We are now able to offer Wi-Fi access in the Cafe are for customers. Using it is easy, just connect to the “ApedaleGuest” network and use the access key shown behind the counter. So no annoying signing up to anything. The system is setup to be as secure as we can make it, so you are isolated from any one else using the system and we have a web-filter in place.
We’ll be attending the annual Minnie Pit Remembrance Event this Sunday (8th) with our museum stand, and we’ll be sure to bring along some interesting artefacts. This year is the 99th Anniversary of the disaster.
For more information… http://www.halmerendmethodists.org.uk/news/minnie-pit-disaster-remembrance-sunday.html
Happy New year everyone! 2016 has had its ups and downs, but on the whole it’s been a successful year down at Apedale. We’ve made a whole host of improvements over the year to the museum, café and mine, one of the biggest being our new café floor. We’ve supported a couple of theatre productions by the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield and the Congleton Players as well as attending several events with our museum stand. We also won a certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor and also became a Pokéstop in the game, Pokemon Go!
The Apedale Valley Light Railway has run another great programme of events this year, cumulating with probably to most successful Santa Special ever, and not forgetting the amazing Tracks to Trenches event in the summer.
So onto 2017, and next year’s confirmed events are up on our website. We have some interesting things in the works for the year, but more on those as plans come to fruition! Thanks to customers, visitor, volunteers and friends, for all your support over the year.
Volunteers from Apedale recently visited The National Coal Mining museum at Caphouse Colliery at the invitation of Ian Wibberley, who as well as being involved at Caphouse. is one of our trustees. We were given a tour of the underground workings including a lot of areas that aren’t part of the standard tour. We entered via their drift, which is also their second exit in emergencies, and were also shown their excellent underground educational experience which is a relatively recent addition. We even had a tour of Santa’s grotto, although sadly the big man wasn’t there yet! The mining team made us feel very welcome, with plenty of banter and even the odd practical joke. After bacon buttie and a brew in their restaurant we were left to explore the surface attractions for the rest of the day.
A little news round up – firstly the traveler camp that arrived on Sunday and cause the Loomer Road Entrance to be closed yesterday is gone, and the park is open as usual today. Thanks to Staffs Police for taking quick action as it could have impacted on upcoming events.
This coming Sunday (4th) sees the Annual Dales Dash, which starts and finishes right on our doorstep, for more details including how to take part visit http://newcastlestaffsac.org.uk/races/dales-dash/#therace
Sunday is also the deadline for booking your tickets online for the Santa Special Service. To book or for more information please visit http://www.avlr.org.uk/. Tickets are selling well, especially for the Sundays, so get in there!
Please note that the Santa Special event is run and organized by the Apedale Valley Light Railway, so any queries should be directed to them.
After a recent visit to Apedale, the children of Horton St Michael’s First School in Leek have produced a newsletter about their day out. They have kindly given us permission to share it here. As well as a mine and museum tour, Genesis the blacksmith was on hand to demonstrate his skills.
We are planning to renew the flooring in the Heritage Centre during November as the existing vinyl floor has pretty much reached the end of it’s life. Its been down for 15 years or so and is showing serious signs of wear and tear, particularly in the loos. While it’s not exactly an exciting thing to have to do, it’s an essential bit of maintenance and will certainly improve the café visually. To do this we have to completely empty the café, reception areas and even remove the toilet cubicles, and so will be closing on Monday 14th November and re-opening on Saturday 19th November. On Sunday 13th November we plan to close the museum mid-afternoon to make a start.
We apologise for any inconvenience and hope that our visitors understand the necessity of this work.
We’ll have a stand at the Lea Hall Miners Reunion Gala this Sunday, 4th September, at the Lea Hall Miners Welfare Centre & Social Club. It’s from 12pm until 5pm and will feature Bouncy Castles, a funfair, stalls, football, live music and more.
