Museum/ Exhibition/ GalleryWoodhorn Museum Archives and Country Park

[bluejules, 22.03.2008] History of Ashington and of the Museum

Ashington is a town in North-east England. It has a population of approximately 28,000, which grew from a few farms in the early 19th Century to a large Coal mining village once coal was discovered. Ashington was once known as "The largest mining village in the world" but despite this historic claim, Ashington has no remaining deep mines. Woodhorn Colliery lies in South-east Northumberland close to the town of Ashington. It was a working pit for more than 80 years, from 1894 until it closed in 1981.

Woodhorn Colliery Museum, first opened in 1989, is the only coal mining museum in Northumberland. Part of the museum is housed in some of the original colliery buildings. It has been closed to visitors for over two years while developments were taking place but it reopened in October 2006. I used to go regularly before it closed, as it is only a short distance from where I live. I have been twice since it reopened. Woodhorn Colliery Museum is a fun day out for all the family.
Before it closed it was only a small attraction but the £16 million redevelopment has turned it into a major tourist attraction. I think it used to be aimed more at the local people but is now aimed at anyone visiting the area. You could see it all in about an hour before it closed but now it will easily fill in an afternoon if not more!

Visiting the Museum

Jack Charlton came back to his hometown as Woodhorn's celebrity guest on the opening day. It was a very busy day with lots going on. In fact it was too busy to really get a feel for the place. We were only there for an hour or so. I was actually very disappointed with it on my first visit as I was comparing it to how it had been before and we didn't see everything.

Having been a second time, this time with my nephews and niece, I have a much more positive opinion towards it. We were looking after my sister's children for the weekend and wanted something to entertain them. We decided to take them here and it was an enjoyable afternoon for all of us. I have since been a few more times and each one has been very enjoyable.

What is there to see and do?

The main building is called 'The Cutter', this was built during the new developments hence it looks very modern. It is inspired by the coal cutting machines, which were once used, deep under ground. I think it looks a bit out of place surrounding the original colliery buildings but it houses the museum, galleries and a study centre.
I really like the inside of this building, named 'Coal Town'. As you walk through Coal Town you can discover the true story of coal mining in Northumberland, through the eyes of the Ashington community.

There is a coal truck just like those used down the mine, which you can push (it doesn't move anywhere though) and it measures your strength. My seven-year-old nephew, Dominick, pushed this (with his hands) as hard as he could but the pointer didn't move. My dad then had a turn (pushing with his shoulder) and the pointer went straight up to the maximum strength! Dominick, then realising he should have used his shoulder, tried again, this time the pointer moved a fraction of a cm. The disappointment on his face was clearly visible. I also had a turn (the pointer moved - but not much!); I liked this particular exhibit as it started to give a little bit of insight into what it was really like underground.
There was also a small tunnel like feature, which you could crawl through (my nephews did but I passed on this one!) to give further insight to the working conditions underground.

Walking through the exhibitions, the decades fly by. You get to see inside a typical colliery house. There is a door, which looks like an outdoor toilet, when you open it the 'man' inside speaks to you in a typical Geordie accent. My nephew got a fright when he opened the door, as he wasn't expecting anyone to speak! (and to be honest I got a fright too!)

There is a man in a shower, in the part about work as a miner. This was in the old museum also. (When I was in nursery my teacher asked me what I had done at the weekend, I told her I had been to Woodhorn Colliery and seen a man in a 'tower'. I cried because the teacher didn't know what I meant. After this I had to see a Speech Therapist to correct my speech. It was successful though and now every time I see the man in the shower I think of that day in nursery. [I now want to be a Speech and Language Therapist])

Continuing your journey, you get to see picnics, marches and the miner's strike. I felt a lot of different emotions as I walked through the museum. I felt quite moved as I looked at the information about the miner's strike as it something I have heard my parents talk about many times.

You can march your way to the top of the 'ramp of reform'. It's the last resting-place of the pit banners. Walking up this ramp brought back lots of happy of memories of the miner's picnics when I was a child. The miner's and their banners used to march through Ashington, passing my house, finishing at Woodhorn Colliery. This was an enjoyable event that we looked forward too. I marched behind the banners one year with a banner I had made myself at an art workshop. So, for me, it was nice walking up the ramp looking at the Pit Banners. The miner's picnic no longer goes past my house, as it is no longer held at Woodhorn.

