It was the end of an era. The days when these miners clocked off for the last time at the pits where they had worked for years.
From Wearmouth to Vane Tempest, the Echo has archive photos of the final shift at collieries in Sunderland and East Durham.
Some of the workers would move on to other pits. Others had said goodbye to the mining industry for the last time.
Re-live those moments once more.
9. Ending an era at Vane Tempest
The last shift at Vane Tempest in 1992 with Ralf Greenwood handing a token over. | se
10. Leaving the cages
Men in their pit clothes leave the cages at Wearmouth Colliery for the last time in December 1993. | se
11. Get in touch
If you have memories of life in the collieries of the Durham coalfield, contact us by emailing [email protected] | se
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