Back in 1968 the Tramway Society approached the Peak District Mines Historical Society to ask if it would be interested in constructing a display of some kind to reflect the Derbyshire lead mining industry.
With mining relics – especially some of the larger ones – fast disappearing, this offer constituted the start of a still-ongoing project to provide an area in which old mining artefacts, minerals and machinery could be displayed for both the general public and mining historians to visit, enjoy and learn from.
Today the project has grown to provide a site of great historical and archaeological interest and educational value, and is managed and coordinated by a small band of volunteers. An on-site shop selling mineral samples, books and gemstones (the proceeds of which directly benefit the Society) is extremely popular with visitors at what is now home to the National Tramway Museum, Crich Tramway Village.
In 1968, the Crich project and Lead Mining Display was in its infancy. This collection of vintage photographs (kindly supplied by Lilian and Mick Bridges) shows some of the events and artefacts from the first 30 years of the project.
If you would like to become involved in this or any other Society project, please feel free to contact the Mining Museum who will be able to put you in touch with a project leader.