Hetton Road, Mines Rescue Station

This building was listed Grade II in 2000 with the following description:
'Mines rescue station. 1913. Red brick with slate roofs. Two 2 storey blocks linked by a single storey block. Main block has rusticated brick quoins and overhanging slate roof. South front has 2 central round arched doorways with rusticated jambs. Either side are 2 narrow glazing bar windows. Above four 2-light glazing bar casement windows flanked by single narrow glazing bar windows. Left return has 2 lower windows and above 2 glazing bar casement windows. Right return has doorway to left with modern door and to right 3 graduated staircase windows, in the gable a 2-light glazing bar casement window. To rear a single storey block with two small glazing bar windows and above in the gable a Diocletian window in the set-back gable above. Back range has various glazing bar sash windows on the upper floor. INTERIOR retains crawl ways used for practising mine rescues.'
It was built in 1913 as a fire station and mine rescue by the Durham & Northumberland Colliery Owners Association. There are only six such stations in Britain. The mines having largely closed, the station provides rescue services for all types of emergencies plus health and safety training, first aid, confined spaces awareness and fire awareness training. It serves the whole northern region. There is a mock training mine (crawl ways) below the station used for practising rescues. LISTED GRADE 2