Peak District Mining Museum & Temple Mine East Midlands

The mining museum collection contains something that will stimulate the interest of your group from the mouse hunt and dressing up for the younger visitors, the tunnels and climbing shafts providing an idea of how hard the lead miners worked for the more adventurous children (and adults), through to those with a special interest in industry, engineering, geology and mining.

Temple Mine provides an underground experience where hard hats are needed, and most people have to bend down in the lower passages! Your guide will explain about the equipment the miners used and about the geology of the hillside you are in.  After the mine tour there is a chance to pan for minerals – you may even find something that glitters like gold.

We are able to offer handling sessions, guided visits and taught sessions with our knowledgeable, trained staff. These will be tailored to your specific needs and age range.

With the Museum and Mine on the same site, we are able to double the experience for your group! The Museum contains a World Class collection of artefacts, many of which you can handle and interact with, there are also our famous climbing shafts and tunnels to crawl through. Temple Mine is a real mine, where you will need to bend and there is clay and water under your feet. It is also the only official place in Derbyshire where GOLD has been found! Visits to Temple Mine end with a chance to pan for minerals (and to take away anything you find).

The Museum Manager is a qualified teacher and we will adapt our sessions to meet your groups specific needs.

We are an accredited Museum and have consistently high ratings on TripAdvisor and Google.

The Museum resources enable us to offer the following focus visits:

KS1 Old Matlock Bath, Discover Lead Mining, Rocking Rocks.

KS2 Rocks & Soils, Fantastic Fossils, Old Matlock Bath, Discover Lead Mining, Rocking Rocks (adapted to this age range).

KS3 Discover Lead Mining, Old Matlock Bath – growth of a village, Rocks & Soils (adapted to this age range).

KS4 Discover Lead Mining, Old Matlock Bath – growth of a village, Geology.

Adult groups (inc degree level) Discover Lead Mining, Technology, Industrial Development in Mining, Old Matlock Bath – growth of a village, Geology (We bring in specialists to lead these sessions).

We do tailor each visit specifically to the needs of the group so please discuss this with us when booking.

Up to 90 children if having a guided tour of the Mine and Museum.

Up to 80 children if just having a guided tour of the Museum.

Up to 34 children if just having a guided tour of the Mine.

For practical activity sessions, up to 70 children.

If visiting the Museum without a guided tour, up to 120 children.

Lead Mining resource boxes can be loaned to schools. If the school is having a guided visit to the Museum this is done at no extra cost. However, the school is responsible for collecting and returning the boxes on mutually agreed dates.

If you would like additional resources or information, please discuss this with us.

Please take as many photographs, film or audio as you like.

We will email a risk assessment to you on request – these are updated each year or sooner if we change anything.

Clare Herbert

mail@peakmines.co.uk

01629 583834

Visits to just the Museum cost £3.00 per child. Visits to the Mine & Museum cost £4.50 per child. Each guided session then costs £12. There is a charge for any additional adults. When you contact us we will work out the cost for your specific visit.

For groups of more than 10 people our party rate applies. This includes 1 supervising adult free per 10 children.

The charge for guided sessions must be paid 1 month prior to the visit and this is non-refundable. We will then invoice the school for the number of pupils who visit on the day with this payment is due within 14 days after the visit.

If you are visiting the Mine, please ensure that you have sturdy, waterproof footwear. The Mine is 10°C all year so a jumper is recommended even on a hot day.

The Museum has a first aid kit. Please ensure that any accidents are reported to our staff.

If needed there is a Minor Injuries Unit at Whitworth Hospital in Darley Dale just 3 miles from the Museum.

The Museum has a shop with rocks, souvenirs, books and sweets with prices from £1. Most school groups allow £3-£5 per person.

Toilet facilities are available on site. However, there is no accessible toilet.

The Pump Room attached to the Museum can be used during your visit as a place to leave bags and eat a packed lunch. Tea and coffee can be purchased from the Museum.

There are numerous places to purchase food in Matlock Bath.

Museum staff are experienced at working with people with additional needs and will adapt tours to suit your group’s needs. Our Education Officer was formerly a SENCo.

There is a stair lift to the upper floor of the Museum with a wheelchair available upstairs, but we do not have a lift. Temple Mine is not accessible for wheelchairs.

Handling of artefact sessions can be arranged, and we will lead visually impaired groups into Temple Mine.

There are no accessible toilets on site.

We will open any day of the week between the hours of 9am and 9pm for pre-booked groups. From November through to Easter, the Museum is closed to the general public during the week – pre-booked group visits at that time will have exclusive access to the Museum.

Please see what our visitors say about us on TripAdvisor or Google.

We pride ourselves on adapting guided sessions to your group’s specific needs – please email (mail@peakmines.co.uk) or phone (01629 583834) and ask to speak to Clare about a group visit.

Once your visit is booked do come for a free pre-visit and bring the family (up to 2 adults & 3 children). Ask for details when booking.

Guided visits to the surface remains of Magpie Mine can be arranged via the Museum where the story of lead mining, fire, murders and a curse can be told.