Details believed to be correct at the time of printing. We accept no liability for any errors or omissions. or errors any for liability no accept We printing. of time the at correct be to believed Details

Ferrie. Kenneth golfer and on the former site of the pit. the of site former the on

entrepreneur Sir John Hall Hall John Sir entrepreneur by following the new Colliery Heritage Trail based based Trail Heritage Colliery Ashington new the following by

and Janice Cairns, Cairns, Janice and can also get a real insight into its importance and influence influence and importance its into insight real a get also can

Sheila Armstrong Armstrong Sheila Whilst little physical evidence remains of the mine, visitors visitors mine, the of remains evidence physical little Whilst

singers singers

soprano soprano Archives and is well worth a visit. visit. a worth well is and Archives Northumberland

folk include include folk the Ashington Group of paintings as well as a home for for home a as well as paintings of Group Ashington the

Ashington Ashington was completed and provides a world-class setting for for setting world-class a provides and completed was

well-known well-known a fantastic £16 million mining museum ‘Woodhorn’, ‘Woodhorn’, museum mining million £16 fantastic a

Other Other Park and Ashington Community Woodland. In 2006 2006 In Woodland. Community Ashington and Park

colliery sites were redeveloped creating the QEII Country Country QEII the creating redeveloped were sites colliery

Harmison. Steve cricketer Following the decline of the mining industry the former former the industry mining the of decline the Following

International International

England

of former former of

hometown hometown

is also the the also is

Ashington Ashington

has a bright future, so visit soon and see how it’s changing. it’s how see and soon visit so future, bright a has

realm, traffic management, offices and retail. Ashington Ashington retail. and offices management, traffic realm,

and improvements to public public to improvements and

Ashington Leisure Centre Centre Leisure Ashington reaching audiences from Broadway to Buenos Aires. Buenos to Broadway from audiences reaching

development of the new new the of development was turned into a stage play by Lee Hall of Billy Elliot fame, fame, Elliot Billy of Hall Lee by play stage a into turned was

investments, including the the including investments, The Pitmen Painters by William Feaver, was published. This This published. was Feaver, William by Painters Pitmen The

benefitting from huge huge from benefitting Their work became known globally and in 1988 a book, book, a 1988 in and globally known became work Their

The town centre is is centre town The town. the around and in paint in life captured miners,

Between 1934 and 1984 this group, largely made up of of up made largely group, this 1984 and 1934 Between

brands such as Dulux and Hammerite. and Dulux as such brands of artists known affectionately as The Pitmen Painters. Painters. Pitmen The as affectionately known artists of

the latest of which is Akzo Nobel, manufacturer of global global of manufacturer Nobel, Akzo is which of latest the The town was the birthplace of the Ashington Group Group Ashington the of birthplace the was town The

attracted business investment, investment, business attracted

The town has also successfully successfully also has town The on to manage both Leeds United and . Sunderland. and United Leeds both manage to on

facilities and local housing. housing. local and facilities for Sunderland and Jimmy Adamson who later went went later who Adamson Jimmy and Sunderland for

improvements to education education to improvements United, Cecil Irwin who made over 300 appearances appearances 300 over made who Irwin Cecil United,

underway, including significant significant including underway, Charlton, Jackie Milburn of FA Cup fame with Newcastle Newcastle with fame Cup FA of Milburn Jackie Charlton,

number of major developments developments major of number England World Cup winning brothers Jack & Bobby Bobby & Jack brothers winning Cup World England

very much ‘on the up’ with a a with up’ the ‘on much very footballers throughout the years including the 1966 1966 the including years the throughout footballers

Today Ashington is a town town a is Ashington Today The town is well known for producing some notable notable some producing for known well is town The

Bright Future Bright Home of the Pitmen Painters Pitmen the of Home Local Heroes and Sporting Legends Legends Sporting and Heroes Local

Ashington – A Proud Past

Ashington has other claims to fame playing host to the World Leek Championship until 2008. Pigeon racing also rose to a new height in 1965 when a resident from nearby In the 1850s Ashington was a small hamlet of just 76 North Seaton won a Gold Medal at the Pigeon Olympiad people surrounded by countryside. All that changed in in London with a racing pigeon named Iron Man. 1867 with the sinking of the Bothal mine shaft. This was the start of Ashington Colliery which was to become one of the biggest pits in the country. By 1901 many of the familiar colliery rows were built and the town had a population of over 6,000. King Coal was to dominate the town’s life until the last pit closed in 1986. The town’s main shopping street; Station Road, Undoubtedly mining developed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing was hard graft, population. At one time the town centre could boast dirty, dusty and several department stores, five cinemas, theatres and dangerous - nearly ballrooms. Indeed Ashington was once described as the 300 miners lost their largest shopping area between Edinburgh and Newcastle lives at Ashington upon Tyne and it is said that Sir John Hall’s Metro Centre Colliery winning the was based on Ashington’s main street with a roof! black diamonds. However these If you venture along Woodhorn Road conditions fostered you won’t fail to spot the town’s a community iconic, grade II-listed Co-op store. spirit which led to It was built in 1924 as a shopping a thriving cultural arcade, with a ballroom above it and recreational life where the town’s residents danced above ground. the night away for over half a century. Enjoy Ashington Town Centre In The Local Area

