Durham Miners’ Association New Hall and Offices, affectionately known as Redhills, stands as a testament to the rich history of social progress and community enterprise in North East England and we have been delighted to be involved in the major renovation that is has gone through.

It initially opened in 1915 to replace the former Miners’ Hall building in North Road. From the Industrial Revolution to the 1960s, coal mining played a crucial role in the UK’s economy, employing hundreds of thousands of men and producing millions of tons of coal annually. The hardships faced by miners and their families paved the way for a movement of social reform, which predated the welfare state and left a lasting impact on society. Redhills, situated in Durham’s city centre, is a Grade II listed building and home to the Pitman’s Parliament, representing one of Europe’s finest examples of trade union architecture.

At the heart of Redhills is the Pitman’s Parliament, a unique assembly that provided a platform for miners to voice their concerns and shape the future of their industry. This democratic institution allowed miners to debate and pass resolutions on various issues, from pay and working conditions to broader social and political matters. The Pitman’s Parliament was a powerful symbol of working-class empowerment and was crucial in shaping the region’s social and political landscape.

As part of the full renovation the central section of the existing Parliament floor was to be removed with a whole new floor structure introduced. We were introduced to the project in November 2023 and asked to provide a quotation for Lewis Deck and we received the order, totalling 130m2, for the project in June 2024.

The Lewis Deck was collected from our warehouse a couple of days later and the installation was completed in just a few days.