Educational Visit to Nenthead Mines
Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre is situated in the village of Nenthead, in the heart of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The A686, which runs through the area, was recently voted into the ‘Top Ten Best Drives in the World’.
The Heritage Centre
- An introductory exhibition hall, giving background information to the history of the site and the purpose built village of Nenthead, together with some of the local geology and social history.
- “The Power of Water”, a large interactive outdoor feature looking at different ways water is used to power machinery, including three working water wheels.
- Further exhibitions in old buildings, examining mining and mineral processing at Nenthead and the social life of the villagers, including interactive displays.
- The remains of the smelt mill dating back as far as the 1740’s.
- An underground tour of historic “Carrs Mine”, emerging from the mine level beside the waterfall on the River Nent.
- A chance to walk across and look down the 328ft deep “Brewery Shaft”.
- Access to our internet and ‘Virtual Learning Environment’ sites.
- A fully equipped Education Room.
- A visitor centre containing a well-stocked gift shop and café, together with an outdoor picnic area.
- Panning for minerals, a chance to find your own treasure.
- A 9 bed, self-catering bunkhouse.
This is all part of a 200 acre site, which contains other numerous mining remains and items of interest, as well as offering views over and access to the surrounding moorland and spectacular countryside.
On-Site Educational Workshops
Our developing workshop programmes cover a wide range of subjects and age groups. Many workshops have been developed to help teachers deliver the National Curriculum through a creative and cultural educational approach. Each workshop is designed to last approx. 50 minutes and includes a follow up pack of information.
Group Numbers
Each of our workshops and the underground mine visit are based on maximum group numbers of 10 to 12 pupils. Thus a school party of 30 pupils would be divided into 3 groups of 10 and they would rotate around the various elements of their booked visit, spending approx. 50 minutes on each element. The Nenthead Mines site is able to accommodate larger parties such as whole year groups.
Costs and Payment
For site visits please refer to the individual workshops as prices vary depending on the work being carried out and materials being used.
Groups can pay on the day, send a cheque in advance or be invoiced.
Visit Notes
We would recommend that you allow around three hours for your visit.
The full mine trip lasts approximately 50 minutes, and looks at workings on two levels. There is a set of three wooden stairways and platforms up a 23ft shaft linking these levels, which may not be suitable for some people. However, partial tours can be arranged, to suit any group restrictions. Please note that not everyone has to go underground, the group can be a mixture of surface only visitors and site and underground visitors. Please ensure that your group bring suitable clothing and footwear. Further advice will be given when a booking is confirmed.
