National Mining Museum Scotland

Om museet

The Lady Victoria Colliery at Newtongrange in Midlothian was opened in 1895 and was promoted as Scotland's first super-pit. It produced coal for almost a century and closed in 1981. The four-acre site is regarded as one of the best-preserved Victorian collieries in Europe, with a Category A listed set of buildings that includes Scotland's most powerful steam winding engine, a long run of Lancashire boilers and a timber dredger that is the only one of its kind left in Europe.

The colliery reopened as a museum in 1984, and in 2009 a conservation project stabilised the tippler floor, picking tables, elevator shed and undercroft so that visitors could safely see how coal was processed for delivery. The museum cares for the national coal mining collections, archives and artefacts, and holds a national memorial to mining disasters in Scotland.

Visitors tour the pit head, a recreated underground coalway and coalface, and two floors of exhibitions, either with a guide who is a former miner or on a self-guided audio tour. The tour does not go underground. The Green Zone, an indoor play park with an energy lab, and the picnic area make the site a family destination.

Højdepunkter

• Guided tours led by former miners
• Recreated underground coalway and coalface
• Scotland's most powerful steam winding engine
• The Story of Coal and A Race Apart exhibitions
• The Green Zone play park and Energy Lab
• National memorial to Scottish mining disasters

Permanente udstillinger

• The Story of Coal – Follows the formation of coal in the Carboniferous period and human efforts to dig it from the 13th century onwards, with tools and interactive displays.
• A Race Apart – Shows home and working life in Scottish mining communities from the 19th century to the 1984-85 strike, including a Victorian home where children can dress up.

Grundlagt

1984

Ejer

National Mining Museum Scotland (registered charity)

Entrépriser & rabatter

Prices shown are the standard prices without the optional 10% voluntary donation that the booking system adds; the lowest regular price is for the exhibition galleries only. Tickets can be booked online or bought at reception. Corporate members and voucher holders book a free ticket online.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

All public parts of the museum are fully wheelchair accessible except the Winding Engine House, with lifts and spacious layouts, and there is level access from reception to the shop, café and toilets. The path from the car park and from Newtongrange station has a short cobbled stretch near the front entrance. Two manual wheelchairs can be booked in advance or on arrival. Accessible toilets are in the café area and on the second floor, and a hearing loop covers the exhibition floors. A visual guide, sensory backpacks, iPads with communication apps and walking-stick seats are available, and sensory and site maps can be downloaded. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer
• Barnevognsvenlig
• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne
• Børnefødselsdage

The Green Zone has a play park, an Energy Lab and an interactive hub, is included in the ticket price and is accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs. The museum also has a Victorian home where children can dress up, a family fun day and activities, colouring sheets in the café, high chairs and a picnic area. Baby-changing facilities are in the accessible toilets in the café. Birthday parties can be held in the Activity Room.

Transport & parkering

The museum is on the A7 in Newtongrange, about nine miles south of Edinburgh. There are bike rails at the front of the museum.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik
• Garderobe: findes ikke
• Opbevaringsskabe: findes ikke

The café serves drinks, soup, sandwiches, paninis, toasties, cakes and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options; it is currently being refurbished, with refreshments in the Power House meanwhile. The shop is open the same hours as the museum. There are no lockers or cloakroom. Visitors may eat their own food at the outdoor picnic tables.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Op til 120 personer.

The Victorian Power House holds up to 80 guests for a ceremony and up to 120 for a wedding with drinks reception, dinner and evening party; it is also used for conferences, funeral teas and parties. The Activity Room can be hired for activities, exhibits and birthday parties.

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