The Ashington Miners Institute, which was operating from at least the turn of the century, had their own complex on Institute Road from 1932. A grant was received in 1932 to enable the scheme for the "provision of outdoor recreational facilities", which paid for tennis courts, a bowling green, squash courts and swimming baths which featured water polo matches. Billiards was also popular here.

It was opened in 1932 by Emanuel Shinwell, the MP for Linlithgowshire a year before and previously the Secretary of Mines. All were enacted to benefit pitmen and their families, and such were provided a host of grounds alongside the earlier recreation grounds and the various picture houses already popping up. Ladies only clubs were also facilitated as well as a library with over 5000 volumes. A photographic dark room, hobby room with drilling machines and lathes and sun-ray room were provided making it one of the most modern and forward thinking institutes in the region.

Given its scale, by the time the collieries were winding down in the 80s it was making a substantial loss. There was a deficit of £212 in 1987, and such appeared to lead to its demise around that time. Housing has now taken its place.