This section will be used to record all of the work and the changes that will take place on the coast under the auspices of the Whitehaven Coast Project. It will be compiled chronologically and will form a permanent record as well providing an easy and convenient way of finding out what is happening at any given time.
View the exhibition panels for an overview of the works planned.
December 2007
Emergency conservation work has begun to safeguard the historically important Saltom Pit building. The fabric of the building, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, has deteriorated to the point that it's very future was in doubt. However with funding provided by Copeland Borough Council work has started to shore up and support the crumbling door and window lintels and restrict access into the building in the short term. It is hoped that further funding may be obtained to carry out repair work on the sea wall that protects the pit structure.
February 2008
Building contractors Carillion have now established a site office at South Beach Car Park and have started work. To date there has largely involved marking out and the use of plant to excavate and install new access. The position of the new flight of steps below the Candlestick terrace can clearly be seen in the photograph below. The pathway connecting the Candlestick terrace to South Beach is temporarily closed while work is undertaken in this area.
Work has also begun to remove the render from the existing wall around the candlestick terrace. The iron railaings will be replaced with a new stone wall. The photo below shows two of the stone samples considered for the new wall. After consultation with Copeland Borough Council the new construction will use St Bees sandstone, extracted from Birkhams Quarry near to St Bees Head.
The spell of fine weather through most of February has enabled work to continue apace. The existing path from South Beach to the Candlestick has had the surface removed and has been widened to accomodate the dual use footpath/cycle path.
A new path route has been dug at the junction of the Coastguard Station and the Candlestick and also around the perimeter of the Candlestick. The existing set of wooden steps adjacent to the Jonathon Swift house have been removed which has resulted in a temporary closure of that footpath, an improved flight of steps will be built to replace these.
March 2008
Mid March saw the start of works to improve drainage and access to the Haig Mining Museum. The Mining Museum has recently been succesful in its bid for Heritage Lottery Funding. Click here to visit the Mining Museum website and find out more.
April 2008
The railings around the Candlestick terrace have now been removed, and a sandstone-clad wall is being built in their stead. The 'Memory Wall', which will follow the new wider path from the Candlestick down to South Shore car park is under construction.
Below: New steps now in place leading up to the Candlestick and sandstone cladding has been added to the memory wall. A new flight of steps has been added at the far end of the Candlestick terrace, leading up to the Jonathan Swift house, to create a circular route for people to follow.
May 2008
A series of small curved sandstone-clad walls now adorn the footpath leading up from the candlestick towards the Haig mining museum. Some of the walls will support bespoke seating, others will wrap around areas of planting.
Reconstruction and widening of the access road leading to the Haig Colliery Mining museum is now well underway.
June 2008
The spell of dry weather has enabled the contractors to make excellent progress to the works on the coast. The sinuous sandstone walls have now been completed and topped with beautiful polished sandstone slabs. Sandstone posts have also been positioned ready to accommodate signage.
The access road to Haig Colliery Mining museum is nearing completion.
The old paving slabs have been removed from the candlestick terrace and new paving is being laid. The overgrown circular planting area has been concreted over ready to house a specially designed mosaic.
