For their summer outing, members of the Local History Society visited Bilthorpe, a former mining community in north Nottinghamshire.
The closure of Bilsthorpe Colliery in 1997 tore the heart from the village, but residents have managed to preserve some of its history by creating a museum about the colliery, and village life more generally.
The museum displays a large and fascinating collection of artefacts, but what really brought the visit to life was the knowledge and first hand experience of our volunteer guides, many of whom are ex-miners.
If you’re visiting the area, or organising a group outing, a visit to Bilsthorpe Heritage is highly recommended.
Gavin Walker