PART of a village’s mining history is on display thanks to a resident who restored on old pit tub he found in the river.
Graham Robson, 37, from Carrville, found the axle and wheels of the tub from the Kepier Grange Colliery in the River Wear more than a decade ago and has now fully restored it.
As the woodwork was completely gone, he had to do research to make sure his recreation was historically accurate.
He said: “It’s something that had to be done. Some people said to scrap it but it’s too important.
“The company that built it built Carrville High Street and this is the last working example of any machinery from the company. This is all that’s left.”
Mr Robson is using the restored tub to built other replica ones, and hopes to start making miniature ones in the near future.
The shafts of Kepier Colliery, which closed in 1925, ran underneath Carrville High Street.
Belmont Parish Council has contributed around £2,000 to install in on the grass between the A690 and Carrville High Street.
Parish councillor Eric Mavin said: “It’s an important part of our history. Carrville was an important place with its mines and iron works and people will forget if we don’t do things like this.”
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