Scottish Mining Museum

The Scottish Mining Museum was created in 1984, to preserve the physical surface remains of Lady Victoria Colliery at Newtongrange, Midlothian, Scotland.

The colliery, sunk by the Lothian Coal Company in 1890, came into production in 1894. It was nationalised in 1947 with the formation of the National Coal Board, and had closed in 1981. The buildings were recognised as being of outstanding interest as they formed an almost complete survival of a major Victorian colliery, with later additions. Some demolition, such as the 1950s canteen and medical centre, has occurred but the vast bulk of the structures stand. Notable features include the Grant Ritchie winding engine and the colliery headstocks, built by Arrols of Glasgow. From 1998 onwards several of the main structures were stabilised and new visitor facilities opened.

The Museum developed collections, such as a library, and exhibitions that were housed in a visitor centre which has previously formed part of the colliery offices. The Prestongrange beam engine, at Prestonpans, East Lothian, also for a time formed part of the Museum until responsibility for it passed to the East Lothian local authority [date needed] .The Colliery is Listed Category 'A' by Historic Scotland. [Scottish Collieries; an inventory; Miles K Oglethorpe; The Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland; Edinburgh; 2006]

In 2008, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, a drawing of Lady Victoria Colliery won an online vote as Scotland's Most Treasured place. [ [http://www.treasuredplaces.org.uk/gallery/winning_image.php Scotland's favourite archive image ] ] A poem commemorating the colliery was also written. [ [http://www.treasuredplaces.org.uk/gallery/the_lady_victoria_colliery.php A Poem by Valerie Gillies ] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.scottishminingmuseum.com/ The Scottish Mining Museum webpage]
* [http://www.ukattraction.com/edinburgh+lothian/map/scottish-mining-museum.htm The Scottish Mining Museum map]