Redhills reopens in Durham with music, miners’ history and a vision for the future

Redhills, Durham’s historic Miners’ Association Hall and Offices, has reopened to the public after refurbishment, with an evening of music, food, films and speeches highlighting the building’s links to mining, social reform and community action.

The official reopening took place on the evening of Thursday 24 September. Guests were welcomed shortly after 6pm for a drinks reception, where music was provided by West Taunton School’s steel band. The band played familiar songs, including A-Ha’s Take on Me, in a performance that was warmly received by the audience.

Redhills is the name given to the Durham Miners’ Association New Hall and Offices. The city-centre building is a Grade II listed property and is home to the Pitman’s Parliament, described as one of Europe’s finest examples of trade union architecture.

A building shaped by Durham’s mining history

The coal industry played a major role in Britain’s economy and social development from the Industrial Revolution onwards. The source material says coal mining employed hundreds of thousands of men and produced millions of tons of coal each year before the industry’s decline.

Redhills was designed by HT Gradon in the Edwardian Baroque style. It replaced the former Miners’ Hall building on North Road and opened in 1915. The building stands as a reminder of the Durham Miners’ Association and the wider movement for dignity, rights and social reform that developed among miners and their families.

Its history is also tied to the development of welfare and collective action. The hardships experienced by miners and their families helped drive social reform before the modern welfare state, leaving a lasting mark on society and on the communities of North East England.

During the reopening, visitors took self-guided tours of the refurbished building and watched a film about the history of the Durham Miners’ Association and its struggle for dignity and rights. The film was based on a poem written by miner John Parkin and narrated by North East actors Gina McKee and Alun Armstrong.

Music, films and the Pitman’s Parliament

The programme continued in the Pitman’s Parliament, where guests heard a presentation about Redhills’ history. A display featured photographs of important moments and historical features, including the building’s renovation.

Music was also provided by the Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band. The performance included tunes associated with the annual Miners’ Gala, reinforcing the building’s continuing connection with Durham’s mining communities. Guests were served broth with dumplings during the evening.

The formal part of the event came with the dedication and unveiling of a plaque. Representatives from communities were acknowledged, alongside the Durham Miners’ Association, which built Redhills, the families who contributed money and everyone involved in the restoration.

A representative of the National Heritage Lottery Fund also spoke. The fund contributed millions of pounds to the restoration, according to the source material.

Restoration aimed at a new future

The reopening was presented not only as a celebration of the past but as part of a wider effort to give County Durham’s former coalfield communities greater influence over their future. Communities were consulted during the project and said they wanted their heritage to serve future generations, help rebuild the coalfield commonwealth and give local people power over decisions.

A further short film explored Redhills’ importance in the past and the future. The evening’s message was that communities shaped by the coal industry are not broken or defeated, but retain the spirit of cooperation, innovation, fairness, tolerance and solidarity associated with their history.

The event also acted as a tribute to Durham’s miners—not only for the work of extracting coal, but for their efforts to create a fairer society. With the building now open again, Redhills is positioned as both a place to encounter the region’s heritage and a venue connected to the continuing work of building stronger communities.

The source article also publicised a separate Bylines Network event, scheduled for Wednesday 21 October, focused on the future of the British media and ending with a live audience question-and-answer session.