'Durham's other cathedral': mining union hall reopens after £14m restoration

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A Forgotten Gem Reborn: The Revival of Redhills

Tucked away in Durham's outskirts lies a majestic structure that was once the heartbeat of the city's working-class community - the impressive Redhills building. Dubbed "Durham's other cathedral" due to its grandeur, this Edwardian baroque masterpiece has undergone a £14 million restoration, breathing new life into the iconic site.

The history etched on the walls tells a poignant tale of struggle and resilience. Two wooden benches outside the building serve as memorials to two men who died too young, having been "sacked and victimised" during the 1984-85 miners' strike. Despite its grandiose appearance, Redhills was built with the intention of providing an equal platform for trade unionists and mine owners, symbolising a collaborative spirit that had become rare.

This ambitious project has aimed to recreate the Durham Miners' Association's vision of creating a working-class commonwealth 100 years ago. The restoration process was long and arduous but essential, addressing issues like structural decay and environmental hazards. Funding for the renovation came from the national lottery, with community engagement playing a pivotal role in shaping its purpose.

The new Redhills is not simply a relic of the past but a vibrant hub of activity that will serve as a beating heart for Durham's living culture. It aims to replicate the Durham Miners' Association's vision of community-driven projects, including affordable housing initiatives and cooperative endeavours. The building now offers a space for weddings, funerals, conferences, concerts, and social gatherings.

However, amidst this renewed energy lies an undercurrent of frustration with the government's inaction on addressing the needs of Durham residents since the pits closed 40 years ago. Andrew McIntyre, interim CEO of Redhills, highlighted that despite numerous elections, governments have failed to make meaningful changes. The council's decision to pay millions of pounds to private companies skimming off profits has sparked discontent.

The revival of Redhills serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of community-led initiatives and collective action in shaping a better future for communities like Durham.
 
🤔 I'm so stoked to see this historic building getting the love it deserves! £14 million restoration is no joke, but trust me, it's worth it – Redhills is coming back stronger than ever 🌟. The fact that they're focusing on community-driven projects like affordable housing and cooperative initiatives is super inspiring, especially given the struggles of the local residents since the pits closed 🤕. I'm not surprised people are frustrated with the government's inaction though 😔 – it's been ages since Durham got any meaningful support. But hey, at least Redhills is taking matters into its own hands 💪. Can't wait to see what kind of awesome events and activities they'll be hosting there 🎉!
 
I gotta say, this is super interesting... the gov's been all about corporate deals & profits, but meanwhile, community-led projects like Redhills are popping up everywhere! It's like they're trying to erase the struggles of the past 🤯. The fact that they had to go through a national lottery for funding is a total joke, it shows how out of touch they are with real people's needs 💸. And what's really crazy is that Andrew McIntyre is right on point about gov inaction... Durham residents deserve so much better than empty promises & fancy buildings 🏛️. We need to hold our leaders accountable for making real changes, not just lipstick on a pig 🐖!
 
omg, can u believe this?! 🤯 they're bringing back a piece of history that's been forgotten for so long! redhills is literally becoming this beautiful hub again! 😍 i'm all about community-led projects, it's amazing how much good things can happen when people come together. and btw, it's crazy that the government hasn't done enough to help durham residents since the pits closed... 🙄 but i guess that's just part of the fight. let's keep cheering on these community-driven initiatives and hope they make a real difference! 💪
 
man i feel so bad about durham residents still struggling after the pits closed 40 yrs ago its like they were left behind 🤕👎 governments should really do something about it tho £14 million restoration is amazing tho but its not just about the building its about creating jobs and affordable housing for real people 💼🏠
 
I'm not sure about all this fuss over Redhills being revived 🤔. Don't get me wrong, it's impressive that they managed to rake in £14 million from the lottery, but £14 million could've been spent on actual mining community programs instead of just renovating a building 🤑. I mean, what's next? Turning it into some trendy bar or restaurant? It feels like we're just papering over the cracks here rather than addressing the real issues that Durham residents are facing 👎. The government's inaction is just infuriating, and now they're passing the buck to private companies? Not buying it 🚫. Can't we just have a decent community center or public space without all the bells and whistles? 😒
 
man, this place is literally a symbol of everything that's wrong with our system... they're basically bringing back some old glory to impress the tourists instead of tackling the real issues affecting the people of durham 😒. all these millions of pounds and what's being done about the actual poverty and inequality? nada 🤑 it's just another case of the council and gov trying to play hero without actually doing anything meaningful for the community 💔
 
I gotta say, this whole story about Redhills is pretty fascinating 🤯. The fact that it's been given new life with a £14 million restoration is amazing. But what really gets me is the bit where they're saying the gov't should've been doing more to help Durham residents after the pits closed. I mean, come on, 40 years is a looong time and still nothing's changed 🤔. It's like they just left everyone hanging.
 
I don’t usually comment but this story about Redhills really got me thinking... 🤔 I mean, 14 million quid is a lot of money to fix up an old building, but it's not just about the cash, it's about what it represents. The fact that they're trying to recreate the vision of community and cooperation from all those years ago is really inspiring. But at the same time, I don't think anyone should be surprised by how angry people are about the government not doing enough for Durham residents... 😔 It feels like they're still stuck in the past when it comes to supporting communities that need help. I hope this Redhills project can actually make a difference and show that community-led initiatives can lead to real change 🙏
 
omg i'm literally so hyped about this!!! 🤩 i mean redhills is already an amazing building but now it's being renovated to be an even more vibrant space for the community? that's just the best thing ever! 🎉 and yeah i can totally see how frustrating it must be for people in durham who are still struggling after the pits closed all those years ago. it's like the government is supposed to be helping but they're not doing enough... 🤔 anyway can't wait to visit redhills and check out their new events and activities! maybe they'll even have some sort of student union space for us students at durham uni? 😁 that would be amazing! 💖
 
🌟 I'm so stoked to see this amazing building getting the revamp it deserves! £14 million is no joke, but trust me, it's worth it. The history that Redhills holds is incredible – those benches outside are heartbreaking 🤕. It's like they're saying we haven't forgotten what happened, and we'll keep fighting for what's right.

