A County Durham mining museum has closed its doors for the 2024 season in order to carry out "urgent" renovation works worth £500,000.

Visitors who were planning to head to Killhope Lead Mining Museum in Weardale will have to think again as Durham County Council has confirmed it will be closed whilst works are carried out.

£500,000 from the Government’s Cultural Investment Fund has been poured into the project which will include repairs to the underground mine, washing floor, mine shop, buddle house, and jigger house.

It follows recently completed works – also supported by Government funding – to safeguard the site’s Armstrong wheel, mine cart ramp, launder, and water race bridges.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We’re delighted to have secured funding for these essential works, which will enable us to protect the future of the museum and prevent the loss of its unique features.

“The grant comes from the Museum Estate and Development Fund part of the Government’s Culture Investment Fund, administered by Arts Council England, and we are very thankful to them for awarding us this money.

“We need to do the work during the warmer months, and they will restrict access to the site and visitor attractions to such an extent that a temporary closure is necessary. This will also enable us to complete the work safely and in the shortest timescale possible.

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“We appreciate the temporary closure will come as a disappointment to the many people who enjoy visiting the museum, particularly those who may have been planning to visit this Easter weekend.

“We look forward to completing these works and welcoming people back to a working and moving museum that will delight visitors and local communities for many years to come.”

However, whilst the main museum takes a temporary break, museum staff will be delivering a ‘Killhope in the Community’ programme across the county during the closure.