The site in 2000

5.1 Surviving Buildings

5.1.1

Building: 1
Name: Office
Description: Built 1912. Two-storey gabled brick building with Welsh slate roof with single storey brick wings to the east and west, also with Welsh slate roofs. The two-storey element has in its north elevation three wooden-framed sash windows with a large wooden casement window in the gable. The south elevation includes a central doorway with fanlight, flanked by pairs of small wooden-framed sash windows. A date stone of 1912 is set above the door. In the gable is a large wooden-framed sash window flanked by pairs of small wooden-framed sash windows. The north elevation of the east wing includes four wooden-framed sash windows and two doorways. The south elevation includes three tall narrow wooden-framed sash windows and two doorways. The east elevation includes a wooden-framed sash window. The west wing includes two wooden-framed sash windows and a doorways in its north elevation. The south elevation includes three tall narrow wooden-framed sash windows and a doorway.
Present Use: Museum offices
Status: None
Importance: The Monuments Protection Programme review of the Coal Industry undertaken for English Heritage graded Woodhorn as of major national importance in both twentieth century and pre-twentieth century categories (1 of 21 collieries for the former and 1 of 9 for the latter). The importance of the Office lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument.

5.1.2

Building: 2
Name: Cage Repair Shop
Description: Constructed c.1900 of yellow Ashington brick with a Welsh slate hipped roof. Three bays of pier and panel construction rising to stepped-and-cogged eaves cornice with large round-headed metal casement windows. The wing that once projected from the western half of the north elevation has left this part of the elevation with substantially cleaner brickwork.
Present Use: Now used to display miners' banners and history of the Northumberland Miners' Union, plus some disaster memorabilia (e.g. glasses).
Status: Listed Building Grade II
Importance: The Monuments Protection Programme review of the Coal Industry undertaken for English Heritage graded Woodhorn as of major national importance in both twentieth century and pre-twentieth century categories (1 of 21 collieries for the former and 1 of 9 for the latter). The importance of the Cage Repair Shop lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.3

Building: 3
Name: Blacksmiths' and Joiners' Shops
Description: Built in 1894 of Yellow Ashington brick with a Welsh slate roof and extended to the south in 1908. The east elevation of one storey and 16 bays accommodates four large round arched openings, two segmental-headed doorways, one pair of boarded doors under a timber lintel, and round-arched windows, some with metal-framed casements. Similar windows to the rear, some partly blocked, and banded lateral stack.
Present Use: The south end of the building, originally the joiners' shop, is used for museum storage. The north end of the building is used to store banners, paintings etc.
Status: Listed Building Grade II
Importance: Combined with the Stables, these buildings reflect the important role of underground ponies and surface horse-haulage at mines (70,000 ponies were working underground in Britain in 1913). The importance of the Blacksmiths' and Joiners' Shops lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.4

Building: 4
Name: Stables
Description: Constructed in 1894 of Yellow Ashington brick with Welsh slate roof. The south elevation of one storey and three bays accommodates three doorways, two with stable doors and four small windows. All openings have timber lintels. Small left end stack. The timber partitions still survive within. At the west end is a forge with stepped brick hood.
Present Use: The east end of building is used to display blacksmithing equipment and the north, housing the forge, continues to be used by a local blacksmith.
Status: Listed Building Grade II
Importance: Combined with the Blacksmiths' and Joiners Shops, these buildings reflect the important role of underground ponies and surface horse-haulage at mines (70,000 ponies were working underground in 1913). The importance of the Stables lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.5

Building: 5
Name: Locomotive Shed
Description: Salvaged from Vane Tempest Colliery in County Durham in the early 1990s.
Present Use: Locomotive shed
Status: None
Importance: Not a historic feature of Woodhorn Colliery, but a now-rare survival of a colliery locomotive shed, once a normal feature of any colliery surface layout.

5.1.6

Building: 6
Name: No.1 Winding House
Description: Constructed c.1894 of Yellow Ashington brick with a Welsh slate roof. Rectangular three-storey winding house with single-storey extension to west. Three-bay side wall and two-bay rear of pier-and-panel construction rising to stepped-and-cogged eaves cornice, accommodating large round-headed metal-framed casement windows; one rear window replaced by later doorway to external platform. Hipped roof with gabled wooden dormer for winding ropes and raised louvre on ridge. The steam winder was replaced in 1975 by an electric winder, which itself was scrapped in 1995/6.
Present Use: The ground floor presently houses a 70 seater cafeteria, a museum shop and improved public conveniences including a toilet for disabled persons. The first floor houses an exhibition space, which is used for temporary exhibitions. The second floor is used as a multi-purpose room - hired out to groups for training, meeting etc.
Status: Listed Building Grade II*
Importance: Despite the loss of its winder, the building forms a nationally rare and important survival of a colliery winding house, and is a crucial element in the understanding and interpretation of Woodhorn Colliery. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its Listed Building status.

