A Timeline

A brief timeline of our Grade II* listed building's history.

3 July 1852

The Mining Institute is founded at a meeting of “colliery owners, viewers, and others interested in the Coal Trade”

It was proposed to form a society to improve safety in coalmines and to encourage the most efficient methods in the mining industry. It was to be called "The North of England Society for the Prevention of Accidents and for other purposes connected with mining", and Nicholas Wood would be chairman. It’s main area of concern was the Great Northern Coalfield of Northumberland and Durham.

It was proposed to form a society to improve safety in coalmines and to encourage the most efficient methods in the mining industry. It was to be called "The North of England Society for the Prevention of Accidents and for other purposes connected with mining", and Nicholas Wood would be chairman. It’s main area of concern was the Great Northern Coalfield of Northumberland and Durham.

3rd September 1852

Nicholas Wood makes his inaugural address at the institute's first official meeting, at the Literary and Philosophical Society

“There is no finality in science. We must progress, and, availing ourselves of the opportunity which the establishment of this institution will I trust, afford us, let us put our shoulder to the wheel, and prove ourselves no degenerators from our predecessors.”

“There is no finality in science. We must progress, and, availing ourselves of the opportunity which the establishment of this institution will I trust, afford us, let us put our shoulder to the wheel, and prove ourselves no degenerators from our predecessors.”

October 1865

Robert Stephenson dies leaving £2000 to the Institute, which started a fund to build its permanent home

19th December 1865

Nicholas Wood, the first President of the institute dies

1867

Plans for building a permanent home for the Institute are underway

The building was to take the place of the medieval Westmoreland House, used as lodgings for students of the Medical School.

The building was to take the place of the medieval Westmoreland House, used as lodgings for students of the Medical School.

1870

The society is renamed North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, as it is known today

Their noble goals are encapsulated in their motto “Moneo et Munio” (I protect and I advise). It was their aim to be a centre for learning and education, collecting and sharing knowledge to inspire solutions to the problems facing the modern world.

Their noble goals are encapsulated in their motto “Moneo et Munio” (I protect and I advise). It was their aim to be a centre for learning and education, collecting and sharing knowledge to inspire solutions to the problems facing the modern world.

1872

The completion of Neville Hall by architect Archibald Dunn

Dunn's father, mining engineer and Mines Inspector Matthias Dunn, had been present at the Institute's inaugural meeting.

The institute was built at the height of the English Gothic Revival and shows a mixture of gothic and Tyneside Classical themes. The Library has high windows and a sky lit barrel-vaulted ceiling, the highest point 39 ft above the floor, with stained glass windows by Cooke of London. These features can still be seen today.

Dunn's father, mining engineer and Mines Inspector Matthias Dunn, had been present at the Institute's inaugural meeting.

The institute was built at the height of the English Gothic Revival and shows a mixture of gothic and Tyneside Classical themes. The Library has high windows and a sky lit barrel-vaulted ceiling, the highest point 39 ft above the floor, with stained glass windows by Cooke of London. These features can still be seen today.

1876

Queen Victoria grants the institute a Royal Charter

1902

The Lecture Theatre is redesigned and replaced

Designed by local architects Cackett and Burns Dick, and modelled on that at the Royal Institution in London. They dug into the ground to steeped rake of seating, which is constructed from Cuban mahogany. These features can still be seen today.

Designed by local architects Cackett and Burns Dick, and modelled on that at the Royal Institution in London. They dug into the ground to steeped rake of seating, which is constructed from Cuban mahogany. These features can still be seen today.

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Collections

Our archive is one of the most important in the world for the study of the industrial revolution. With the help of our volunteers, we're in the process of digitising over 35,000 items to open up access to as many people as possible. Explore our online collection today.

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The North of England Institute for Mining and Mechanical Engineers

The Mining Institute was the engine room of the Great Northern Coalfield that drove and shaped the region, its people and its industry.