Another selection of Roy's great photographs. Durham Miners Gala 1983.
Background information.
"July 1983 saw the Centenary Durham Miner's Gala. That is the 100th Gala (Not consecutively as there were gaps in the 1920s due to strikes). As many banners that would or could safely be flown were paraded through Durham to The Gala. On the racecourse a marquee held many more surviving banners that were suitable for hanging but too fragile to be paraded. Something approaching 100 banners were on display that day. My story of the proceedings from my point of view can be seen elsewhere. I could not photograph the ones in the marquee as they were too close together, but here are some of the ones that were paraded, which I photographed on the racecourse."
Adventure.
This pit was sunk in 1815 and was located alongside the first main line to Scotland (the now mothballed Leamside line) about 300 yards north of Leamside Station. It opened and shut several times each opening being under different ownership. Declining reserves caused closure on 21st July 1978.
This 1956 banner was new to South Hetton being transferred after closure of Adventure, probably in 1979 with Adventure painted over the original lodge name. It is now kept at Blackpool Trades Hall.
Beamish Air (No.5).
There were several Beamish Collieries making up the Air Pit Lodge. Air Pit was sunk in 1849, Mary in 1883, James in 1885, plus others. Mining ceased in March 1966.
This 1959 vintage banner of Beamish Air Pit Lodge was also the NUM Area Banner for the NCB No.5 Area. Another Tutill of Chesham production (No.659) and was on display for several years in The Beamish Mary Public House at No Place within sight of the Air Pit site. Now to be found at Derwentside District Council, Civic Centre, Consett.
Brancepeth.
Brancepeth 'A' Pit was sunk around 1840, 'B' Pit at Oakenshaw in 1855 followed by 'C' Pit in 1865. The main production became famous for its excellent quality coke produced in its 420 coke ovens in 1852 rising to 1,700 in 1894. On April 13th 1896 an explosion killed 20 men. The Pit closed in July 1967.
The date of this banner is uncertain but may be the one sold in 1923 with the funds going to the Willington Aged Miners Homes Fund. Although it could be the new one unfurled on 23rd July 1923 and which was noted at the 1947 Gala.
Brusselton.
There have been sinkings and drift-drivings in the Brusselton area for many years, mainly between 1834 and 1947 including The Ladysmith Colliery,Brusselton Colliery, Haggs Lane Drift and Brusselton Tower Drifts. The last workings closed on 7th June 1968.
This banner was unfurled by Mr.Clement Attlee M.P. on West Auckland Village Green on 15th July 1955 and has a portrait of Mr.C.R.Attlee M.P. on the front. This is the reverse showing Durham Cathedral. It was used until closure of the Lodge.
Chilton.
Chilton Colliery had a chequered career being opened by several owners only to be shut again after a few years. The various owners include Henry Stobart, South Durham Coal Co., Lord Eldon, Bolckow Vaughan & Co., Pease & Partners, and Dorman Long & Co. The pit was sunk in 1872, but water was always a serious problem. It was merged with Dean & Chapter in 1960 and closed on 15th January 1966.
This 1961 vintage NUM banner was produced at Tutill's Chesham works (No.661) and is normally kept at Chilton Junior School
Chopwel.
This pit was known as Durham's Little Moscow and consisted of several shafts and drifts including Maria (c.1795),Taylor(1798),Conclusion(1799),North(1800) plus three shafts in 1894,1898 & 1909, Whittonstall day-hole drift in 1907, and East Townley Drift in the 1950's. In 1913 Chopwell's output was 3,000 tons per day. No.2 shaft closed after the 1926 strike, No.3 pit in 1959, No.1 in 1960 and drift mining finished on closure in November 1966.