5.1.7

Building: 7
Name: No.2 Winding House
Description: Constructed between 1898 and 1901 of Yellow Ashington brick with a later roof of late 20th century synthetic sheeting. Rectangular three-storey building with three-bay side walls and two-bay rear of pier-and-panel construction, each elevation accommodating round-headed metal-framed casement windows, rising to stepped-and-cogged eaves and cornice. Hipped roof with flat-topped dormer and half-dormer for winding cables, and raised louvre on ridge. Steam winder replaced in 1975 by electric winder, which still remains.
Present Use: The winding house and electric winder were restored in 1992 back to working order for public display.
Status: Scheduled Listed Building Grade II* Appears in the Buildings at Risk register as in 'very bad' condition
Importance: The in situ survival of colliery winding engines is now very rare, and the building with its machinery forms a nationally rare and important survival of a colliery winding house, and is a crucial element in the understanding and interpretation of Woodhorn Colliery. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.8

Building: 8
Name: No.1 Headgear
Description: The headgear stood over the downcast shaft and supported the pulley wheels that in turn supported the cables used for haulage in the shaft. The No.1 Headgear is an unenclosed frame structure of steel girders supporting two pulley wheels.
Present Use: Repaired and painted in 1992 for public display.
Status: Scheduled Listed Building Grade II*
Importance: Intact colliery headgear is now very rare, and Buildings 8 and 11 form a rare illustration of the similarities and differences between downcast and upcast shafts of similar date; these structures are therefore of considerable national importance, and are crucial to the understanding and significance of Woodhorn Colliery. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.9

Building: 9
Name: Pick Sharpeners' Shop and Jack Engine House
Description: Building of Yellow Ashington brick with metal-sheet roof. Rectangular, single-storey building of four bays of pier-and-panel construction, accommodating round-headed metal-framed casement windows, rising to stepped-and-cogged eaves cornices. The building is of two major phases. The eastern portion of the building was constructed c.1894, to house the Jack Engine used in shaft sinking. This building was then extended c.1900 to accommodate the pick sharpeners' shop. The original Jack Engine, which provided auxiliary power to the main winders, survives within the Engine House. The engine was built by Long Brothers of Wakefield. It had steam supplied at a pressure of 80lb per square inch, a cylinder of 16" diameter and 26" stroke and a drum of 10m diameter.
Present Use: The building was renovated in 1992. The half of the building housing the Jack Engine is open to the public, and the remainder is office accommodation.
Status: Scheduled Listed Building Grade II*
Importance: The MPP Step 3 report refers to the in situ steam winding engine, the twin cylinder Long Brothers' engine, as being one of only ten in the country. Its importance also lies in its contribution to the interest of the site, to the 'group value' of the ensemble and the understanding of the surface working of the mine. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.10

Building: 10
Name: Central Fan House
Description: Dated 1900 above west door. Single-storey building of yellow Ashington brick with square ventilation tower at east end flanked by fan chambers on east and south. Welsh slate roof with concrete capping to fan chambers. The building is of three bays of pier-and-panel construction rising to stepped-and-cogged eaves cornice. The north elevation includes a round-headed window accommodating metal framed casements at either end. To the west is a flat-topped tower with stepped-and-cogged frieze, and beyond this a fan chamber with small-boarded door. The south elevation shows similar fenestration and fan chamber with curved roof adjoining tower. The Cappel Fan is reportedly in working order. The Cappel type came into use in the last decade of the 19th century and tended to replace the earlier types such as the Guibal which had larger diameters and revolved at lower speed.
Present Use: The building is kept locked and is not in use at this time.
Status: Scheduled Listed Building Grade II*. Appears on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk register.
Importance: This Cappel fan house is a unique survival. "This structure, its function and its accessibility provide an opportunity to understand pit ventilation in a way that is probably unrivalled at any other site in the UK" (PLB Consulting Ltd. 2000, 13). The importance of the Central Fan House also lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.11

