A visit to the Cleveland Ironstone Museum offers a safe, authentic and exciting experience for school groups of all ages that can be linked to many aspects of the curriculum including:
History – the fully guided tour tells the story of the mine site from the establishment of the first drift in 1848, through 110 years of change & development, to its final closure in 1958, depicting everyday life as experienced by the miners & their families.
Geography – the location of the mine is the key to understanding how the Cleveland area developed from rural beginnings into the most important ironstone mining district in Victorian & Edwardian England. Skinningrove itself was developed by Quaker mine owners Pease & Partners from an isolated hamlet into a model industrial township, the remains of which are still visible today.
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- Artwork - the Museum has displays, artifacts & photographs which can inspire new artwork with colouring activities for younger children.
Technology – the tour gives an insight into the technological advances which placed ironstone mining at the cutting edge of late 19th & early 20th century innovation.
Loan boxes containing a selection of tools & other smaller artifacts for self led handling sessions, can be provided on request whilst members of the Museum’s volunteer team, some of whom have actual first hand experience of ironstone mining, are also happy to visit schools to talk to children & help with outreach activities.
In addition to the guided tour, which lasts about 80 minutes, school classes are also welcome to make use of the Museum’s Tom Leonard Gallery for post visit activities or simply as somewhere to leave bags & eat packed lunches
An Education Pack containing additional information & ideas for post visit activities is available to download free or can be requested on site (£6.50+£1.50 p&p).
Our Museum shop has on sale a range of children’s novelties & souvenirs at pocket money prices plus a wide selection of books on local mining history, CDs, DVDs, postcards & greetings cards.
All Museum staff and volunteers have current CRB clearance and Risk Assessments for all parts of the site & sections of the tour are available for inspection on request.
In order to comply with Mine Safety Regulations, the number of visitors entering the North Drift at any one time is restricted to a maximum of 12, including supervising adults. School groups visiting the Museum should allow a minimum of 2 adults for every 10 children. Responsibility for the conduct of the group whilst on the Museum site rests with the Group Leader.
For details of admission charges, please see Opening Times and Prices
To make a booking simply Contact us by phone 01287 642877 or e-mail visits@ironstonemuseum.co.uk or download and fill in a Group Booking Form simply right-click the link and then ‘save link as..’