Woodhorn (museum) facts for kids
Woodhorn is a cool museum in Ashington, Northumberland, England. It used to be called the Woodhorn Colliery Museum. It's now part of Museums Northumberland.
This museum shows you what life was like for coal mine workers. You can see the actual buildings and machines from the old coal mine, called a colliery. This includes the tall structures over the mine shafts (called headframes) and the building where the winding engine pulled things up and down.
You can also explore other engine houses, a steam winding engine, and even the old stables. There's a building with special air-moving equipment. You can also see the blacksmith and joiners shop, and the old office.
Many buildings still have their original mining equipment and exhibits. Others have been turned into museum display areas. Some are even used for events like weddings!
Besides showing how miners lived and worked, Woodhorn also has a special art collection. These artworks were created by a group called the Ashington Group. The museum also has different exhibits that change over time, covering history, art, and science.
Woodhorn Museum: Cool Buildings and Design
Woodhorn Museum first opened its doors in 1989. But it got a big makeover and reopened in October 2006. The main architect for this new look was Tony Kettle.
Today, the old colliery buildings are protected because they are so important. The whole area is a "scheduled monument". This means it's a very well-preserved example of a coal mine from the late 1800s to early 1900s in North East England.
Tony Kettle got his idea for the new building, called "the Cutter," from huge machines that cut coal. This modern building sits right next to the original mine buildings. The design of the museum and its exhibits, paintings, and archives all help tell the story of Northumberland.
Woodhorn Railway: Ride the Narrow Gauge!
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The Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway is a fun part of the museum. It's a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway located in the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.
They have two old locomotives that have been saved. One is a Hunslet Locomotive, built in 1975. It used to work at a coal mine called Vane Tempest colliery. The other is a German Schoma locomotive, named Edward Stanton. This one was used to build the Channel Tunnel!
There are also three carriages named Eddie, Harry, and Ken. These, along with the Schoma locomotive, are named after the first members of the railway society. The park also has a 40-acre (160,000 m2) lake and trails for hiking and biking.
Woodhorn: A Look Back in Time
The original coal mine in the village of Woodhorn started operating in 1894. It finally closed down in 1981.
The Woodhorn Colliery Museum opened its doors in 1989. It used the original buildings from the old coal mine. In 1999, the mine yard was officially made a "scheduled monument" to protect its history.
From 2002 to 2006, new construction took place. This created the new museum building, which also holds the Northumberland County Archives.
