Well all I can do is echo much of what has already been said; I have one or two (sad) bits to add. Here in Barnsley, the neighbour of a friend, asked my friend what was the black stuff that they kept digging up in their back garden - you can guess I'm sure, coal, (which had been spilled over the years being transported from the 'coal place' at the bottom of the garden into the house). CEAG was as I'm sure most of you know one of the world's foremost suppliers of lamps & lighting for the mining industry; the 'heritage museum' in Barnsley Town Hall has a bulb and it's cardboard box in a display case described as "A bulb from a miner's lamp"; not something like "Barnsley was once the location of a world renowned lighting supplier to the mining industry and here is a lamp typical of those used". There's more pictures of Barnsley collieries in the local Morrisons stores than the Town Hall. Maybe if miner's had been cuddly creatures which people could dress up as (ala M.Mouse) there would be more interest.

Latest news is that administrators have been appointed to carry through a creditors' voluntary liquidation following the decision by HLF and CCF not to give any further financial support.

Latest news is that administrators have been appointed to carry through a creditors' voluntary liquidation following the decision by HLF and CCF not to give any further financial support.

Been there with Morwellham 2009 - 2010. Administrators are the biggest parasites I have ever come across. :guns:

It might be harsh but look at their expected visitor numbers and the entrance charges, if that could generate sufficient revenue to run as a going concern it would have been a minor miracle. In my very humble opinion there was too much capital funding sloshing about in the recent past and far too little knowledge about running viable visitor "attractions". Additionally West Cumbria has struggled to draw in tourists for some years now.

Latest news is that administrators have been appointed to carry through a creditors' voluntary liquidation following the decision by HLF and CCF not to give any further financial support.

Been there with Morwellham 2009 - 2010. Administrators are the biggest parasites I have ever come across. :guns:

Even bigger parasites than consultants?????;D

I think all mining museums have these sort of problems.
Robert & I helped, a little, with the setting up of Florence museum.
The atraction here was it ran underground tours, but once the plug was pulled on the pumping, it closed pretty soon afterwards.
Even with underground tours, and no pumping required the Wanlockhead museum has struggled to keep going.
Basically whilst we all think it is a fantastic idea, the great British public want to entertained, for their money, and I am not sure how you can do that underground, easily.

Basically whilst we all think it is a fantastic idea, the great British public want to entertained, for their money, and I am not sure how you can do that underground, easily.

Oh dear, that's quite a statement ;(

In the summer holidays of my schooldays (inevitably at a caravan site somewhere) one of the first priorities was to seek out leaflets for local showcaves or mines.

They seem to be able to do this in North Wales by underground bouncy castles, etc but there aren't many places that lend themselves to that.

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Basically whilst we all think it is a fantastic idea, the great British public want to entertained, for their money, and I am not sure how you can do that underground, easily.

Oh dear, that's quite a statement ;(

We manage pretty well, don't you think, Alex? 🙂 But we are not running a business......

Yes, well, erm. Mining museums and Joe Public - as has been said, Joe Public is now distanced, in general, by at least a generation since the last true miners came out to grass. Around here (N Wales), we had Gloddfa Ganol and Llechwedd Slate Mines opened for tourists. GG closed but Llechwedd carries on BUT they've had to diversify from being a true mining museum with the new bouncy things... Due to H&S, both GG and Llechwedd were heavily sanitised. Luckily, we now have other operators on the scene with GoBelow who take people into Cwmorthin and Rhiwbach - OK, there are a few 'embellishments' but in general, people see it how it actually was - and Miles is doing well with the enterprise. Corris Mine Explorers and Braich Goch seem to be doing well too with people seeing slate mining 'in the raw'. I haven't been to Big Pit or Wakefield yet so haven't seen how coal mining is portrayed. My guess is that as the genuine ex miners have to hang up their helmets, a lot will be lost.

But how do we educate Joe Public these days - I see a general dumbing down of how our history is taught and we will lose all trace of our industrial heritage if we're not careful. That would be a tragedy. It's up to us oldies to pass on our knowledge NOW before it's too late. I go into local schools on Anglesey as a STEM Ambassador and it frightens me that the kids don't know what the big hole is on Parys Mountain or that the island, and N Wales in general, supported a huge seafaring industry (that was my background - marine engineer).

Ask kids where their lamb chops come from - even here on Anglesey - and most will say 'out of a freezer'. What are we breeding - a generation of numpties who only know how to operate a PC or smartphone to txt their mates trivia... No interest in real life anymore. It's frightening!!

Enough! 😞 😢

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Basically whilst we all think it is a fantastic idea, the great British public want to entertained, for their money, and I am not sure how you can do that underground, easily.

Oh dear, that's quite a statement ;(

We manage pretty well, don't you think, Alex? 🙂 But we are not running a business......

I guess so, most people seem pretty entertained :thumbup:

Latest news is that administrators have been appointed to carry through a creditors' voluntary liquidation following the decision by HLF and CCF not to give any further financial support.

The administrator's report will make good reading with most of the groups assets being: several hundred tons of Grade 2 listed headgear, several hundred tons of Grade 2 listed winding engine etc, a plot of land (not much use for housing) with a Grade 2 listed engine house on it.
Get a feeling that an unseasonal lightning strike is in the forecast!!:(