Pleasley Colliery, Mining museum and nature reserve in Pleasley, England.
Pleasley Colliery is a preserved coal mine with two standing headstocks and an engine house containing steam winders built in 1904 and 1922. A 40-meter brick chimney rises from the site, which now includes a museum and areas managed for nature conservation.
Operations began in 1873 when the Stanton Iron Company received a lease from William Edward Nightingale. The site grew into a major mining operation serving the industrial heartland of the region.
The museum displays mining equipment, tools, and personal records that tell the story of miners' daily work across different eras. These objects reveal how people lived and labored in this community for generations.
The site is open to visitors on specific days and times, with parking available and a café serving refreshments. Wear sturdy shoes when walking the grounds, as some paths over the historic site are uneven.
The former coal tip has been transformed into a nature reserve featuring lakes and walking paths, connecting to a wider network of cycling routes through the area. This recovery demonstrates how abandoned industrial sites can support wildlife and recreation.
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