This 1954 NUM banner was unfurled by Arthur Horner, the then General Secretary of the NUM at Chopwell Football Ground on Friday 16th July before the 1954 Gala. It replaced the 1935 DMA banner which in 1955 was presented to a Soviet fact-finding delegation led by Ivan Rossochinsky (President of the central committee of Soviet mineworkers) and was displayed in the Palace of Culture at Kotchegarka Colliery, Gorlovka in Donbas, East Ukraine before touring other mining areas of Russia. It is said to now be in Moscow although its actual location is unknown it may be in the Kremlin.
Deaf Hill.
Nos 1& 2 shafts were sunk in 1877 but later laid in. Re-opened in 1885. No.3 shaft sunk in 1891. The workings flooded in 1919. Surface operations combined with Wingate by a rail link in 1955. Exhaustion of economic reserves led to closure on 24th February 1967.
This DMA banner dates from the 1930s and is reported to be kept at the Deaf Hill Welfare Hall.
Dean & Chapter.
Sunk by Bolckow, Vaughan & Co in 1902/4 and taken over by Dorman Long in 1929. Amalgamated with Leasingthorne in 1950 and Chilton in 1962 and closed in 1966.
This 1955 vintage banner was unfurled by Sam Watson at Ferryhill Market Place before the 1955 Gala and is now on display in Ferryhill Town Hall.
Durham Cokemen.
History has it that cokeworkers in Durham were represenred by two organisations. 1] The Durham Coke Burners' Association (the men in charge) and The Durham Coke Drawers' & Labourers' Association (covering the rest).
This NUM Durham Cokemen Banner was new to Silksworth Lodge, with Conishead Priory on the reverse. and dates from 1938 being a production of Tutill's City Road Works. On transfer to Durham Cokemen (representing cokeworks at Derwenthaugh,Fishburn,Hawthorn,Lambton,Monkton,Norwood & Randolph) the reverse was overpainted first in 1975 by Maurice White and again in 1980 by J. Doddsworth to show a cokeworks with Lambton as the chosen site.
East Hetton (Kelloe).
The North Pit was sunk in 1836 with another sinking in 1856. In 1880 it was linked underground to Trimdon Grange. An inundation on 6th May 1897 killed 10. During development for a new face in the Busty Seam reserves, test borings revealed over 100 million gallons of water in the Thornley Colliery(closed 1970) Tilley Seam Goaf. This danger caused closure in July 1983.
This 1963 vintage banner was new to Langley Park Lodge being unfurled by Sam Watson on 19th July 1963. It was at Langley Park's last Gala in 1975 after which it was transferred to East Hetton Lodge in 1977. It is this banner which Langley Park Colliery Band took to the Centenary Gala (see my page entitled Roy Lambeth, A little background information).
Elemore.
Two shafts were sunk in 1825-27 with one shaft divided into two by bratticing. An explosion on 2nd December 1886 killed 28. After nationalization Elemore was linked underground to Hawthorn(sunk 1952-58) and became part of the Elemore,Eppleton,Murton Combined Mine. A new working area in the 60s was cut off by a washout and this forced eventual closure on 1st February 1974.
This banner was new to Sherburn Hill Colliery in 1953 and as such was at the 1965 Gala (see my slideshow2) after which it was transferred to Elemore. It is now reported as being in The Union Street Methodist Church in Hetton-le-Hole.
Follonsby.
Wardley Colliery (on South Tyneside) was sunk in 1855 (later known as Nos 2 & 3 shafts). Follonsby No.1 shaft was sunk in 1911 and all three were linked to Usworth (now in Washington New Town) in1958.
The combine ceased operations on 8th August 1974. This banner dates from 1962 and shows portraits of Kier Hardie with lodge officials Anthony Joyce and E. Justice. Since 1988 the banner has been on display in the Council Chamber of Gateshead Civic Centre.
Handen Hold.
This pit was part of The West Pelton Colliery Group together with The Alma and Grange Villa. Two shafts were sunk in 1857/60 with another one in 1898/1901 and a drift in 1915. Exhaustion led to closure in March 1968. The site is now occupied by Rosebery Golf Course.
