Woodhorn Colliery. Photo by Northumberland County Council.

Woodhorn Colliery was established in 1894 by the Ashington Coal Company and produced its first coal in 1901. At its height, in the early 20th century, over 2000 workers were employed there. It was one of more than 200 mines in Northumberland. The buildings are built from local Ashington brick and include, two shafts with headgear and winding houses, fan and engine houses, workshops and a stable. The colliery started to decline in the 1960s with the availability of cheaper alternative fuels, such as oil and gas, and closed in 1981. The colliery was turned into a museum in 1989. The buildings which survive today are rare survivals of a once widespread industry. The engine houses, with headgear in front, were an increasingly common feature during the 20th century but those at Woodhorn are of particularly high quality. Many of the buildings are Grade II* and Grade II Listed Buildings protected by law and part of the colliery is a Scheduled Monument, also protected by law.