Northumberland County Council bosses agree to fund repairs to Ashington's Woodhorn Museum

Almost £1.3 million has been pledged to carry out crucial repairs to an iconic piece of Northumberland's heritage.

Woodhorn Museum's heapsteads - which support the winding gear that raised and lowered cages down the mine shaft - are in need of a full refurbishment. Major corrosion has been identified, leading the Grade II listed structure to be classed as a "heritage at risk" item on the Historic England website.

At Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's cabinet, members agreed to spend £1.297 million on repair work. A number of structural elements that have been deemed no longer economically viable to restore will be replaced, while the remaining structure will be sandblasted.

READ MORE: Northumberland matron inspired to become a nurse after dad's devastating death

READ MORE: Council chiefs to sign off on plans to improve employee health and wellbeing amid ageing staff

Speaking at the meeting, the council's deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth said: "Woodhorn is an incredibly important asset for our council and for residents. It is very much vital in telling the story of Northumberland, particularly the south east."

Cabinet member for leisure Coun Jeff Watson added: "This is a complicated job. It has taken some time to come to fruition, but it is well worth doing.

"This is part of our cultural heritage and a Grade II listed building."

The cabinet unanimously agreed to press ahead with the plans. The council will now go out to tender for a contractor with "historical experience" to carry out the project.

The heapsteads will receive full scaffolding and canopies for the duration of the work in order to protect the structures, as well as staff and visitors. This means Museums Northumberland's attractions will be able to continue to operate during the process.

A former 19th century coal mine and colliery, Woodhorn Museum is located near Ashington, once the country's largest pit village. The original colliery opened in 1894 and closed in 1981.

At its peak, more than 2,000 people worked underground at the site, with 600,000 tonnes of coal mined from the pit each year.