This weekend our favourite local museum opens a new feature .  Beamish Museum opens its new pit pony stable in the village colliery.  We are looking forward to a trip there soon to learn more about the history of the mining operations and the miners and the ponies who worked them.  Britain’s last pit pony lived out its days in retirement at Beamish Museum.  “Pip” as he was called lived to the ripe age of 35 and died in 2009.

The new residents of the pit pony stable are descended from original shetland stock of Lord Londonderry.  These ponies however will never know the dark, dusty and hard life their ancestors lived deep underground.   To read more about the “Old King Coal” weekend at Beamish visit  http://www.beamish.org.uk/old-king-coal/

Cheers,

Beth