I suggest the headgear remaining should legally protected by Listing and
suitable physical obstacles put in the way of road access to the site to
make it as difficult as possible to get unauthorised motor vehicles anywhere
near it. In addition a programme of maintenance of the headgear by local
authority and/or local heritage organisations would need to be arranged.
Without even referring to Adrian Pearce's list, other remaining headgears in
Co. Durham include the wooden one at Beamish Open Air Museum (NZ 219 543),
steel at Washington F Pit Museum (NZ 302 574) and another steel one at North
Dalton water pumping station (NZ 408 477).
During the 1990's I managed to get the historic Keope winding tower of 1922
at Murton Colliery preserved by Listing. Unfortunately Easington District
Council didn't quite agree, being afraid that the retention of such a
feature from the bad old past might deter new job opportunities, so it was
de-Listed and demolished. Now the site is grassed over and empty while
nearby Dalton Park shopping extravaganda occupies the site of the former pit
heap.
A headgear is a rare feature in Britain now, we should do our best to keep
the few we have left.
Simon.
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