The new £1.7 million Kent Mining Museum is set to open alongside a new £6 million visitor centre at Betteshanger Country Park on April 2, 2022.
The Kent Mining Museum, which is free to enter, is a state-of-the-art venue that celebrates Kent’s mining heritage, telling the story of the county’s mining communities and the former Betteshanger Colliery.
Home to interactive exhibits, the Kent Mining Museum also features video and audio content from miners and showcases historic mining objects and collections.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the museum is housed in the country park’s new visitor centre. It is the result of a partnership between the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation (KMHF) and Quinn Estates.
“We are so excited to open the museum to the public,” said Stuart Elgar, KMHF chair. “A great deal of time, effort and work has gone into bringing this museum to life.”
New museum at Betteshanger Country Park
“Without the support of the ex-mining community, funders, staff and the dedicated team at Quinn Estates we would not be where we are today, and we are grateful to everyone for their support and passion,” he added.
Additionally, new experiences within Betteshanger Country Park include a mining-themed play area and a café with designs inspired by miners’ materials.
Betteshanger Colliery closed in 1989. The country park was established in 2007 and transformed into a public space. The 250-acre site was acquired in 2019 by Kent-based developers Quinn Estates, who have turned it into a visitor attraction.
“This museum isn’t about a nostalgia trip for elderly miners or their children, it’s for our grandchildren and future generations,” Elgar added.
“The Kent Mining Museum is of huge importance to the local community, and the UK’s coal mining heritage,” said Mark Quinn, CEO of Quinn Estates.
“That’s why telling Betteshanger’s story was an absolute priority for us when we took over the ownership of Betteshanger Country Park, and helping to get the museum project get back on track with the collective help of the National Lottery and the mining community has been an honour.”
Images: Kent Mining Heritage Foundation
