www.ncm.org.uk

Enjoy the Museum’s countryside setting by exploring the half-mile long Nature Trail – pick up the re-usable, ring-bound activity cards from Reception and enjoy interactive games and puzzles with Motty the Mole along the way (£2 per pack). On the trail, pop into the bird hides to see if you can spot any of the Colliery’s wildlife, then check out the amazing water-treatment reed beds.

Above ground

Exploring original colliery buildings such as the steam winder, medical centre and pithead baths brings you closer to the daily life of a working mine, whilst the displays, photographs and films in the galleries take you to the heart of mining communities, family life and mining technology through the centuries. The restored buildings at Hope Pit are now home to hands-on interactive models and touch-screen displays demonstrating the science of mining.

Location and Transport

Find us on the A642, halfway between Wakefield and Huddersfield, easily accessible from the M1 and M62. Car: follow brown signs from Huddersfield or M1; sat nav - enter WF4 4RH; ample free parking for cars and coaches. Rail: Wakefield Westgate mainline station is 6 miles away. Bus: from Wakefield/Huddersfield bus stations the Stagecoach Yorkshire bus No 232 stops at The Reindeer pub, a short walk downhill to the Museum. The No 128 Wakefield to Dewsbury stops right outside.

Opening 10am - 5pm every day except 24 - 26 Dec and 1 Jan.

Admission/Parking/Booking Admission is free for everyone and there is free parking on site. Underground tours can be booked on arrival or groups can pre-book by calling 01924 848806 or emailing bookings@ncm.org.uk (advisable during school holiday times). During school holidays the underground tours are extremely busy and visitors are advised to arrive as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Underground Checks All visitors to the underground tour will be asked to leave a £3 deposit for a traditional miners ‘check’. After your tour your £3 will be refunded or you can keep your check as a souvenir of your visit and the money will be used towards the running costs of the Museum. If you are a UK tax payer, your £3 donation is eligible for Gift Aid.

Underground Tours Please wear warm clothing and sensible footwear. We regret that under 5s are not able to go underground. Tours for wheelchair users can be arranged by calling us on 01924 848806.

National Coal Mining Museum for England Trust Ltd Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RH

Tel: 01924 848806 Email: info@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

discover more!Dig deep and

Spring - Summer 2015

FREE admission & parking for everyone

UndergroundGet kitted out with your hard hat and battery lamp then journey 140m underground to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a working coal mine.

On our Meet a Miner tour, suitable for all ages, you’ll discover the dangers and hardships faced by the men, women and children who toiled deep below ground as well as the machinery, the methods and the inventions that changed mining through the ages. A highlight of our family friendly Go Mining! interactive tour is visiting the stable to find out how horses were looked after underground - have a go at feeding, mucking out and putting on the pony’s bridle.

Living HistoryMeet characters fromour mining pastaround the site.

Peer down the 140m deep furnace

shaft – or step out on the glass cover

above it if you’re feeling brave!

The National Coal Mining Museum for England is a unique place where the history of mining over several centuries is not only preserved, but brought vividly to life...

A visit here can take you 140m underground, back in time to see the historic buildings and machinery and right to the heart of the lives of miners and their families.

Along the way, you’ll discover the stories of generations of people who laboured in the mining industry; you’ll meet living history characters and hear their colourful tales and our former-miner guides will enlighten and entertain you as they bring to life the harsh realities of mining through the centuries.

Our café choice includes seasonal specials and plenty to tempt the kids and you’ll find our shop well stocked with gifts and souvenirs to suit all budgets.

Looking for a unique venue for your celebration event? Get in touch with our team on 01924 844581.

Keeping Coal Mining Alive

Café and Shop

Crafty Conversations First Thursday of every month, 12 noon – 2pm Come and join our informal craft sessions in our fantastic cafe. Bring your current creation to work on and enjoy a coffee and a natter with like-minded crafters and maybe pick up or pass on some tips and advice to others.

Wacky Wednesdays: Free under 5s activities Every Wednesday during term time 10:15 – 11am Free fun for under 5s. Each week combines storytelling, singing and wacky craft sessions.

Term time dates: 25 Feb – 25 Mar, 22 Apr – 20 May, 3 Jun – 15 Jul, 9 Sept – 23 Sept

Craft & Gift Fairs: 10am – 4pm Once a month the Museum is home to a fantastic craft fair, with over 40 stalls selling quality gifts, jewellery and handmade crafts.

Dates for the diary 6 Apr, 25 May, 31 Aug

Yvette Vanson Until 26 Apr An exhibition to mark the end of the 1984/5 Miners Strike. Yvette Vanson explores and communicates the political and social questions surrounding the mining industry through portraits of miners from around the world.

