Tourist attraction to open to public for first time in years (original) (raw)

People will have the chance to tour one of Leicestershire’s most famous historic monuments next month. The event, which takes place on Sunday, April 10, will mark the first time people will have been allowed inside Coalville’s Snibston Colliery in seven years.

The tours, hosted by Snibston Heritage Trust in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council, are being held to mark the re-opening of the colliery itself. The former Snibston Discovery Museum, of which the colliery became part, was closed in 2015 and later demolished.

A rare survivor of a 1960s to 1980s period coal mine, Snibston Colliery is recognised as a historic monument by Historic England. Its pitheads and associated buildings are also listed by the organisation, protecting the iconic structures from removal.

Next month’s tours are part of the Heritage Trust’s ‘A Miner’s Story’ exhibition. The day-long event will feature a wealth of mining stories and histories, as well as displays from the likes of the Whitwick Historical Group, Whitwick Colliery Disaster Memorial Project and Coalville Heritage Society. There will also be a display of mining memorabilia from Chris Matchett.

One the day’s most anticipated events will be the chance to talk to former miners about the machinery they used underground in a mine simulation display. This will see former miners guide the public around the colliery surface buildings and tell the story of how the pit operated during the 1970s and 1980s.

In all there are five, one-hour tours on the day. Visitors will be guided through Snibston Colliery’s lamp room, mine control room, medical centre, pit top and winding house. Tours are unable to go underground at present.

Snibston Colliery tour

Former miners giving tours of Snibston Colliery to the public on a previous tour

Bryan Hallam, colliery guide and trustee, said: “The Trust is pleased to be working with Leicestershire County Council to enable people to walk around the colliery buildings, as they are a rare survivor of the now gone coal mining industry. Snibston is a monument to that industry, and the tours around the colliery buildings will bring the monument to life with stories about the work and life of miners who once work in the local coal mines.”

The colliery now stands as part of Snibston Colliery Park. As well as the history of the pit, the site includes a children’s adventure playground, nature rambles, cycling and mountain bike trail and Colliery Café.

Leader of Leicestershire County Council Nick Rushton said the tours honoured Snibston’s proud history. “This site proudly honours its mining heritage roots and I’m pleased that in working with Snibston Heritage Trust, we will be able to give locals and visitors a rare opportunity to step back in time as they hear from former miners and experience the historic Snibston we all know and respect," he added.

“The regeneration of the site always intended to make the park more attractive and secure long-term benefits for the area, and it’s fantastic to see tours like this helping the park honour its history as it continues to flourish for future generations to come.”

Snibston Colliery Park and the colliery exhibition are free to attend. Colliery tours - which are limited to 20 people each - are priced at £2.50 per adult, with children and young people under 16 free.

All proceeds will aid the Snibston Heritage Trust in restoring rare items of mining machinery. More information about the tours is available by calling the Snibston Heritage Trust on 01530 833521 or by emailing stuart.warburton@outlook.com.

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