Snibston
Encyclopedia
Snibston is a former coal mining village in Coalville
, north west Leicestershire
, in the English Midlands, now part of the civil parish of Ravenstone
with Snibston. Its 13th century church of St Mary is the smallest church still in use for regular worship in England. The area is now dominated by the Snibston Discovery Museum, built on the site of the former colliery and consisting of an award-winning interactive museum, scheduled ancient colliery buildings, the Century Theatre, and a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) country park and nature reserve. It is located within the National Forest
.
Snibston and Snibston Discovery Museum are managed by Leicestershire County Council
and supported by Next, The National Forest
and is Heritage Lottery Fund
ed.
parish, Leicester; near the Swannington
railway, 4½ miles SE of Ashby-de-la-Zouch
. Pop., 595. Houses, 110. The manor belongs to Lady Edith Hastings. Coal is extensively worked. There is a very old chapel of ease.'
Snibston Colliery was one of three coal mines sunk in the 1820s and 1830s that helped create the town of Coalville in north-west Leicestershire. Snibston Colliery was created by the famous engineers George and Robert Stephenson
and produced coal continuously from 1833 to 1983. When it finally closed in 1985, the site was bought by Leicestershire County Council
with the aim of preserving the most important buildings, turning the rest of the derelict site into a recreational area and building a major new museum of science and working life. The Discovery Park opened in 1992.
Snibston Colliery's railway is one of the earliest ever built in Britain. It was constructed by Robert Stephenson
between 1833 and 1836 to connect the colliery with the Leicester and Swannington Railway
, built by his father George Stephenson
on the east side of Coalville. This railway was created to carry coal, not passengers. After Snibston Colliery closed in 1983 the railway line was partially dismantled and abandoned. However the section of line from the mine to the centre of Coalville was restored between 1998 and 2001.
Many of the historic mining buildings are now very rare survivals of this once-widespread industry and have been designated as scheduled ancient monument
s by the Government.
The Museum features interactive exhibits, a train, a fashion gallery and more. The museum focuses on technology and design and how it affects everyday life.
The Museum is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
.
Following its opening night in Hinckley in September 1952, the theatre toured Britain until 1974, remaining only a few weeks in each venue. From 1974 until 1997 the Century was used as the town theatre of Keswick in Cumbria, and then, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund
, it was saved from the scrapyard, refurbished and brought home to Leicestershire.
The theatre was run by its own company expressly created to take quality drama to communities throughout Britain and helped greatly with post-war cultural reconstruction. Many of the company’s actors and technicians went on from touring with the Century to make important contributions to theatre in Britain and abroad.
Leicestershire County Council
publish a regular events guide detailing all the events held at Snibston.
Coalville
Coalville is a town in North West Leicestershire, England, with a population estimated in 2003 to be almost 33,000. It is situated on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junction 22 of the M1 motorway where the A511 meets the A50 between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and...
, north west Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, in the English Midlands, now part of the civil parish of Ravenstone
Ravenstone
Ravenstone may refer to:*Ravenstone Ravenstone may also refer to places in England:*Ravenstone, Bedfordshire*Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire*Ravenstone, Leicestershire...
with Snibston. Its 13th century church of St Mary is the smallest church still in use for regular worship in England. The area is now dominated by the Snibston Discovery Museum, built on the site of the former colliery and consisting of an award-winning interactive museum, scheduled ancient colliery buildings, the Century Theatre, and a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) country park and nature reserve. It is located within the National Forest
National Forest, England
The National Forest is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects. Across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, are being transformed, blending ancient woodland with new planting to create a new national forest...
.
Snibston and Snibston Discovery Museum are managed by Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
and supported by Next, The National Forest
National Forest, England
The National Forest is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects. Across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, are being transformed, blending ancient woodland with new planting to create a new national forest...
and is Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
ed.
History of Snibston
John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1872) described Snibston as a 'hamlet in PackingtonPackington
Packington is a village and civil parish in the district of North West Leicestershire. It is situated close to the A42 road and the town of Ashby de la Zouch. The population of Packington according to the 2001 UK census is 738...
parish, Leicester; near the Swannington
Swannington
Swannington may refer to more than one place in England:*Swannington, Leicestershire**a terminus of the historic Leicester and Swannington Railway*Swannington, Norfolk**location of RAF Swannington...
railway, 4½ miles SE of Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, — Zouch being pronounced "Zoosh" — often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is twinned with Pithiviers in north-central France....
. Pop., 595. Houses, 110. The manor belongs to Lady Edith Hastings. Coal is extensively worked. There is a very old chapel of ease.'
Snibston Colliery was one of three coal mines sunk in the 1820s and 1830s that helped create the town of Coalville in north-west Leicestershire. Snibston Colliery was created by the famous engineers George and Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
and produced coal continuously from 1833 to 1983. When it finally closed in 1985, the site was bought by Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
with the aim of preserving the most important buildings, turning the rest of the derelict site into a recreational area and building a major new museum of science and working life. The Discovery Park opened in 1992.
Snibston Colliery's railway is one of the earliest ever built in Britain. It was constructed by Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
between 1833 and 1836 to connect the colliery with the Leicester and Swannington Railway
Leicester and Swannington Railway
The Leicester and Swannington Railway was one of England's first railways, being opened on 17 July 1832 to bring coal from collieries in west Leicestershire to Leicester.-Overview:...
, built by his father George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
on the east side of Coalville. This railway was created to carry coal, not passengers. After Snibston Colliery closed in 1983 the railway line was partially dismantled and abandoned. However the section of line from the mine to the centre of Coalville was restored between 1998 and 2001.
Many of the historic mining buildings are now very rare survivals of this once-widespread industry and have been designated as scheduled ancient monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
s by the Government.
Snibston Discovery Museum
The Museum is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is a non-departmental public body in England and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries and archives...
.
Century Theatre
The theatre was designed by John Ridley who used ingenious design; an aluminium superstructure and hydraulic rams, to create a professional quality theatre building that could be folded up and moved by road.Following its opening night in Hinckley in September 1952, the theatre toured Britain until 1974, remaining only a few weeks in each venue. From 1974 until 1997 the Century was used as the town theatre of Keswick in Cumbria, and then, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
, it was saved from the scrapyard, refurbished and brought home to Leicestershire.
The theatre was run by its own company expressly created to take quality drama to communities throughout Britain and helped greatly with post-war cultural reconstruction. Many of the company’s actors and technicians went on from touring with the Century to make important contributions to theatre in Britain and abroad.
Events
Snibston regularly hosts Miners' Galas.Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
publish a regular events guide detailing all the events held at Snibston.