The Doc
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I came across this site on an old OS map when tracing the route of the mothballed Leamside railway line.
Wardley is now largely a residential area of Gateshead but was once home to a cluster of collieries which employed thousands in the area. It was officially opened in 1855 but boring operations had commenced at the beginning of the century nearby. It wasn’t until 1871 that the working became productive when the Maudlin and Hutton seams were wrought.
The original Wardley Colliery closed in 1911 and was replaced by Follingsby Colliery. Following almost half a century of dereliction and inactivity, Wardley Colliery resumed activity in 1959, merging with Follingsby Colliery.
The historical records suggest that there was an extensive network of tunnels leading perhaps as far as Usworth in Washington. Certainly the workers at Wardley had to travel two miles underground to the coal face in the 1960s, but I’ve not been able to find any plans of the tunnels.
Wardley operated under the auspices of the National Coal Board until August 1974 when it was closed permanently.
Below is what remains today.
Wardley is now largely a residential area of Gateshead but was once home to a cluster of collieries which employed thousands in the area. It was officially opened in 1855 but boring operations had commenced at the beginning of the century nearby. It wasn’t until 1871 that the working became productive when the Maudlin and Hutton seams were wrought.
The original Wardley Colliery closed in 1911 and was replaced by Follingsby Colliery. Following almost half a century of dereliction and inactivity, Wardley Colliery resumed activity in 1959, merging with Follingsby Colliery.
The historical records suggest that there was an extensive network of tunnels leading perhaps as far as Usworth in Washington. Certainly the workers at Wardley had to travel two miles underground to the coal face in the 1960s, but I’ve not been able to find any plans of the tunnels.
Wardley operated under the auspices of the National Coal Board until August 1974 when it was closed permanently.
Below is what remains today.
