So yesterday was a rather amazing day, I hung out with a few friends and took 192 photographs.
The Durham Miners' Gala (The Big Meeting or Durham Big Meeting, and pronounced gayla, not garla), held in Durham city, 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.
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.
So anyway, time for the pictures I took!
The Crowds / Marching.
The Durham Miners' Gala (The Big Meeting or Durham Big Meeting, and pronounced gayla, not garla), held in Durham city, 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.
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.
So anyway, time for the pictures I took!
The Crowds / Marching.
Funny / Random Images.
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love this one