Building: 11
Name: No.2 Heapstead and Headgear
Description: The headgear consists of a steel girder frame supporting two pulley wheels and stands over the upcast shaft, and so is enclosed to control the circulation of air. The enclosing structure, or heapstead, is constructed of brick, the lowest 7m being of yellow Ashington brick and the upper section being of red brick. The headgear above the brick and below the pulleys is enclosed in a steel box. The east face has four narrow windows at ground floor level. Attached to the south face is a red brick, flat roofed structure with double doors. This building served as a cover for fully laden coal railtrucks waiting to be transported to the railway sidings. The west face has a window and a doorway in the upper red brick section. The doorway is accessed by an iron staircase. There are two single-storey, red brick buildings attached to the west face. The northern one, built in 1949, is 7m long with a single railtrack running its entire length. The northern face has a double doorway and a window in the top section. The guide rails for the cages in the shaft, and the narrow gauge railways from the pithead, are in their original setting within the heapstead.
Present Use: Museum display
Status: Scheduled Listed Building Grade II*
Importance: Intact colliery headgear is now very rare, and buildings 8 and 11 form a rare illustration of the similarities and differences between downcast and upcast shafts of similar date; these structures are therefore of considerable national importance, and are crucial to the understanding and significance of Woodhorn Colliery. Its architectural and historical significance is also reflected by its inclusion in the Listed Buildings register.

5.1.12

Building: 12
Name: East Fan House
Description: Constructed 1942. The fan house is of the Guibal type. The Guibal type is an earlier fan type than the Cappel, though at Woodhorn the Cappel was installed before the Guibal. It comprises a fan housing and attached engine house. The circular fan housing of the fan is visible as a semi-circle above ground level. The circular housing is flanked on either side by red brick pillars, which have blocked doorways at either ends. The circular housing of the fan has a evasee on its western end. Attached to the western end of the fan housing is a section of the air inlet passage which is above ground. The engine house is attached to the north side of the fan housing. It is a single storied brick structure with a sloping flat roof. The east and west faces have two recessed panels of brickwork each with a rectangular window in the southern panel. The northern face has three panels. The east and west panels have sliding double doors. The building contains two electric motors supplied by Bruce Peebles and Company Ltd. of Edinburgh. The fan is said to survive, but was not inspected at time of visit. The Guibal fan house was constructed on the site of an earlier fan house destroyed on 20th December 1941 by a jettisoned bomb.
Present Use: The building is kept locked and is not in use at this time.
Status: Lies within Woodhorn Colliery Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Importance: Guibal fans were developed by the Belgian Theophile Guibal and were introduced to British mines in 1859. By 1876 there were 200 Guibal fans at work in Britain's coalfield. The Woodhorn Guibal type fan house is a late example, but a rare and nationally important survival. The importance of the East Fan House also lies in its contribution to the understanding and layout of this nationally important monument.

5.1.13

Building: 13
Name: Crab Engine House
Description: Two-storey pier and panel brick structure with single storey pier and panel extension to the east. The western portion of the building has a gabled Welsh slate roof. The south elevation includes metal-framed casement windows at ground and first floor level and a door at western end. The eastern portion of the building has a flat concrete roof. The south elevation includes a row of six large metal casement windows. The east elevation includes a door with window above.
Present Use: The engine is in the western portion of the building, whilst the eastern portion is used for museum storage.
Status: None
Importance: The in situ crab engine and its house form a nationally-rare survival, and in conjunction with the other structures around the shafts form an unusually complete survival of a typical shafthead layout.

5.1.14

Building: 14
Name: Transformer House
Description: c.1980. A large single storey brick building. The south elevation includes four large boarded up openings, probably windows. Surmounting the flat concrete roof are two louvered vents.
Present Use: Used as a store by local equestrian club.
Status: None
Importance: The transformer house was added when the colliery was already being run down, and its importance is uncertain on current information.

5.2 The Remainder of the Site (Figure 7)

Since the assessment has indicated that most former buidlings and structures were either within the footprint of the existing Listed Buildings and Scheduled area, or within areas where their remains are likely to have been destroyed by reclamation, the gazetteer is kept very simple.

