News

Women in the Miners’ Strike

The 1984/5 Miners’ Strike pitted the National Union of Mineworkers against Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in a struggle for the future of Britain. The story of the strike has often been told from the perspective of men, but in a brand new exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield, opening Saturday 29 February, visitors will be able to see how the women of the coalfields also played a vital part in making history during this year of struggle. Read more

Filming of the Christmas Lectures to be live streamed at the National Coal Mining Museum

The National Coal Mining Museum will be among the 18 venues nationally to exclusively live stream the Christmas Lectures straight from the Royal Institution on the 12 and 14 December, before they are aired on TV. The broadcast offers the public the chance to see Dr Hannah Fry explore ‘Secrets and Lies: the hidden power of maths’ in a unique venue with supplementary science shows further explaining the concepts discussed in the show. Read more

Digging Deep: Miners of African Caribbean Heritage

The National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield is welcoming the first ever exhibition in the UK to focus on migrants’ contribution to the mining industry with the opening of Digging Deep: Miners of African Caribbean Heritage at the Museum on 21 September 2019. The brand-new exhibition, which is the result of six years research and curator by historian Norma Gregory (M.A), presents and the reminiscences and narratives of former black British miners to enrich available heritage. The exhibition, which has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Midlands & East and the Lottery Players continues its tour nationally after the exhibition closes at the National Coal Mining Museum in 2020. Read more

PRESS RELEASE: National Coal Mining Museum gets funding to tell the story of Sir Humphry Davy in a brand new exhibition.

The National Coal Mining Museum has been awarded a £81,987 grant from AIM Biffa Award to create a brand new ‘Illumination Gallery’ which will open in Summer 2020. The new gallery will draw on the fund’s theme ‘History Makers - People Who Shaped Our World’ and talk about the contributions made by Sir Humphry Davy to the flame-safety lamp which is recognised for saving countless lives in mining. Read more

What do Babycham, Star Wars and Madonna have in common?

The National Coal Mining Museum will on Saturday 6 April 2019 be cracking open a brand new, free permanent exhibition in time for the Easter holidays. The Mining Lives gallery will look at the lives of miners at work and at leisure as well as how the mining industry has influenced everyday life. Read more

Celebrating the 'Musicians in Museums' Programme

The National Coal Mining Museum for England is one of three Museums to have hosted a year-long residency for two folk musicians as part of the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s ‘Musicians in Museums’ programme. The Museum is celebrating the musicians’ year of achievements with a special underground performance at Caphouse Colliery for invited guests. Read more

Visit the last deep coalmine in England this half term

A unique events and exhibitions programme is on offer for visitors to the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield this February Half Term and beyond. There’s lots to see and do for families and for anyone with an interest in learning more about England’s industrial heritage. Read more

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