TOWERING above the harbour, Wellington pit in appearance was by far the most spectacular of Whitehaven’s pits. It was built to resemble a castle, with a keep, turrets and high crenellated walls. Its twin shafts were sunk between 1840 and 1845.

• Remember the men of the Wellington Pit
• The men and boys who died
• King honours the rescuers who risked their own lives
• In the wake of the disaster

THE last surviving miner who worked at Wellington Pit is now 98 and looks back with great affection on a 50-year career in coal.

• Last of the Wellington miners dies aged 98
• Pit disaster’s last living survivor to unveil memorial
• Our story of loss is just one of many from pit disaster
• The last message from doomed Wellington Pit (3 comments)
• Mum-of-seven recognised dead husband’s shoes