After a difficult few months since March, Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum can now see light at the end of the tunnel. All the volunteers have returned and three more have been recruited to help run the museum and research its projects.
More volunteers would still be welcome, as the museum can be short-handed when covering outside events and opening the building, as well as preparing for coffee mornings and keeping everything clean and tidy for visitors and villagers. People of any age are welcome. The autumn fundraising coffee morning was very well attended and preparations are now under way for the winter event in November.
The museum is looking into applying for a grant for a new boiler, so that volunteers do not have to wear their thermals this winter. It is also exploring the possibility of making Bilsthorpe’s 1,000-plus years of history accessible to all, which will involve another grant application.
A community exhibition is also planned, featuring the story of how the mine not only facilitated the building of Bilsthorpe’s ‘model village’, but brought about a whole community whose members supported each other and enjoyed holidays in Skegness and many different events at the Village Hall.
Work has begun on research for a memorial on the concrete pillar marking the position of No. 1 shaft, where 14 sinkers were killed in 1927. The museum is awaiting a reply to its request for permission and will need to raise funds to cover the cost. A service of remembrance will be arranged for the men so tragically lost while sinking the shaft. They should not be forgotten.
Volunteers have enjoyed showing college students around the museum and answering their questions about mining and the ‘olden days’. The museum hopes to receive many more visits from them and from other schools, colleges, u3as and interest groups.
Find out more at http://www.bilsthorpemuseum.co.uk or call Cris on 07443 439499.