Aged Miners

Before we left Nettlesworth, after a couple of hours catching up with Sue and Ron, I wanted to check out these buildings. I’d clocked them on the way into the village and wanted to find out more.

Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association is the largest almshouse charity in the UK, providing over 1,700 affordable homes, predominantly bungalows, across former mining communities in County Durham and the North-East of England.

It was set up by Joseph Hopper. Who was a methodist lay preacher and a miner. He believed that a man who had served in the coal mines all his life deserved better than to be evicted from his tied colliery home when he retired.

A small weekly levy voluntarily donated from miners’ wages, plus donations of land and materials from mine owners and others, allowed homes to be constructed and let free of charge.

In the early days of the movement with hardly any funds available to build new homes, old disused mansions were acquired and converted at Boldon, Shotton Colliery and Shincliffe. In addition, a complete village was purchased at Haswell Moor. District communities were formed across the county to oversee the raising of funds and building programmes. By 1909, over 200 homes for married couples and a number of single mens’ hostels had been provided.

During the 1910s decade the association built homes in almost every Lodge area in the county.

Today, these homes provide retirement housing for more than 2,000 residents. They also offer sheltered accommodation and leasehold schemes for the elderly.

The buildings all looked in great condition and are obviously well cared for. A remnant of another time.