A CHRISTMAS concert next month will provide people with the last chance to visit Redhills, Durham Miners Hall, until 2023 - where it will undergo a major programme of restoration.
To mark the start of the temporary closure, members of the public are being invited into the historic hall for a festive performance from the Durham Miners Association Brass Band on Saturday, December 4.
The band will perform a series of Christmas favourites and will be accompanied by soloist Lily Banev, who sings with the Durham Cathedral Choir.
READ MORE Redhills project takes step forward with plan
The concert is the last opportunity to visit Redhills before it closes for 18 months. The home of the Durham Miners Association will be fully restored and renewed as a centre for heritage, culture and education, reopening in Spring 2023.
As part of the concert, the Redhills team will also provide updates on the project and provide a look at the future of the Miners Hall.
Redhills was opened in 1915 as the purpose-built home of the Durham Miners Association (DMA).
It wasn’t until recently, though, that the DMA handed ownership of Redhills to the people – where a new charity now serves as stewards of the Miners Hall on behalf of the communities of County Durham.
Chris McDonald, chair of the Redhills charity and cornet player in the DMA band, said: “We look forward to welcoming the public to Redhills for an evening of wonderful brass band music.
“This will be a festive and fitting way to say farewell, for now, to a place that means so much to so many of us.
“We will then close the doors for an extensive and exciting programme of restoration and renewal. Redhills will be back, greater than ever, in 2023.”
The Christmas Concert at Redhills will begin at 7pm on Saturday, December 4, with doors opening at 6.30pm.
This announcement about the Christmas concert comes after Redhills gained planning permission from Durham County Council for the “cutting-edge” renovation work.
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Durham County Council and others, the historic Miners Hall will be fully restored with the addition of new buildings and modern facilities.
READ MORE Durham Miners Association hands Redhills to public charity
This will enable Redhills to improve accessibility and offer a wide-ranging programme of activities and community resources, according to the developers of the site.
Chris McDonald added: “This is an important step forward. Our thanks go to the officers at Durham County Council who have been working with us through the planning process. Our vision for Redhills will ensure a bright future for the historic home of the Durham miners.”
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