peak of its employment in 1925, when 3862 men and boys helped to produce over one million tonnes of coal annually. The men of Dawdon Colliery were forced into several industrial disputes with those who wanted to maintain their profits, but escaped the major tragedies suffered by pits at Seaham and Easington Colliery. Many of Dawdon's men did die within its depths, but usually from individual accidents. Dawdon was a major coal producer for the Londonderry family throughout their ownership, and was later a jewel in the crown for the National Coal Board too. Under nationalisation, the government claimed that the mines belonged to the miners. This proved to be a nonsense as later industrial disputes proved. However, as the mining industry went into decline in the 1980s, Dawdon suffered too. The colliery was eventually closed in July 1991. Home to a rich industrial past relating closely with its near neighbour Seaham, Dawdon was home to the Seaham Harbour Blast Furnace, in Dawdon Field Dene. The original Seaham Bottle Works was situated here in 1855. The blast furnaces closed in 1865 but were soon replaced by the Chemical Works. In 1920 the new colliery, Dawdon, employed 3,300 workers and produced over 1 million tons of coal per year outstripping its local competitors. The ironworks and colliery sites have recently been reclaimed and a modern industrial estate launching Dawdon into the 21st century. Timeline 1900 March - started sinking of shafts. 1907 October - completed sinking of shafts. 5 October – colliery opened. 1910 Welfare Hall opened. Twenty streets of colliery houses built. 1912 Church of St Hild and St Helen, known as "The Pitmen’s Cathedral" erected by the Londonderry family. 1914 Low Main and Hutton seams being worked. 1921 Low Main, Maudlin, Hutton and Main coal seams being worked. 1921 8 August – Triple Alliance of Miners, Railwaymen and Transport Workers started. 30 June – strike called off plunging Durham into a trade depression that left 20% of miners and over 100 collieries idle. 1925 Employment peaks at 3862 1926 May – General Strike started. November – Durham Miners returned to work having held out for 7 months. 1927 12 Aged Miners' cottages built in Dawdon. 1929 2 March – Dawdon Miners locked out in dispute over piece work rates. 4 November – Dawdon Miners reluctantly return to work. 1930 1000 Dawdon miners laid off. Seaham Colliery closed for 2