My Dad died at the pit of a heart attack (at bank not at the face - Ronnie Brown) and as perverse as this sounds I am grateful he never saw the colliery fall. The thing people never got was that the pit was not the biggest part of colliery life - it was the social and economic impact of a pit. Miners were "big" men and I feel grateful I was allowed the privelege to know a few of them. Rest easy dad.
Was a sad day when it closed, i had some good times down that manky hole, lads i did my training with were good lads, i worked in the quarter, sometimes wish i was back down there ...................................
Don't forget the tragedy behind that demolition - the fact that Thatcher had worked very hard for years to close the mines and John Major continued the work for her.
The result was many men out of work. Some became postmen, some worked in factories. But most ended up like dinosaurs in a modern world.
The result was the DOLE, which led to bordem and despair. Their children grew up seeing the affects of unemployment and poverty on their parents. The results are now in Tyne Dock flats.
A very moving Banner Dedication and Service at Durham Cathedral, today (11th. July, '09). A lot of hard men there in the congregation, with damp eyes!
I wonder if I will live to see Westoe reopened some day?
I remember westoe pit open days
rockyrobin24 3 months ago
My Dad died at the pit of a heart attack (at bank not at the face - Ronnie Brown) and as perverse as this sounds I am grateful he never saw the colliery fall. The thing people never got was that the pit was not the biggest part of colliery life - it was the social and economic impact of a pit. Miners were "big" men and I feel grateful I was allowed the privelege to know a few of them. Rest easy dad.
imaginandi 10 months ago
all my family for generations worked here . very sad.
dave2806 1 year ago
Hey my uncle was a glazier and almost fell of this this bugger ! Wouldnt get me up there for a gold pig !!!! Paul
fluxgenerator 1 year ago
Was a sad day when it closed, i had some good times down that manky hole, lads i did my training with were good lads, i worked in the quarter, sometimes wish i was back down there ...................................
harleyk100 1 year ago
this is actually the "crown" shaft being demolished
bri1959 1 year ago
replaced with some poorly built dollhouses made from plasterboard
p4cks 1 year ago
I remember the colliery being knocked down, not long before Westoe bridges were knocked down as well =(
We got the day off school to go watch...
DjMessiahUK 2 years ago
Don't forget the tragedy behind that demolition - the fact that Thatcher had worked very hard for years to close the mines and John Major continued the work for her.
The result was many men out of work. Some became postmen, some worked in factories. But most ended up like dinosaurs in a modern world.
The result was the DOLE, which led to bordem and despair. Their children grew up seeing the affects of unemployment and poverty on their parents. The results are now in Tyne Dock flats.
HennoGarvey 2 years ago 10
@HennoGarvey
Spot on mate....sadly very true.!!
FTMJarra 1 year ago
how many ounces of cemtex they use , not much of a thump !!
bonzo874 2 years ago
A very moving Banner Dedication and Service at Durham Cathedral, today (11th. July, '09). A lot of hard men there in the congregation, with damp eyes!
I wonder if I will live to see Westoe reopened some day?
spring74light 2 years ago
All the demos that ive seen on u tube draw big crowds even the smaller ones. just a big event, excellent, love it.
AUSSIEMADMATT 3 years ago
Think I was there with my dad when i was about 3 months old so I can't remember it. He was a Staple Blacksmith down the pit there.
coxynufc 3 years ago
I remember this. My dad went to watch when I was at school.
mattloque 3 years ago
It Was a sad day when the pit closed
trsuk1 4 years ago 2