NATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUM
for England
Explore the Museum
Underground tour Caphouse Colliery Nature trail Hope Pit Reception, shop and café Coach park
The Museum is set on a large site across two former coal mines: Caphouse Colliery and Hope Pit, which are linked by the Museum’s Nature Trail. Most of the galleries are based at the Caphouse end of the site with the underground tour, original colliery buildings, reception, gift shop and cafe.
Galleries and exhibitions Mining Lives Gallery An interactive exhibition area situated in the main Visitor Centre which examines: • mining communities • home and family life • health and welfare • management • unions and strikes • disasters and rescue • sport and leisure
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The buildings at Hope Pit are a five-minute walk away from Caphouse.They explore and science and engineering concepts using interactive displays and games. If you need any help planning your visit, the Museum’s education team will be happy to assist you.
Coal Interface Gallery Situated in its own building in the main pit yard, this display houses the technological collection and covers: • mining machinery • lighting and ventilation • transport and communication 1842 Victorian Exhibition Listen for the testimonies of children who worked in nineteenth-century mines in this gallery, which explores the working conditions of the women and children who worked underground before the 1842 Coal Mines Act changed their lives.
Special Exhibitions The Museum’s special exhibition gallery in the main Visitor Centre hosts a changing programme of temporary exhibitions on a variety of subjects. For current exhibitions please see the Museum website: www.ncm.org.uk Library The Museum’s research library holds a wealth of information on the history of coal mining in England. Speak to one of our qualified librarians about using this important resource.
Indoors, Outdoors, Explore!
Caphouse Colliery Caphouse Colliery dates to the late 1790s. It was taken over by the Lister-Kaye family in 1827, and was nationalised with other pits in 1947. In 1981 it was joined underground to Denby Grange Colliery, and in 1985 the last coal was brought out of Caphouse. Our historic site still has many of the original colliery buildings, which are accessible to the public and help bring to life the story of coal mining and its vibrant communities.
Underground tour Descend 140 metres underground complete with helmet and cap-lamp to see first-hand what life was like for a miner through the ages. There are three tour options to choose from, which are all led by a former coal miner: ‘Meet a Miner’ gives pupils a journey through mining history; ‘Hands-On History’ and ‘Subterranean Science’ tours include interactive areas where pupils can try out mining jobs, see machines in action and investigate light, rocks and fossils. Steam winding engine house Dating back to 1876, this is one of the oldest surviving buildings on site. The original steam winding engine is still in working order, and it is possible sometimes to see it run. Control room The 1980s nerve centre of the pit, which coordinated all underground work. Stable yard Visit the stables to meet the ponies and find out how horses and ponies were used through coal-mining history.
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Pithead baths, wages office and medical centre The Caphouse baths were opened in 1938. Linked to the wages office, this was where working miners started and ended their working day. The Medical Centre offers a glimpse of the important work done by the pit nurse. Drift mouth During the later part of its history, coal at Caphouse was brought out of the drift mouth. Follow the conveyors across the site to the coal-screening plant where the coal was sorted. Coal-screening plant (restricted access) The largest building on the site was where the coal was sorted from stone, and where coal was sorted into sizes before being sent to market by rail, and later by lorry.
Boiler house The Lancashire boilers once provided steam for the steam winding engine. Weighbridge The weighbridge was probably installed when the pit moved from using rail to road transport. This is where the lorries carrying coal were weighed before transporting the coal.
Indoors, Outdoors, Explore!
Hope Pit and the Nature Trail Hope Pit is a smaller colliery that dates back to the 1830s. The pit was also owned by the Lister-Kaye family, who joined the pit to Caphouse. From the 1970s, miners went underground at the Hope Pit shaft, while the coal was brought out at Caphouse. The original colliery buildings have all been conserved and redisplayed to house hands-on science and technology activities that demonstrate their original function.
Inman Shaft house This building once housed a beam engine for pumping water from the mine workings. Winding-engine house The electric winding engine housed here wound men up and down the shaft from the 1920s until 1985. Compressor house Find out how compressed air was used to power machines and lighting safely in gassy seams. Fan house This building focuses on the importance of ventilation in the mine.
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Colliery workshop The one-time joiners’ shop and saw-mill was where repairs and maintenance took place on site. This building is also home to the blacksmith’s workshop and the machines worked by belts, powered by line shafting. Hope Store (limited access) A purpose-built museum store houses large objects. This building is sometimes opened for school activities, but visitors can use the new walk-through to peek through at some of the machines and vehicles kept here.
Nature trail and water-treatment plant Discover how the former colliery spoil tips have been regenerated by exploring the Museum’s nature trail. Birch, ash and oak woodland provide a lush habitat for wildlife in what was a rubbish heap and colliery tip. At Hope Pit the innovative system of treating polluted minewater can be seen at work cleaning the bright orange iron-rich minewater that has been pumped from underground. The water is passed through a series of settling ponds and reed beds before flowing into the stream on its way to the River Calder. An exciting example of real science at work in a vocational setting.
Indoors, Outdoors, Explore!
How to book Practical information We have a dedicated picnic area, indoor lunch spaces, toilets and lockable storage cupboards for school groups. There are coach parking spaces available and an outside adventure playground. Our risk assessment advice document can be downloaded from the website. Local schools initiative For local schools (5 mile radius only) we offer a 'parent drop-off' or 'minibus run' facility. Please let our Bookings Officer know if you require this. Shop The Museum shop sells resources for teachers and a range of souvenirs and reference books. Goody bags for schools groups are available on request. Supervision requirements School groups have underground tours in groups of seventeen pupils and two adults. Around the rest of the Museum site, we recommend a ratio of one adult to every ten children. Booking the Education room You can book the Education Activities Room in the Learning Curve, equipped with interactive whiteboard, for the day. The charge for this is ÂŁ40.
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Cancellation Please let us know as soon as possible if you wish to cancel your visit. If a booked workshop is cancelled with less than five working days’ notice, the full amount will be payable. Museum information National Coal Mining Museum for England, Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH Tel: 01924 848806 Fax 01924 844567 Email: education@ncm.org.uk www.ncm.org.uk Registered in England & Wales as a Limited Company by Guarantee No. 1702426. Reg. Charity No. 517325. VAT Reg. no. 457 548 314. Reg. Office: Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RH
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Contact the Booking Staff to make a provisional booking on 01924 848806 or by email: booking.officer@ncm.org.uk. We will need to know the size of your group and preferred visit date. If you need an indoor lunch space, please ask at this point.
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We will then send you a booking form; please return this within two weeks.
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Once your booking is confirmed, you will be notified in writing.
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We advise all teachers to make a preliminary visit. The education team is happy to help with planning your day. If you have any specific enquiries, please contact the education team on 01924 848806 or email education@ncm.org.uk.