Documentary backdrop image for 1969: Craghead Colliery (2026)

202643 minPGdocumentary

1969: Craghead Colliery

202643 minPGdocumentary

Craghead, a small mining village in Co Durham, faces uncertainty in 1968 as workers strive to boost coal output amid rumors of impending closure.

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Channel: BBC Archive

1969: Craghead Colliery

2026• 43 minPG

Synopsis

Craghead, a small mining village in Co Durham, faces uncertainty in 1968 as workers strive to boost coal output amid rumors of impending closure.

Synopsis

Craghead Colliery, located in Co Durham, faces an uncertain future in the nuclear age. The small mining village, characterized by its grimy pit and terraced streets of grit-blackened brick, grapples with the looming threat of closure. In June 1968, the colliery manager and miners strive to increase coal output, while their families cling to hope for a better tomorrow. As rumors of shutdown circulate, the community's resilience is tested. Can their collective efforts secure a future for Craghead?

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