WASHINGTON’S F Pit Museum is opening its doors daily until Sunday as part of #LoveSunderlandHeritage fortnight.
The unique attraction which is only open a handful of times each year, will be open to the public from 12-3pm each day until Sunday, August 3. 
And visitors to the centre this Thursday, July 31 will also be able to speak to and give feedback to the design team behind the planned regeneration of the museum and surrounding Albany Park, due to begin in September.
Thursday afternoon’s event will give residents the chance to meet architects Mosedale Gillat and interpretation designers Bright White and learn more about the plans – but the F Pit will also be open daily until Sunday as part of #LoveSunderlandHeritage fortnight.
#LoveSunderlandHeritage fortnight is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and gives visitors the chance to experience and explore some of Sunderland’s heritage sites. 
It is organised by Sunderland Heritage, a partnership of local heritage and cultural organisations, venues, grassroots societies and clubs.
Visitors to the F Pit can learn more about the region’s proud mining legacy and discover the historic pit, which once made up part of New Washington Colliery.
The first coals from the F Pit were taken to Sunderland by wagonway in 1778 but the pit was abandoned in 1796 following an explosion which resulted in it filling with water. 
However, it survived the accident and re-opened for use in 1820, surviving until it officially closed as a pit in 1968 before being preserved as an attraction, opened as a museum in 1976 by the Washington Development Corporation and now managed by Sunderland City Council.
If you can’t make it to the F Pit this week, it will be open to visitors again as part of the Heritage Open Days programme from September 12-21.
To learn more about the F Pit, click here
*Images: Washington Way
