Fig 1: Oral history features as part of Mining for Stories with 1980’s style Walkman recorders used to listen to audio clips. Photo Credit – David Amos

Mining for Stories

The Mining for Stories travelling exhibition visited Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum, Nottinghamshire, from 27th November 2024 to 13th January 2025. It is part of Open Doors, a three year arts and heritage project organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council and funded by Arts Council England.

Fig 2: Mining for Stories, part of the Open Doors arts and cultural project at Newark and Sherwood District Council.

The project celebrates the rich coalmining heritage of the Newark and Sherwood district former coal communities and collieries at Bilsthorpe, Ollerton and Edwinstowe (Thoresby Colliery). The travelling exhibition, which concentrates of the 1980’s, is in partnership with Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum and Inspire Culture libraries, Nottinghamshire.

Fig 3: Coalmining historian and former miner, David Amos, listening to a Mining for Stories audio recording at the Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum.

Oral history features largely in the exhibition, the audio clips being accessed by Walkman style recorders in keeping with the 1980’s heritage exhibition theme. The 1984-85 miners’ strike and its aftermath features largely along with workplace memories by miners from the three collieries.

Fig 4: The Mining for Stories travelling exhibition at the Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum. Photo Credit: David Amos

In addition to the audio clips, the exhibition includes a small collection of iconic photographs from the 1980’s and some community crafted artwork. Following a special viewing at the Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum on 13th January 2025, the travelling exhibition moves to Edwinstowe Library from 14th January to 22nd February 2025.

Fig 5: Community crafted artwork as part of the Mining for Stories travelling exhibition. Photo Credit – David Amos

Fig 6: Bilsthorpe miners celebrate record colliery production in 1980 (photo not part of the exhibition). Photo Credit – Chad newspaper

Fig 7: Photo display as part of the Mining for Stories travelling exhibition. Photo Credit – David Amos

Fig 8: British Coal open day at Ollerton Colliery in 1987 (photo not part of the exhibition). Photo Credit – Chad newspaper

Fig 9: Coalmining heritage cushions as part of the Mining for Stories travelling exhibition. Photo Credit – David Amos

Fig 10: Colliery brass band at the Edwinstowe Mining Institute. Animated image for the HLF funded Miner2Major project. Photo Credit: Neil Pledger

Mining for Stories is on display at Edwinstowe Library, 4 High Street, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire. NG21 9QS from 14th January to 22nd February 2025. Free event. More details at www.palacenewark.com/opendoors/upcoming-events/

Blog by David Amos

Heritage Resources Officer

Mine2Minds Education

Posted 13th January 2025

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