Coalmining During the Wars of the Roses – Talk

Summary

Coalmining During the Wars of the Roses – The Medieval Coalmines of Leicestershire

Between 1987 and 1993 Leicestershire Museums kept a watching brief on the coal operations at the Lounge opencast coalmine. The open cast was extracting coal from an area of Northwest Leicestershire known for its early coalmining activity. Stuart Warburton (former curator at Snibston Discovery Museum) will reveal what was recovered, excavated and recorded, which surprised the industrial archaeological world and rewrote the history books on medieval and early coalmining in the UK.

The opencast unearthed mine workings, tools, timbers, and boots dating from the 1450 – 1460s. The most sensational find was the Lounge (Lount) Tunic, the oldest piece of woollen working-class clothing found in the UK, also dating from the early to mid-15^th century.

The talk will take the audience through the analysis of the finds, the importance of the mine workings, the excavation of a medieval mine shaft and the significance of the boots and the tunic. An archaeological journey which redefined medieval coalmining.

During the talk Leicestershire Museums will display the unique Lounge (Lount) Tunic for the benefit of the talk and audience.

Tickets cost £6 per person and can be booked HERE. Pre-booking is Essential.

Images (left to right): Replica Lounge (Lount) Tunic, The original Lounge (Lount) Tunic, Medieval mine workings at Lounge Opencast.