On the 200th anniversary of the 1815 Heaton Colliery Mining Disaster Heaton residents created a programme of participation in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne celebrating Heaton then and now. It continued until Autumn 2016 and included a fine series of concerts in Heaton and the Mining Institute; massed choirs and bands performing Heaton Main Suite at festivals and Northern Stage; the making of the ‘Under Heaton Fields’ film; a programme of ten artists in residence in Ouseburn schools; an exhibition of work in the People’s Theatre; two outdoor lantern events; and a free book given to each KS2 child in Ouseburn’s schools.

The History:

On the morning of Wednesday 3^rd May 1815, the worst disaster in the history of Newcastle took place in Heaton near the site of St. Teresa’s Church on Heaton Road, when men working in Heaton Main Colliery broke into the abandoned workings of Heaton Banks Colliery. The influx of water cut off their escape route and the pumping technology of the day was unable to drain the mine before their air supply ran out. A rescue was initially attempted from an old pit near the windmill in Heaton Park but this was thwarted when the pit collapsed. A second attempt was made from the Avenue Pit in Byker which was situated where the High Main pub is today. This was also a failure. It is likely that the 75 men and boys died within a few days of the accident but the first body was not recovered until 6^th January 1816 when the water had been reduced sufficiently to allow access. The final bodies were not recovered until 6^thMarch. Most of the men were buried at St. Peters Church in Wallsend.

Both these collieries in Heaton were major enterprises of international significance using the most advanced technology of their day. The greatest concentration of steam power in the world was to be found in the Ouseburn Valley in the early eighteenth century; and at the beginning of the nineteenth century Heaton played a significant role in the development of the steam locomotive. These enterprises brought considerable wealth not only to the royalty owners and the mining partnerships but also to the workforce, who were widely regarded as being amongst the most prosperous sections of the working classes. Several of the mining families employed servants. It is right that we remember the bicentenary of this tragedy; but we should not forget the great achievements of the men who made the name of Newcastle synonymous with coal throughout the world.

The accident is remembered with trees and a brass plaque in The Spinney, a ten minute walk from the site of the collapse.

We raised awareness of the full history and remembered the event in a programme of events: a remembrance service, lectures, concerts, performances, massed choirs, bands and dancers, artists in residence in primary schools followed by an exhibition ….. all in collaboration with 4 Corners Music Network.

Read more about the disaster from Les Turnbull’s book ‘A Celebration of our Mining Heritage’

New Project with Shoe Tree Arts

The Under the Fields of Heaton working group have now formed ‘Shoe Tree Arts’ and are working towards an exciting new project:

‘THE HEATON SHOW’

Planned to coincide with The Great Exhibition of the North the show will run for a week from 17th – 21st July in the People’s Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The north east region’s contribution to forging the modern world is arguably unparalleled. Newcastle and Gateshead provided the seat of the fire of invention that blazed throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. And some of the most significant flames that changed the world were set alight in Heaton and the east end; industrial technology, women’s suffrage, social reform, the Labour Party, theatre and football.

Heaton resident Peter Dillon, established writer and film maker, has researched the cast list for a production using drama, film, music and dance to celebrate Charles Parsons’ turbine engine, Florence Harrison-Bell’s social reforms and involvement with the fledgling Labour Party, the Suffragettes, John Buddle’s mine safety improvements, Colin Veitch’s victorious Edwardian Newcastle United team, a nod to Harry Clasper’s boat design, the flourishing local Fabian tradition and the founding of the People’s Theatre.

The aim is to produce the show at the oldest theatre in Newcastle, and indeed an institution that has a major part to play in the story – The People’s Theatre. Peter will write the show which will be directed by Chris Heckels of the People’s Theatre.

The live action of the show will interact and intertwine with a backdrop of filmed material exploring Heaton’s past present and future. Heaton’s choirs and bands will provide live music to include all ages skills and backgrounds.

Richard Scott and Ken Patterson will be commissioned to write new songs and music for the large number of community choirs and bands in Heaton.

In parallel with the show Sally Cooper, actor, Ellen Phethean, writer, Tessa Green, film maker, will lead a group of young artists in residence in Heaton schools and other settings.

Furthermore, Chris Jackson and Les Turnbull of Heaton History Group will manage a programme of ambitious exploratory workshops. These will research the history and heritage of the area in collaboration with a team of historians, scientists and engineers visiting schools and other settings.

The finale events were in 2016:

7.30pm Friday 3 June: The Under the Fields of Heaton Film Night

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Tickets £6 and £4 plus booking fee.

St Teresa’s Hall, Heaton Road. Cumberland Arms providing a real ale bar.

A cast of hundreds of Heaton residents in films made during the festival. Lots of shots 2015/16 events as well as documentary footage about the 1815 disaster. A series of short films and the 30 minute ‘Under Heaton’s Fields’ underpinned by Richard Scott’s music with Heaton Voices & Appletwig Songbook.

9th Apr 2016: Heaton Main Suite

We remembered the time when the 75 trapped men and boys were found and brought into the light again. It was also the 200th anniversary of the Davy Lamp used in the rescue.

10 Feb 2016 Lantern Events

Lantern making workshops took place in nine primary schools in January 2016. We remembered the rescue of the men and boys with a lantern event at 6pm in The Spinney and at 7pm in King John’s Palace, Heaton Park.

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