(1) The walk begins in the car park of Dipton Community Centre. Parking is available here or along nearby streets.
Leaving the car park take the path past the war memorial and cross the main road (A692) using the mid carriage island.
(2) Head down the lane just to the right of the crossing point at the end of the terrace.
(3) Follow the road to the point at which it takes a right hand turn at the corner of a terrace of houses. At this point take the footpath that runs up the left hand side of the terrace and to the left hand side of the metal boundary fence.
(4) A footpath crossroads is reached a short distance up the grassy bank . Turn right and take the footpath behind the rear of the terrace heading west. Follow the distinct footpath.
After about 300m a childrens play area is passed on the left. Keep heading west and cross the metalled drive that leads uphill to Pontop Pike.
(5) Go through the woods and when the path forks take the right hand fork towards a visible stile that leads into a grazing field.
Follow the field boundary on the right hand side until a second stile is reached. Climb the second stile and take the lane down towards the main road (A692).
(6) Turn left and after about 200m cross the main road using the mid carriageway island. Turn left and walk a short distance before taking the footpath that forks off to the right through a substantial metal gate.
You are entering the site of the former South Medomsley Colliery. Opened in 1861 and closed in 1980 the colliery had two shafts: Annie and Mary. Most of the output was used for coke to be used in the iron and steel industry. In 1894 there were 217 coke ovens on site and those which were operational gave a weekly output of 1700 tons. Around 300 people worked at the pit.
A mining folk song written by Tommy Armstrong, the Pitman Poet, called "South Medomsley Strike" recalls the harsh conditions miners faced in the late 19th century and their struggle with the pit owners. (http://www.pitmanpoet.derwentside.org.uk/SongsAndPoems/TheSouthMedomsleyStrike.htm).
Chorus
The miners of South Medomsley they 're gannin te mek some stew
They 're gannin' te boil fat Postick and his dorty candy crew,
The maistors should have nowt but soup as long as their alive
In memory of their dorty tricks in eighteen eighty five.
(7) The footpath curves around to the right and begins to descend. When the path curves left a path leads off to the right towards two field access gates. Take this path and, passing between the two field access gates enter the wood.
(8) After a short distance the footpath again forks. Take the right hand fork and walk through the commercial plantation until a gate is reached. Slip through the gate and drop down left onto the lane.
The path through the wood is the bed of a trackway / rolleyway that led from South Medomsley Colliery to Brass Thill and Five Quarter drift mines just to the east of Pontop Hall.
(9) Turn right and follow the lane uphill to Pontop Hall farm. Pass in front of the hall and head uphill towards the church of St John the Evangelist.
On the 17th July 1930 there was an explosion at South Medomsley colliery. 17 year old Joseph Nixon received fatal burn injuries. He is buried in the churchyard of St John the Evangelist. Joseph was one of 29 men and boys, the eldest was 66 and the younget just 13, that were killed over the 100+ years of the operation of the colliery.
(10) At the church the main road (A692) is reached once again. Turn left and follow the main road back to the community centre.