Durham Miners' Gala: Difference between revisions

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	] Lodge banner at Elvet Bridge, marching towards Old Elvet, at the 1965 Gala.]]		] Lodge banner at Elvet Bridge, marching towards Old Elvet, at the 1965 Gala.]]

	The '''Durham Miners' Gala''' (''The Big Meeting'' or ''Durham Big Meeting''), held in ], is a large annual gathering, on the second Saturday in July, associated with the coal mining heritage (and particularly that of miners' ]) of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham.		The '''Durham Miners' Gala''' (''The Big Meeting'' or ''Durham Big Meeting''), held in ], ], is a large annual gathering, on the second Saturday in July, associated with the coal mining heritage (and particularly that of miners' ]) of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham.

	Its highlight consists of banners, each typically accompanied by a brass band, which are marched to the old Racecourse, where political speeches are delivered. In the afternoon a Miners' service is held in ] which may include the blessing of any new banners.		Its highlight consists of banners, each typically accompanied by a brass band, which are marched to the old Racecourse, where political speeches are delivered. In the afternoon a Miners' service is held in ] which may include the blessing of any new banners.
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			'''Videos of the 2006 Gala''' (''selection of banners marching''):
	'''Videos''':
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Revision as of 20:38, 25 April 2008

Sherburn Hill Lodge banner at Elvet Bridge, marching towards Old Elvet, at the 1965 Gala.

The Durham Miners' Gala (The Big Meeting or Durham Big Meeting), held in Durham, England, is a large annual gathering, on the second Saturday in July, associated with the coal mining heritage (and particularly that of miners' trade unionism) of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham.

Its highlight consists of banners, each typically accompanied by a brass band, which are marched to the old Racecourse, where political speeches are delivered. In the afternoon a Miners' service is held in Durham Cathedral which may include the blessing of any new banners.

History - out of unionism

File:1976 Easington2.jpg

Easington Lodge banner at the 1976 Gala. It is draped in black to commemorate 25 years since the Easington Colliery disaster of 1951, which killed 85.

The gala developed out of the miners' trade unionism, with the first Union being established in 1869. The Durham Miners' Union organised the first Gala, which was held in 1871 in Wharton Park, Durham.

It developed into the largest unofficial miners and trade union gathering in the United Kingdom. At its peak the Gala attracted over 250,000 people - approximately 6 times the population of Durham city itself.

Banners would traditionally be taken on foot from its particular colliery into Durham, and the event was marked by large unions of men marching on the roads leading into the city.

The socialist, and often communist, nature of the miners' unionism found expression in the Gala. In particular, the banners contain several images of notable socialist/communist figures, and captions capture similar sentiments.

The Gala was cancelled from 1915-18 (due to the First World War), 1921, 1922, and 1926 (all due to strikes), and again from 1940-45 due to the Second World War. The effect of the 1984-85 miners' strike, which saw miners across the Durham Coalfield strike, also led to the Gala being called off in 1984.

The closure of collieries in County Durham, particularly after the Second World War, reduced the numbers attending the Gala. Nonetheless, even if a colliery was closed, the banner was often still marched.

The centenary Gala was held in 1983.

The banners

File:061 Chopwell1.jpg

Chopwell Lodge banner at the 2003 Gala

Most banners represent lodges of the National Union of Mineworkers in the Durham Area. However, other unions have also been represented, particularly in recent years, as well as Union banners from other parts of the UK, including NUM lodges of the Yorkshire branch, and South Wales.

They are made of silk, are rectangular, and hang from a cross member, from which guide ropes are held by those carrying it. They are draped with black cloth on significant anniversaries of disasters at the colliery they represent.

Many banners contain explicit socialist or communist references, having renderings of Marx, Lenin, and other prominent figures such as miners' leaders, or politicians. Chopwell, often referred to as "Little Moscow", has the only banner (the 1955 version) that contains images of both Marx and Lenin (as well as the hammer and sickle). The 1935 Chopwell banner toured the Soviet Union and is thought to reside somewhere in Moscow today. Socialist expressions also take the form of captions - for example, "Socialism through evolution" and "Need before greed" (on Blackhall Lodge's banner).

Christian themes having a socialist resonance also figure on some banners.

More recently, residents in former pit villages have taken it upon themselves to restore, or even create, banners. This has involved the reintegration of collieries that had left the Gala. Some banners, such as Spennymoor's, represent a group of former local collieries rather than individual ones. These have received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Current Day Gala

No deep mines remain in the Durham Coalfield, down from the over hundred that were present at the coalfield's peak. Despite this, the Gala continues to be organised.

The 122nd Gala, held in 2006, attracted over 50,000 people, making it one of the biggest political gatherings in Europe. Banners are still marched to the Cathedral, with speeches still made afterwards. Recent notable participants have included Tony Benn and Billy Bragg.

With the inclusion of new banners of former collieries/collection of former collieries, numbers may increase.

References

Old photos and history of the Gala: ]

External links

A slideshow tribute to the colleries of County Durham, including Dawdon, Murton, Seaham and Sunderland pits:
Durham Mining Museum

Videos of the 2006 Gala (selection of banners marching):

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