Yesterday I visited the Scottish Mining Museum which lies 7 miles south east of Edinburgh city centre. I would recommend the museum as an interesting day out for everyone. There is an entrance fee. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am – 5pm March to October, 10am – 4pm November to February. Lothian buses numbers 29, 3, 3A, 81 and 86 depart from Edinburgh city centre to the Museum with a flat fare of £1.20 or and all day off peak ticket for £3.00. The Museum is well signposted from the Sheriffhall roundabout on the city bypass if you’re driving. There’s a pleasant cafe at the Museum.

Scottish Mining Museum

The museum is housed at the former Lady Victoria Colliery which opened in the 1890s and is one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian mine. There are two floors of exhibitions, the “Story of Coal” takes you through the geology of coal and the history of mining. There are information boards, models and exhibits. “A Race Apart” gives you background on the life of miners and mining communities. I found the audio recordings based on actual interviews given in evidence at the 1842 Royal Commission into mining pretty harrowing. One woman talked about her nine children and two stillbirths and how women were expected to be back down the pit within days of giving birth, working the night shift from 6pm until 7am. She described the work as “sad, sweaty, sore and fatiguing’ . There was a life size model of the the 26 inch tunnel along which workers had to crawl whilst hauling coal.

The cutting machinery at the coalface

There is a guided tour of a modern mine shaft with the large cutting machinery working along the seam. The guides are all former miners and they can offer an insight into their working lives.

The engine room

You also visit the engine room where the 1894 winding engine, used to raise and lower the cages of coal and men, is still in working order.

If you’re like to find out more about industrial heritage in the UK and other countries in Europe, the European Route of Industrial Heritage has loads of information.

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