The archive of J.A. Biggs, staff photographer for the Ashington Coal Company, offers a rare combination of official documentation and personal photographic work from within the coalfield.

As part of his role, Biggs recorded life at the colliery with precision, including documenting machinery, infrastructure, and workforce portraits, producing an invaluable visual record of the industry’s inner workings. Alongside this, his personal photographs, taken both on and off site, reveal a more informal view of the community and its surroundings. The collection reflects both a technical eye and a local familiarity, capturing a detailed picture of mining life in Northumberland from within.