March 18 2009

A “treasured” mining museum has struck gold after striking a rich seam of Scottish Government benefaction.

£1.3m in grant funding is to be provided to blunt the hanging axe of closure which looms over the Scottish Mining Museum, securing the immediate future of the former Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange, South of Edinburgh.

This government largesse comes on top of £600,000 of ring fenced annual funding from Museums & Galleries Scotland and will be put toward stabilising the Grade A listed buildings which require emergency structural repairs.

Culture Minister Mike Russell delivered the windfall in person when he popped in for a guided tour of the premises, snatching a spectacular birds eye panorama from the facility’s lofty winching tower.

The outlook from up on high isn’t entirely trouble free however, as the museum is left with the challenge of securing long term funding after funding partners Midlothian Council and Historic Scotland both terminated their support.

Last year the museum opened its doors to 35,000 visitors, including 100 school groups.

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