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Redburn Villas, HEXHAM, NE46 4QX

It is hard to imagine now that the Northumberland Coalfield extended so far up into Tynedale, but coal was mined for some fifty years at this site in the early 20th century. The mine was closed in 1952 (long before the coal industry was decimated in the 1980s). An unfortunate legacy was pollution of the Red Burn caused by the overflow of heavily contaminated minewater. This treatment scheme was established in 2001 to deal with the problem. Filtering the water through the reedbeds in the background forms the final stage in the process http://www.coal.gov.uk/resources/environment/acombminewatertreatmentscheme.cfm . The area has been developed as a small recreational area with picnic benches, and the old railway which once served the mine forms an attractive path down to Waters Meet at the confluence of the South and North Tyne Rivers.

It is hard to imagine now that the Northumberland Coalfield extended so far up into Tynedale, but coal was mined for some fifty years at this site in the early 20th century. The mine was closed in 1952 (long before the coal industry was decimated in the 1980s). An unfortunate legacy was pollution of the Red Burn caused by the overflow of heavily contaminated minewater. This treatment scheme was established in 2001 to deal with the problem. Filtering the water through the reedbeds in the background forms the final stage in the process http://www.coal.gov.uk/resources/environment/acombminewatertreatmentscheme.cfm .

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The plaque on the tub says that it was originally placed at the entrance to the site of the colliery but was relocated to its current position following the creation of a public space and wetland which forms part of a mine water treatment scheme for the Red Burn. The colliery, which started in 1909, employed 290 men at its peak and produced over 70,000 tons of coal a year; it closed in 1952.

This pit tub commemorates the former Acomb Colliery which operated until 1952. The site was taken over and restored by Northumberland County Council in 1980.

On the site of the former Acomb Colliery, closed 1952.

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This reed bed forms part of the mine water treatment scheme for the Red Burn - see Image

The western end of the village is not as old as the eastern. I assume these houses are 19th century and probably built for the miners who worked in the local pit just down the road.