In 2011 Bilsthorpe Heritage Society were offered the lease of the old squash courts at the rear of the Village Hall which gave us a place not only to house our collection but space to show it to people who telephoned and asked if they could visit. This made us think that it would be a terrific idea to create a museum which would be open to the public.
Over the years we have been altering the building to make it more user friendly, begging and buying cabinets to house part of the collection and gaining Charitable status. Bilsthorpe Colliery was one of the most productive mines in Nottinghamshire. It was sunk from 1925 and the first coal was brought to the surface in 1927.
Over the years we have been altering the building to make it more user friendly, begging and buying cabinets to house part of the collection and gaining Charitable status. Bilsthorpe Colliery was one of the most productive mines in Nottinghamshire. It was sunk from 1925 and the first coal was brought to the surface in 1927.
Services
We have models of large mining equipment, photographs, posters, signage as well as documents and maps from 1925 onwards. We also have displays of nostalgic items related to the mining communities in Nottinghamshire. Our volunteers will be delighted to show you around the museum as well as offer a welcome cup of tea or coffee.
We are pleased to congratulate Bob, a longstanding member and retired senior colliery surveyor. Care home resident Mary Balter recently had a wish come true with an informative visit from the Bilsthorpe Heritage Centre. While Mary Balter was chatting to team member Lisa Argyle in the home it came up in conversation that Mary had childhood memories of her father opening the pit in Lisa's home village, Bilsthorpe.
Several years ago the garden was created to commemorate the miners who lost their lives down the pit. Volunteers from the museum maintain the garden in order to provide a sanctuary for wildlife and a place for quiet reflection and remembrance, where all a re welcome to sit for a while among the flowers and listen to the bird song.
The museum is always ready and waiting to welcome volunteers to help ensure that our mining heritage is not lost to future generations. We would not exist without the time generously given by our supporters. Please get in touch if you are able to help in any aspects of the work we do.
Ex miners with their knowledge and experience are invaluable in guiding visitors around the museum and bringing the artefacts to life with stories of how and what they were used for.We also need anyone with time to spare, who can help with the running of the museum, especially if you have social media skills, and welcoming our guests, as well as making craft gifts to be sold in our shop in order to raise funds for the museum.
Ex miners with their knowledge and experience are invaluable in guiding visitors around the museum and bringing the artefacts to life with stories of how and what they were used for.We also need anyone with time to spare, who can help with the running of the museum, especially if you have social media skills, and welcoming our guests, as well as making craft gifts to be sold in our shop in order to raise funds for the museum.
Reviews (10)
Peter Squires
Oct 20, 2021
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As a former worker down Bilsthorpe Colliery this place is a true reminder of life down the pit, filled with artefacts from above and below ground during the Colliery's 70-year life, and the Heritage museum also displays life in the village before and during the mines existence!
Who better to show you round the museum than residents and former Miners.
You might even get a cuppa tea!
Who Knows!
Well Worth a Visit!
Who better to show you round the museum than residents and former Miners.
You might even get a cuppa tea!
Who Knows!
Well Worth a Visit!
Andrew Ley
Oct 15, 2021
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Mark Crane
Sep 16, 2021
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David Bailey
Aug 24, 2021
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William Bell
Aug 20, 2021
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Vic Lumley
Jul 10, 2021
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A museum ran by volunteers. The museum as only been open since 2014. I was lucky in that I was the only person being shown around, so that meant that I was able to really look at the artifacts. I enjoyed the fact that they are an Heritage Museum as they had a few itews that today's youth would only have seen on TV.
Heather
Jun 10, 2021
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Robert Stanislawski
May 17, 2021
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Stuart Redding
Jan 06, 2020
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Chelle J.
Sep 20, 2017
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We visited here on a Sunday afternoon and were shown around by an ex miner. The museum is set down a corridor, 1 very large room and some new smaller rooms recently added.we were there for over 2 hours.The museum has sections covering Bilsthorpe village history and the mines around the area and household displays that cover between the wars. answered every question we had and bought it all to life with the stories from when the pits were operating.
If you are this way definitely worth a visit, run entirely by volunteers and donations this museum charges no entrance fee but asks for donations which
If you are this way definitely worth a visit, run entirely by volunteers and donations this museum charges no entrance fee but asks for donations which
