Durham Miners' Association's historic Redhills Hall is opening its doors to guided tours for the first time.
Redhills, in Durham, was paid for by contributions from more than 150,000 miners who were then members of the Durham Miners' Association (DMA).
Opened in 1915, it was home to pioneering advancements in politics and welfare.
At Redhill's heart is the Pitman's Parliament, where elected members from each Durham colliery met. It was there that the DMA created a social security system across County Durham, which provided sickness and unemployment benefits, retirement homes and medical care, before the post-war Welfare State was created.
Guided tours last 90 minutes and are available at 1pm on the first Sunday and Wednesday of each month, starting on Sunday, March 3.
The tours of Redhills are offered in partnership with mining and labour heritage organisation Education 4 Action (E4A). Proceeds from the tours will go to The Redhills Appeal – the DMA campaign to renew the Miners Hall as a centre of education, heritage, and culture.
DMA Programme Director Ross Forbes said: "Redhills is a unique and extraordinary place. It moves and inspires people who visit, and we are delighted to be able to open our doors to the public with these guided tours.
"The tours are in keeping with our plans to return Redhills to the people, and we are sure everyone who joins us will find it a fascinating experience."
Historic England recently chose Redhills as one of its 100 Irreplaceable places in England’s history. It was chosen along The Palace of Westminster in the Top Ten places in England’s history of Power, Protest, and Progress
Tickets cost £5 (waged) or £3 for the unwaged. Those who can afford to pay more are welcomed to buy a solidarity ticket, for £10, which allows the DMA to keep entry prices down for others.
Tickets can be booked here.
