Shropshire Mines Trust
WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
What We do?
In March 1996 a group, interested in mining, set up a charitable trust to acquire Tankerville Lead Mine near Pennerley which had fallen into disrepair, with the remaining features liable to collapse.
Mining used to be one of the major industries of Shropshire, lasting from the Roman period, or even earlier, up to the mid-20th century. Over the county, many buildings, shafts and adits associated with mining have collapsed or have been demolished and been lost forever. Strangely, as the remains get less, the public interest in industrial archaeology seems to be growing and over the past few years there has been increasing demand to see the working conditions of our ancestors. This is reflected at Ironbridge Gorge Museum and also at Snailbeach Mine where the unique surface remains have been preserved by the County Council and the Trust.
We are actively engaged in :-
- Preserving mining remains including refurbishing mine machinery.
- Managing sites like Tankerville and Snailbeach Lead Mines.
- Taking the public around the buildings and underground.
- Acquiring and preserving mining artefacts, memorabilia & records.
- Collecting local memories and oral histories on tape.
- Setting up of memorials to the miners.
- Displaying working artefacts at local shows particularly Onslow Steam Fair.
- Producing leaflets and books.
- Visiting mines in Shropshire, UK and abroad.
- Organising events for the children of Snailbeach, including Halloween and Father Christmas.
- Work parties at various mine sites.
Programme for 2017
This programme is provisional and will be updated throughout the year. See our Facebook and Twitter sites for the latest information.
Tankerville Mine
A site notice board is being designed and will be erected at the site entrance also interpretation boards will be erected at suitable positions on the site.
Improvements to on site visitor access are planned.
Lime mortaring of the Western end of the retaining wall is scheduled.
A mine truck is due to be installed.
Snailbeach Mine
Volunteers will be carrying out vegetation maintenance throughout the site.
Underground improvements are planned to add to the visitor experience.
In the Loco Shed, a display of the Snailbeach District Railway is in progress together with illustrations of other mining activities.
The Visitor Centre and Day Level will be opened on Sundays and Bank Holidays with longer underground tours on certain Sundays. See details in Visiting Snailbeach section.
We will be an active participant in the Snailbeach Beach party due this Summer. (Phil is the Beach party this year?)
Towards the end of the year we will be organising a mine based event for local children.
Other events.
We hope to assist at the "Hey Meadow Festival" at the Bog Mine on 24th June when we plan to open the Somme Tunnel to visitors.
Snailbeach Visitor Centre and underground tours will be open to the public on 8th & 9th July as a part of "The Beach Party".
On the August Bank Holiday weekend we will be exhibiting at the Onslow Steam Rally.
We will be participating in Heritage Week during September although nothing is planned as yet.
