MORWELLHAM Quay has won a prestigious award for its work educating youngsters about life in the Victorian era.

Morwellham Quay was presented with a Sandford award by the Heritage Education Trust. The award was presented to education officer Anthony Power by Trevor Philips, the chair of the Greater London Assembly at a recent ceremony at a National Trust house in Hackney, London. The annual award recognises and promotes the excellence of educational services in historic sites and museums.

Mr Power said the secret of the Quay?s educational success was the space it offered for children to explore the past.

?We can get the children so involved. We are not limited to one room, like in some city museums. We can dress them up in costume and put a lot of emphasis on the period of time,? he said.

?We worked on a project with Tavistock College year eight pupils this summer which we can use as a template for work with other secondary schools,? said Mr Power.

He said Morwellham Quay was also keen to expand their environmental awareness work.

In their citation the judges wrote: ?This is a site of national importance in the history of mining in the United Kingdom.

The education officer and his staff are providing an excellent education programme and its vitality is maintained by constant attention to improvement.

?Visitors, young and not-so-young, are given an exciting insight into the past, in beautiful surroundings.?

If you have not visited Morwellham recently it is open for two special week-ends before Christmas.

Santa Claus will be waiting in the mine with gifts for the younger visitors, while mince pies and mulled wine will be served in Quay Cottage by the ladies of the house.

There will also be traditional fireside ghost stories.

For further details please contact Morwellham Quay on 01822 832766.