The day the King went down the pit

Historical photos of King George V's royal visit to Elsecar Main Colliery are to form part of the revamped Elsecar Heritage Centre.

Keith Robinson, 80, of Wath Road, Elsecar, has a collection of more than 500 old photos of the area and he has given copies of the 1912 visit to John Tanner, project development officer at Barnsley MBC Arts and Museums.

They will be used along with other aretefacts and memories to tell Elsecar's story in a £500,000 project. This will mean restoring the Newcomen Steam Engine at the site as well as introducing new signs and information about the area in the centre. There will also be signs and information around the village telling of Elsecar's past and a new volunteer service will be set up.

"History is important," Keith said. "If you dont know where you came from you don't know where you are going."

Dr Tanner said the photos were of great interest as he believes King George V was the only monarch to have gone down a colliery."

Keith is one of the many local historians we have been working with to find out that history and to look at what stories we can tell about Elsecar over the last 300 years. The centre will find out in mid-March if it has been successful in a £425,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £60,000 from English Heritage.