A £1.7 million museum dedicated to Kent's mining heritage will finally open its doors this Easter.

The Kent Mining Museum and new visitor centre at Betteshanger Country Park will launch to visitors on Saturday, April 2.

The state-of-the-art facility will be free to enter and is the first of its kind in the county.

Its interactive exhibits and displays will tell the unique story of Kent’s mining communities and the former Betteshanger Colliery.

There will also be video and audio content from the miners themselves and the chance for youngsters to dress up in mining kit as they explore.

The museum will be housed in the country park’s brand new £6m visitor centre, which has been driven forward by the park’s new owners Quinn Estates in partnership with the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation (KMHF).

Both projects have overcome money troubles under previous owners Hadlow College and then coronavirus to reach this stage.

Chair of the KMHF, Stuart Elgar, said: “We are so excited to open the museum to the public.

"A great deal of time, effort and work has gone into bringing this museum to life.

“Without the support of the ex-mining community, funders, staff and the dedicated team at Quinn Estates we would not be where we are today, and we are grateful to everyone for their support and passion.

“We are incredibly proud to be telling the story of the Kent coalfield and those who lived and worked in it.”

In addition to the museum, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, visitors will be able to enjoy new experiences around the 250-acre country park.

This includes a new mining-themed play area, new café with interior designs inspired by the miners’ materials, and a new programme of learning activities and events at the park.

A brand-new heritage trail that will traverse the land’s colliery connections will also open next year.

Coal was first discovered in Kent in 1890, but it wasn’t until 1912 that four successful East Kent Colleries were established: Tilmanstone, Chislet, Snowdown and Betteshanger.

Betteshanger was the largest Kent mine, first reaching coal in 1927 and was ‘home’ to 1,500 miners. It closed in 1989, the last of the Kent pits to close.

Betteshanger Country Park was established in 2007, when the former coal mining spoil heap was transformed into a public space for people to enjoy.

Work on the museum originally began while under the ownership of Hadlow College as part of the wider £40m Betteshanger Sustainable Parks development.

But work was suspended 85% through when the college went into financial administration in February 2019.

Later in 2019, the 250-acre site was acquired by Kent-based developers Quinn Estates, who have steadily transformed it into a visitor attraction, events space and centre for sporting excellence.

Mr Elgar added: “My own grandfather moved to Kent in the 1930s from Lancashire to work in the collieries and his whole family moved with him.

"That’s why this museum is so important to me.

"I worked at Snowdown, Betteshanger and Tilmanstone Collieries, starting as an apprentice mechanic aged 15.

“This museum isn’t about a nostalgia trip for elderly miners or their children – it’s for our grandchildren and future generations.

"The story of the 5,000 or so migrating miners is unique in the British coalfields and it is important that it is kept alive.”

Mark Quinn, chief executive of Quinn Estates, added: “The Kent Mining Museum is of huge importance to the local community, and the UK’s coal mining heritage.

"That’s why telling Betteshanger’s story was an absolute priority for us when we took over the ownership of Betteshanger Country Park.

"Helping to get the museum project get back on track with the collective help of the National Lottery and the mining community has been an honour.”