We are starting work on a two-year project to develop a range of new interpretation at and about Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton, Derbyshire.
Treak Cliff is one of four major limestone caves in Castleton that are open to the public. It is the only cavern where seams of the famous Blue John mineral are still mined. A new vein was recently discovered.
inHeritage are delighted to be working closely with the owners and staff at Treak Cliff as part of a larger project to redevelop the visitor centre. We will be responsible for creating a new museum. This centre piece of the visitor centre will feature some of the amazing and unique objects in the late Peter Harrison’s collection of fossils, Blue John and miners’ tools. We will also create a self-guided trail, interpretation panels and work closely with artists to produce a comic, children’s activity book, floor puzzles, animation, film and tactile relief map.
The interpretation will tell the stories of geology, lead mining, Blue John, tourism, the Harrison family and, of course, the cavern itself.
We were awarded the work following visitor survey and interpretive planning work, which we completed in 2015. It also continues are relationship with Castleton. We have worked with Castleon and Hope historical societies on the Medieval Lives project, and worked with Castleton Historical Society on a village interpretation panel, a booklet about the excavations of Castleton’s medieval hospital and an exhibition about the First World War.
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