Sundry items and publications

There are a number of arts and local history related items available from the Arts Development Section. 

There is a charge for some items while others are available free.  Prices are shown below.  A discount is available for Tourism Information Centres and other not - for - profit organisations wishing to retail the publications

About this service

A Father's Legacy by William Ramsey Reed

This is the author's personal record of the life and history of Easington Colliery (1922 - 1971)

• his childhood and adult life
• local characters
• significant colliery events          

54 pages with black & white illustrations.  Price £2.50 (+ £1.05 post & packing)

Attractions Through The Eyes Of A Child

This is a collection of postcards showing the views and landmarks of the District of Easington as seen through the eyes of local school children.

A competition involving all local primary schools took place to design a postcard to attract people to the District. The winning entries are contained in this pack for you to send to others or enjoy and keep.

16 colour cards.  Price £1.50 (+ .65 post & packing)

Banners Music CD

Banners Music CD was commissioned by the Arts Development Section in celebration of our local heritage

The CD is performed by over 200 local musicians and singers, led by Jez Lowe, who wrote and arranged the music. The CD also contains spoken personal memories of the area.

Named "Folk Album of the Year" by The Daily Telegraph.  Price £7.50 (+ .65 post & packing)

Between the wars by William A Healy

Personal memories and observations of the bustling mining community of Horden during the 1930's and 1940's.  The book looks at life above and below ground.

89 pages with black & white illustrations.  Price £3.50 (+ £1.55 post & packing)

East Durham Heritage Trails and Walkways by Andy Griffin

The author drew on historical records and the knowledge and personal experiences of many local residents.

It covers the area from Seaham in the North to Hesleden in the South and inland as far as Wheatley Hill and Station Town.  The book offers historical background on village communities, rural locations and coastal landscapes.  

Fifteen heritage walks are included to persuade visitors and residents to explore and enjoy the area and its heritage.

88 pages with 16 pages in full colour.   Price £4.50 (+ £1.40 post & packing)

East Durham Miners' Banners Postcard Pack

This is the first in a series of postcards depicting colliery lodge banners from Easington district

These symbolic works of art reflect the rich heritage of our mining communities.  

Lodges included are Blackhall, Dawdon, Seaham, Murton, Wingate, South Hetton, Horden and Easington 

16 colour cards (front and back views of each lodge banner)  Price £3.50 (+ .65 post & packing)

Looking Beyond by Linda France

A fully illustrated account of the eight extremely varied projects making up the District of Easington's contribution to Visual Arts Year 1996.

The artists featured are Ray Smith, Matthew Jarratt, Amanda Randall,  Michael Disley, Vivian Mousdell, Margaret Williams, Raf Fulcher and David Collins.

36 pages in full colour.  Price £2.50 (+ .90 post & packing)

South Hetton - The Eight Rows and Other Stories edited and compiled by David F Wilson

This book chronicles the history of South Hetton from 1831 to 1986.

The publication looks at life in the mines as well as the day to day routine of life in the early 1900's.

73 pages with black & white illustrations.  Price £2.00 (+ .90 post & packing)

Turning The Tide

This book was commissioned by the Arts Development Section in partnership with the Turning the Tide Project, capturing the essence of the East Durham coast through the eyes of artists.

Lasting four years from 1996 - 2000, Turning the Tide was a massive project 'to restore, enhance and conserve the environmental quality of the Durham Coast', after 100 years of spoil tipping by the coal industry.

The book contains full colour photographs, paintings and poetry produced for the Turning the Tide touring exhibition. 

Featuring works by Katrina Porteous-Poet, Robert Soden-Painter and Keith Pattison-Photographer. 

65 pages, full colour.  Price £8.00 (+ £1.75 post & packing)

Winds of Change by Andy Griffin

This lively and beautifully produced book describes the district's four medieval churches and tells the stories of some of the people whose lives were lived in their shadow.

They include the "mad, bad and dangerous to know" Victorian poet Lord Byron, Alice Liddell (Alice in Wonderland), coal barons, bishops and brewers of real ale.

64 pages, full colour.  Price £7.00 (+ £1.55 post & packing)

A fight for survival - the Little Tern

This book is the result of a collaboration between the District of Easington and the Durham Heritage Coast project.

It focusses on the colony of rare Little Terns which nest annually at Crimdon.  The bird is very limited in its numbers along this stretch of coastline, only having one other known colony at Teesside.

The book contains paintings by Stephen William Ward and poetry by Subhadassi, both artists spent and extended period with the colony in 2004.

Easington Art - A guide to artwork in the East of Durham

This book is the result of a collabaration between the District of Easington and the Turning the Tide project.

Easington Art is a guide to the public artworks located in all parts of the district and includes work from almost 20 professional artists, some of who are local.

Most of the works are on free public display 24 hours a day.

32 pages, full colour     FREE

Some frequently asked questions

Where can I buy these publications?

• in person from the reception desk located in Building 1
• order by post from our office
• in person from Peterlee Information Centre, Upper Chare, Peterlee town centre