Another selection of Roy's great photographs.
Background information.
Byers Green.
The 3 shafts were sunk in 1840, 1859 and 1873 and the pit closed in June 1931 This renovated banner dates from the 1920s.
Clara Vale.
Sunk in 1890-3 was noted as the first pit to use a turbine driven fan supplied by Parsons and installed in 1897.
The pit was closed in 1966.
The banner dates from 1954 but appears to have been renovated since.
Dawdon.
This 1952 vintage banner is a copy of the 1933 banner which does not survive.
It is kept at Red Hills.
Dean & Chapter.
Sunk between 1902 & 1904, it was closed in 1966.
This recently renovated banner dates from1955 when it was unfurled by Sam Watson in Ferryhill Market Place. Like many banners attending current Galas it is covered by a large polythene bag to protect it from the elements.
Durham Area Banner.
This banner commemorates the amalgamation of The Durham Miner's Association, Northumberland Miner's Association, Durham Colliery Mechanics Association, Northumberland Colliery Mechanics Association and the Durham Winding Enginemen's Association to form The NUM North East Area in 1981.
It was dedicated by the Rt. Revd. David Jenkins, Bishop of Durham on 6th February 1991, a production of Chippenham Design, Norfolk and was first used at the 107th Gala.
The Eden.
This 1962 banner is a replica of an earlier NUM banner and was unfurled by Anthony Wedgewood Benn on 20th July 1962. It last appeared at The Durham Gala in 1980 when it attended the Cathedral service and is now in St. Ive's Church, Leadgate.
Esh Winning.
Note : This may be the banner "Unidentified Going Home".
This NUM banner is now part of The Beamish Open Air Museum and is in store.
Houghton.
This 1957 banner originally belonged to Westerton Lodge near Spennymoor and was unfurled by A. Greenwood at Spennymoor Town Hall on 19th July 1957. After transfer to Houghton it was destryed by a fire at Houghton Comrades Club.
Hylton.
This banner dates from 1960 and is thought to be kept at Castle View County Secondary School, Sunderland.
Kimblesworth.
This 1955 banner originally belonged to Ushaw Moor Lodge where it was unfurled by Mrs Attlee on the eve of the 1955 Gala. After Ushaw Moor in closed in Aug 1960 and the 1961 Gala it was transferred to Kimblesworth with the Ushaw Moor name overpainted. Kimblesworth closed in November 1967. The banner reappeared at the 1995 restored with the Ushaw Moor name replaced.
Leasingthorne.
Worked initially from 1836, Merged with Dean & Chapter in 1950 and was closed in October 1967.
This 1950 vintage banner was transferred to Eppleton Lodge in 1967 where it stayed until around 1973. It has been recently refurbished having the Leasingthorne name repainted over Eppleton.
Mainsforth.
Initially sunk to replace East Howle Colliery which was closed following a fire, it worked from 1872 to 1876 before being laid in. Reopened in 1904. Pumping was stopped at Dean & Chapter on closure and the water ran to Chilton, Leasingthorne and Mainsforth, reaching Mainsforth in Sept 1967 when The Low Main Seam was flooded. This caused the colliery's closure on 3rd December 1968.
This refurbished banner dates from 1951
New Herrington.
This 1955 banner shows A.J.Cook, Peter Lee & J.Keir Hardie and first appeared at the 1956 Gala.
Sacriston.
Thsi is Sacriston's first NUM banner and was unfurled by Sam Watson at the local cricket field on 19th July 1957. It is one of 4 surviving Sacriston Lodge Banners and is soon to be displayed in Sacriston W.M.C.
Sherburn Hill.
This banner dates from 1953. The pit closed in August 1965 after which the banner was transferred to Elemore Lodge. Its present location is reported to be Hetton-le-Hole Methodist Church.
Shotton.
Shotton Coll was sunk in 1840-44, abandoned in 1876/7 and reopened in 1901 and closed 1st September 1972.
This NUM banner dates from 1956, being renovated in 1983 and repainted in 1994. It is seen in Old Elvet at the 2001 Durham Miners Gala.
Ushaw Moor.
Ushaw Moor Colliery started with test drillings in 1857,1867 & 1870 with sinking soon after. It closed in August 1960 with 5 million tons of coal left in the Harvey seam alone.
The NUM banner was unfurled by Mrs. Attlee on the eve of the 1955 Gala. It bears a portrait of Jack Joyce on the front and NUM HQ Red Hill on the reverse. After the last Gala in 1961 (black & white picture) the banner was transferred to Kimblesworth which closed November 1967. The banner was then refurbished with Ushaw Moor replacing Kimblesworth above the portraits and was at the 1995 Gala.
Credits.
All details are taken from "Banners of The Durham Coalfield" by Norman Emery published by Sutton Publishing in 1998 ISBN 0 7509 1708 3.
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