Coal mining museum icon restored to former glory

An iconic pit headstock has been restored at the National Coal Mining Museum.
The iconic headstock at the National Coal Mining MuseumThe iconic headstock at the National Coal Mining Museum
The iconic headstock at the National Coal Mining Museum

The museum’s grade II* listed 100-year-old headstock is believed to be one of the last remaining, if not the only, timber headstocks in Europe.

Thanks to funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport, the museum near Wakefield has been able to spend the last six months repairing the headstock including the newly-restored winding wheel.

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Mine director Shaun McLoughlin said: “As a part of a routine inspection I noticed the paint flaking and a bit of wood rot in the headstock so I brought in a timber specialist, who then identified that the wood rot was severe.

“We were fortunate to not be dependent on the structure and had contingencies in place to ensure the cage continued to run safely and seamlessly for public.

“However, as it is a structure of such historic importance, we brought in conservation specialists to ensure that it maintains its historic integrity and to restore it to its former glory.”

Museum director Jenny Layfield added: “While many people believe that the winding wheel on the top of our shaft operates the cage, it has been purely ornamental for quite a few years.

The redundant winding gear at Barnsley Main Colliery, once a familiar sight in pit villagesThe redundant winding gear at Barnsley Main Colliery, once a familiar sight in pit villages
The redundant winding gear at Barnsley Main Colliery, once a familiar sight in pit villages
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“By restoring the headstock we have not only prevented the further degradation of a historically important structure but we have opened up new ways to tell the story of mining.

“In the future we could run the steam winding engine to turn the winding wheels for public demonstrations where the public could see how the winding wheel worked in all its glory.”

The new winding wheel can be seen from the main road but the best views are from within the National Coal Mining Museum where the public will be able to pre-book a visit to get a closer look at the structure as soon as the museum opens on August 5. Website: https://www.ncm.org.uk/

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