After I saw the model at Gweek, many many years ago, it had been moved to an
exhibition in the old school at Mullion. But that was also quite a few years
ago. Perhaps its still there. This was before I was really interested in
mining, but I agree its a fantastic model - is it possible its the same one
now in Sunderland??

Incidentally at the SS in Gweek many many years ago, with the model were a
lot of Nife NC113 cells complete with headsets. Despite offering a very good
price for them they were not at that time interested in selling them. They
were still with the model in Mullion years later still in the charging rack!

I believe the whole collection belonged to Ken Jones, the man who set up the
Seal Sanctuary. Was he perhaps an ex miner (I believe he's Cornish) ? ? ?

Roger

http://www.the-mansion.co.uk/
----- Original Message -----
From: "rwaterhouse2" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 02 August 2001 20:38
Subject: Re: Sunderland Museum.


> With reference to models, I saw a fantastic sectional working model of a
coal mine several years ago at the Seal Sanctuary at Gweek, Helston,
Cornwall.  (By 'working', I mean that everything moved, even the model
miners hacking away at the coalfaces).  It isn't there any more, and I would
be interested to know where it is now.  Apparently it was made for an
International
> Exhibition in Birmingham in about 1935, where my mother saw it as a child.
>
> Anyone know?
>
> Robert Waterhouse
>
> Alan Vickers wrote:
>
> > Hi -
> >
> > The Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens opened to the public yesterday,
Saturday 21st July 2001.  The museum, after complete re-furbishment and
enlargement, now contains eight new galleries, one ofwhich is the Coal
Gallery.
> >
> > The brochure says that two of the most imposing exhibits are a model of
a mine, first shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London and a massive
piece of coal which was first shown at the North Eaat Coast Exhibition in
1929.
> >
> > One of the sections demonstrates how self-help and self-improvement were
driving forces in the community.
> >
> > There is a re-construction of a co-operative shop and a clinic in Seaham
where miners could go for treatment for injuries and work-related diseases.
The way housing was used as a weapon by the coal-owners is demonstrated in
the section on the notorious Silksworth evictions, when miners and their
families were put out on the streets and protesters suffered a police
charge.
> >
> > There is a photomontage telling the final chapter of local mining
history, from the 1984-85 strike to the closure of Wearmouth Colliery in
1994.
> >
> > Alan.
>