Published April 15, 2009
Two cute curly-tailed piglets are to be a sweet attraction at an award-winning County Durham museum.
The russet-coloured male Tamworths, called Rhubarb and Custard, are making a home at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in Weardale, to entertain children and families.
They have been given to the museum, the current One North East Small Attraction of the Year, by Bill Quay Farm, Gateshead.
A hardy breed that enjoys the attention of people, they are the third set of piglets to be kept at the Durham County Council-run museum since 2007.
In the 19th century, miners at Killhope used to keep pigs for meat, feeding them leftover scraps.
“We used to have pigs at the museum in the past and it was good to revive the tradition in 2007,” said Shelagh Connor, Killhope’s visitor services officer.
“They have proved to be an entertaining attraction for staff and visitors alike.
“Tamworths tend to be cheeky piglets with a lot of character so the staff who look after them will have lots to tell visitors,” she said.
The pair will be resident at Killhope’s pig arch where they will have the company of a clutch of chickens.
Ends.