From around the Web...

Chernobyl visitors enjoy trip to Apedale
The Sentinel - 19th August 2011

Time to unearth a rich mining heritage
The Sentinel - 17th September 2010

Full steam ahead for railway
The Sentinel - 14th September 2010

Top brass visit mining museum
The Sentinel - 19th June 2010

Performers prepare for their latest role
The Sentinel - 5th September 2009

Cubs digging into mining
The Sentinel - 30th July 2009

Railway honour as Tin Turtle comes out of its shell
The Sentinel - 3rd November 2008

Moseley Railway Trust to display locomotives in open days
The Sentinel - 13th september 2008

Old pit could mine new coal
The Sentinel - 27th August 2008

Moseley Railway Trust to open railway at Apedale
The Sentinel - 9th July 2008

Mining blast victims remembered
BBC News - 2nd July 2007

70th Anniversary to commemorate the miner's who were killed
BBC stoke and staffordshire- 3rd April 2007

New hope for Apedale coal mine
BBC News (video) - 6th March 2006

New draw for mining museum
BBC News - 22nd May 2003

Bevin Boys go back underground
BBC News - 14th February 2003

Current News

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Previous News

Gleision Colliery Disaster Appeal Fund

14th December 2011

After the disaster at Gleision Colliery earlier this year we decided that we should raise money for the appeal fund. Yesterday we were able to hand over a cheque for £500 to Ann Sinclair from the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation. Making the presentation is one of our trustees and volunteers, George Rushton. George worked at Holditch Colliery for 45 years from the age of 14, and lost his own father in a mining accident. For more details on the appeal fund please visit www.minersappealfund.org.

Santa Special 2011

9th November 2011

Well, it will soon be Christmas and Santa will be coming to Apedale again, courtesy of our friends at the Apedale Valley Light Railway and their Santa Special Service. It will be running over two weekends on the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th of December. Last year was a great success and this year it should be even better. For more info and booking visit www.avlr.org.uk

Changes in the Museum

22nd October 2011

We've been busy beavering away in the museum on our cottage display. It's always been one of our most popular displays, but one thing that have talked about for a while is splitting it into a parlour and a kitchen. The problem was that it was a bit of a mix of the two rooms. The picture shows the progress so far on the parlour, the next job will be to tackle the kitchen. And we're also have a small yard with an outdoor loo being built. Why not pop by and check on our progress or check out the picture on our facebook page?

Santa Special and Prize Draw winners

19th December 2010

Today was the final day of the Santa Special at Apedale. Thanks to everyone who came, we hope you had a great time! And congratulations to the AVLR for organising a great event.

We have been running a prize draw over the last few weeks and the tickets were drawn today. The winning numbers were 163, 174, 184, 216, 260, 305, 325, 337, 375 and 379. We are in the process of contacting the winners. Everyone who supported us by buying a ticket has our thanks.

Santa Special First Weekend

12th December 2010

We've had a great time at the Centre this weekend with the railway's Santa Special. It's been a lot of fun for everyone involved as well as for all of the kids who've visited, you can see some pictures on our facebook page. We've got a week to recover before we do it all again! There's still space left on some of the trains next weekend - for more information and to make online reservations visit the MRT website

Facebook

8th November 2010

W've just launched our new facebook page. You'll find pictures that we havn't published on our main website, as well as more frequent updates. So, if you're on facebook we'd appreciate it if you'd "like" us.

North Staffordshire Mining Group

27th October 2010

Fans of mining history may be interested in the work of the North Staffordshire Mining Reseach Group, whose website we are now pleased to be hosting. The site contains a wealth of information about mining in North Staffordshire and can be found at http://nsmg.apedale.co.uk

New Galleries - AVLR opening and No 7 Entrance

24th September 2010

As promised, we've added a gallery of pictures from the opening weekend of the Apedale Valley Light Railway. As an additional bonus we also have a series of pictures of progress on No. 7 Drift. Both Galleries can be found on our Features page.

AVLR Opening Weekend a success

19th September 2010

This weekend the Apedale Valley Light Railway was officially opened. I think it's safe to say that it was a huge success in every way. We hope everyone who managed to make it down for the weekend had a great time, vitors and exhibitors alike. If you missed it, don't forget that the railway will be running on Saturdays until the end of october. See the MRT website for details

Watch this space for a gallery of pictures from the event.

Site Update - Features

18th June 2010

A new section has been added to the site. Our Features menu contains picture gallieries and articles related to Apedale.

New Underground Gallery

18th June 2010

Earlier this year, we opened a new gallery in our mine, aimed at education and training. The gallery has been created off the workings used for our tours. It's driven down 10 metres at a steep 1 in 2 gradient, so it's definitely not for the feint of heart. A promising start has been made with visits by mines rescue teams and Keele University's Geology Department.

Site Update - Links

27th February 2010

A links page has been added to the site. If you run or know of a site that is about a related subject or attraction then drop us a line.

As Seen On TV

14th February 2010

If you've been following the new series of the Survivors on the BBC you may have noticed that there was something familiar about the mine that the latest episodes have been set in. Yep, it's Apedale! The film crews and actors took over our facilities for a week in the summer to film underground and around the centre, but we've kept it quiet until now at the BBC's request. If you missed the episodes you can catch up by viewing them on the BBC iPlayer by clicking here. The Apedale scenes can be found in episodes 3 and 4

Sitting Pretty!

29th November 2009

We have recently taken delivery of a brand new set of chairs in our Café, thanks to County Councillor Derrick Huckfield and the Staffordshire Local Community Fund. The new seating is light, modern and looks great. But don't take our word for it, come and have a cuppa and try them out for yourselves!

MRT Museum news

21st November 2009

The Moseley Railway Trust have announced that they have received full planning permission for the construction of a museum at Apedale

Click here to read the full announcement

Apedale Survey

4th November 2009

Help to guide Apedale's development by taking part in our short survey. It'll only take a few minutes of you time but will give us a valuable picture of what you, our visitors, want.

Click here to take part in the survey

There is also our contact form if you want to get in touch with us for any other reason.

MRT Open day 2009

19th June 2009

The Moseley Railway Trust will be holding their 2009 open day on 12th and 13th of September. Trains will be run throughout the day and there are also plans for a variety of stalls, model railways and other exhibitors. The Heritage Centre will be open as usual. See the MRT website for further details.

Hem Heath Drift Winder

14th March 2009

The centre is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Hem Heath Drift Winder. Weighing 32 Tons, the winder is currently at the Shropshire Mines Trust and should be on the site soon.

Hem Heath Colliery was located near Trentham, North Staffordshire. In the 1970s it merged with neighboring Florence Colliery and a drift was created linking Florence with the surface at Hem Heath where all coal was to be processed. The colliery closed in 1996 and Britannia stadium now stands on the site.

New Brick and Tile Display In Museum

Brick and Tile manufacture is an important part of our local industrial heritage, but is often overshadowed by the more glamourous pottery industry. Our new display, by Gordon Howle and Ken Perkins, provides an insight into the Brick and Tile industry in North Staffordshire. Chesteron has been involved in brick making for well over a century so it is particularly appropriate that we are able to include this exhibit in our museum.

Christmas and New Year Opening 2008

We would like to wish everyone who has visited us over the past year a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and hope to see you again in 2009.

The centre will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing day, but is open as usual throughout the rest of the holiday.

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