A recent book of interest to list member might be;
Guy, Andy and Fran Atkinson, West Durham: The Archaeology of Industry
(Phillimore: Chichester, 2008), IS 978-1-86077-447-8 [GBP £25]
Written by Beamish museum co-founder Frank Atkinson with Andy Guy
(whose excellent colour photographs greatly enhance this book), it
includes much of Durham's past and present lead and coal mining
history. After a historical introduction to each chapter, the authors
provide a series of panels detailing the current situation of each
location, be it an abandoned mine, installation or railway feature.
They also provide grid references and detailed descriptions of
various locations, using their extensive combined local knowledge and
historical fact. The text is supported by a bibliography and index.
For safety reasons the authors do not describe mines where it is
still possible to gain underground access, with the exception of
Beamish museum's mine and Killope lead mine, another tourist site.
Finally, they define west Durham as that west of the A1M or Great
North Road/A167; this part of the county contains the oldest mines,
while the eastern side contained the greater, deeper coal mines that
succeeded with more modern equipment.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
Peter Scott
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Dr P. J. D. Scott
Editor of _Hidden Italy_
http://www.hidden-dublin.com
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