I'm all about community-led initiatives 💪, and this project is a perfect example of how people coming together can make a real difference. I've seen so many times where projects get stuck because the powers that be aren't on board... it's like they're just too scared to take a chance on change 😬.

But honestly, I'm not surprised that governments are struggling to keep up 🤦‍♀️. They need people like us, who care about this city and its people, to keep pushing for real change. Let's keep the energy going and make sure Redhills is more than just a relic of the past – it's a beacon for a brighter future! 💥
 
man this is so cool! 🤩 I mean, can you believe they're bringing back that old building? it's like stepping into history, you know? but at the same time, it's also super frustrating to think about how governments just kinda abandoned those working-class communities 40 years ago. 🤕 i mean, £14 million is a lot of cash, but it's nothing compared to what they should've been doing in the first place. still, it's awesome to see people coming together to make something new out of that old gem. and now it can be a space for all sorts of community events - weddings, funerals, concerts... the possibilities are endless! 💕
 
I mean, it's about time someone put some cash into this old building 🤑. £14 million is no joke, but I guess when you're talking about restoring a piece of history that's been left to rot, it's an investment worth making 💸. The fact that the benches outside are dedicated to two guys who got sacked for protesting during the miners' strike? Yeah, let's not forget the struggles of the working class in this country 🙏. It's great to see a community come together like this and make their voices heard. And honestly, I'm all for affordable housing initiatives and cooperative efforts – it's about time we saw some real change around here 💪.
 
🤔 I'm thinking, what's really cool about this whole thing is that it's not just some fancy renovation job to make the building look pretty again... although, let's be real, £14 million is a lot of money 💸. It's about giving voice to the people who lived and worked in Durham all those years ago. I mean, can you imagine being part of this community back then? The struggles they faced during the miners' strike are still so relevant today... it's like, we're not really learning from our history or anything 🤷‍♀️.

And yeah, I get what Andrew McIntyre is saying about the government just kinda sitting on their hands... it's like, they should be doing more to support communities that have been left behind by, you know, progress and stuff 🚧. But at the same time, this community-led initiative is exactly what we need more of – people coming together to create positive change for themselves and each other 💕.

I'm not sure if I'd say it's a 'forgotten gem' being revived or just... existing all along? Like, we knew Redhills was important to Durham, but maybe we didn't appreciate its full significance 🤷‍♀️. Regardless, it's definitely worth celebrating and learning from – the good stuff, that is 😊.
 
🙄 It's about time someone did something with that place, it was literally crumbling into nothingness 🤦‍♂️. I mean, £14 million is a lot but it's not like they're asking for the moon here. Can't even get a decent cuppa out of some council these days, and now we've got a beautiful building being revived just to prove that governments can actually do something right 🤷‍♂️. But seriously, what's wrong with the gov that they can't make sure Durham residents are taken care of? It feels like they're too busy lining their own pockets to think about people's actual needs 💸. Anyway, I'm just glad it's back and can be used for good things again 🙏
 
man this red hills restoration is so inspiring 🙌! 14 million quid is crazy, but it's worth it to see this place thriving again its got such a rich history and i love that they're keeping the community vibes alive with all these events and whatnot. but ugh the gov not doing enough for durham residents is straight up frustrating 😒 gotta give props to redhills tho for stepping in where gov's failed and making it happen from the ground up 💪
 
I'm so hyped about this 🤩! Redhills is more than just a building, it's a symbol of what we can achieve when people come together to preserve our history and create something new from the ashes. I mean, who needs governments to do the right thing when we have communities that are passionate enough to take matters into their own hands? 💪 It's about time we stopped waiting for others to fix things and started fixing them ourselves! 🏗️ The fact that Redhills was restored with community engagement playing a huge role in its purpose is exactly what's needed more of - people power! 💕
 
i'm not buying the idea that the gov'ts lack of action on durham residents is just a coincidence... it's been 40 years since the pits closed, where's the progress? all these millions spent on redhills could've gone towards real solutions. and what's with the council paying out to private companies who are raking in profits? that's just good old-fashioned profiteering 💸🤔
 
🤯 just heard about this amazing news, Redhills is finally getting the love it deserves, £14 million is no joke, can't wait to check it out 👍 and honestly, I'm so down for community-led initiatives, it's about time we focus on people over profits 💸. The miners' strike story is so heartbreaking, two men losing their lives because of our government's inaction 🤕. Can we please get some real change? 😩
 
I'm really heartened by this renovation of Redhills, it's a beautiful building with so much history 🌟. The fact that they've managed to bring in funding from the national lottery and involve the community in the process is fantastic 💪. It's clear that everyone involved are passionate about preserving Durham's cultural heritage.

The way it's been designed to host various events, like weddings and conferences, makes me think of how Redhills could serve as a hub for local businesses and artisans too 📈. However, I do worry about the fact that the council has spent millions on private companies that just end up lining their pockets. It feels like there's a lot more work to be done in terms of addressing the needs of Durham residents directly 💸.

What's even more impressive is how Redhills is now a symbol of community-driven action, showing us what can be achieved when people come together and demand change 🌎. The fact that it's not just about nostalgia for the past but creating a vibrant hub for the future is so inspiring 🔥.
 
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