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THE last tonne of coal to come out of Kellingley colliery will not be burned at its usual destination of nearby Drax power station.
Instead it will go to the National Coal Mining Museum of England at Caphouse around 15 miles away.
There it will become an exhibit, teaching visitors about an industry, and a fuel, on which Britain’s economy was built.
Caphouse is a former coalmine, though nothing on the scale of Kellingley.
Part of Caphouse colliery remains, including a 450-foot vertical shaft and underground roadways.
The museum, where former miners lead the underground tours, has bought Kellingley’s last tonne of coal.
Mine manager and acting museum director Andy Smith said: “It is with great honour and sadness that we mark the end of not just an industry, but a loss of national heritage for the country.
“As a Yorkshire ex-miner I feel an immense sense of pride and responsibility for ensuring this heritage is not lost.
“We will continue to educate and inspire future generations about the history of coalmining and will display the last tonne of coal as a lasting reminder of deep coalmining in Britain.”
The museum is also almost certain to be home to a magnificent sculpture of a miner at the coal face, in a garden outside Kellingley’s canteen.
It is Kellingley’s memorial to 17 mineworkers who were killed at the pit during its 50 years producing coal.
