The intact layout of colliery workshop and office ranges around their courtyards is a unique nationally important survival for the North East. The site is likely to be of international importance in a railway context. The workshops were recorded prior to rereoofing and refurbishment in 2003. MPP site assessment - Sunk 1824, most of the pithead structures have been lost, but a fine group of 18th century workshops around a colliery yard survive. The workshops retain some in-situ machinery. Some sub surface remains of the pit head buildings may survive. Springwell Colliery was sunk in 1824. Two years later it became the hub of George Stephenson's third major venture, a system of rail and tramways linking the north Durham coalfield with the Tyne. Although the colliery closed c1950, the Bowes Railway continued in operation until 1970. Surviving colliery features include - rare survival of a colliery courtyard surrounded by a fine group of 1830-40s stone built workshops (one with its original in situ blacksmiths range), a stone built office range, heavily buttressed stone built coal store later converted into wagon and locomotive workshop serving the railway, a 1920s electricity substation, built to supply the colliery and railway, still operational with its original 1920s equipment. Although Scheduled mainly for the incline railway features, the site is nationally important for its surviving colliery buildings in their own right. Colliery courtyards surrounded by workshops were once common features but are now very rare nationally, especially containing in situ machinery. The electricity substation is also thought to be very rare {3} Monument on the English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk 2007, priority A - immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed. Heritage At Risk 2008, condition B immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric, solution agreed but not yet implemented. Condition poor. Defective roof of wagon shed and locomotive shed requires recovering, track bed requires general restoration. The blacksmiths, engineering and fitting workshops were repaired in 2003-4 with grant aid from English Heritage, the local authority and a trust. An arson attack in early 2008 destroyed historic rolling stock. EH offered a development grant towards repair to the wagon shop in December 2007. Listed on English Heritage's Heritage At Risk Register 2009. Condition: poor. Priority: C (slow decay, no solution agreed). Heritage At Risk 2011: Track, Wagon Shop and associated sheds and structures, Bowes Railway
The Blacksmiths, Engineering and Fitting workshops were repaired in 2003/04 but the site remains vulnerable to vandalism and the track bed requires general restoration. Blackham’s Hill Hauler House was repaired, part-funded by English Heritage grant aid, in 2009/10 and EH offered another grant in 2011 towards urgent repairs to the Wagon Shop.
Condition: Very bad
Priority: B Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; solution agreed but not yet implemented. Heritage At Risk 2013 Condition: Very bad
Priority: B Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; solution agreed but not yet implemented. Urgent repairs to the wagon shop, part-funded by EH grant aid, began in 2013.

Listed on English Heritage's Heritage At Risk Register 2009. Condition: poor. Priority: D (slow decay, solution agreed but not yet implemented). Suffering from severe erosion and loss of track bed. The site also suffers from extensive vandalism. English Heritage offered a grant in December 2008 towards urgent repairs to Blackam's Hill Hauler House. Blackham’s Hill Hauler House was repaired, part-funded by English Heritage grant aid, in 2009/10. Bowes Railway still on Heritage At Risk 2013