Coal mining was once the lifeblood of the North-East's economy. Records of coal mining in the region date back to Roman times and by 1919, there were 223,000 coal miners working in the Northumberland and Durham coalfields. Today there are no mines operating and only a few open cast works remain. Under the North Sea some coal seams are exposed and coal dust is occasionally swept up on local beaches reminding us of a proud industrial heritage ( click here for detailed historical information)
