Young people in Burradon have teamed up with an artist to celebrate their community’s mining heritage.
Year six students at Burradon Primary School are helping to create a piece of artwork depicting images of the village’s coal mining past and historic waggonways.
North Tyneside Council has commissioned the Heritage of Burradon project, which will see the artwork installed in the picturesque Fryers Millennium Green.
The project has seen local historian Alan Fryer pay a visit to the class to talk about the village’s history.
Children then went on a tour of the village and along the waggonways with artist Mark Todman to sketch some historical points of interest – including the ‘pit pond’, the old pit head wheel and the Millennium Green.
The aim was to gather ideas which will be used to create a final design before being built and installed at a later date.
Mark said: “I don’t think it’s something they usually do – drawing outside on the spot – and it was quite a challenge for them but they responded very well.
“The artwork will form part of an ongoing project to celebrate mining in the North East and it will be made locally, from cast iron steel, and the children are coming up with the ideas that will be going into the final design.”
Cllr Ray Glindon, Camperdown ward councillor, said: “It’s wonderful to see young people getting involved in this exciting project to celebrate our coal mining heritage.
“The local area has a really rich history and it’s great to recognise that further with the artwork, which I’m sure will complement the other landmarks around the village.”
Angela Hunter, head teacher, added: “We are delighted that our children have been given the opportunity to be involved in the project to design and create a lasting memorial in honour of our community’s coal mining heritage.
“This has been a brilliant experience for the pupils who have embraced the experience. It has also helped them develop their artistic and creative skills while learning about local history and some of them have even discovered things about their own families they didn’t know previously.
“We’re all really excited to continue working on the project and seeing the final result!”
