Land Trust secures funding to build visitor centre and cafe at Pleasley Pit

The Land Trust is delighted to announce that Pleasley Pit has been the recipient of a grant of £164,160 from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) through Bolsover North East Derbyshire LEADER programme, which will be used to create a new visitor centre and café on site.

The project will bring more people to visit Pleasley Pit, including local schools and special interest groups, as well as providing a welcoming space for the local community.  The grant will create a new visitor centre and café – expanding the popular and well-used café that currently exists on site.  It will also provide a space for heritage displays, events and activities for the local community and visitors from further afield, as well as areas for educational visits and talks.

Land Trust Estates manager, Charles Langtree, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding for Pleasley Pit which will allow the Land Trust and the team of passionate volunteers to build on everything that has been achieved over the last two decades.

“Whether it be restoring the engines, giving educational talks about the history of the building, or running a very successful café I never fail to be amazed by the hard work, dedication and commitment of the volunteer groups. Once complete the new facilities will enable us to build on this success, bring more visitors to the space and enhance the experience people have when they visit.”

Pleasley Pit is a site with a fascinating history and was the oldest and deepest pit in the East Midlands coalfield. The first shafts were sunk in the 1870’s and were operational for over a century with the site ceasing production in 1983.

Since taking ownership in 2008, the Land Trust has worked in partnership with a passionate volunteer workforce – Pleasley Pit Trust, Friends of Pleasley Pit and Pleasley Pit Nature Study Group – to restore the site, keep a crucial part of our industrial heritage alive and make it a vital part of the community.

Neville Buckle, secretary of the Pleasley Pit Trust said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved with Pleasley over the 23 years.

“Working in partnership with the Land Trust, we have been empowered to take ownership of the site and restore it from the derelict site it once was to the popular visitor attraction it is today.

“The funding will enable us to welcome more schools and enhance a unique experience for groups and visitors.”

Work will begin this summer and the project is scheduled to be completed in early 2020. The existing café and engine houses will remain open during construction but there may be periods when they have to be closed. Any updates will be posted on the Pleasley Pit Trust website and social media channels.