WORKING DOWN THE PIT AT BEAMISH

GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES WORKED DOWN THE NORTH EASTS PITS , IT WAS THE INDUSTRY ON WHICH THE REGIONS PROSPERITY WAS BUILT , IN 1913 THE YEAR OF PEAK PRODUCTION , 165,246 MEN AND BOYS WORKED IN DURHAMS 304 MINES . ON THE SITE ON WHICH THE MUSEUM STANDS WAS ONCE AT THE HEART OF THE DURHAM COALFIELD , THE EARLY 1900s WAS A PROSPEROUS PERIOD FOR NORTH EAST MINERS , WHO WERE RELATIVELYWELL PAID , MINERS FACED DARK , WET AND OFTEN CRAMPED WORKING CONDITIONS .ENTRY TO THE MINE IS BY GUIDED TOUR ONLY .