Special exhibition: The Pit at the End of the Road Until 17 May Local artist Michael Milner reflects on personal recollections of coal mining and the mining communities around him in this exhibition of nostalgia and memory.

School’s Out! Easter Holidays 30 Mar – 10 Apr Enjoy the great outdoors this Easter! Take a stroll around our nature trail with the help of Motty the mole; enjoy free art and craft sessions and fun nature-themed activities.

Fright Nights 18 - 19 Apr, 8pm – 2am Join Fright Nights West Yorkshire for an extreme 100% vigil ghost hunt to push your boundaries of fear at one of West Yorkshire’s most haunted locations, our Caphouse Colliery site!

Wedding Fair Sun 19 Apr, 11am – 3:30pm (last admission 3:15pm) The Museum is a unique setting for your wedding. Come along and see the venue along with a selection of the best wedding suppliers in Yorkshire.

Summer Holidays! 20 Jul – 31 Aug Join us for a summer packed with unmissable family activities and events – enjoy a fabulously free day out, whatever the weather!

Antique & Vintage Fair: 19 Jul 10am – 4pm, Entry £1.50 There’s a whole host of antique goodies and vintage bargains at Fox and Moon’s vintage antique fair. Don’t miss it!

Special exhibition: Rugby League Heritage On Tour’ 1 Aug – 20 Aug This touring exhibition draws together stories from the social and cultural history of the sport with brand new research. As well as showcasing historic items, the exhibition stories include the game’s split from Rugby Union, the first World Cup and the banning of the league in WW11 France.

Summer Fun Day 5 Aug Visit us on National Play Day for a special Wacky Wednesday as mini miners visit the seaside! Under 5s only. Costs £3 each (adult and children). Further details and how to book at www.ncm.org.uk

Heritage Open Days 10 – 13 Sept FREE EVENT A chance to go behind the scenes at the Museum and 223 year-old Caphouse Colliery, including very special access to historic buildings and objects which aren’t normally on public display.

Library Wed: 1pm – 4pm Thurs: 10am – 12.30pm & 1pm – 4pm Fri: 10am – 12.30pm & 1pm – 4pm Plus the first full weekend of each month (opening times as Thurs & Fri)

Special exhibition: A Light in the Darkness 200 Years of the Flame Safety Lamp 12 Oct 2015 – 24 Jan 2016 2015 is the bicentenary of the invention of Sir Humphry Davy’s flame safety lamp. An icon and emblem of the coal mining industry, this year’s Autumn exhibition commemorates the 200th anniversary and will look at Davy, the development of the safety lamp and the influence it had on the industry.

March - April

May - June

July - October

Yorkshire Brick Show - Impressive creations with Lego® bricks 2, 3, 4 May Tickets £6.50 - under 3s go free Must be pre-booked - no entry to the Lego® exhibition on the day without a ticket Further details and tickets available from www.yorkshirebrickshow.co.uk

School’s Out! May Half -Term Fun 25 – 29 May Enjoy a half-term packed full of free fun; including art and craft activities, costumed characters and much more.

In conversation with author Brian Elliott Sat 6 Jun 1pm – 3pm Hear local authors Brian Elliott and Mel Dyke talk about Brian’s latest book ‘Images from the Past: Coalminers’. Signed copies of Brian’s book will be available to buy and people attending will be entitled to a 10% discount in the Museum Café on production of a voucher. To book email david.cross@ncm.org.uk

Special exhibition: The Path of the Ponies 22 Jun – 4 Oct From finding suitable ponies to their conditions underground, from galas and shows to their eventual retirement, the hidden lives of the pit ponies continue to capture the imagination of all ages. In a dark and dangerous environment their relationship with the miners created lasting bonds of friendship, but the path of the pony was not always a happy one. This exhibition explores the world of the industry’s pit ponies and horses and provides a glimpse into their journey through life.

Sparkies - a play by John Kelly Sat 27 Jun 7.30 pm and Sun 28 Jun 3.30pm Tickets: Sat 27 - £15 (inc pie and pea supper)/Sun 28 - £11 (refreshments available in Museum café) Further details and how to book at www.ncm.org.uk

Miners Gala Sun 28 Jun Children’s activities including Get Cycling, music, stalls, crafts, demonstrations, small animals and a craft competition will be the order of the day, so join us for this traditional event for all of the family!

A programme of special events and exhibitions throughout the year means that there’s always

something new to see – and with free admission for everyone you can come back again and again.

What’s On

What’s On