SPARKLING examples of traditional North Pennine craftsmanship have been drawing crowds to a North-East museum.

Hundreds of extra visitors have called at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum, in Upper Weardale, County Durham, since it opened The Secret World of Spar Boxes, at the start of last month.

The country's national collection of spar boxes is being showcased at Killhope for the first time in the museum's ten-year history and features many examples of the reviving art.

Spar box-making is a craft unique to the North Pennines and was particularly popular in the late 19th Century.

They are made from collections of refractive minerals and are usually free-standing, glass-fronted cases, containing arrangements such as street scenes or caverns of crystals.

Centrepiece of the display is the 100-year-old, 7ft Egglestone Box, made by Joseph Egglestone of Huntshieldford, near St John's Chapel, Weardale. Joseph's son took it around Durham shows, charging threepence per viewing.

Tina Raynor, commercial services officer at Killhope, said: "Most visitors have no idea what a spar box is, but once people see them they are amazed by their beauty and want to learn more about them.

"We've had thousands of visitors this month and many of them came specifically to see the spar boxes."

The craft enjoyed national prominence during Victorian times. A box made by Nenthead miner Isaac Robinson featured 2,000 mineral specimens and was shown in the Great Exhibition on 1851.

Killhope offers mine tours, the UK's largest working water wheel, woodland walks, a cafe and shop. For details, call (01388) 537505.

Published: 09/08/2004