Figure 7: Woodhorn Colliery Areas of Survival (click to enlarge)

5.2.2

Area: 2.1
Location: The area forms a rectangle, encompassing the Blacksmiths' and Joiners' Shops, the Cage Repair Shop (aka The Banner Hall), the Stables and the Locomotive Store.
Description: The area immediately around the surviving buildings is given over to flagged pathways and grassed areas.
Historical Data: The Cage Repair Shop was originally 'L-shaped' in plan. A smaller square building was located at the inside angle of this building (see Figures 3 and 4). A further building was also located immediately to the west of the southern end of the Blacksmiths' and Joiners' Shops.
Reclamation Data: No evidence has been located for any reclamation scheme affecting this area, and it is therefore likely that archaeological deposits, including foundations of demolished buildings, will be well-preserved.

5.2.3

Area: 2.2
Location: The area encompasses the No.1 and No.2 Winding Houses, the No.1 Headgear, the Pick Sharpeners' Shop and Jack Engine House, the Central Fan House, the No.2 Heapstead and Headgear, and the East Fan House and the Crab Engine House, but excludes an area immediately northwest of the latter two buildings, which fell within the area of Reclamation Area B
Description: The area currently forms the core of the museum site, where museum exhibits and information is displayed.
Historical Data: The area represents the typical shafthead layout. Several structures are no longer present, including the Stores that were located between the two winding houses and several other smaller buildings immediately to the north of the Stores and to the south of the Crab Engine House.
Reclamation Data: No evidence has been located for any reclamation scheme affecting this area, and it is therefore likely that archaeological deposits, including foundations of demolished buildings, will be well-preserved.

5.2.4

Area: 2.3
Location: An irregular curving area to the west of the main colliery complex.
Description: The area presently has grass and tree coverage.
Historical Data: The area was once the site of numerous rail lines and railway sidings serving the colliery.
Reclamation Data: No evidence has been located for any reclamation scheme affecting this area, and it is therefore likely that archaeological deposits will be well-preserved. However, these deposits are likely to consist largely of formation and bedding for railway lines, of lesser archaeological value than Areas 2.1 and 2.2.

5.2.5

Area: 2.4
Location: The area forms a long strip running roughly parallel to the southern boundary of the study area.
Description: Rail lines supplying the ALCAN aluminium works largely occupy the area.
Historical Data: The site of colliery rail lines.
Reclamation Data: No evidence has been located for any reclamation scheme affecting this area, and it is therefore likely that archaeological deposits will be well-preserved in this area. However, these deposits are likely to consist largely of formation and bedding for railway lines, of lesser archaeological value than Areas 2.1 and 2.2.

5.2.6

Area: 2.5
Location: The area forms a sub-rectangle in the southeast corner of the study area.
Description: The area is currently under grass and is used by a local equestrian club.
Historical Data: The area does not seem to have been utilised in an intensive way during the life of the colliery. Rail lines and railway sidings once occupied the southern portion of the area and the Pug Mill was located at its centre.
Reclamation Data: No evidence has been located for any reclamation scheme affecting this area, and it is therefore likely that archaeological deposits will be well-preserved. However, these deposits are likely to consist largely of formation and bedding for railway lines, and foundations of the Pug Mill, of lesser archaeological value than Areas 2.1 and 2.2.

5.2.7

Area: 2.6
Location: The area encompasses the whole north and northwest sides of the study area, areas immediately around the two core sites of surviving buildings (2.1 and 2.2), and an area to the south of these and around the Office (Building 1).
Description: The spoil heaps to the north are planted with trees. A light railway runs from the Locomotive Store to the northwest of the study area. An access road approaches the Offices from the east, in front of which is a large car park. The vast majority of the remainder of the site is under grass.
Historical Data: The northern and western portions of the area were once occupied by rail lines, railway sidings and spoil heaps. The Powder Magazine was located in the far northwestern corner of the study area, approached by rail lines. In the southern portion of the area there were further rail lines and railway sidings. Attached to the south of the No.1 Headgear was a heapstead and to the south of the No.2 Heapstead there were Screens. To the east of the No.2 Winder was the Electricians' and Fitters' Workshops, and immediately to the north of this were two large ponds. Various other smaller ancillary buildings were located in and around the main complex of colliery buildings. The southwest corner of the area seems to have been largely free of colliery activity.
Reclamation Data: This area underwent a complex series of reclamations. It is clear from the bills issued by Northumberland County Council that all existing buildings within this area were to be demolished and their foundations, and other hard surfaces, broken up. The spoil heap was to be landscaped, but its base may survive undisturbed beneath the re-formed surface. However, the survival of a small area of concrete to the east of the East Fan House raises the possibility that the extent of destruction may have less comprehensive than the desk evidence indicates, and some archaeological deposits may survive within this area.

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