Hello,
The North Pennines AONB Partnership has set up the Living North Pennines
project, which includes (amongst other things) work to consolidate and
interpret Shildon Engine House.
The engine house is adjacent to the mine shaft. Examination of the site
today appears to show that the shaft has collapsed and choked near to
surface. Access to the shaft top is difficult because the collapse crater
is surrounded by a formidable fence and is partially covered by felled tree
branches.
A search of the literature indicates that some list members have visited,
photographed and recorded the site since at least 1974. I write this note
to ask whether anyone has any information about the condition of the shaft.
Knowing more about the shaft would help the architect to plan how to gain
access to the house wall adjacent to the shaft and would also help the
Partnership to decide what might be done about protecting the shaft site.
Peter Jackson
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