Ellington, Northumberland

Ellington Colliery (also known as The Big E), was a coal mine situated to the south of the village of Ellington in Northumberland, England. The colliery was the last deep coal mine in the north east of England (also known as the Great Northern Coalfield). At one time, the deepest part of the mine was 800 metres (2,600 ft) and it extended 15 miles (24 km) under the North Sea. During the 1980s, the pit (along with Lynemouth Colliery) was known as the biggest undersea mine in the world and produced 69% of the mined coal in Northumberland. Ellington had several faces for mining and was known for winning coal from under the North Sea, before flooding caused the early closure of the mine.

Cresswell Pele Tower is in the village of Cresswell, situated overlooking the coast approximately 4 miles (6 km) to the north of Ashington, Northumberland, England. Cresswell Pele Tower was constructed in the 15th century as a defence against the Border Reivers. Unlike many of the 80 Pele towers in Northumberland, the Cresswell Tower is in a relatively good state of preservation. Since its construction the three-storey Pele Tower has had an interesting journey through time. The engraving shown on the Pele Tower Project websites, for example, is dated 1829 and shows the Pele Tower connected to Cresswell Hall, since demolished. The only remaining evidence of this union surviving above ground today is the front entrance of Cresswell Hall, now bricked up. The tower is a Grade II* Listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk register after an extensive renovation completed in 2021, which included the addition of a brand-new wooden-framed roof. Cresswell Castle was probably built in the 15th century. The doorway on the ground floor is not the original entrance; the ground floor was used for storage, and was only accessible from above. The outline of the original entrance on the first floor can still be seen, but has been blocked up. The only way to get to the living quarters above is by a very narrow, twisty stone staircase which was designed to be easily defended. On the first floor, there was a kitchen, living area, and garderobe (toilet). The top floor was probably used for sleeping and would have been particularly cold and damp as there are no fireplaces at this level. There are stairs from here to the parapet that runs around the top of the tower. Next to the stairs is a faint inscription which is reputed to read “William Cresswell brave hero”. In about 1750 a grand Mansion House was built onto the side of the tower. This house was demolished in about 1845. For some unknown reason the entrance doorway to the Mansion House was saved, and it can still be seen built into the field wall on the east side of the tower. It is visible on the right in the photo above.

Lynemouth is a village in Northumberland, England, 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Ashington, close to the village of Ellington to the north west. It was built close to coal mines, including Lynemouth Colliery. Lynemouth and the surrounding industrial area featured in the 1985 docudrama Seacoal about the seacoalers who made a living from collecting waste coal from the beach. A series of photographs in the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award–winning book In Flagrante (1988) by Chris Killip shows the work and life of the seacoalers; more were published in 2011 in the book Seacoal.To the south of the village is the former Alcan Lynemouth Aluminium Smelter, now closed, and Lynemouth Power Station.

Cresswell is a village in Northumberland, England. It is about 4 miles (6 km) to the north of Ashington, on the North Sea coast.

Lynemouth Colliery was a coal mine in Lynemouth, Northumberland, England. It was in operation between 1927 and 1994. According to Historic England, "it was one of Britain's largest collieries until it was closed due to an underground fire". The colliery was demolished in 2005. Its number 1 pit was the downcast, and its number 2 was the upcast.In 1960, the mine employed 1,734 people (1,390 above ground, 344 below).

The Alcan Lynemouth Aluminium Smelter was an industrial facility near Ashington, Northumberland, on the coast of North East England, 0.65 mi (1.05 km) south of the village of Lynemouth. The smelter was owned by the Canadian aluminium company Alcan, which is part of Rio Tinto. The smelter was opened in 1974 at a cost, which exceeded its budgeted estimate of £54 million, of $156 million. The plant ceased production in March 2012, and demolition of the facility was completed in March 2018.

The A1068 is a road in northern England that runs from Seaton Burn in North Tyneside to Alnwick in Northumberland. The section between Ellington and Alnmouth is signposted as part of the Northumberland Coastal Route.

Woodhorn Railway is a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long railway on 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge track. The line runs from Woodhorn, Northumberland, England, to a restaurant in the car park of the QE2 lake.

Cresswell radar station (also known as RAF Cresswell), was a Chain Home Low (later a Chain Home Extra Low) Second World War radar site at Cresswell, in Northumberland, England. The radar site was south of the village of Cresswell on the road towards Lynemouth and each site occupied a different side of the road. The site was opened by early 1940 and was staffed by Royal Air Force personnel from No. 60 Group, who were accommodated at Lynemouth instead of being billeted at the radar site. Cresswell radar site was known to be poorly located as it did not have enough of a significant elevation above sea level to provide sufficient warning of approaching aircraft. Since closure c. 1945, both sites have been demolished and nothing remains of either site.

Woodhorn, part of Museums Northumberland and formerly known as Woodhorn Colliery Museum, is located in Ashington, Northumberland, England. The museum depicts the lives of coal mine workers and features original buildings and equipment from the former colliery, including the two headframes, a winding house, other engine houses, a steam winding engine, stables, a building with ventilation equipment, a blacksmith and joiners shop, and the office. Several buildings contain original equipment and mining exhibits, while others have been converted to museum exhibit areas or wedding, conference and event facilities.In addition to exhibits about the mine and the life of a miner, the museum features a permanent collection of art created by the Ashington Group. There are also changing exhibits of history, art and science.

Ashington Association Football Club is a football club based in Ashington, Northumberland, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One East and play at Woodhorn Lane. Formed in 1883, the club have played in a number of local and regional leagues, including the Northern Alliance, the East Northumberland League, the North Eastern League, the Midland League, Wearside League and the North Regional League. They were a founding member of the Football League Third Division North in 1921 and are the northernmost team to have played in the Football League. The club were later founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 and have been in the Northern League since 1970.

Portland Park was a football ground in Ashington, England. It was the home ground of Ashington A.F.C. between 1909 and 2008. It also hosted greyhound racing from 1936 until 1993.