Northumberland County Council have agreed to fund repairs to Woodhorn Museum’s heapsteads, which support the winding gear that raised and lowered cages down the mine shaft. These are in need of a full refurbishment with major corrosion identified, leading the Grade II* listed structure to be classed as “heritage at risk” by Historic England.

£1.297 million has been set aside to carry out the repairs. A number of structural elements that have been deemed no longer economically viable to restore will be replaced, while the remaining structure will be sandblasted.

The heapsteads will receive full scaffolding and canopies for the duration of the work in order to protect the structures, as well as staff and visitors. This means that the colliery site will bremain oopne during the conservation work.

The original colliery opened in 1894 and closed in 1981. The Woodhorn Colliery Museum opened in 1989, using the original pit buildings. The pit yard was designated a scheduled monument in 1999.

More details here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/woodhorn-museum-ashington-heapstead-repairs-30365062