It brought an end to a 94-year history of mining in the County Durham community – and its main source of employment had gone.
Let’s look back on Easington pit and the pictures of an industry which shaped the village for decades.
1. Thumbs-up in the 70s
Workers at the pit set new production records in 1975. Photo: se
2. Village life
A Sunderland Echo archive view of the pit in 1975. Photo: Sunderland Echo
3. Marching proud
The lodge banner sets off to the Durham Miners Gala in 1993 - the year that the pit closed. Photo: SE
4. The saddest day
A terrible day at Easington as the local residents hear the latest news from a pit official following the disaster at the colliery where 81 miners lost their lives in 1951.. Photo: se