This Durham Miners Association banner dates from 1938.
Hedley Hope.
Hedley Hope Lodge catered for miners of both Hedley Hope Pit and East Hedley Hope Colliery. Both were opened in 1836. Hedley Hope pit closed in 1945 but East Hedley hope continued until 1959.
This banner was new to Black Prince Colliery, Tow Law in the 1920s and was a product of Tutill's City Road Works. It was transferred to East Hedley Hope probably in 1958. In 1984 it was temporarily hung in Lady Chapel of St Paul's Church in Waterhouses. During restoration work the ribbon bearing the name Hedley Hope was removed and it revealed the name Black Prince. The banner later went to Red Hill.
In the 1990s Black Prince Banner has returned to The Miner's Gala, but whether it is this banner refurbished or a replica, I have yet to establish.
Hobson.
This pit at Burnopfield was opened in 1849 and serviced by The Bowes Railway. Exhaustion of the Tilley seam led to closure on 9th August 1968.
This Tutill of Chesham banner was noted at the 1946 Gala and was replaced by a copy in 1958. As per the patch on the banner it is now part of the collection at Beamish Open Air Museum but not on display.
Hylton.
This pit was sunk during 1897-1900 with 3 shafts. Adverse geological conditions of the workable seams in the 1970s and a serious washout in the Yard Seam contributed to closure on 13th July 1979.
This first NUM banner dates from after 1945 and was produced with silk from Tutill's City Road Works which survived the WW2 bombing but was probably made at Chesham. It is now in the care of Sunderland Museum& Art Gallery.
Kibblesworth.
This pit was sunk in 1842 with another sinking in 1935 called The Glamis and opened by H.M.The Queen (now The Queen Mother. A new drift was driven in 1965/6 with a belt conveyor to eliminate shaft winding. It was linked by a new drivage to Ravensworth Ann in April 1973 and closed on 4th October 1974 because of thin seams.
This 1961 banner came from Tutill's Chesham works and is normally kept at Kibblesworth Working Men's Club.
Langley Park.
This was another Consett Iron Co Pit with 3 shafts sunk between 1873-75 plus various drifts including one high on the hillside overlooking the main site. The pit closed on 31st October 1975.
This undated NUM Banner had the roundel portrait of Joseph Robertshaw (Lodge Chairman 1924-54) added in 1954 after the 1954 Gala. It was stored until recently at the Sacriston Community Centre, but following conversion of the centere to a Youth Club, The banner has "Gone Missing". Information as to its present whereabouts would be appreciated.
Marley Hill.
Inital workings were done by The Grand Allies in the late 1700s but it was left to John Bowes & Partners to sink the main shaft in 1840. In the 1950s Clockburn Drift was driven from the Derwenthaugh Cokeworks and Marley Hill shafts were reduced to ventilation and man-riding. Declining reserves led to closure on 3rd March 1983.
This Tutill Chesham banner shows a Durham Gala scene on the reverse with a grave scene with a widow, children and 3 angels on the obverse.
Marsden.
Marsden lodge was actually at Whitburn Colliery. This colliery was sunk between 1874 and 1881 and aquired the coal royalty of Marsden. Geological problems led to closure on 31st May 1968.
This NUM banner carries Marsden Rock as its main feature which is a copy of the 1921 DMA banner and came from Tutill's Chesham works.
Monkwearmouth.
