Nottinghamshire Coalmining Heritage

Bestwood Winding Engine House

By David Amos

The preserved Bestwood Colliery Winding Engine House contains the preserved 1870's vertical cylinder Winding Engine that worked at Bestwood Colliery until its closure in 1967.  A magnificent piece of Victorian engineering!  
A massive restoration of the Engine house and attached Headstocks took place in 2009-10 with the aid of a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant. Volunteers now take free guided tours around the Winding Engine, explaining its significance to the coalmining heritage of the region and the process of winding and getting materials and miners into the pit and coal out.  
In the nearby Dynamo House there is a small display of coalmining artefacts on view.  The Engine House is open to the public on Saturday mornings (10.00am - 12 Noon) from Easter to the end of October and tea, coffee and home made cake can be purchased at the Dynamo House at very reasonable prices.
Guided Tours for local history and special interest groups etc. can be arranged at other times- contact one of the Heritage Officers on (01159) 762 422 for further details.