Plans for a public ‘pit wheel artwork’ in Washington have been given the go-ahead by city councillors. Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee, on August 1, 2022, approved plans for the new structure in Albany Village centre.
The move will provide a replacement pit wheel, sourced from Washington’s F-Pit Museum, after the current pit wheel was recently moved to Silksworth. This was linked to a campaign to bring the pit wheel home after original markings were discovered on the pit wheel stating it was used at Silksworth Colliery between 1868 and 1971.
Councillors for Washington West, which includes Albany, previously said they were satisfied with the pit wheel being moved as long as there was a suitable replacement. Following the planning decision by councillors at City Hall this week, a pit wheel artwork will return to Albany to help celebrate the area’s rich mining heritage.
