At Community Update, we take pride in showcasing the very best community services, and as such, in this issue we are proud to announce that we have selected the Peak District Mining Museum as the recipient of our Commitment to Excellence Award.
Opened in 1978 by the Peak District Mines Historical Society as the Society had received donations of artefacts of the local mineral mining industry, and in 1976 they recovered a huge water pressure engine from underground. These needed a place where they could be shared with the public and so the Museum itself was built by teams of volunteers, and it now has a small number of paid staff who do the guided tours and run the shop.
Rated by Tripadvisor as the best museum in Derbyshire this year, the Peak District Mining Museum has been rated as the number one thing to do in Matlock Bath for the past three years. Part of the Museum’s charm include the amazing guided tours to a real mine where visitors can discover how the miners worked and what the conditions were like.
Reviews include the following, “the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable and made my slightly nervous six-year-old daughter totally at ease. She came out saying she loved it!” and “our tour guide was interesting and gave us loads of information whilst, at the same time, managing a group of individuals with different fitness levels and ages.” There are over 380 equally amazing reviews to whet your appetite!
The Museum welcomes thousands of visitors every year, many in family groups. It is packed with artefacts and things to do to interest the youngsters in the group, while also offering fascinating displays for the older members of the family too.
Museum Manager, Clare Herbert, told us, “From the 1st November 2022 until the 30th March 2023 we will be open at the weekends and every day in the school holidays (apart from Christmas Day). On Christmas Eve we have a very special tour of the mine where we follow the traditions of the old miners who every year on that day would leave a lit candle in the mine and sing a rousing Christmas song to keep bad spirits away!”
A final review to convince you, “A fantastic family trip – the museum has lots to read/do/see and the interactive displays were brilliant. The highlight was the tour of the Temple mine with our guide, who was just the right amount of educational to keep adults interested and just the right amount of fun for the little ones. An awesome, budget friendly trip out and we will certainly be visiting again soon.”
For more information:
T 01629 583834