Mining museum will preserve Kellingley's last tonne of coal

The museum will mark the closure of the pit, Britain's last working deep coal mine, by purchasing the coal for its collection.

Kellingley will cease coal production on Friday, December 18. And the coal will go on public display early next year.

The coal will be stored in a museum collection marking the pit's legacy. It will sit alongside portrait images of Kellingley miners, by photographer Anton Want, which went on display in a 'Pit Profiles: Re-profiled' exhibition last year.

Andy Smith, acting director and mine manager at the museum, said: "It is with great honour and sadness that we mark the end of not just an industry, but a loss of national heritage for the country. As a Yorkshire ex-miner I feel an immense sense of pride and responsibility for ensuring this heritage is not lost.

“We will continue to educate and inspire future generations about the history of coal mining and will display the last tonne of coal as a lasting reminder of deep-coal mining in Britain.”