Monkwearmouth Colliery (Also known as Wearmouth Pit and Pemberton Main Colliery) 'A' & 'B' shafts were sunk between 1826 and 1846 with 'C' pit following in 1906. In the 1960s a new tower-mounted friction drum winder was installed over the then new 'D' shaft sunk to mine undersea reserves. In 1992 the American mining firm J.T.Boyd estimated Monkwearmouth to have reserves of 56,200,000 tons of good coal in high seams with a life expectancy of 35 years. However less than a year later it was included in the Heseltine closure list only to be one of ten included in the moratorium of 19th October. In spite of this Monkwearmouth was one of the most modern and highly productive pits to be murdered by the Conservative Government. It closed in December 1993 with the loss of 670 jobs. It was then offered to private enterprise and several firms put in bids but following removal of underground machinery the bids were withdrawn and development work finally ceased on 8th July 1994 on the Yard Seam GG5 Face. The pit site is now used by Sunderland Football Club for their new stadium "The Stadium of Light"
This banner was a Turtle & Pearce production (No.1079) and was badly damaged during the 1984/5 strike but was repaired and was present at the 1985 Scottish Miner's Gala in Edinburgh. It is now on display in The Stadium of Light.
Penrhiwceiber.
Being as 1983 was the Centenary Gala, Durham played host to several banners from other coalfields including several from South Wales of which this is one.
Shotton.
The Engine & South Pits were sunk in 1840-44 and abandoned in 1876-77. Two shafts were re-opened in 1901 being called the North & South Shafts. Peak production was in the 1920s with an annual output of 500,000 tons. The cokeyard closed in 1958 and the colliery on 1st September 1972.
This Tutill of Chesham Banner dates from 1956. It was renovated and repainted by Dawson Brenen for the Centenary Gala in 1983 when this picture was taken and repainted again by W. Hudson in 1994. A replica appeared in the 2001 Gala (see picture elsewhere).
The Eden.
This pit was sunk in 1844 and taken over by The Derwent Iron Co.(later Consett Iron Co.) It was expanded after the first world war with the driving of 6 drifts. It remained a 'hand-filled' pit until closure on 18th July 1980
This banner was a replica of an earlier NUM banner and was unfurled by A. Wedgwood Benn on 20th July 1962 and attended its last Annual Gala in 1980 when it was paraded at the Cathedral Service.
Thrislington.
Thrislington colliery was in West Cornforth and latterly was accessed by a rope worked incline up from the East Coast Main Line in the Ferryhill Cutting, north of Ferryhill on the east side (Same as Mainsforth to the south of Ferryhill).
Borings which proved the Bottom Hutton Seam were carried out in 1835 and the colliery was open by 1843. It was further expanded by The Rosedale & Ferryhill Iron Co as The Mary Pit in 1867 to supply The Ferryhill Iron Works (on the valley floor near the bottom of the incline) The pit closed on 4th March 1967.
This NUM banner was new to Fenhall Drift, Lanchester, being unfurled by the Revd W.E.Wright the local vicar in 1960 but did not go to the Miner's Gala until 1961. It was produced by Tutill of Chesham No.659. After closure of Fenhall Drift in 1963 the banner was transferred to Thrislington Lodge. After closure of Thrislington in 1967 and before 1973 the banner was then transferred to Harton & WestoeLodge. By the centenary Gala Thrislington had re-aquired the banner as shown here with its name on a separate piece of cloth.
Since 1983 the banner has regained its "Fenhall Drift" name but is still paraded each year at The Gala with the Thrislington name added as per this photograph. I understand that Thrislington will have a replica of one of their original banners at the 2002 Gala.
Usworth.
The colliery was sunk in 1845-47 with 2 shafts the Wellington East & West, with the main shaft the Frederick following in 1874. An explosion in the West Pit on 2nd March 1885 killed 41 and a boiler explosion at the Low Main haulage engine killed 3 in 1891. The Victory shaft was sunk in 1910 and in 1959 Usworth was combined with Follonsby/Wardley. The pit was closed on 1st August 1974.
This banner dates from an order placed by the Lodge on 10th October 1954 using the same designs as their 1938 DMA banner (now kept at Usworth & Washington Gardener's Club). It was unfurled in July 1955. There was some repainting done by D. Brenen in 1974. It is now in the care of Usworth & District WMC.
Washington 'F' Pit.
