The National Coal Mining Museum, Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield (01924 848806) is now encouraging participation of small, groups of relatively fit persons in a tour of the underground workings (the 'visitor' mine) exiting via the second exit (Conveyor Drift), which is not normally open to the public, but which is nevertheless inspected daily. You will need to book in advance, and there IS a charge for this service to cover staff costs, currently £30.00 per group plus £3 per head for your (refundable) pit check. I kept mine.

This trip is well-worth doing; our guide Steve Oxley, had us in STITCHES at times and was most knowledgeable about Caphouse in particular and coal mining in general.

The 600M walk out of the Drift, ascending 140 vertical metres, is impressive to say the least, and most heartening to see an ongoing process of maintenance and repair, and continued use of the NCB machinery.

Strange to emerge on the surface NOT soaked through and covered in ochre (okker they calls it)

enjoy....

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I cannot recommend "Caphouse" highly enough ....

I organise a classic Landrover show there each year (All proceeds go to Caphouse ...This years donation was our best ever at over £1300)

The folks that run the place are fantasic and extremely knowledgeable
....

I hope that one year I will actually get to go underground and do the tour (I'm usually busy running around like a headless chicken lol )
Fantastic place AND well deserving of any patronage anyone can offer ....

In fact I "May" have a think and see IF i cannot organise a group to take advantage of this extra special trip .

The trip via the emergency drift is well worth it.
Although as pointed out, the drift is about 1in4.


And even without this extended trip, the site is worth a visit.
However, I think I heard rumours about no canteen atm????

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I suspect the no canteen issue is due to them changing from the current out sourced catering firm....
We were there over the August Bank holiday and things were in a bit of a 'flux' state....
I'm sure they are working hard to resolve it though.

Damned good value meal it was in the main canteen too.

I 'understand' the kitchen is closed for refurbishment during the quiet season.

Theres coffee, crisps and chocolate (ie all 3 major food groups) in vending machines if you haven't brought your bait! 😉

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...... and (remiss of me not to mention earlier) thanks to Colin H for organising the trip, Mike H for driving and Mike D for the in-car entertainment!!!

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Do they allow photography?

It is a coal mine = methane = no!

Is that the official stance or your assumption?

Do they allow photography?

Anything battery operated or electronic has to be left at the surface.

The 'tourist' mines here in the UK really are a country mile behind our European counterparts when it comes to developing a mine into a major tourist attraction that generates revenue and employment and gets people going back time after time.
Not dissing Caphouse, because it really is a great place, but how many times a year would your 'average Joe' pay the place a vist......zero to maybe once in their life time?

On a recent visit to Poland we visited a real gem of a 'tourist mine - Guido in Zabrze. Even though i can only understand minimal Polish the tour was superb and cameras are more than welcomed.
Now considering that Polish mines are some of the gassiest in the world this place has a concert venue 320 metres underground that holds 250 people that regularly holds gigs and the weddings, it also has a bar and heaven forbid there is even a smoking room!

Now, can you ever imagine Caphouse approaching the powers that be with a marketing plan that included any of that and getting it passed?...........No, me neither.::)

http://www.kopalniaguido.pl/en/commercial-offer 

It was a great trip! Steve was a mine of information! As mentioned, the drift was superb; it's not just a straight run either, there is a dog leg half way up and it more or less reverses direction via a dead end 'headshunt'. It is railed and also carries a working conveyer. Any minor spalls are loaded on the belt and taken to surface. Materials for repairs are sent in on tubs lowered down the incline by wire rope. Well worth the money!
Colin.

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Mike Davison's stories make me ill with laughter!

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