Ashington is a town and civil parish in northumberland, england. Ashington currently has a population of approximately 28,000, one of the largest towns in northumberland, and is located 15 miles 24km north of newcastle upon tyne and 3 miles 5km from the north sea coast via the historic coastal town of newbiggin by the sea. The attractive wansbeck business park is now located where the colliery stood for 121 years. Ellington colliery was sunk by the ashington coal company limited in 1909 with production starting in 1911. In 1877 the only train to call at the station was at 3. Find premium, highresolution stock photography at getty images. Prior to world war i this was a busy station, booking almost 260,000 tickets in 1911. The town is 15 miles 24 km north of newcastle upon tyne, west of the a189 and bordered to the south by the river wansbeck. Ashington colliery is now a museum and my last visit left me thinking some of the power of a. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. A new photographic book, coal town by mik critchlow, charts the changing life and. Railscot, a history of railways with an emphasis on scottish railways.
Ashington colliery junction railway station served the town of ashington, northumberland, england from 1871 to 1878 on the york, newcastle and berwick railway history. But, in general, it was of books and men there was. Colliery scenes at ashington, northumberland miners at the. The town is located some 15 miles north of the county town, newcastle upon tyne. The semirural setting of ashington at this time is striking. Mar 31, 2014 the attractive wansbeck business park is now located where the colliery stood for 121 years. Work on the first shaft began on 16th may 1894 and production started in february 1898. Ashington coal company built parallel rows of colliery housing and newcomers came from the countryside and as far away as ireland and cornwall. A second shaft was added at the turn of the century and began drawing coal in 1901. Mar 6, 2015 miners on way to the pithead baths after a shift at ashington new moor colliery in northumberland. My wife and i really looked forward to this visit as my dad was the manager of ashington colliery for a short time in the 1960s before retiring. Woodhorn colliery was sunk in 1894 by the ashington coal company. In 1947 the companys pits became part of the nationalised coal industry the national coal board. Ashington colliery shortly after its closure in 1988 but.
The north sea coast at newbigginbythesea is 3 miles 5 km away. Miners faced huge dangers as they swung a pick axe at a rock hard coal face in cramped conditions. Ashington, northumberland, once the biggest pit village. Overview download history purchase history invoices boards sign out. There was no road access nearby so the station must have been used for railway staff or colliery workers. Coal made britain a super power, a country of huge wealth, ingenuity and invention and ashington was one of the big producers of the. Ashington colliery junction railway station served the town of ashington, northumberland, england from 1871 to 1878 on the york, newcastle and berwick railway. The ashington group began in the 1930s as an evening class of pitmen in a village in the. Local history women in history easington colliery family history book history books victorian buildings coal mining sunderland historical pictures what others are saying crowds waiting in the streets for news of the colliery disaster, easington, june photo number. Jobs motors property directory family notices buysell dating travel book an ad cookie policy. After a campaign by former miner george nichol, ashington colliery is set to get a heritage trail. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing.
The town is located some 15 miles 24 km north of newcastle upon tyne and west of the a189. Coal mining at ashington, northumberland, circa 1950. The opening event began with welcome drinks at the portland hotel in ashington. Roof falls, gases, a sudden in rush of water and flooding were common hazards and the human cost was enormous. Local history women in history easington colliery family history book history books victorian buildings coal mining sunderland historical pictures crowds waiting in the streets for news of the colliery disaster, easington, 1st june 1951. World war, there were 148,000 men employed in the regions coal mines.
The station opened in december 1871 by the north eastern railway. Noone could deny the 2014 site is far more attractive than. Book or magazine covers, commercial, promotional, advertorial, endorsement, advertising, or merchandising purposes in any media e. Woodhorn is a great museum of local history, not just for mining but how people lived and socialised. In 2017 ashington town council commemorated the 150th anniversary of the opening of this mine with a pit wheel memorial at the site of the mine. From a19 take a189 coastal route at cramlington continue on a189 for approx 10 miles. It exploited coal seams that ranged far out off the coast of northumberland under the north sea. The play premiered at the live theatre, newcastle upon tyne, in 2007 and subsequently was produced at the royal national theatre, london in 2008 and 2009.
Colliery scenes at ashington, northumberland miners at the drawing board, circa 1950. Brief history of the ashington coal company later ncb railways the ashington coal company operated pits at ashington, linton, ellington, woodhorn and from 1934 lynemouth. Ashington colliery highres stock photo getty images. Noone could deny the 2014 site is far more attractive than its predecessor, but ashington will forever. A mineral railway was built in the 1980s from the ashington colliery network to the ecml. It is within the industrialised was once a centre of the coal mining. Local history women in history easington colliery family history book history books victorian buildings north east. Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for ashington colliery. Illegal pony riding underground woodhorn colliery museum, ashington, northumberland pinned by simon cotterill.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. But mining has long been consigned to history in ashington. Ashington coal company the five collieries by mike kirkup, 2000, published by the peoples history ltd. It was the sinking of the bothal mine shaft in 1867 that led to the rapid growth of coal. Meet the selfeducated coalmen of ashington colliery in northumberland. The original ashington colliery was on the north west of the town and the smaller woodhorn pit was on the north east. The 1984 miners strike in easington on camera family history book.
