Mining museum to be made more accessible
Sunderland City CouncilA pit museum is to undergo redevelopment work to allow more people to explore its industrial history.
Under the plans, Washington F-Pit Museum will gain a new entrance to enable better access to its engine winding house.
The site is now a listed building and its machinery was previously used to take pitmen to the coalface and bring coal back to the surface.
Sunderland City Council's planning and highways committee unanimously approved the planning application.
The additional work is part of a wider redevelopment of the site, which was approved in February, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
It will see a new visitor centre, cafe, along with an outdoor play area and exhibition space.
The F-pit originally opened in 1777 but closed in 1796 after an explosion flooded the pit and stopped production.
It reopened a quarter of a century later and in 1856 the shaft was deepened to more than 200m.
The mine eventually closed in 1968 and was turned into a museum in 1976.
Those visiting the site can see what remains of the pit above ground, including its buildings and machinery.
