date the fortunes of the village followed those of the industry with particular black spots during the strikes of 1921 and 1926 and the depression of the 1930s, high spots in the boom of the 1950s and 60s, and eventually closure of the pit in 1974. The Bowes Railway was used for the transport of coal from Kibblesworth to the River Tyne at Jarrow. The line was started by George Stephenson in 1826 and extended to Kibblesworth when Robert Pit was sunk in 1842. The railway used three types of power – locomotives, stationary steam engines and self-acting inclines. There is now a cycletrack that runs along the former track bed. Notable buildings and structures The square at Spout Burn was built to house the miners of Robert Pit. It was demolished between 1965 and 1966, and replaced by old people's bungalows the following year and the Grange Estate from 1973. Better known as 'the Barracks', Kibbleswoth nether Hall was divided up into tenements for miners and there families no soldiers ever lived there. The memory survives, in the street named Barrack Terrace. The hall was demolished and replaced by the Miner's Institute in 1934. The areanearby site of kibblesworth old hall has recently been redeveloped for housing woodlands court. In 1855 a short test tunnel for the London Underground was built in Kibbleworth, because it had geological properties similar to London. This test tunnel was used for two years in the development of the first underground train; in 1861 it was filled in. Kibblesworthold Hall was for many years the home of the colliery manager. It was demolished in 1973. The original Kibblesworth School was built in 1875, and closed in 1972. It has since been redeveloped using Lottery funding to house the village community centre known as the 'Millennium Centre'. The present school opened in 1972. Chronology 1842 – The sinking of Robert Pit 1842–50 – Square and Barrack Terrace built; Old Hall (Barracks) converted to tenements 1855 – Metropolitan Railway dug a small tunnel to test digging skills before moving onto London 1862 – Causey Row built 1864 – Opening of Primitive Methodist Chapel 1867 – Opening of Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1875 – Opening of school 1901 – School extensions built, Coronation Terrace built 1908– Old Plough Inn demolished 1913 – Opening of New Wesleyan Chapel 1914 – The Crescent built and Grange Drift opened 1921 –