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Killhope Lead Mining Museum in Co. Durham – Family Friendly Museum Award Winner

A visit to Killhope, the award winning North of England Lead Mining Museum, is a unique and unforgettable experience and was voted the UK’s most family friendly museum in 2004. Killhope is a fully restored nineteenth century Victorian lead mine, where you can experience for yourself the life and work of the lead mining families of the Pennine dales.

Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff are here to help you get the most from your visit, they are what makes Killhope a multi award wining venue.

Killhope is famous for its huge working waterwheel, but there is much more to Killhope. You can experience the mineshop where miners lived. You can work as a “washerboy” looking for minerals and galena (which is the lead ore). You can see the working machinery (which Fred Dibnah admired so much) in the “jigger house”. But above all, Killhope’s award-winning mine tour is unique.

From the moment you put on your hard hats, cap-lamps and wellingtons, your visit becomes an unforgettable adventure!

Killhope holds the largest collection of Spar Boxes which sits alongside Magnificent Minerals and the Pennine Jewels. Two permanent commissions, Letters of Lead and Language of Lead, part of museumaker, a prestigious national project.

We also have an array of art works and installations which adorn our visitor centre and site.

You can stroll round Killhope’s woodland paths (maybe with a nature backpack). You will see some wildlife and Red Squirrels. Take a break in “Killhope Cafe” where Pip serves up wonderful home made soups, pasties and cakes.

Our gift shop stocks a wide range of books, maps, keepsakes and souvenirs.

Killhope – A Great Day Out in the Country for all the family!

 

Written by Janis P.

Weston Park Museum in Sheffield – Family Friendly Museum Award Winner 2008

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