Changing Landscapes

These spoil heaps on open moorland are the remains of an 18th-century colliery. 

19 September 2009 – 3 January 2010

Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF

Coal formed the backbone of Britain's Industrial Revolution.  At the height of the industry's prosperity in 1913 2,600 pits employed 1.1 million men.  By nationalisation in 1947 this figure dropped to around 1,000 and in 1992 just 50 pits remained.  Now there are only four deep mines left in operation.  This collaborative exhibition between the NMR and the National Coal Mining Museum for England offers case studies of coal mines from six English regions showing colleries as working sites and new photographs to show th changes since the industry's demise.