A monument has been constructed by Brambledown Landscape Services Ltd, celebrating a Northumberland town’s mining heritage.

Standing at almost 5m tall, the black pit wheel sits on Rotary Parkway in Ashington, and was unveiled last week. Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery joined ex-miners and members of the community for the official unveiling of the monument on Friday.

The project, funded by Ashington Town Council, was carried out to mark the 150th anniversary of the former mining town.

Mr Lavery said: “The wheel will remind this and future generations of the significance of coal mining to the area. Ashington was known as the largest pit village in the world. The location close to the Miner’s Chapel and the Colliery Heritage Trial will act as a fitting memorial to more than 300 men who lost their lives at Ashington Colliery.”

The principal contractor for the project was North East-based Brambledown Landscape Services Ltd, which itself is celebrating 45 years in the landscape industry. Frank Curry, managing director, said: “Brambledown Landscapes was delighted to have been involved in this prestigious project and it is obvious that it means so much to the people of Ashington. This is not the first Pit Wheel we have constructed, but it is certainly the most emotional unveiling ceremony we have attended.”

MPs and villagers were joined at the unveiling by William Mason, who at 100 years old is believed to be the oldest living miner in the town.

The town council’s leader Stephen Fenwick said: “The entrance feature will offer residents and visitors alike an excellent opportunity to reflect on the significance of coal mining both culturally and economically to the development of the town. It is fitting that the wheel should be unveiled in 2017 as we work to build a brighter future for the town from a proud past.”

The Pit wheel memorial was regenerated, refabricated, and painted by Brambledown Landscapes, which also constructed a stone wall foundation and concrete holding mechanism beneath ground. The scheme was complemented by uplighters, turfing, and the planting of shrubs, plants and trees, along a newly created tarmac footpath leading to a beautiful plinth.

Historians found Ashington dates back to 1867 when the Bothal mining shaft was first shrunk. This then led to the rapid expansion of coal mining and the development of the town. During its heyday, Ashington was considered “the world’s largest coal-mining village”. It had a working pit and was at the centre of an industry that was thriving, providing work for thousands of people.

However, by the end of the 1980s, things started to change after the coal mines it was built on shut down. The closures blighted the local economy, battering its identity and sense of community.

In recent years around £200m has been invested in the town, which the Ashington Town Team said has given it a new lease of life.