National Mining Museum Scotland Launches Critical Fundraising Campaign to Protect Scotland’s Mining Heritage
Help Preserve the Legacy of Scotland’s Mining Communities
National Mining Museum Scotland, housed in the former Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange, Midlothian has launched a fundraising appeal to safeguard an irreplaceable part of Scotland’s industrial history.
As Lady Victoria Colliery marks its 130th anniversary, the museum stands as a powerful tribute to the people and communities that built Scotland’s coal industry. Guided by former miners, the museum highlights the profound impact mining had on Scotland’s communities and economy.
Be Part of The Future
To ensure its future sustainability, the museum aims to raise over £450k for a major Transformation Project to become a world-class destination for Midlothian.
This initiative will highlight the importance of Scotland’s coal mining heritage for a modern Scotland; sharing stories of resilience and solidarity, hosting spectacular events and creating opportunities for lifelong learning, skills development, and wellbeing.
Work will include revitalising the museum’s A-listed buildings, new event and exhibition spaces, a collections discovery centre, restoration of its winding engine and development of the site’s ecology.
The project aims to re-establish Lady Victoria Colliery back at the heart of the community and to deliver positive life experiences for everyone who takes part.
But without essential funding the museum will be unable to transition to a sustainable future, placing its current operations at risk.
“We are at a crucial turning point,” said the Rt Hon. Henry McLeish, Chairman at the National Mining Museum Scotland. “This museum is more than just a collection of artefacts—it is the beating heart of Scotland’s mining legacy. We urge individuals, businesses, and organisations to rally together and support this vital part of our nation’s history”
How You Can Help Today
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference—please donate today to support the museum’s essential transformation.
- Make a one-off donation to the Be Part of Our Future Campaign. All donations will make a huge difference.
- Purchase one of the new annual passports, allowing you to enjoy unlimited visits.
- Businesses can get involved through opportunities aligned with their corporate social responsibility values, community benefits and employability pipelines.
- Finally, spreading the word about our campaign can help reach more people who care about protecting Scotland’s mining legacy.
The time to act is now. Join National Mining Museum Scotland in keeping Scotland’s mining heritage alive for future generations. For more information, visit: nationalminingmuseum.com/ourfuture/
