Shop and eat
Treat yourself
from
or relax in our
Lunches are available a short walk away in Hednesford or you can picnic in our beautiful grounds.
How to find us
We are accessible by car, bus and train. Located just a 15-minute walk away from Hednesford bus and railway stations.
Opening times:
Easter Saturday to end of September: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am – 4.30pm
October to Good Friday: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 4pm Last admissions 30 minutes before closing.
The Museum of Cannock Chase is managed by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles, a cause-led campaigning charity who exist to inspire health and happiness through participation in activities that encourage people to be active, creative, and healthy.
We are a fully accessible facility providing accessible parking, induction loops, flat access, accessible toilets and lifts. For more information, see our Access Guide at access.museumofcannockchase.org
Information
Accessibility
Valley Road
Chadsmoor & Cannock
Cannock Heath Hayes Museum of Cannock Chase One-Way Traffic Railway Parking Information Cycle rack Museum of Cannock Chase, Valley Road, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS12 1TD. @museumofcannockchase 01543 877666
Rugeley
sale,
our gift shop, you’ll find work from local artists and makers, souvenirs, local books
a range of gifts and pocket money toys. SPRING-SUMMER 2024 Free admission and parking
to a snack, cake and drink
our Coffee Shop whilst browsing our preloved books for
outdoor seating.
In
and
Award winning
For a great welcome, the Museum of Cannock Chase, on the site of the former Valley Colliery, is the ideal starting point for a visit to Cannock Chase.
Explore the story of Cannock Chase through interactive displays, and exciting events and exhibitions. Bring your class to our award-winning education programme, showcase your artwork, hire a room for a meeting or workshop, or delve deeper into our local history collection.
Enjoy the history and beauty of our outdoor space with a picnic in the grounds, follow the sculpture trail or take a walk on Hednesford Hills. Hednesford Park has a café and an exciting adventure play area, just a few minutes’ walk away.
Winner of the Visit England Welcome and Hidden Gem Accolades, the museum is FREE to come and look around.
Why not extend your visit, taking in local shopping, play areas, cafes, cycle trails and walks on Cannock Chase?
Event highlights
VE Day Celebration
Saturday 11th May
£5 per adult, under 16s free
Re-enactors, vintage vehicles, wartime music and dancing, cookery demonstrations and talks, Dig for Victory corner, Black Market cream teas and a Spitfire flypast (weather permitting) 11am – 4pm
Events and activities
The museum has a packed programme of events all year round. There’s always something to get involved in, whether it be a guided walk, crafty workshop, meet the author event, book club or our regular History Hunters sessions in which we delve into the museum collections.
Explore...
Discover the rich history of Cannock Chase across our five permanent galleries. Mining Memories is an interactive journey through the Cannock Chase coalfield. Find out what it was like to work down the pit, experience our pit cage, watch archive films from the Valley Training Centre and find out where the pits used to be.
Have a Go History – the Civil War
Saturday 15th June
£5 per adult, under 16s free
Colonel Nicholas Devereux’s Regiment of re-enactors will lead a day of handson Civil War history with pewter making, using a pike and musket, 17th century cooking, talks and sword fighting lessons. 11am – 4pm
The Vintage Village Fête Family Day
Sunday 21st July
£2 per adult, £4 per child
Step back into yesteryear with a traditional village fête! Maypole dancing, summer crafts, children’s entertainers, retro sports day, homemade cakes, plus great British pastimes such as jam-making, homegrown produce and flower arranging. 12pm – 4pm
LEGO Legends
Saturday 21st September
£10 per person (team competition) / £3 per person (drop-in)
Calling Lego fans! Enter our team competition to design, plan a build a Lego creation on a given theme, try to some Lego mini makes and see a display of Lego makes from a private collection. Plus indoor and outdoor 11am – 4pm
Take a peek into homes from the past with our Miner’s Cottage and 1940s Room and find out more about the story of Cannock Chase in our local history gallery.
Our Toy Gallery has everything from Sindy to Star Wars, and there is a Toy Room for interactive play.
Plus don’t miss our regular mini exhibitions showcasing fascinating artefacts from our collections.
Scan here to see our full list of events.
Every school holiday we host a range of activities for primary age children and their families.
Exhibitions
The museum hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing the work of artists and photographers, as well as fascinating historical stories.
Beneath our Feet: How Agriculture and Industry Shaped a County 27th April – 16th June 2024
A family friendly exhibition that explores the rocks, minerals and soils found below the ground, and how these natural resources have helped shaped the county we know today. With objects and documents from Staffordshire Archive & Heritage’s collections.
Matt Sayers: ‘When Coal was King’ 22nd June – 18th August 2024
there and then.
Chase Artists: ‘Cut to the Chase’ 24th August – 12th October 2024
Cut to the Chase is an exhibition of drawings, paintings and collage by professional artists David Gleeson, Lisa Henderson and Mark
The work is inspired by Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and designated a National Landscape.
Scan here to see our full Exhibitions programme.
Matt Sayers brings a new collection of brand-new artworks exploring the world of the coal miner, using charcoal sticks and working under low lighting to recreate the effect of recording underground what was happening,
Lippett.
