The Great Northern Coalfield played a crucial role in Britain's Industrial Revolution by supplying coal, particularly from Durham and Northumberland, transported via extensive wagonway and rail networks. Although the coal mines have been closed, historical remnants persist in the form of railways and industrial sites. A circular walking route begins at Eden Place, near Beamish, where former miners' houses once stood, traverses disused railway paths, and includes visits to Tanfield Railway, the world's oldest operational railway, which now runs vintage steam trains and displays local industrial history information.
The Great Northern Coalfield powered Britain through the Industrial Revolution, with coal from Durham and Northumberland transported to London via a network of wagonways and rail lines.
Eight miles north of Durham city, remnants of the region’s industrial heritage are located within ancient woodland and a steep-sided gorge, notably around Beamish.
The circular route begins at Eden Place, an old miners' housing site, and follows a disused railway path that served the Consett steelworks until 1985.
Tanfield Railway, claiming to be the world's oldest railway, features vintage steam trains and exhibits that illustrate the historical importance of rail lines in the area.
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