THE story of lead mining in the Yorkshire Dales is to be featured in a major new exhibition – thanks to a huge cash injection from the National Lottery.

The Dales Countryside Museum has won a grant of £90,600 to re-house and exhibit one of the country’s most fascinating lead mining collections.

A total of 860 objects, including mining wagons and tools, were given to the museum by the old Yorkshire Dales Mining Museum in Earby when it closed in 2015.

And the grant means that the artefacts can now be re-examined and displayed, while the stories of miners and of the members of Earby Mine Research Group who assembled the objects over 50 years can be told.

As well as bringing the lead mining collection back to life, new exhibitions will be created from the DCM’s extensive textile holdings.

The lead mining and textile industries were once vital to the Dales, especially in the 19th-century. They went hand-in-hand, with miners often knitting on the way to work to supplement their income.

“A Rich Seam: Lead Mining and Textile Heritage in the Yorkshire Dales” will run over the next 18 months and significant building work will take place at the DCM, which is owned and run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

A mezzanine floor will be extended to create more space, while the lighting, electrics and decoration will be improved. Designers will be commissioned shortly.

A team of around 20 volunteers will be recruited to work alongside staff on the re-interpretation and display of the lead mining collection.

One of the most challenging tasks will be to reassemble what has been described as the most complete water wheel and double roller ore crusher in the country. It was rescued from the Providence Mine near Kettlewell in Wharfedale and was transferred to the museum in pieces.

Other objects range from personal items, such as hats and bottles left underground by miners, to tools and ventilation equipment.

The project will also include a raft of creative and learning activities and the museum will work with North Country Theatre, as well as local schools and drama groups to create performance pieces inspired by the collection.

The money from the Heritage Lottery Fund covers 82 per cent of the project costs. Another £10,000 has come from the park authority. The former Yorkshire Dales Mining Museum has given £6,000, the Friends of DCM £2,000 and a private donor £1,250.

Museum manager Fiona Rosher, said: “We’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of lead mining within the Yorkshire Dales. The money means we will be able to display our collections in a way which reflects their significance.

“In the past whole families in the Dales would be involved in both lead mining and knitting. Women and children worked at the mine top, processing the ore, while knitting was a constant activity. We have an iconic collection of knitting sticks, which were often made as love tokens.”