National Coal Mining Museum

We're always on the lookout for new places to visit where we can take Archie with us. We see the National Coal Mining Museum signed as we pass by on the motorway but it's only recently that I've actually looked to see if it's somewhere we could go and was pleasantly surprised to find that dogs are allowed in the outdoor grounds. As we woke to beautiful sunshine on Saturday, and with no plans already made, we decided to go and explore.

Based at the site of Caphouse Colliery in Overton, Wakefield, the museum opened in 1988. The colliery here was sunk in the 1770s or 1780s and the Hope Pit in the 1820s. The pits became the Denby Grange Colliery.

Dotted around the site is all manner of machinery used in coal mining, each exhibit is well signed with information given about its purpose. This rocker shovel mechanically reproduces a miner's shovelling action.

This double ended shearer cuts coal underground.

Free steered vehicles were used underground to move equipment and materials.

Diesel locomotives were used to move coal around the colliery.

We weren't able to visit the indoor exhibits, nor take a tour underground, but there was plenty of interest in the outdoor exhibits for us.

We took a walk in the woodland surrounding the museum. I should think it's lovely here once the trees are once again covered in leaves.

The museum pumps out the water in the mines but as it mixes with chemicals and minerals it becomes dirty so it's cleaned before being released.

The Pony Discovery Centre tells the story of working horses.

The museum is home to Eric and Ernie, two Welsh mountain ponies who were rescued from an abandoned coalfield area by the RSPCA, as well as Bud, a blue and white cob.

Finn, a Clydesdale, is also cared for by the museum. He's typical of the type of animal that would have worked above ground transporting workers and coal.

The Miners' Memorial Garden celebrates the individuals and groups whose lives have been touched by the coal mining industry and its communities.

Looking back to Caphouse Pit from Hope Pit. We really enjoyed our visit, there was plenty to see outdoors and the woods are a nice place to walk a dog. There was lots we didn't see indoors so a reason to return at some point in the future.