Possible Open Day at Chatterley Whitfield

**oildrum** · 25th June 2010, 14:51

Hot off the press with this news

After initially being told that the usual Heritage Open Day at the former Chatterley Whitfield Colliery, Stoke-on-Trent, would not go ahead

news has come thru that the event "is" to go ahead

Unfortunately the City Council (plus rest of the regeneration partnership) had decided that the "Grand unveiling ceremony" for the soon to be completed Heritage Country Park (newly re-landscaped tip to you & me) would be on Saturday 11th September,

which just happens to be the same day as the Heritage Open Day

The Friends of Chatterley Whitfield objected & argued for the HOD to take place, and appear to have made a difference. Due to the "other event" things will probably be very different from previous years, but the precise details are yet to be confirmed. However, its looking likely that tours of the buildings & structures will not be via a pre-booked system as before.

Hopefully full details will be confirmed with in the next few weeks and will be posted here asap

Ps If it doesn't go ahead I'll supply the name & number of the person at the council to bombard with complaints!

**Cellarman** · 30th June 2010, 18:23

Many years ago, my wife and I were part of a party that were privileged to actually visit the underground works at Chatterley Whitfield. It was part an organised trip with NAMHO.

Sadly, we couldn't take any pics because of the danger of explosion.

**oildrum** · 30th June 2010, 18:28

Originally Posted by Cellarman

Many years ago, my wife and I were part of a party that were privileged to actually visit the underground works at Chatterley Whitfield. It was part an organised trip with NAMHO.

Sadly, we couldn't take any pics because of the danger of explosion.

Yes long time since anyone was underground at CW

Then there was the "Underground Experience" built on the surface to replicate various mining senarios. But once again thats gone due to the elf & safety police, wasa deemed "unsafe" by the powers that be

Having seen the pics during demolition a good team of pitmen would have had that sorted no problem

The Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum was one of the early members of NAMHO. Got some minutes from the meetings held there.

**oildrum** · 15th July 2010, 19:20

Change of plan- well it is Soke on Trent City Council we are dealing with

The grand unveiling of the Heritage Country Park has been postponed for now.
So the Heritage Open Day on Saturday 11th September is looking as if it will revert back to the format of previous events, ie probably be by pre-booking only

Still awaiting details but will post as soon as available & be warned places usually go very quickly.

**oildrum** · 22nd July 2010, 15:05

no definite news on the arrangements yet for booking places.
Unfortunately I'll be incommunicado (or somewhere further north depending on the weather

) for a little while so have asked that the info be posted asap on the Friends of Chatterley Whitfield site, which can be found at Friends of Chatterley Whitfield

Or try the official Heritage Open Day site, which lists all properties taking part Heritage Open Days - Directory

**oildrum** · 9th August 2010, 09:54

Latest news: Bookings now being taken for the guided tours of the site as part of the HOD scheme.

To book your place telephone 01782 827142 asap

The bumf says that priority is for local residents*, don't think that this can be enforced as the event is part of the national scheme which gives access to places not normally open to the public to ALL

So would argue this point if its brought up & if they do try to enforce it I should make a "bit of a fuss"

* These are the same local residents who haven't any interest in the place, and from previous experience book places & then don't bother to turn up!

**BereniceUK** · 20th August 2010, 14:38

I've booked my place

Here's a link to the info
http://heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD008343E
to which I can add that tours last for 60 minutes and then you can visit an exhibition. There's car parking at the site and no more than 4 tickets per household - they mail the tickets out to you

**oildrum** · 20th August 2010, 16:39

Originally Posted by BereniceUK

I've booked my place

Here's a link to the info
Heritage Open Days - Directory - HOD008343E
to which I can add that tours last for 60 minutes and then you can visit an exhibition. There's car parking at the site and no more than 4 tickets per household - they mail the tickets out to you

Thanks for the link B

When I posted the initial booking details it hadn't appeared on the website.

Hope you enjoy the visit, look forward to some pics- I haven't been there for a while, but doubt much has changed