Visit to Pleasley Mining Museum
The Not So Grumpy Old Men enjoyed a fascinating trip on July 15th to Pleasley Mining Museum, one of Derbyshire’s finest surviving reminders of Britain’s coal‑mining past. The former Pleasley Colliery, opened in the 1870s, still stands proudly with its towering headstocks, atmospheric engine houses and beautifully restored steam winding engines, which are nowadays driven by electrical energy.
We started the day in the café before exploring the site with two friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guides who brought the miners’ world to life – from the tough early days of sinking the shafts to the camaraderie and community that shaped Pleasley for more than a century. The star attraction, the mighty 1904 Lilleshall steam winder, impressed everyone with its sheer scale and engineering elegance.
The museum’s volunteers have worked wonders since the pit closed in 1983, transforming it into a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a real treasure of industrial heritage. It proved to be a perfect outing: history, machinery, good company – and not a grumpy face in sight.
David Rose