Redhills, Durham
| Redhills | |
|
County Durham | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ26624256 |
| Location: | 54°46’38"N, 1°35’16"W |
| City: | Durham |
| History | |
| Address: | Redhills Lane |
| Built 1915 | |
| For: | Durham Miners' Association by H. T. Gradon |
| Edwardian Baroque | |
| Information | |
Redhills, officially called Miners' New Hall, is the headquarters building of the Durham Miners' Association. It stands on Redhills Lane in the City of Durham. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
The building was designed by H. T. Gradon[1] in Edwardian Baroque style and opened in 1915 to replace the former Miners' Hall building in North Road. Its debating chamber, made with Austrian oak in the style of a Methodist chapel, was known as the "Pitman's Parliament" and was featured in Historic England's 100 Places: Power, Protest & progress list.[2][3]
The main building housed the office of local Labour MP from 2019. In May 2022, Labour leader Keir Starmer was accused of having broken COVID-19 pandemic legal restrictions at the venue the previous April, by drinking beer and eating takeaway food in a room there with other party members present. This became known as "Beergate".[4][5]
Renovation in 2020s
In March 2020 the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded a grant for restoration and renovation work, with the aim of restoring Redhills as a centre of culture and education.[6] In October 2021, as part of the grant agreement, Durham Miners Association transferred ownership of the site to the Redhills Charitable Incorporated Organisation.[7]
In 2022, Redhills stated publicly its intention to join a transnational serial nomination bid for UNESCO World Heritage status, coordinated by The Workers Museum in Copenhagen.[8]
As of 2023, restoration and renovation works were underway.[9] In January 2026, the hall fully reopened after the £14 million restoration.[3]
The Redhills Charity, which operates Redhills Durham Miners Hall, was initially run by Nick Malyan as Chief Executive of the charity.[10] As of January 2026, Andrew McIntyre was the interim Chief Executive.[3]
Outside links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Heritage List 1161184: Miners Hall (Grade II listing)
- ↑ "100 Places: Power, Protest & Progress | Historic England" (in en). https://historicengland.org.uk/campaigns/100-places/protest-power/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brown, Mark (4 January 2026). "'Durham's other cathedral': mining union hall reopens after £14m restoration". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/04/durham-mining-union-hall-redhills-reopens-after-14m-pounds-restoration.
- ↑ Zeffman, Henry (3 May 2022). "Nadine Dorries accuses Keir Starmer of lockdown lies". The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nadine-dorries-accuses-keir-starmer-of-lockdown-lies-8rrhmw3g8.
- ↑ Culbertson, Alix (6 May 2022). "Beergate: Sir Keir Starmer insists there was 'no party' after Durham Police say they will investigate claims he broke lockdown rules". Sky News. https://news.sky.com/story/beergate-durham-police-to-investigate-sir-keir-starmer-over-allegations-he-broke-lockdown-rules-12606679.
- ↑ Coman, Julian (15 March 2020). "Durham's 'pitman's parliament', a monument of industrial heritage, saved from ruin". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/15/redhills-pitmans-parliament-durham-saved.
- ↑ Dowson, Andy (21 October 2021). "Durham Miners Association hands Redhills over to the people". https://redhillsdurham.org/durham-miners-association-hands-redhills-over-to-the-people/.
- ↑ Brown, Mark (2022-08-03). "Durham miners’ hall applies for Unesco world heritage status" (in en-GB). The Guardian. SSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/03/durham-redhill-miners-hall-applies-for-unesco-world-heritage-status.
- ↑ Younger, Owen (29 Jul 2023). "Durham Miners' Hall to undergo £7.25m restoration after charity secures funding". Chronicle Live. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-miners-hall-undergo-725m-27415943.
- ↑ "Chief executive appointed to lead major restoration of Durham Miners' Hall" (in en). 2022-02-15. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19925646.jj/.