Pit Heads and Poetry

Our penultimate Green UPLIFT took us to Barnsley Main for ‘Pit heads and Poetry, an event which included a tour of the site followed by a Rewilding Walk with Winston Plowes.

Barnsley Main Colliery is the remains of large deep mining site, known for being the site of the Oaks Disaster which sadly took the lives of 383 people. The remaining structures have been assigned Grade II Listed status due to their historical significance. The site is rich in industrial heritage and due to the personal connections that many UPLIFTER’s have with the mining industry it led to many poignant stories, memories and discussion.

Reflecting on the site Winston said:

“The whole of Barnsley main is so much like a church for the lost and fallen of the mining industry. The same imposing presence and solemn silence, a sealed tomb. Looking at the images of the 2016 service where crosses were planted in the grounds to represent the fallen then 'cremated' in a snap tin, for a time it even had its own cemetery.” 

No one can deny that the mining industry was an incredibly tough one with much bleakness. When exploring material to share with the group, Winston found that 8/10 poems, stories and songs about mining end in heartbreak, death or poverty - sometimes all three. Winston made a point of acknowledging this and balanced it with exploring the joys of autumn nature and looking at the poems about mining and coal which did strike a positive chord – one of which saw us singing a mining folk song in the woods!

With thanks to the wonderful Barnsley Main Volunteers for sharing their knowledge and giving us such an insightful tour and to Winston for always finding the words and providing the inspiration. Back at the Pit head, inspired by both parts of the day UPLIFTER’s gathered together and put their thoughts, feelings and responses to the site to paper to create a collaborative poem, penned in white on black (coal face) paper. It was titled, 'The Voice of Barnsley Main'...