Danum Gallery, Library and Museum

About the museum

The Danum Gallery, Library and Museum stands on Waterdale in the centre of Doncaster, behind the original façade of Doncaster High School for Girls, which opened in 1910. It brings together the town's lending and reference libraries, a children's library, a museum, an art gallery and several smaller heritage displays under one roof.

The museum tells the story of Doncaster as a Roman settlement, a market town and an industrial powerhouse, and looks at how its rivers, peatlands and woodlands have changed over time. The Museum of You is made up entirely of objects lent by local people, and its displays change regularly. The art gallery shows works from national and international artists in ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glass, metalwork, prints, paintings and sculpture, and hosts touring exhibitions.

On the lower ground floor the Rail Heritage Centre shows part of the Doncaster Grammar School Railway Collection, which the school's railway society began in the 1930s and which now holds about 10,000 objects. Two locomotives built in Doncaster, the 1902 Atlantic No. 251 and the Green Arrow of 1936, are on loan from the National Railway Museum. The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Museum, also on the lower ground floor, tells the story of the regiment through weapons, uniforms and medals over more than 200 years.

Highlights

• Rail Heritage Centre with the Doncaster-built locomotives No. 251 Atlantic and Green Arrow
• King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Museum with an audio-described tour
• Museum galleries on Doncaster's Roman, market-town and industrial past
• Museum of You, made of objects lent by local people
• Art gallery with ceramics, textiles, prints and touring exhibitions
• Café 1910 under the original 1910 school façade

Permanent exhibitions

• Doncaster Museum – Galleries on Doncaster as a Roman settlement, market town and industrial powerhouse, its natural environment, and the Museum of You, made of objects lent by local people.
• Rail Heritage Centre – Part of the Doncaster Grammar School Railway Collection with the Doncaster-built locomotives No. 251 Atlantic and Green Arrow.
• King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Museum – The history of the regiment over more than 200 years told through weapons, uniforms and medals, with an audio-described tour.

Founded

1964

Operated by

City of Doncaster Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The Danum is free to visit and open to all. The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum is also free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The main entrance, at the end of Waterdale, is reached by a gentle slope or a few small steps with a handrail and has an automated door. All four floors are served by a lift with space for several wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and a wheelchair can be borrowed at the welcome desk. Accessible toilets are on the ground, first and second floors, and there is a Changing Places toilet. Blue Badge holders can use marked bays in Chamber Road car park and the on-street bays on Chamber Road, with no time limit. Light levels are low in some galleries to protect the objects. The museum has tactile, audio and interactive exhibits; the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum has an audio-described tour and large print labels. Noise-cancelling headphones are available in the Children's Library, and quieter spaces are available on request. Assistance and guide dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The building has a children's library, and the museum is described as suitable for a family day out. Baby changing is available. The museum has interactive exhibits and objects to touch, and the Rail Heritage Centre has two full-size locomotives.

Getting there & parking

The building is on the corner of Waterdale and Chequer Road, next to the Doncaster Council Civic Office.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Café 1910 serves baked goods, light bites and coffee beneath the original school façade. The building also has a shop, meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi and internet access, with public computers in the library, a picnic area at the Rail Heritage Centre and the Danum Community Garden.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Meeting rooms on the first and second floors can be booked through Doncaster Council, and refreshments can be added through Café 1910.

Plan your visit