Choppington Colliery was a large complex which supplanted itself onto the landscape in the 1850s. The first set of houses were directly directly west in the area totally covered by woodland. There was 3 seperate rows alongside a smithy, and the first was provided for the sinkers who dug the original shaft.

The colliery itself opened in 1857, and was linked to the Morpeth branch of the Blyth & Tyne. The shaft was 63 fathoms deep, and shipments were taken down to the Tyne for onwards transport. Scotland Gate (which may be either named after Scottish migrants or "Scott's Land" ( a field?) fast developed with dwellings, pubs and churches also. The Sir Colin Campbell and Choppington Inn were located close by, and Anglican, Unitarian & Methodist chapels sprung up soon after. By the 1890s, the settlement was expansive accomodating the near 500 workers at both pits, as well as the countless brickworks exploiting the rich clay in these parts. The heap at Choppington was also one of the largest in the area.

The pit suffered from countless strikes, in doubt a bi-product of the radicalism sowed in the area over the following decades. The strikes in 1886 and 1887 were around pay, as the wages were intrinsically fluid reacting to the markets and profits. There was little hesitation to change them which often brewed issue.

Employment figures peaked in the 30s and 40s with over 1000 working at the pits - the vast majority underground. This makes it quite the surprise the pit closed in 1966, and with it one of the oldest miners lodges in the country too from 1801. Thomas Burt, the first miners representative in parliament, was secretary. There were some redundancies, but the majority of the NCB pitmen were redeployed.

The land is now walkable as a giant woodland.