Shropshire Mines Trust

Introduction

This Education Pack is provided for schools and other educational establishments to enable them to introduce the subject of lead mining into the curriculum. 
Combined with a visit to Snailbeach Mine, it will provide a wealth of educational material on which to base lessons, discussions and projects.  The underground experience at the mine is especially enjoyed by children where they are given helmets and lamps and taken into the workings.  Although completely safe, the environment gives them an exciting experience.   

They will learn what it was like for communities to live in this area up to the mid-20th Century, when underground mining ceased.  It will also bring home to them how lucky they are nowadays when they learn how, 150 years ago, children of their age would be working at the mine instead of being at school.  Boys as young as 9 or 10 would be working underground and their sisters would be working on the surface.  Not for them the luxury of television and game boys! 

 Although the education pack is aimed at self-taught lessons and a visit to site, if required members of Shropshire Mines Trust may be able to come to you to give you a talk in your own classroom as well.  If this is required, please discuss it when booking.  Note that the Trust members are all unpaid volunteers and all fees and donations go towards preservation of the site. 

Most of the material is available to be downloaded as pdf files so that you can use it more conveniently.  Note, however, that some of the files are large and you must be patient when downloading if your internet connection is not particularly fast.  If you have a problem concerning this, contact the Trust and we will be able to provide you with a CD containing all of the files 
We would be interested in seeing a sample of material produced by the children.  If you would like to email a scanned copy to the email address above we may be able to host it on our website, whether it be paintings, poems, written work, etc. 

In the interests of education, all of this material is free of copyright and may be reproduced in any way you wish.  We would, however, appreciate an acknowledgement for the Shropshire Mines Trust.

To book your own visit with pupils contact :- 
Peter Sheldrake - Email: petersheldrake@tiscali.co.uk
Tel. 01743-790613

If you cannot contact Peter, you could try another Trust member, who has recently retired and lives in the village :-
Nick Southwick - Email: southwick666@btinternet.com
T. 01743-792476

A member of the Shropshire Mines Trust can meet the group at a pre-arranged time at the Snailbeach car park.  The Shropshire Mines Trust charges £3 per pupil for a day visit, which includes seeing part of the underground workings. 

Snailbeach Village Hall 

There are limited facilities for groups in the mine buildings. The village hall may be booked by groups and it will be advisable to have this available for lunch time, particularly if the weather is inclement. There are toilets and washing facilities there, as well as a kitchen. The booking secretary is  
Mrs Margaret Price
Marlyn, Lower Works, Snailbeach, Shrewsbury
T. 01743-791633 
The hirer must obtain a set of keys and a leaflet "How to use the hall safely" from the Booking Secretary.

Arrangements on the Day 

Children will need strong shoes or trainers, and wellingtons are essential if a visit to Perkins Level is being made.  Outdoor clothing is required and children need to be aware that the interior of the mine is cool even on a hot day.  Lunches carried in bags and rucksacks may be left in the Visitor Centre. 

3A.    Thomas Lovett  
Founder of the company which began large scale mining in the 18th century 
 
3B.   James Ray Eddy
A mine manager from Yorkshire in the 1850s 
 
3C.   Henry Dennis
A mine manager and businessman based at Ruabon in Wales, active in the late 19th century 
 
3D.   Tale of George’s Shaft  
A description of the most serious mine accident at Snailbeach Mine 
 
3E.   Tale of the Blacksmith
A description of the importance of the work of a Blacksmith in the early days of the industrial revolution 

3F.    Tale of the Widow Maker  
Mechanised drilling in mines, which destroyed miners’ lungs 
 
3G.   Tale of the Doctor  
A doctor describes the effects of lead mining on the miners 
 
3H.   Tale of the Miner  
A description of why someone should choose to be a lead miner 
 
3I.      Tale of the Waggoner  
Told by someone who thought the Snailbeach District Railway a bad idea
 
3J.    Tale of the Miner’s Daughter  
A young girl describes her life in the early 20th century
 
3K.   The Tale of the Ghost
Why Snailbeach used to be called “Hell’s Mouth”
 
3L.    The Tale of the Yapp Family  
How all of the family used to work at the mine
 
3M.   The Tale of the End  
Two descendants of Thomas Lovett describe the last days of the mine