A sad day for the Durham coalfield as Houghton pit faced closure 45 years ago
‘The only seam being worked, the Busty, would be worked out by December’
It was a sad day for the miners of Wearside and East Durham and we are remembering it 45 years on.
Back in 1981, the closure of Houghton Colliery was on the cards. The move was agreed by the 250 men who work there by a 2-1 majority, the Sunderland Echo reported at the time.
The Echo added in 1981: “But when the closure was referred to Durham NUM for ratification it decided to refer it to its national executive.
“Houghton miners agreed to the closure of one of the oldest and smallest pits in the North East coalfield, after they were informed by the NCB that the only seam being worked, the Busty, would be worked out by December.
“The only other seam left, the Harvey, would take 18 months to develop at an estimated cost of more than £4million and during that time there would be no coal production at the pit.
“The chairman of Houghton Miners’ Lodge, George Elliott, said at the time that he thought common sense had prevailed and that many of the men believed it would be better to accept the decision now to give them a chance to get jobs at other pits. This applied particularly to younger men.
Houghton was one of four Durham pits scheduled to close under a shake-up announced that year. It was later given a temporary reprieve.
We have plenty of other news to remind you of Wearside life in 1981;
Wood carver Jackie Barrass chiselled out at a hat-trick of wins with his sycamore coffee table.
After scooping two regional competitions with his most ambitious piece of handywork, the retired shipyard worker has just beaten the best in the country at a major contest in London.
His table took the honours in the War Pensioners’ National Homecrafts and Art Competition, topping 600 other entries to give Mr Barrass a shock win.
An estimated 50,000 people turned out in glorious weather to watch magnificent men in their flying machines at Sunderland Air Day.
Aircraft ranging from ultra-lightweights to the thundering modern jet war-planes gave sky-high thrills to Wearsiders at Sunderland Airport.
Spectators not only crowded the showfield but took over vantage points as far apart as “Bunny Hill” at Hylton Castle, and Penshaw Hill.
Craft apprentice Steve Gibson did himself proud in a competition to create something special from a piece of arc welding. He finished in the top two out of 150 competitors and the Coles Cranes apprentice won £20 for his efforts.
Nine women got all the plaudits after they made donations which meant a huge flower display could go on show at Easington Lane Independent Methodist Church. The event was held to mark the centenary of the church.
Theresa Murray, 16, from St Anthony’s RC Girls School was off to Dublin to represent England in a schools international competition at the high jump.
Get in touch with your own memories of early 1980s life by emailing [email protected]