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Hope Pit: showcasing the heritage of the UK’s coal mining industry

Hope Pit: showcasing the heritage of the UK’s coal mining industry

Hope Pit main buildings including pit head and winding house
Hope Pit main buildings including pit head and winding house

Heritage Grants

Wakefield Rural
Wakefield
National Coal Mining Museum for England Trust Ltd
£985000
The National Coal Mining Museum for England Trust ensured Hope Pit’s position as a centre of excellence for the UK’s coal mining industry.

The Hope Pit (and Caphouse Colliery) sites contain a unique group of buildings dating back to the early 19th century. The pit closed as a working site in 1985, until the National Coal Mining Museum for England (NCMME) received our support to repair the closed mine and make the buildings safe for visitors.

This project was the second stage of the NCMME’s Master Development Plan. It aims to:

  • conserve the Hope Pit buildings
  • allow public access
  • provide interpretation material around the Hope Pit buildings

NCMME’s work on the site now means that Hope Pit will remain a centre of excellence for the coal mining industry. It has also led to new interactive science activities and display boards for schools and family groups and to greater public access.

As part of the museum, ex-miners lead tours for visitors and school groups. The ex-miners benefit from an induction programme, and now have the opportunity to share their stories with the wider public.