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Whickham - Aged Miners' Homes
The six Aged Miners Homes off Broom lane and standing near the site of Southfield farm were built in memory of Peter Lee, the Durham Miners' leader and opened on January 27th 1940.
The homes were built at a cost of £2,300 and miners at the colliery had contributed a penny a week to the scheme since the mine opened. Bill Kelly, checkweighman and secretary to the miners lodge, was presented with a gold watch, for his contribution, to the successful outcome of the scheme by Mr J. Hook, chairman of the committee. Priestman Collieries Ltd donated the land and an ongoing allowance of 6 tons of coal a year to each of the tenants. Mr William Whiteley, MP for Blaydon and chairman of the Durham Aged Mine Workers Association presided over the meeting and presented the keys to the first tenants. A luncheon was laid on at Watergate Welfare Hall and later on tea for guests and members of the scheme. The colliery at this time employed 850 men and boys.