[H]onister Slate Mine, England’s last working slate mine, is delighted to announce its brand-new multimedia mine tour is open and bringing the mines history to life through projections, storytelling, music, light and explosions.
Daily guided tours already take place in an array of narrow passages and cathedral-like caverns, but now the popular attraction is delighted to share with you their latest development.
Local school children from Borrowdale were amongst the first to test drive the new tour, going deep within the mine to meet 8-year old John Taylor of Borrowdale. They found it fascinating to hear his story and share his most vivid memories of what life was really like for slate miners working at Honister throughout the ages.
Jan Wilkinson, Co-owner of Honister Slate Mine, says, “We have designed the new tour to appeal to all ages, but we especially want it to engage with today’s children who can hopefully learn for themselves how young boys started work at the age of 8 to become their fathers apprentices. How they built trust, learned of the dangers and lived within the camaraderie of their workmates. We are really excited to share the new experience with the public and look forward to their feedback,”
Working with audio visual engineers Piranha Creative who specialise in working with a range of visitor attractions across the UK including museums and mines – Honister has invested in bringing the latest technologies to Cumbria to build upon their iconic attraction to take it to the next level.
The new installation gives the visitor a complete sensory experience bringing together sight, hearing and touch to encompass the journey of the family’s ancestors. Follow in their footsteps right through to 2018 and hear from the final presenters of the new tour who are actually the great grandchildren – Prentice and Tiger. Hear how this generation of the family along with their parents and the commitment of the workforce have diversified the mine in so many ways to maintain its market place in the world of stone and slate as well as realising the new industrial benefit to the community with tourism and making it the vibrant place it is today.
Ideal for school, community and university groups the tours run daily from 10.30am and take around 90 minutes, safety helmets and lamps are provided. There is a comprehensive set of learning resources created by Honisters’ education team which are available online for teachers and parents. Find out more at www.honister.com
