Press Releases

Big Pit National Coal Museum – one of the Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales family of museums – has scooped the award for its excellent experience-based education programme, which includes taking visitors 300ft underground to explore the workings of a real coalmine, guided by real ex-miners who recount their own experiences of working underground.

The underground experience is strengthened by world-class Museum exhibitions and interactive experiences around the rest of the Big Pit, including a state-of-the-art multi-media underground simulation, where visitors can learn about modern methods of extracting coal.

Big Pit, winner of this year’s Gulbenkian Prize for Best UK Museum, also tells the stories of mining communities, concentrating in parts on women and children, and the effect the mining industry had on them.

During 2004, Big Pit worked with Newport Local Education Authority to develop ‘Children of the Revolution’, a web resource which gives an idea of living and working conditions in Blaenafon during the 19th century, which has been short listed for the BECTa award for the use of ICT in Education.

Congratulating Big Pit on its success, Welsh Culture Minister Alun Pugh said:

"This award is another great achievement for Big Pit and is recognition of the role that the museum has to play in teaching people about the importance of coal mining industry in Wales. As the son of a coal miner myself, I have a special interest in Big Pit, so I am very proud that the Welsh Assembly Government has been able to support this invaluable piece of our industrial heritage.”

The Award, given for five years, will be presented by David Lammy MP, UK Minister for Culture and Alun Pugh, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Welsh Language, Culture and Sport.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is the new name for the National Museums & Galleries of Wales, which operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Entry to all the museums is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Notes for Editors

For further information about Big Pit being awarded the Sandford award, please contact

Kathryn Stowers, Marketing Officer: Big Pit.

Tel: 01495 790311.
Mob: 07970 017210
kathryn.stowers@museumwales.ac.uk

• The Heritage Education Trust was established in 1983 by Lord Sandford to raise the profile of the educational use of historic properties. It is a non-competitive award recognising quality and excellence in the educational service at an historic site. Entrants are assessed by a panel of independent judges drawn from a range of professional educationalists including OFSTED inspectors and former Head Teachers.

• The Awards are judged using criteria laid down by the Trust. These include awareness and adherence to the requirements of the National Curricula; how well the educational potential of the property is being developed and how the property raises awareness of the understanding of the local and national heritage.

Big Pit is now open throughout December and January, except December 24, 25, 26 and January 1.
Opening times until the end of November: 9.30am-5pm. Underground tours run frequently 10am-3.30pm.
From December 1: 9.30am-4.30pm. Underground tours run frequently 10am-3pm.