Westoe

In October 1992, President of the Board of Trade, Michael Heseltine's proposed closure of 31 of Britain's deep coal mines resulted in mass protests forcing the Department of Trade and Industry to undertake a 5 month consultation on the future of the pits. During this time I was commissioned to document Westoe, both the pit and the surrounding area, to consider how an industry influences a community and to reflect on how its closure will impact that community. The government review was published in March 1993 resulting in the closure of Westoe Colliery in May of that year, the majority of miners working their final shift on 7th May 1993. The Crown Shaft Tower was demolished in 1994 and the surrounding housing soon after.

Commissioned by South Tyneside Council and Northern Arts and exhibited in South Shields Library Gallery in 1993.