Hope Pit Mining Museum

---

Posted on 2nd September 2014 by Jane Simpson

Ensuring access to historic buildings is always a challenge and one of the main client requirements was to retain the patina of age and typify how the miners would have maintained the buildings with materials to hand.

By using existing openings, with careful use of materials and enhancing approaches this has allowed level access to all of the Hope Pit buildings; with as little intervention as possible.

Care was taken to ensure that simplified safe routes were provided around the site for people with mobility impairments but other more strenuous existing routes were maintained for the younger more athletic visitor to use whilst still being within sight. There is also a small train which assists people from the main site and includes a wheelchair space and level access. Clear literature and other materials are available for visitors to assist with way finding and signs have been sited to complement the existing buildings and site.