Marsden Memories exhibition

Black and white historic image of Marsden village next to Souter Lighthouse on the cliff tops

It’s hard to imagine, but where Whitburn Coastal Park now sits there used to be a colliery, and a thriving pit village stood next to the lighthouse for almost 100 years.

The village of Marsden was built to the north of the lighthouse in the 1870s to house Whitburn Colliery workers and their families. At its peak, a church, Methodist chapel, Co-op shop, Post Office, school, Miners’ Institute, allotments and a welfare field served the village’s 700 or so residents. The pit closed in 1968 and the village was demolished soon afterwards.

Pit heads rise above the old colliery village of Marsden
A faded black and white image shows part of Marsden village with two pit heads rising above the houses
Pit heads rise above the old colliery village of Marsden

Now, visitors to the lighthouse can explore memories and images of life in this once flourishing community. An immersive audio-visual exhibition brings the village's story to life through the words of its former residents. Check lighthouse opening times here.

Exhibition design by Fuzzy Duck.