Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum
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Experience the underground world of Clevelands ironstone mining past on the site of Loftus mine, this museum offers an exciting and authentic underground experience.
The Museum offers visitors an opportunity to discover the skills and customs that built Cleveland’s Ironstone heritage and that helped make Cleveland the most important ironstone mining area in Victorian and Edwardian England.
It is the only Museum in the UK which tells the story of Ironstone mining; a key part of the local history of the social and industrial development of Cleveland and Teesside.
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The Museum today offers visitors an opportunity to experience the underground world of a real ironstone mine and to explore the skills, customs and life of the Cleveland miner.
One of the Museum’s strengths lies in its knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, who accompany visitors around the site:
- through the discovery of rock in the area
- through the cavernous ventilation spaces
- into the North Drift of the old Loftus Mine
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It was through this drift that much of the 6.2 million tons of ironstone extracted from Skinningrove was hauled.
Visitors have the opportunity to hear the story of a Trappy Lad on his first day at work underground in the darkness and the friends that he made there.
Finally the tour finishes with the chance to explore an underground working place and see how the stone was drilled, charged with explosives and FIRED!
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Opening Hours:
Open Daily: 1st April until 31st October
Monday – Friday 10.30am until 3.30pm last tour.
Saturdays 1-3.30 last tour.
Sundays, Easter and school summer holidays 1-3.30 last tour
Closed: 1st November until 31st March except for school visits and special bookings
Please note: As the museum relies on volunteers to open, it may be necessary to call us on 01287 642877 to confirm that we are open before travelling a long distance.
Admission:
Please contact the museum for current admission charges.