Draft:Museum of Lead Mining
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  Location within Dumfries and Galloway | |
| Established | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°23′51″N 3°47′01″W / 55.3975°N 3.7837°W |
| Type | Social and Industrial history |
| Website | https://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/ |
The Museum of Lead Mining is a historic mine, miners' library, miners' cottages and visitor centre in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway. The museum tells the story of the town of Wanlockhead and the lead mining industry it grew around. Visitors to the museum can also have tours of the lead mine, valley, miners cottages and library as well as try panning for gold for in the stream.[1]
History
[edit]The Museum of Lead Mining was founded by the Wanlockhead Museum Trust and Village Council who had previously looked after the Miners' Library.
The museum began with temporary exhibitions and was originally housed in Goldscaur Cottage in the village. In 1992 the Museum of Lead Mining visitor centre, which now houses the collection, opened.[2]
Buildings and mine
[edit]As well as the exhibition space, the Museum of Lead Mining Visitor centre has a gift shop and tearoom.[3] The building is heated by a water source heating system, extracting heat from the local burn. The museum is a test research site for this technology with the University of Edinburgh and SeaWarm.[4]
The museum also includes the Miners' Library which is a Grade A listed building founded in 1756. The library was for the miners of the town, and their families, and admitted it's first woman member in 1784.[5]
The Straitsteps Cottages showcase the domestic lives of miners and their families in 3 distinct time periods: 1750, 1850 and 1950.[6] The cottages were build in the 1860s and are part of the museum's guided tour.
To the front of the cottages sits the Wanlockhead Beam Engine. The beam engine was built in the 1870s to pump water out of Straitsteps Mine beneath it. It was in operation for approximately 40 years. The beam engine is now owned and cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.[7]
The museum and its tour also includes Lochnell Mine which was active from 1710-1860. The mine contains galena which can be separated into lead and silver - two very valuable resources in Scotland at the time. The mine tour takes visitors 300m into the mine where they can learn about the working life of the miners and the industry of the area.[8]
Collections
[edit]The Miners' Library Collection, held by the Museum of Lead Mining, was recognised as one of only a few surviving examples of community subscription libraries Scotland. The collection was designated a Recognised Collection of National Significance in 2007.[9]
The exhibition space in the museum showcases a selection of minerals found in the surrounding Lowther Hills, objects used in the extraction and transportation of lead and telling the social history of the local area.[2]
Gold panning
[edit]Visitors to the museum can try gold panning in the stream. The Lowther Hills have a variety of minerals and some, such as gold, can be found in the water.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Museum of Lead Mining Visit".
- ^ a b "Museum of Lead Mining About".
- ^ "Go Industrial - Museum of Lead Mining Visitor Info".
- ^ "Sea Warm - Case Studies".
- ^ "Independent Libraries - Wanloackhead Miners Library".
- ^ "Museum of Lead Mining - Sraitsteps Cottages".
- ^ "Historic Environment Scotland - Wanlockhead Beam Engine".
- ^ "Museum of Lead Mining - Lochnell Mine".
- ^ "Museums Galleries Scotland - Recognised Colletions".
- ^ "Visit Scotland - Museum of Lead Mining".
