RESTORATION work on an icon of the region's coal industry will be unveiled to the public for the first time this weekend, when it becomes the venue for a special culinary event.

Since April, civil engineers at North-East firm Owen Pugh have been working with the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust to restore Dunston Staithes, on the Tyne.

The Staithes, thought to be the largest timber structure in Europe, was built in 1890 by the North Eastern Railway Company and used to carry coal from Durham pits onto ships for transport to London and the Continent. At its peak in the 1930s, the Staithes loaded more than four million tons of coal a year on to collier boats.

After closing in 1982 and suffering damage from two fires, the 526-metre long structure has been neglected, apart from a brief spell during the 1990 Gateshead National Garden Festival when it opened to the public.

A campaign secured almost £420,000 of Lottery Funding to carry out repair work. It is due to reopen to the public when work finishes later this year.

Owen Pugh Construction was contracted to undertake the work having had experience of working on projects in the marine environment and with historic structures.

Since work on the Grade II listed structure began, Owen Pugh’s 20-strong team has been busy undertaking land based repairs to remove and replace damaged timber. The team is now working on the more challenging part of the scheme which involves structural repair work over water.

Lee Buchanan, projects manager at the firm, said: “We’re extremely delighted to have been appointed to work on this project on behalf of the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust to restore what is an important reminder of the region’s coal mining past.

“Having experience of working on complex projects, including working with historic structures, we’ve been able to breathe life back into this historic structure by utilising modern techniques to restore a piece of history in as authentic a way as possible. Work is progressing well and I’m proud of what the team has achieved so far.”

This Sunday a group of sixty lucky diners will get to see the progress that has been made at Dunston Staithes when they attend the Feast of Heritage event, part of the annual EAT! NewcastleGateshead festival.