Last tonne of Kellingley coal to go on display

And, in a bid to preserve its legacy, the National Coal Mining Museum for England has marked the closure by purchasing the final tonne of coal from Kellingley Colliery.

The coal, which was purchased by the Museum in early December, will be exhibited in the Museum’s permanent collection and will go on public display in early 2016.

Andy Smith, acting Director and Mine Manager at the Museum said: “It is with great honour and sadness that we mark the end of not just an industry, but a loss of national heritage for the country. As a Yorkshire ex-miner I feel an immense sense of pride and responsibility for ensuring this heritage is not lost.

“We will continue to educate and inspire future generations about the history of coal mining and will display the last tonne of coal as a lasting reminder of deep-coal mining in Britain.”

The closure marks a historic moment in coal mining history as Kellingley Colliery is the final deep coal mine in Britain, and will cease coal production for the country at large.

During 2014, the Museum exhibited a photographic exhibition, Pit Profiles: Re-profiled, containing photograph portraits of a selection of miners from Kellingley Colliery, by UK photographer Anton Want.

These photographs are now permanently held in the Museum’s collections, and will now be joined by the last tonne of coal, ensuring Kellingley’s legacy is not lost.