At the top of the ramp, there is a gallery, which contains mining related paintings, some of which are from local artists. There is also the room, which contains the facilities for Northumberland County Records and Archives. I haven't been in here but looking at it the facilities look good.

There is an exhibition room which changes. I think there has been three exhibitions since it's reopening. When I went with my nephews and niece it was called Arty Arty Castles. This is a "unique three dimensional experience that challenges kids of all ages to 'let off steam'". It is aimed at children under-12 but adults are allowed in the room to supervise. There is a ball pool for under-2's, which Toni, my 1-year-old niece, really enjoyed. The boys also had fun running around and playing on the other inflatable items, including an inflatable slide.

I have since been back with my nephews and niece (last summer) and it was bodies, bouffants and boots which was also very enjoyable.

Outside, the Pit buildings still remain to tell their extraordinary tales. The stables are open for you to go in and have a look. Not only will you see that they are stables but you'll smell them too! There is also a small building which you can go in and see a working fan. This is another part of the museum, which gives an interesting insight into the working life of a miner.

Part of the museum is where the shaft leading down to the mine used to be. This wasn't accessible to the public before the redevelopment. I felt there was atmosphere here of what it must have been like waiting in the shaft to go deep underground.

Outside there are lots of standing plaques with photos and information about what once stood there, as some of the buildings have gone. One of these has a photograph of my granddad when he was young and working in the Medical Centre at Woodhorn Colliery, as a Physiotherapist. When you stand and read the plaque the car park in front you is where the medical centre once stood. My granddad had his photograph in the museum before it closed and I am really proud that there is still a photograph of my granddad there now. My granddad, who is now 82, was also pleased to see his photograph.

I really enjoyed going to Woodhorn Colliery (and I always have) as there are lots of personal links to my background (my dad used to work down the mines at Ellington Colliery when he was younger and he still worked there as a heating engineer right up until it closed in 2005.) It is also nice to learn about the history of mining in Northumberland, after all coal mining was the initial reason that my hometown grew so much.

Extra's

There is a café and a gift shop. The café is large and bright but I haven't been in. The shop, located in one of the old buildings, sells lots of nice gifts, some of which are mining related. I bought a silver miner's lamp charm for my charm bracelet, and a (pink!) pen, which says Woodhorn.

Admission to this wonderful source of historical knowledge is free, though they do charge £2 to park your car and they ask for donations (suggested £2) inside the building.

The museum can be reached by foot by walking through the Queen Elizabeth II country park, where the Museum is situated. This is a nice walk in the summer but, when it's cold or has been raining it is not so pleasant!

The Queen Elizabeth II Park was once part of the largest colliery spoil heap in Europe. It has been beautifully landscaped to include a lake and woodland walks. The lake is a popular place for fishing, canoeing and wind surfing. There is also a cycle path that runs right round the lake. So if you have seen enough of the museum you can take a walk around the park. At the other side of the lake there is a pub, so if you like walking you can walk around the lake and have a drink or a bite to eat. (This can also be reached by road)

You can see the pulley wheels from the back lane in the street where I live. I've always liked this because it reminds me of the history of Ashington. However, since the redevelopment, the top of the pulley wheels light up (in winter) and I think they look a bit like UFO's! This now means that when it is dark you can see them really clearly from quite a distance away. If you didn't know Woodhorn Museum was there I'm not sure you would know what the lights were.

How do I get there?

It is just off the A189 Spine Road and the C1 and Coast and Castles Cycle Route. This makes it very easy to reach and ideal for either a day out or just a break when travelling up or down the stunning coastline.

Conclusion. What did we think?

We all had a great day out and have done so on more than once. It is great for a family day out. If you are in the area and/or are interested in the history of mining, you should take a look here, and I'm sure yee'll hev a really canny day oot!

Opening Times
Wednesday - Sunday (and Bank Holidays but not Christmas Day)

April to October: 10am - 5pm
November to March: 10am - 4pm

Advantages
Free Admission
History of the local mines
Enjoyable day out
Get an insight into what it was like working down the mines
Disabled Access and parking

Disadvantages
Difficult to get to by foot (especially after it's been raining)
Parking costs £2
Car park is poor (made of stones)
Lights on Pulley Wheels look like UFO's