1993day.year
The last shift leaves Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland. The closure of the 156-year-old pit marks the end of the old County Durham coalfield, which had been in operation since the Middle Ages.
Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland closes, ending 156 years of coal mining in County Durham.
On December 10, 1993, the last shift departed Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland, marking the closure of the historic mine.
Founded in 1837, the pit had been a cornerstone of the County Durham coalfield since the Industrial Revolution.
Its shutdown reflected the broader decline of Britain's coal industry and shift to alternative energy sources.
Thousands of miners faced unemployment, and local communities grappled with economic hardship.
Attempts at regeneration included museum preservation and redevelopment projects.
Wearmouth's closure symbolized the end of an era in Northern England's industrial heritage.
Today, the site stands as a reminder of the region's mining legacy.
1993
Wearmouth Colliery
Sunderland
County Durham
coalfield