The Friends of Middleton Park are hosting a free guided historical coal mining walk in Middleton Park on Sunday (16 March 2025).
Middleton colliery has been in operation, for certain from the early 1600s, and probably back to medieval times. The walk will take in some of the areas mined in those early industrial times and the guides will be pointing out the signs in the woods that show that early working. Some of the area is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England because of these remains.
This year is the 200th anniversary of the 1825 Middleton Gosforth Pit disaster, where 25 men and boys died in a devastating explosion underground. In January this year, in co-operation with Rev Olasupo Ogunyinka and members of the church, the Friends organised a commemorative service for the dead. This walk will take in the area where the access entrance to the Gosforth Day Hole Pit used to be, and will walk over where Broom Pit, which closed in 1968, is buried.
Join us at 1pm this Sunday (16 March) at the Visitor Centre in the park, there’s no need to book. The walk will last about one and a half hours. Walks in the park may often include muddy or wet wooodland paths, so please wear boots or walking shoes, and appropriate clothing for the weather.
This post was written by Jim Jackson
Photo: Broom Pit, Middleton
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