Whist walking up the front st in Alston I was horrified to find in the window
of the estate agent 'Old engine shed' planning permission for redevelopment
into holiday cottage.
Alas it is no engine shed but a pump house for beam engine type pump
belonging to Hartleyburn colliery sunk 1842. A few years ago the then archaeologist
from the North Pennine Heritage trust contacted me about the trust purchasing
land along the old Brampton railway, the first main line in Cumbria which served
lord Carlisle's collieries in both that county and across the boarder in
Northumberland, Hartleyburn being in the latter.
I informed him of what he wished to know, important industrial remains on
the land they were purchasing,along with the old railway which they hoped to
turn into a cycle track,. The Hartleyburn colliery site is quite complete, though
spread out over 150 sq meters but consists of buildings dating from 1830's
and coke ovens from much earlier. Myself and others were anxious to try and get
protection for some of these buildings particularly the engine house but as
the land was passing into the NPHT I assumed that they would naturally be
protected by that organisation.....alas no ! Or maybe I am wrong.
I informed the estate agent (not seemingly interested) that it wasn't an
engine shed but a pump house complete with of course shaft... now grassed over and
not visible but obviously there adjacent to the house. Is this shaft filled
in? It is certainly capped but the others are also but not filled in. I have
visions in my head of excavation work ending in disaster it wouldn't be the
first time things have disappeared down old shafts.
Coal authority records on the shaft are scant but they have now been
informed. I should urge all with buildings of historic interest in their area to
endeavour to get them protected before mammon takes over.
Seeing as Stublick colliery has been lost I wonder if the NPHT will take any
interest in the above site if not a t present formerly owned by themselves, or
so I was lead to belive?
Clive
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