The Miners' Hymns

Project Information

Date(s)

From 21 February 2014

Until 21 February 2014

Tickets:

Tickets are FREE but they are limited so you need to book. They are available to download from Eventbrite . Alternatively you can collect from our office, the Padiham Archives in Padiham Town Hall or from Cllr Bob Clarke. Please call us if you have any queries 01282 421986 ext: 204

Information about Forma

Information about the film

Plan Your Visit

Plan your visit

The Town Hall

Burnley Road

Padiham

Burnley

Lancashire

BB12 8BS

Project location
Click on the marker for Journey planning

Padiham Town Hall l Friday 21 February 2014 l 7.30pm

In collaboration with Forma we hosted a showing of this film as part of a special tour to places with connections to Britain's mining heritage. We've celebrated the mining heritage of Padiham before with the commemorative bench on the Padiham Greenway and so were very pleased to be able to help bring The Miners' Hymns to the town. By lucky concidence the screening coincided with our project Portraits of the Past, which is creating an archive of local people's memories of the Jacobean manor house in the town, Gawthorpe Hall. The Hall's lands were the site of open cast mining in the 20th century and we hoped that many in the audience for the film would have recollections from that time. Artist Cath Ford worked with audience members both before and after the screening to capture those stories.

The former coal mining communities in the North East of England form the subject of this elegant artists' film by American artist Bill Morrison. Their story is told entirely without words, yet the film is far from silent. It features a remarkable original score by Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson.

Focussing on the Durham coalfield, yet portraying a story of universal themes The Miners' Hymns depicts the hardship of pit work, the role of trade unions in organising and fighting for workers' rights and the renowned annual Durham Miners' Gala.

The Miners' Hymns celebrates the social, cultural and political aspects of the coal industry, providing a timely reminder of economic and political choices made a generation ago regarding the role of industrial labour.

The Miners' Hymns is being presented at wide-ranging venues across the UK in collaboration with partners including Beamish Museum, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sheffield's Showroom and the National Coal Mining Museum. We were very pleased to be able to bring it to Padiham Town Hall where it was introduced by ex miner and local councillor Bob Clarke.

The Miners' Hymns was produced by Forma and was an original commission for BRASS, Durham International Festival 2010. The tour is supported by Arts Council England's Strategic Touring Programme.

Reviews

"the beauty of the images – sea coalers gleaning on the beach, mucky kiddies sliding joyfully down a hill of coal in a game of cowboys and indians – and the slowly building majesty of the music merged together towards a mighty climax."
Phil Johnson, The Independent on Sunday (read full article)

"The climax came with a pulse-quickening sequence of charging police horses in which the tactics employed to contain striking miners in 1984 appeared positively medieval."
Alfred Hickling, The Guardian (read full article)

Memories shared on the tour: part two

At each screening of The Miners' Hymns across the UK the audiences have been asked to share their stories about mining in their families and their communities. Here are some of the inspiring responses received so far:

‘My Dad, both Granddads and most Uncles worked in the Nottingham/Derby area, some working in lead mines rather than coal. I was surprised how seeing the ‘scab buses’ in the film still made me feel angry now. The dignity of the working class shone throughout the film, and made me feel a sadness for the loss of a lifestyle and a community that will never return.’

Shared by Kate, Derby

‘I found the film poignant as my parents’ families were miners from the 1890s onwards; to see the harsh conditions the miners worked in, yet they were such proud men. And to see the indignity of the Strike in the 1980s - my family was involved in the rallies at the time. I too was involved in the Miners’ Strike as I worked at a Power Station in Rugeley, Staffordshire, and we were on the ‘other side’. We were trying to keep the coal coming in to keep the lights and electricity going.’

Shared by Wendy, Burntwood

‘I am a truly committed socialist and trade unionist. So glad to see the history of the working people recorded – huge respect for the labour of generations of miners. Good friends of mine from the coalfields of Yorkshire and Staffordshire took part in the struggles in 1984-5, including those who were part of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group and set up camp outside the Trentham Colliery.’

Shared by June, Smethwick

‘I come from Barnsley in Yorkshire, with four generations of coal miners in my family in both Lancashire and Yorkshire. My uncle is 90 and has lots of fantastic stories of those times. This was a very emotional evening for me. The music and the film were great, but I can never revisit these memories without weeping.’

Shared by Jane, West Kilbride

‘Lots of happy memories within a mining family and community; growing up I attended pit parties at Christmas. I worked in social work during the Miners’ Strike and remember the difficult time during this period, and French miners sending over shoes and toys to the soup kitchen.’

Shared by Kate, Dalmellington

If you would like to share your memories after seeing the film, please send us an email to [email protected] or directly to Forma at [email protected]