Sunk sometime in the late 18th century, its peak production following introduction of power loading was in 1964-5 with 486,000 saleable tons. Following exhaustion of the Busty Seam and the Brass Thill Seam the pit closed on 28th June 1968.
This banner is a production of Tutill at Chesham (No.962) and is now on display behind glass in NUM HQ at Red Hill Durham.
Washington Glebe.
Glebe was one of several Washington pits the sites of which are mostly under Washington New Town. They were collectively known as Washington Colliery. The 'F' pit winding house with steam winder built locally by The Grange Iron Co at Carville near Durham are the only remains of these pits that were recorded as early as 1776. In 1828, 14 were killed in the Eye Pit of Washington Colliery. Most of the early workings were abandoned by 1862. However shafts 1 & 2 were sunk to the Oxclose and Glebe royalties in 1901. An explosion on 20th February 1908 again killed 14. Exhaustion of the Maudlin Seam and the unsuitability of the thin Hutton Seam for CEGB use caused closure on 5th August 1972.
This NUM banner was torn in 1962 being replaced by a new desigh in 1963. I understand this banner was mended in time for the Centenary Gala, but its present whereabouts is unknown.
Waterhouses.
Known as Peases West Brandon when the first shaft was sunk in 1856-7. The colliery eventually had two shafts and 14 drifts (though not all worked at the same time). It produced not only coal but also baryta(96% Barium Sulphate). Roof difficulties, water and thin seams caused closure in August 1966.
The banner dates from 1951 being one of Tutill's from their City Road Works though the painting was done at Chesham. It is now in poor condition and in storage at Esh Winning Community Centre.
Wheatley Hill.
The pit was sunk in 1869. Five men were drowned on 19th January 1871 when water entered from Thornley Colliery (Thornley had an underground fire in June 1858 and the area was drowned to extinguish the fire). Due to exhaustion of reserves No.1 pit closed on 11th December 1965 and No.2 pit on 3rd May 1968. Following closure I was lucky enough to visit the colliery while recovery work was underway and photographed the two steam winders. See my pictures at:-
UK.
or go to the Wheatley Hill History Site and just browse at:-
UK
This DMA banner dates from the 30s and was noted at the 1947 Gala. A replica of this banner has been produced using modern materials and was at the 2000 and 2001 Durham Miner's Galas.
Whitworth Park.
The New Whitworth Park Colliery opened 1928 although there had been short-lived Whitworth Park pits in 1841, 1842 and the 1890s. Exhaustion of reserves forced closure on 26th July 1974.
This banner started life with New Shildon Lodge, but after closure of the colliery in August 1965, the banner was transferred to Whitworth Park. It is normally on display behind glass in the main hall of Spennymoor Town Hall.
Wingate.
This pit was in operation by 1839 with a second shaft being sunk later. An explosion on 14th October 1906 killed 24 after which additional ventilation was supplied by the Marley shaft Hutton Henry Colliery. Until closure on 26th October 1962 the pit was worked by longwall hand-getting faces.
Shown is the reverse of the DMA banner that was reported as being at the 1947 Gala. The obverse side shows portraits of A.J.Cook, Peter Lee, and J.Kier Hardie.
Witton Lodge, Sacriston.
This pit was formerly an element of Charlaw Colliery and was sunk in 1859-60.The shaft was along a lane on the opposite side of the Charlaw Road from Sacriston Colliery whose shaft was only about 200 yards from Witton Shaft. In 1882 Witton and Sacriston were linked underground at The Busty Level by a drift. The shaft ceased operations on 8th January 1966, Sacriston continuing, still with pit ponies until closure in December 1985.
This banner was unfurled by Sam Watson on 14th July 1950 in the presence of Herbert Morrison and Lord Lawson of Beamish and was produced by Tutill at Chesham. It is now in poor condition in store at Sacriston Community Centre. To view it and 3 Sacriston banners, contact Mr.L.Claughan, Secretary Sacriston W.M.C.
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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