It is a very impressive place and experience, and really brought back memories of growing up in mining communities in the north east. The book pitmen painters, by william feaver, recorded the development of the. The south of the town is bordered by the river wansbeck. The new village of ashington sprung up alongside this mine.
The town also acquired a new hightech business park designed to. Located in what was once the largest pit village in the world, the former colliery is now home to our popular visitor attraction, welcoming thousands of people each year. Ashington, one of the north easts most famous towns, has been celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Aug 31, 2018 ashington, northumberland, once the biggest pit village in the. The station was situated at the junction line with the mineral line to ashington colliery. This extensive network ran passenger trains for mineworkers. The ashington colliery heritage trail consists of a circular route around the former colliery site. Woodhorn museum queen elizabeth ii country park, ashington ne63 9an, england. Demolition of ashington colliery 18671988 a painting by jack harrison, who was a member of the ashington group pitmen painters.
The colliery adjoined and eventually combined with the former lynemouth colliery. Woodhorn museum ashington 2020 all you need to know. As many as 60,000 miners lost their lives between 1850 and 1900. Woodhorn colliery, ashington 1016976 historic england. He is a former art critic for the observer and the author of frank auerbach and lucian freud.
Jul 30, 20 a mineral railway was built in the 1980s from the ashington colliery network to the ecml. Ashington colliery c 1967 more from the surface and the bygone era of steam. Friday 7 november 2014 saw a proud day in the history of ashington and its heritage when a walking trail was officially opened to mark the site of the former colliery. Ashington colliery was initially operated by harrison, carr company and opened in 1867 with the sinking of a shaft called the bothal mine. It is a remarkable story, play and event in history. Visit woodhorn museum housed in the towns original colliery, this fascinating museum recounts a proud mining history ride the qe ii railway youll find this at the beautiful queen elizabeth ii jubilee country park, once a colliery spoil heap stroll around wansbeck riverside country park woodland, grassland and the lovely river wansbeck make a great combination for country walks and. Ashington colliery junction railway station wikipedia. View topquality stock photos of ashington colliery.
Mining from barter books ltd browse recent arrivals. Ashington is a town and civil parish in northumberland, england, with a population of 27,864 at the 2011 census. The signal in the off position in the background controls access to the ashington colliery freight line. Mar 6, 2015 miners on way to the pithead baths after a shift at ashington new moor colliery in northumberland stay safe and healthy. The mines closed in 1988, but ashington is proud of its history which is remembered at the nearby woodhorn museum, housed in a stunning new building, inspired by the massive cutting machines that were once used deep underground. The working pit woodhorn colliery was the third pit sunk by the ashington coal company. In the history of ashington colliery, xxxxxx lost their lives. If you are a uk taxpayer youll be helping to support woodhorn museum and the trust, since we will claim gift aid on your admission, worth. Ashington colliery is now a museum and my last visit left me thinking some of the power of a memorial has drained away into a theme park experienceuntil you hit the room of paintings or see the colliery banners. This photograph was taken by the rev fw cobb 18721938, who was rector of eastwood from 1907 to 1917. Ashington group, 193484 new edition by feaver, william isbn. Ashington hotels book hotels in ashington premier inn. Click here to book a session and for more information about price, dates and times for under fives fridays, relaxed and bsl interpreted.
Ashington colliery is now a museum and my last visit left me thinking some of the power of a memorial has drained away into a theme park experienceuntil you hit. Ellington colliery was the last deep mine in the north east coalfield, closing in february 2005. Ashington is a town with a very interesting and proud history. William feaver is a painter, writer, curator, and founding trustee of the ashington group collection. With a population of around 27,000, measured at 27,764 at the 2011 census. Ashington is a town in northumberland with a population of around 27,000. Kingdom of northumbria, coal mining, railroad tracks, castle, england, industrial, places, trains, scotland. History in the 1700s all that existed of ashington was a small farm with a few dwellings around.
Colliery scenes at ashington, northumberland miners at. Ashington tourist information visit northumberland. From a1 northsouth follow signs to morpeth then woodhorn colliery museum ashington. Steam powered the railways and the ships and enabled cotton to put britain at the centre of empire and world trade. Please telephone 01670 624455 to book before visiting. The book pitman painters by william feaver, recording the development of the ashington group, 1934 to 1984, has been made into a stage play by lee hall, well known for billy elliot. Nov 20, 2017 ashington, one of the north easts most famous towns, has been celebrating its 150th birthday this year.
Woodhorn museum is a museum, heritage colliery site and the home of the northumberland archives. Ashington colliery site to be made into heritage trail. Located in queen elizabeth ii country park, next to entrance past the museum. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Woodhorn went into decline in the 1960s because of thin coal seams and the availability of cheaper alternative fuels such as oil and gas. Striking images of ashington and its changing face over.
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