This was the site of one the largest, modern and certainly the deepest coal mine in the world when it opened in 1835. It also had one of the longest lifespans, closing well within living memory in 1993.

Sinking commenced some 9 years earlier under the duress of a Mr Pemberton, who lived at Hawthorn Tower in later years. Within a single year of operations nearly 50,000 tons were pulled out, hauled along a short waggonway to the Wear and dropped into ships. By 1837, 61 ships took nearly 14,000 tons to London alone. The pit effectively made way for Monkwearmouth as we know it, as previously the surroundings were mostly fields and country houses. The rush to accommodate the thousands of workers required birthed the idea of the Sunderland cottage - each strip of housing subtracting green for grey and brown.

By the turn of the century the pit had upwards of 2000 employees, but it's worth considering the massive supply chains that relied on it too. There's a good chance tens of thousands needed this place for their own pay packet. By 1910, over 3000 worked here above and below ground. I say below ground, the workings went under the North Sea too, tapping into the massive reserves in the ready supply of limestone in these parts.

Given its longevity there was only 2 disasters here - a collapse of the shaft which decayed from the water pressure through the lining in 1862 and an explosion in 1869. 5 and 7 lives were lost respectively, though many more individual accidents occurred through its 150 year history.

Around 2,200 jobs were lost thanks to this pit closig alongside Westoe, Vane Tempest and Easington. It was also predicted £43 million was sucked straight out of the local economy, though we can probably guess even more in retrospect. However, the silver lining is the relocation of SAFC, who claimed the ground to continue the interwoven fabric of industry & sports in this city. Though there's no remains of the pit (unless you dug down deep enough to find the machinery), you'll still find the old Wearmouth drops on the riverside.