Washington to receive refurbished pit wheel as part of F-Pit improvements

An historic Washington pit wheel is set to be restored and installed in Albany, to celebrate the area's mining heritage.  

Part of the wider project that will see the Grade II listed F-Pit Engine House - one of only 10 Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Sunderland - enhanced and developed, Albany will soon welcome a restored pit wheel which once served the Washington mine. The wheel will stand in new landscaping, creating an attractive focal point at the heart of Albany.  The F-Pit Wheel will stand close to the position it occupied during its working life 

The move is part of a wider well-supported regeneration plan, which will see improvements to the Washington F-Pit Museum with a new visitor centre and café and enhancements to Albany Park, including more greenery and landscape features, as well as security measures such as CCTV, new lighting and addressing issues of anti-social behaviour including unauthorised access by motorbikes or quadbikes.  

Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: "We are rightly proud of the city's industrial heritage and the strong foundations it provides for the city's continued regeneration and development, which is moving at pace.  It is important for us to celebrate this, with key focal points within our communities.   

"The improvements we are making to the F-Pit Museum and Albany Park will deliver stunning new places for Washington residents to enjoy, as well as people from elsewhere in the city and beyond." 

Through the 'Let's Talk F-Pit and Albany Park' public consultation, residents shared their views on the next stage of the project.  Washington's mining heritage will feature strongly in the raft of improvements being made to the F-Pit Museum and Albany Park, with residents keen to see ex miners delivering tours and talks about life working in the pit, as well as sharing their memories of mining communities, including mining disasters and accidents, as well as significant local people and families of Washington.  There will be further opportunities for residents and businesses to help shape the proposals through consultation events over the next year.  

Albany's newly refurbished Pit Wheel is set to be fixed in place by autumn and will be part of landscaping improvements being developed with the Washington Area Committee.  The new wheel will continue to celebrate and commemorate the importance of Albany's rich mining heritage.