THE ambitious vision of two historians to see their collection of mining art put on permanent display is set to become a reality this weekend.

Dr Bob McManners and Gillian Wales started researching and collecting the artwork more than two decades ago.

Now having accumulated 423 pieces it is ready for public display in the newest tourist attraction for Bishop Auckland.

The Mining Art Gallery, in the Market Place, will open to the public on Saturday allowing the working life of coal mines in the North-East to be explored through the vision of more than 80 pieces of art.

The Grade I-listed building has been developed by The Auckland Project but it is in partnership with the Gemini Collection, which belongs to Dr McManners and Mrs Wales, that the idea has come to fruition.

Dr McManners said: “This is better than we hoped for. It is such a beautiful building and it has allowed us to tell the story of mining in the North- East.

“This is our cultural heritage and we didn’t want it disappearing into oblivion.”

He added: “There are all kinds of messages on display. This wasn’t just a job to people it was a way of life. Heritage is not just about taking it from the past, it is about taking the messages into the future.

“We are so grateful it is here. It is a quarter of a century of blood , sweat and tears.”

The Mining Art Gallery is the first in a string of major projects set to be opened by the Auckland Project which they believe signals the rebirth of the town.

David Maddan, chief executive officer for The Auckland Project, which aims to pull in 400,000 visitors, believes a series of new attractions, including Auckland Castle, set to open in the town over the next three years will create a major tourism destination.

The Auckland Project was established in 2012 to protect the 900-year-old Auckland Castle and the Zurbaran paintings..

Mr Maddan added: “This is for us a very exciting moment. It marks the beginning of opening new opportunities in the town.

“The project has been in existence for five years and we are now at a stage when we are able to start opening attractions.

“The purpose of this is that it will start to generate tourism footfall.”

  • The Mining Art Gallery, which includes artwork on loan from the the National Mining Museum of England and the National Gallery of Wales, will be officially opened at noon on Saturday.