On Wednesday of this week, year six children met with three retired miners who had all worked at Westoe Colliery.

The visitors were in school as part of a project to help young people learn more about the industrial and social heritage of our area.

The miners explained what it was like to work down a mine, how important coal was nationally at an industrial and at a domestic level and how mining communities had grown up and declined in the North East.

The children listened well and engaged enthusiastically with the miners who each told their stories and gave accurate facts about our rich mining heritage. The event signalled forthcoming opening of the St. Hilda’s Pit heritage Centre in South Shields.

This was a worthwhile experience which all of the children enjoyed.  Thank you to Jacky, Jerry and Jimmy.

One of the miners explains the value of The Davey Lamp in keeping miners safe underground.

The pit shovel has many uses- not just for holding coal!

The children had prepared a wide range of questions about life as a miner. Here the miners are being quizzed.