Our Heritage
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Recognising our Heritage
A life size replica (approximately 2.5m high) of a miner has been placed on a triangle of grassy land in the front of The Grove, South Kirkby. This bronze statue has been crafted by sculptor Graham Ibbeson who was also responsible for statues of Eric Morecambe in Morecambe and Cary Grant in Bristol
The statue is mounted on a stone plinth on which is carved the names of the men killed whilst working in the mines of the South Kirkby/Frickley Colliery complex on 23rd August 1935.
The miner adopts a working pose, holding a pick as if in action at the coal face. His powerful stance will be a testimony to the
strength of the social structure that once grew up around the mines.
John Davis' Story
Order your own Miner maquettes on sale now
Miniatures of the statue are now on sale. Each ‘maquette’ will cost £120 and be accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and the Town Mayor.
Orders taken at The Grove – call Diane Hickes on 01977 642159
Miners' Memorial
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Strikes lean sinewed at the tooth end of a day,
Quid Spent hewing after the brown-spit
Mines Dead:
This resurrection, tin and copper born,
Earth’s legacy, remembering,
Stood black coated in the drizzle,
Silver band, usual marquee,
Coal’s generation lost,
Save for these unfurled banners and this song,
Our bitter memory.
Right the perhaps, that he should kneel,
Poised on his epitaph, this man of bronze,
Beneath the church reclaiming this waste land,
Closed in his seam of time defiantly,
When we are gone, a watching sentinel,
Who taps the load of all this heritage,
Collected days of sacrifice,
Dark shifts undone:
And right that we should gatherhere to honour him,
Made more of us for our remembrance,
Made air and daylight, the eternal sun,
Paul Thwaites