South Hetton - South Hetton (sout0201)

South Hetton - South Hetton

Photograph labelled South Hetton, showing groups of men on the bank of a river; the far bank with bare trees can be seen; in the foreground is bare earth with puddles; it is not possible to determine what the men are doing, as the photograph is indistinct, but is possible that they are fishing

Date: 1970 - 1979

Change to previous comment The electricity pylons in the picture suggest the site of this activity is on the Murton side of South Hetton in the vicinity of the Combined Pit. The activity could again be the removal of railway embankment. The date 1970-79 would then make more sense. Again recent local knowledge required.

Comment added by J. Marshall on 05/01/2009 15:21:00

There is no river and hence they are not fishing. The old railway track from South Hetton to Haswell was constructed from pit waste. I seem to recall that much of it was taken away for commercial use in the 50s. Is this what is going on? Comment from someone with more recent local knowledge might help.

Comment added by J. Marshall on 05/01/2009 15:24:00

We think this photgraph was from the 1974 miners strike when people were digging coal out from beside the old railway line. There is no river in South Hetton!

Comment added by Sue Jasper on 05/01/2009 15:42:00