We are very fortunate in the large number of local museums and organisations which record our local heritage and keep things alive, so we can visit and see the past. Most of these are run by unpaid volunteers and are a rich source of information for local history groups such as the West Allotment site. We appreciate the help they have given us.

The following are just a few of many, all worth visiting.

Tanfield Railway Blogspot   The worlds oldest railway 1725 – They have one engine which spent it’s working life at Backworth Pit. Causey Arch, which is the oldest railway bridge in the world, is nearby and an enjoyable walk by the river.

North Shields Library Local Studies   A gold mine if you are looking at local history, plus the library team are really helpful and friendly

Durham Mining Museum   If you have an interest in coal mining this site has it all, spolit for choice.

Bowes Railway Museum   The Bowes Railway, built by George Stephenson in 1826, is the world’s only operational preserved standard gauge cable railway system

Locomotion Railway Museum   Shildon, County Durham.  The largest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe

Stephenson Steam Railway Museum  This one is so close to home we forget it is there. The museum is housed in what was the Metro test track engineering workshop and the track is the route of the original test line, this ran from West Allotment to Percy Main, the section north of the museum was lifted and is now a footpath.