The Grade II-listed Town Hall in Barnsley, Yorkshire, is set to be transformed into a new museum on local social and industrial history.

The Experience Barnsley scheme aims to convert the 1930s building into a heritage centre charting the borough’s history from prehistoric times to the modern day.

Cllr Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, said: “As one of Barnsley's most iconic buildings, the Town Hall is the perfect place for people to come and learn more about the history of the borough.

“The project will not only fill an important gap in our heritage resource but will also make a significant contribution to education and learning, cultural activity, the local economy and community pride.”

The museum will contain a collection of artefacts on Barnsley’s mining, linen, printing and glass-making trades, as well as Roman and medieval archaeological materials to illustrate the daily lives of residents living in South Yorkshire throughout the ages.

It will also include the borough’s existing archive anthology, such as local photographs, maps, newspapers and pamphlets, in addition to mining records – donated by the National Union of Miners (NUM) – on the local history of the industry and the lives of its miners.

Carole Souter, director of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which has earmarked £2.6m towards the scheme, said: “Barnsley has played a hugely important role in the history of Britain’s industrial development. This is exactly the sort of project the HLF wants to support, as it’s about real people sharing and preserving their own special stories.”