7 "Pits" Northumberland

A ride that re traces some history of the coal Mines, ( sites where they were)in the area. It starts @ Woodhorn Colliery museum,formerly a "pit" in Northumberland which closed as a working mine in 1981.We head on going past an Old Windmill that was apparently used more for ship navigation and speed trials,also the entry point to what used to be Alcan aluminium smelting plant,which closed in 2012.On the right hand side we see the power station and has been converted to one of the most ambitious renewable energy investment projects in the UK.This is also the site where Lynemouth Pit was,this closed in1994.A caravan storage park now stands where the pit yard was.Heading through the village we pass what used to be Lynemouth Hotel so not just "Pits " that have closed,this was a big watering hole 🍺 for the locals,and now Lynemouth Resource Centre. Going through the village we see massive changes ,on the left hand side, that used to be a railway line between Lynemouth and Ellington pits.Not a lump of coal to be seen. We follow that and go by the "Big E" Ellington pit which was the last deep Coal Mine to close in 2005. The deepest part of this mine was 2,600 feet (800 metres) and went 15 miles ( 24km) out to sea.Only sign a coal mine had been here is a little monument on the left as we pass Ellington Institute. We go on and pass The Plough Inn 🍺 before heading to Linton Colliery this one closed in 1968 and Linton is growing now with new houses.All we can see is the old railway line.We head on to cross the main rail line from London to Scotland, and Longhirst Colliery site.This mine was open in 1868 and closed in 1896 and still called Longhirst Colliery.We keep going to Longhirst village,passed the church, and along the road past Pegswood Ski slope 🤣 This was the remenants of the Pit heap,and now a nice walk for the locals and Kids can be seen flying down on sledges in winter.The Pit closed in 1969.We go by "Robin of Pegswood,a monument for the Miners and head back east to Ashington,passing Coney Garth pond on the right.This pond grew because of Mine subsidence and often has rare birds on it.We finish where Ashington Pit was the Mine closed in 1988.This ride shows how well the Landscape has changed.Not a sign of Coal now.I hope you like the ride ,it was a memory ride for me and a tribute for all those Hardmen that worked "down the pit"