The Brampton railway trackbed is owned by Sustrans.  North Pennines
Heritage Trust (NPHT) reported on the archaeology of the route.  We have
not been involved in any plans to takeover the buildings at Hartleyburn.
Our involvment is only with an old railway building at Halton lea gate
(which we do not own).

NPHT would be happy to take an interest in the site, but we find it very
hard to obtain funding for restoration and conservation work in general.
Although perhaps not the ideal solution, it is an interesting thought
that the conversion of the building to a house might lead to its long
term survival, albeit probably altered inside. This has happened in
other counties of England.

One might suppose that the fact that planning permission has been
granted, probably means that the planning authority and the County
archaeologist are content for this conversion to take place.

Peter Jackson.pp NPHT





-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Clive Seal
Sent: 27 March 2004 17:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: engine house no more


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