Uploads from bikerbilly67

Seaton Sluice village & glassworks in around 1890

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:19:10 -0700

Probably the finest view known of the village. The six cones of the glassworks [closed 1870] dominate the scene. They all had individual names - Hartley, Charlotte, Gallaghan, Success, Waterford and Byas.

This picture can be viewed elsewhere, but not as high quality as this version I have uploaded.

Seghill - Station Road in 1930

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:15:37 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

With the current doctors surgery on the right. The sign next to the surgery points the way to Seghill Pit and brickworks.

Eccles Colliery, Backworth in 1969

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:06:29 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Busy scene with the small two road engine shed to the right, the lean two at the side used to store vintage engines at a later date, and the screens centre picture.

Backworth Colliery No. 21.

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:02:28 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Pictured on 13th May 1956 at Backworth yard.

St. Marys Island near Whitley Bay in 1931

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:36 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Before the causeway was built.

Ashington mining fatality in May 1896

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:57:42 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

A 14 year old boy was caught up in machinery and killed instantly. Health and safety was very much an afterthought at this time. The mine was laid idle as was the custom at the time following a fatality.

Blyth Railway station in 1962

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:54:01 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Just two years before closure with at DMU stationary at the platform.

Newcastle Central Station approach bridge - 1848

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:52:18 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Built by Abbot and Co of Gateshead, this cast iron bridge is total unchanged from when it was built apart from being widened in the 1890's.

Blyth - Northumberland St. (Ridley Park road) c. 1895

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:50:40 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Here we are looking down towards the church on the corner and the Steamboat pub, then called the Star and Garter, and still standing today.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:46:07 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Hartley Mains Collieries (HMC) had decided to sink a new shaft a mile East of Hartford Colliery in an attempt to cut down travelling time underground at Hartford.

HMC’s chief engineer, Mr Metcalfe took personal charge of the sinking of the Nancy Pit close to the Three Horse Shoes public house and Laverock Hall farm. The pit was to be named after his daughter – Nancy.

Metcalfe took the very unusual decision to build the surface buildings before starting the sinking. A decision that would prove very costly for HMC. At a depth of around 90 feet the sinkers hit running sand which could not be held back.

Local miners of the time tell the tale of tons of concrete running down the field, pushed out of the shaft by the running sand. After 6 months the Nancy Pit site was abandoned, and what is left is what we see today.
The raised brickwork inside the winder house is where the electric winder would have been located. The heavy duty bolts are still in place 80 years after abandonment.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:45:12 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Side view of the winder house remains. This is typical HMC construction of this period, mirrored at the nearby Nelson Colliery.

Hartley Mains Collieries (HMC) had decided to sink a new shaft a mile East of Hartford Colliery in an attempt to cut down travelling time underground at Hartford.

HMC’s chief engineer, Mr Metcalfe took personal charge of the sinking of the Nancy Pit close to the Three Horse Shoes public house. The pit was to be named after his daughter – Nancy.

Metcalfe took the unusual decision to build the surface buildings before starting the sinking. A decision that would prove very costly for HMC. At a depth of around 90 feet the sinkers hit running sand which could not be held back.

Local miners of the time tell of tons of sand running down the field, pushed out of the shaft by the running sand. After 6 months the Nancy Pit site was abandoned, and what is left is what we see today.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:43:38 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Remains of an unknown structure at the Nancy Pit site.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:42:21 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

The two concrete footings that the steel headgear would have been placed on. Nancy Pit was intended to be a man-riding shaft only. No coal was to have been drawn here.

Hartley Mains Collieries (HMC) had decided to sink a new shaft a mile East of Hartford Colliery in an attempt to cut down travelling time underground at Hartford.

HMC’s chief engineer, Mr Metcalfe took personal charge of the sinking of the Nancy Pit close to the Three Horse Shoes public house. The pit was to be named after his daughter – Nancy.

Metcalfe took the unusual decision to build the surface buildings before starting the sinking. A decision that would prove very costly for HMC. At a depth of around 90 feet the sinkers hit running sand which could not be held back.

Local miners of the time tell of tons of sand running down the field, pushed out of the shaft by the running sand. After 6 months the Nancy Pit site was abandoned, and what is left is what we see today.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:40:45 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

One of the concrete footings for the pits headgear.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:39:44 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Hartley Mains Colliery (HMC) brick set into one of the concrete footings for the headgear.

The Nancy Pit, near Cramlington, Northumberland in 2013

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:38:04 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

The remains of the electric winder house.

Seaton Delaval - the Hastings Arms c. 1950

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:59:39 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

With work going on to dismantle the south gable end of the pub. The reason for this is unknown but explains why the stonework at this end of the building is now rendered over with cement.

Seaton Delaval - the Hastings Arms in 1983

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:56:49 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

A rundown looking Hastings Arms in November of that year. The original small pane windows are still in place on the ground floor, now sadly lost. The roof has lost its original tiles and is covered in felt.

The garden to the right was later replaced with a car park.

Blyth - the Westoe Hotel at Cowpen Quay in 1900

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:51:17 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

With members of Blyth Rowing Club. This pub was actually owned by the Westoe Brewery in South Shields, whose then owner was Robert Henderson. Hence the curious name for a Blyth public house.

Seaton Burn colliery c. 1935 with Robert Stephenson no. 487 of 1845

nobody@flickr.com (bikerbilly67) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:45:18 -0700

bikerbilly67 posted a photo:

Rebuilt a total of three times. The engine eventually passed over to Hartley Mains ownership in 1938 as their number 33. Scrapped in 1943 by HMC, after a staggering 98 years of work.