Whether you are on holiday Ashington Market Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail in the area or popping The general market operates every If you want to find out to Ashington for leisure Tuesday on Station Road in the town more about the history of or business, there are a centre. With loads of stalls and a Ashington Colliery, then wide range of shops, cafés great atmosphere you are sure to take a stroll along this great and restaurants located find a bargain. trail. It starts at Wansbeck throughout the town centre Business Park, former home to (main shopping area shown the pit, with panels situated on the map below). along a half mile way-marked trail bringing history to life. From buying gifts, to getting a hair cut or enjoying a spot of For more information about the trail and how to get lunch, you won’t be short of For further information about Ashington Market go there go to: www.ashingtoncollieryheritage.org things to do throughout the year. to: www.northumberland.gov.uk Ashington Community Woodland Ashington Leisure Centre A real treasure within Offering a wide range of classes and walking distance of the activities. town centre, this woodland For opening times and information is home to a diverse range Tel: 01670 542222 or go to: of plants and animals www.activenorthumberland.org.uk including a colony of red squirrels.

For further information about the woodland and the programme of events and activities throughout the Ashington Town Centre year go to: www.ashingtonwoods.org.uk Entrance QE II Country Park & to Community Woodhorn Museum Woodland Wansbeck Riverside To the south of Ashington Newcastle (A189) Lintonville lies the picturesque River Wansbeck offering a Ashington Enterprise Park Police A197 network of riverside and Community Woodland Station woodland walks and links to cycle routes. The river

New Ashington

is also popular for rowing Wansbeck A 1 Leisure Centre Business Park 9 and other water-based 6 (opening Autumn 2015)

Ashington Heritage Trail ASDA

ROTARY PARKWAY activities.

Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail

A197 L BUS STATION I N For further information about Wansbeck Riverside go T Morpeth (A1) O to: www.northumberland.gov.uk N HAWTHORN ROAD V I L L E

Town T E R D OA Hall R R WC A RN For general information on visiting the area go to: C HO STATION ROAD E D www.visitnorthumberland.com WOO Taxis STATION ROAD Wansbeck Square Northumberland LABURNUM TERRACE Ashington Leisure Centre County Council & Library KENILWORTH ROAD

J O H KEY N Location Map

S NORTH SEATON ROAD MAIN RETAIL AREA T Cricket R E E Berwick-upon-Tweed PUBLIC CAR PARKING Ground T BOOTHS ROAD Ashington SCOTLAND Berwick-upon-Tweed SCOTLAND Leisure PEDESTRIANISED AREA A1 Centre ROUTE 155 NATIONAL CYCLE PATH A1 A68 Coldstream BUS STOP A68 Coldstream Bamburgh Kelso Bamburgh Kelso Seahouses Wooler Seahouses Wooler Jedburgh Jedburgh A68 Alnwick A68 Alnwick Alnmouth In The Local Area Useful Information Alnmouth

A1 Amble Rothbury A1 Amble Woodhorn Museum & Northumberland Archives at Ashington Events Rothbury A696 A1068 QEII Country Park The town and surrounding area host a range A696 A1068 Northumberland Newbiggin by the Sea Based in original colliery of events during the year from the annual Northumberland National Park Newbiggin by theA197 Sea buildings and with a Miner’s Picnic at Woodhorn to the Town National Park Morpeth A197 ASHINGTON Morpeth ASHINGTON stunning modern building Fayre Day with rides, stalls and music on Blyth A189 Blyth inspired by the monster Station Road. The Christmas Lights Switch-On Northumberland A189Cramlington coal-cutting machines once event is now one of the Northumberland Cramlington North used deep underground, biggest in the County Hexham A69 North Hexham A69 Shields Woodhorn’s entertaining and interactive displays paint and there is traditionally A69 Shields A69 Haltwhistle NEWCASTLE a picture of life in this former mining community. a large organised Fireworks Display Haltwhistle NEWCASTLE that attracts thousands. Allendale UPON-TYNE Sunderland Allendale UPON-TYNE Sunderland For more information about the Museum and Archives: A1 A1 A19 Tel: 01670 624455 www.experiencewoodhorn.com For more information on events and activities throughout A19 the year go to: www.ashingtontowncouncil.gov.uk QEII Country Park and Narrow Gauge Railway A beautiful 16 hectare lake, surrounded by grassland and How to get here woodland and a haven for wildlife. Hop on the heritage By car - Ashington is approximately 15 miles north of Newcastle railway which offers short trips along one side of the lake. and easy to access by car. Follow the A189 from Newcastle or This leaflet has been produced by: take the A1 and then the A197 from Morpeth.

By bus - To plan your journey by bus telephone Traveline on: 0871 2002233 or go to: www.travelinenortheast.info

By bike - Local cycle paths include Route 155, connecting at Newbiggin by the Sea to Route 1 Coast and Castles, which is With support from: part of the North Sea Cycle Route.

For visitor and timetable information go to: For more information on cycle paths go to:

www.woodhornnarrowgaugerailway.weebly.com www.sustrans.org.uk or www.northumberland.gov.uk 01670 510271 - Tel: Printing Azure by Designed and printed

Credit for photography and images: Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail, Ashington AFC, Ashington Town Council, Mik Critchlow, Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Keith Saint, Arch Northumberland, Active Northumberland, Woodhorn Museum. Images provided with the permission of Northumberland Archives, including from the collection of the late William Harrison. Pitmen Paintings reproduced with permission of The Ashington Group Trustees. Text written by Ashington Town Team with support from Barry Mead and Ashington Town Council.