Smithy Dene - a former Coal mine

Smithy Dene was a small private drift mine on the edge of Waldridge Fell, (Location: NZ 249 500), a lowland area of lowland heather/heath land site of special scientific interest (SSSI) which is now a popular recreation area.

Waldrige Fell is just South West of Chester-le-Street and once had about 9 drift mines plus one NCB Colliery with 2 shafts. These mines are now disused.The first photographs were taken in 1990 just before closure, and then rephotographed again 9 years later when it had been allowed to return to nature. It is interesting to see how the vegetation has grown up. Below are two sets of 'before' and 'after' photographs.