The Northumberland Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association was founded in 1900 to provide rent free accommodation for retired miners who had worked in the Northumberland Coalfield. Working miners employed at the collieries in Northumberland contributed each week, from their wages, the income required to provide the cost free accommodation. The policy of free housing continued until 1982, when due to pit closures and the subsequent loss of income, the Trustees and Governors were compelled to introduce a charge to cover the cost of maintaining the properties.
During the 1980’s, central heating systems were installed in all of the Association’s cottages. The majority of the cost was met by interest free loans provided by the Northumberland Area N.U.M. As the number of working miners declined, the income received from the donations continued to fall and the condition of the properties deteriorated, until 1990. The Trustees and Governors were compelled to increase the maintenance charge to be able to meet the cost of improving the Homes.
Faced with the problem of improving 527 cottages without having reserve funds, the Governors embarked on an improvement programme commencing with the properties in the most urgent need of repair. The search for additional funding continued but unfortunately the Association was unsuccessful in being able to attract grant funding etc., from any source.