IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Acomb Avenue, WALLSEND, NE28 9XY

The Rising Sun Country Park was once the site of one of the largest coal mines in the world, the Rising Sun Colliery. Sunk in 1906, with production starting in 1908, the colliery was owned by Wallsend & Hebburn Coal Co. Ltd., who also ran the nearby Wallsend Colliery. In 1935 it was described as "probably the most complete coal preparation plant in the world", providing dry-cleaning, wet-washing, wet and dry screening and blending and mixing and other processes for producing high quality product. The shaft eventually reached a depth of 769 ft (234 m) to exploit the Bensham coal seam, making it one of the deepest in Europe at the time. By 1965 there were 1,722 people employed at the colliery (1,442 working below ground, and 280 working on the surface). The colliery closed in 1969 and the buildings were demolished in the early 1970s. The country park covers an area of 162 hectares, boasts a nature reserve with ponds, woodlands and extensive grasslands, a farm and Countryside Centre, and is criss-crossed by numerous paths and tracks. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

One of many paths in Rising Sun Country Park. Swallow Field is to the right.

These signs are a common sight as you ramble around the Rising Sun Country Park, a green oasis extending to some 162 hectares which boasts a nature reserve with ponds, woodlands and extensive grasslands, a farm and Countryside Centre. The park is criss-crossed by a plethora of paths and tracks, many of which are signed formal trails. The country park was once the site of one of the world's largest coal mines, the Rising Sun Colliery. The colliery started production in 1908, closed in 1969 and, at its height employed some 1,722 people. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

The Rising Sun Country Park was once the site of one of the largest coal mines in the world, the Rising Sun Colliery. Sunk in 1906, with production starting in 1908, the colliery was owned by Wallsend & Hebburn Coal Co. Ltd., who also ran the nearby Wallsend Colliery. In 1935 it was described as "probably the most complete coal preparation plant in the world", providing dry-cleaning, wet-washing, wet and dry screening and blending and mixing and other processes for producing high quality product. The shaft eventually reached a depth of 769 ft (234 m) to exploit the Bensham coal seam, making it one of the deepest in Europe at the time. By 1965 there were 1,722 people employed at the colliery (1,442 working below ground, and 280 working on the surface). The colliery closed in 1969 and the buildings were demolished in the early 1970s. The country park covers an area of 162 hectares and is criss-crossed by numerous paths and tracks. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

One of the many footpaths around Rising Sun Country Park