'The Day John Dies, His Mother Cries and Cries'

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Wellbeing and the Arts / Stargate Pit Disaster, Crookhill Primary School / June 30th, 2026

The Day John Dies, His Mother Cries and Cries

This project was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1826 Stargate Pit Disaster near Ryton, Gateshead, in partnership with Building Self Belief CIO and Crookhill Primary School. Through a series of original poems, we reflected on the human impact of the disaster and gave a voice to the people, families and community affected by the events of 1826. In this poem, 15-year-old James Robson, this poem reflects on the hopes, dreams, and lost childhoods of the young boys who worked and died in the Stargate Pit Disaster

Consett Heritage Project / December 4th, 2023

Sarah Envy - Consett Heritage Podcast

Sarah is Engagement Manager for The National Lottery Heritage Fund North. Until her involvement in our Consett Heritage Project, she was unaware that this area had such a significant industrial past, and that Consett steel was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower! From photographs she has seen of the old Consett Ironworks, she now realises that you would have been able to see rows of machinery just over the horizon from the Reservoir, peeking over the ridge of the dam. She believes that we need to continue to provide opportunities to access such a significant part of Consett's heritage. She is particularly excited about the latest Heritage initiative that will truly put Co Durham on the cultural and heritage map!

Consett Heritage Project / March 23rd, 2023

The Consett Iron Company 160th Anniversary - Community Heritage Project Launch

What a delight it was to see so many people from the Consett community at our recent get together on March 16th 2023 for the launch of our Consett Heritage project. This is just the start of our much anticipated Heritage project to celebrate the 160th Anniversary of the opening of the Consett Ironworks.

Celebrating Stanley / September 30th, 2025

Thomas's Celebration of Stanley

Thomas was born in Shotley Bridge Hospital, but grew up in Shield Row, one of the villages surrounding Stanley. He is 28 years old and was once a Stanley Town Councillor. Read his thoughts on Stanley's present and future here...