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Streetgate
Streetgate
Priestman Collieries Ltd took over the leases of Axwell Park, Bagnall's and Whickham Bank collieries in 1902 and as part of their expansionist policy sank Watergate Pit in 1924.
Watergate Colliery
Watergate Colliery
Stephen Varty came from Billy Row, Crook, to help sink the shafts during which time he lodged at the "Bridle Path" public house. Later he brought his family to live on the Watergate estate.
The Haswell shaft (upcast) was mainly for man riding and the Garth shaft (downcast) was for bringing up coal. The shafts were 13 feet in diameter and the double decker cages were drawn up by electricity supplied by Durham County Electrical Power Distribution Company. Electric powered rope haulers brought the sets of steel tubs, each tub containing 12 cwt of coal, to the shaft bottom. Ponies were used for a while in the early years. Number One fan ventilated the seams connected to the shafts while Number Two fan was for the drift working the Brass Thill beneath Ravensworth Hill Head.
Underground at watergate colliery
The mine was placed beside the Tanfield Railway and there were two saddle tank locos for shunting wagons from the screens (built by Shields Brother of Swalwell) to the railway, one of which was kept as a spare.
Priestmans the colliery owners also bought farmland in the area. In 1917 they bought 46 acres at Whickham Grange from Cuthbert and Alice Hunter; 47 acres at High Glebe, Whickham; 192 acres at Marshall Lands, 33acres at Washingwell Wood, 5 acres at Bucks Hill plantation, the orchard at Fuger, and 58 acres at Green's farm from Lord Ravensworth in 1924; 90 acres at Washingwell Farm from A.W.Reichwald and Alfred Graden in 1924; 113 acres at Ravensworth Park Farm and 100 acres at Banesley lane from Harriet Gray in1938; and 108 acres at Old Ravensworth from William Wilson in 1938.
Watergate Colliery was vested in the National Coal Board in 1947 and it closed on August 20th 1964.