as we celebrate its 400^th anniversary. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we can mark this incredible milestone with a series of #WorsbroughMill400 activities and events.”

“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Barnsley College to offer unique opportunities for students to engage with the mill. We value the creative contribution young people in Barnsley can provide. By offering bespoke projects, students can apply their skills and knowledge to a real-life scenario relevant to their area of study, all whilst connecting with the amazing heritage we have in Barnsley.”

“A huge thank you to the staff and students at Barnsley College for collaborating with Barnsley Museums on this project. We cannot wait to see the creative responses students produce!”

Paul Harris, Graphic Design tutor at Barnsley College, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “I’m delighted to see our learners taking part in such a fantastic opportunity to create a new logo and branding package for the #WorsbroughMill400 celebrations. This is an invaluable chance for them to apply their creative skills to a live brief and contribute to a project that honours a key part of Barnsley’s heritage.”

“Working on a real-world commission like this allows our students to expand their portfolios with professional-level work, all while engaging with the wider community and showcasing their talent. Collaborating with Barnsley Museums on such a historic milestone is not only a privilege but also an incredible learning experience, helping to prepare our learners for successful careers in the creative industries.”

“This project highlights the importance of connecting education with cultural heritage and real-world opportunities, and I couldn’t be prouder of the creative work our learners will produce.”

Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted to be working with Barnsley College on an exciting project to mark Worsbrough Mill’s 400-year anniversary. This commission will help us shine a light on an important part of the borough’s heritage by working with talented students to help them develop creative skills and bolster their future career prospects.”