The Redhills Durham Miners' Hall, the historic base of the Durham Miners Association (DMA), has been elevated to a Grade II* listed building by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England. The hall, constructed between 1913 and 1915, was originally listed at Grade II in 1988.
Historic Significance and Architecture
Historic England describes the hall as the most outstanding example of trades union-inspired architecture in the country, featuring an Edwardian Baroque exterior. Recent research has highlighted the quality and survival of its interiors and its national historic significance. The council chamber, known as the 'Pitman's Parliament', is noted for its high-quality stained glass, ornate plasterwork, and bespoke Austrian fixtures, creating an outstanding space that exemplifies the social evolution of the times.
Role of the Durham Miners Association
The DMA was formed in 1869, representing pitmen from nearly 300 coal mines across County Durham. It quickly became the largest miners' union in the UK, fighting for safety, wages, and social reform. The hall was purpose-built to allow miners to meet coal owners on equal terms.
Quotes and Restoration
Tom Frater, Historic England's Regional Director for the North, said: "We are delighted that the Redhills Durham Miners' Hall has been elevated to Grade II* status on our advice. Not only is it a strong symbol of the emergence of a social reform movement, which laid the groundwork for the welfare state, but a striking building representing the status and power of the largest and most powerful miners’ trade union in England. It has been barely altered over the years, and the Pitman's Parliament is a unique space - not just for historical significance but for its craftsmanship and design."
Following a £14.1 million restoration, the hall will reopen as a centre for culture, education, events, and community organising. Andrew McIntyre, Chief Executive of Redhills Durham Miners' Hall, said: "This upgrade to Grade II* is national recognition for a building that belongs to the people of the Durham Coalfield. Redhills was built by working people who refused to accept that power, wealth and decision-making should belong only to coal owners and politicians. They organised, educated themselves, pooled their resources and built institutions of their own. At its heart was the Pitman's Parliament, where miners debated wages, safety, welfare, education, housing and political representation, and helped lay the foundations for the Welfare State. That is the model the founders have left us. Redhills is not simply a monument to what working-class communities achieved in the past. It is a call to action. Thanks to a £14.1m restoration, Redhills is entering a new chapter as a living centre for culture, education, events and community organising. Our task now is to work with former Coalfield villages to rebuild the Coalfield Commonwealth for future generations."
