I took this selection of photos with their explanations in great haste when Ian Tyler was in the last days of closing the amazing but poorly attended Museum of Mining at Keswick. I had gone on the bus and fell in love with the collection of bricks that Ian had strewn in various places on the floor, below the collection of photos and artifacts. I bought the bricks of Cumbria and made a video of Ian Tyler explaining them. Then I rushed around to make a photo memorial of Ian’s wonderful collection – including these pictures that were on the walls. 

Whitehaven Haigh Pit Twin Shafts winding gear head Engine House 1922

Whitehaven Haigh Pit roap incline rail trucks to harbour circa 1960

Whitehaven Haigh Pit pilot shaft 1914

Whitehaven Haigh Pit incline for coal to harbour with clever three rail system circa 1920

Whitehaven Haig Pit Howgill brake incline coal wagons to harbour closed 1986

Whitehaven Haig Pit exposed coal seam on sea shore

Whitehaven Haig Pit Charles Loco shunting circa 1965

Whitehaven Haig Pit ancient coal drift on sea shore worked circa 1870

Whitehaven Corkickle 1905 posh wood block street to quieten miners clogs

Pony underground hauling coal trucks in coal mine

Pony in Ellington Colliery coal mine horse

Pony best friend saved miners lives

Ponies underground were very protected polo pony

Miners Clog Beckermet Mine circa 1940 red from haematite ore

Miner Ivan Short 60 years in Blenkinsop Coal Pit closed 2003

Micklam brick motorail surface shunter circa 1960

Cocklakes Mine circa 1924 John Howe locomotive

Coal miners spreading pixie gypsum stone dust in case of fire or explosion

Coal miner Clive Seal hewing coal on his side in 18 inch seam 1999

Brayton Pit Miners sinking the pit making the tunnels

Allerdale Coal Office Clifton circa 1920

Workington St Helens No3 Pit closed 1966

Workington Jane Pit Head 1875 still preserved

Workington Allerdale coal yard Clifton loading wagons circa 1920

Workington A Plan of Coalfield and Pits

Winscalles Drift Coal Mine 1912 striking miners searching for coal

Whitehaven Wellington Pit circa 1900

Whitehaven Wellington Pit buildings and pit head winding gear circa 1900

Whitehaven Upper Metal Band Mine Winder Drift circa 1995

Whitehaven miners new houses 1788 Lord Lonsdale free but no privy until 1849

Whitehaven Micklam clay mine rail truck on rope haulage system circa 1970

Whitehaven Lowca Pit making coal into tar and creosote circa 1924

Whitehaven Lowca Pit bye product was tar and Creosote circa 1924

Whitehaven Lowca locomotive works and Lowca Coal Pit mine behind

Whitehaven last deep coal mine circa 1995

Whitehaven harbour coal quay circa 1904 loading a ship

Whitehaven harbour circa 1920 coal quay incline loading ships

Whitehaven Harbour circa 1910 loading coal to sailing ships

Whitehaven harbour circa 1858 coal Hurries carts load sailing ship

Whitehaven Haigh Pit winding gear motors 1914 1200ft in 30secs