Hartleyburn Engine House.
Back in about April of this year Clive Seal brought to our attention the intended auction of a property near Lambley in Northumberland which contained a colliery pumping engine house dating from the 1830's. Subsequently I went to have a look at this structure at NY 660 585 which looks very much like an upland barn but has contained a beam pumping engine. It has planning permission for conversion to a holiday cottage although nobody seems bothered that it may sit next to a mineshaft of unknown location and infill.
I wrote about it suggesting Listing to the local authority and the Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport who commissioned English Heritage to assess it. I have now just received their verdict which is that whilst it is '...clearly of local interest and a prominent feature, is however too altered to justify a listing recommendation...in particular, the loss of the boiler chimney detracts significantly from its architectural interest.'
In appearance the building bears a faint resemblance to the pumping engine house at nearby Stublick Colliery (NY 833 604) which retains two free-standing chimneys, whilst the massive brick-built Cornish engine house at Stonecroft Lead Mine (NY 854 689) does not have a chimney remaining. Both of these latter sites are Listed or Scheduled. I do hope the Inspector has not confused Hartleyburn with the usual Cornish engine house in Cornwall where the chimney is an integral part of the structure (but not always. See the preserved 90 inch at E.P.A.L).
As disappointing as this news is we can at least say we tried and I for one have quite a few prints of what is still an interesting site.
Regards, Simon.
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