Artwork commemorating miners killed in Oaks Colliery Explosion on public display

ARTWORK commemorating dozens of Dearne Valley miners who died in a pit disaster 150 years ago has been put on public display.

By Michael Upton

Published 30th Nov 2017, 14:40 BST

Updated 1st Dec 2017, 09:31 BST

“The Oaks” exhibition at Barnsley Interchange has been produced by art and design students at University Campus Barnsley.

It was created in remembrance of the 361 miners and rescuers who lost their lives in the Oaks Colliery Explosion on December 12, 1866, at Oaks Colliery near Darfield.

To create the artwork, students observed a contemporary etching from The Illustrated London News, of which each took a piece to use as inspiration.

The finished pieces were put together to form a larger artwork.

Student Abbigail Webster (19) said: “The artwork has involved a lot of hard work and I was so proud to see it displayed at the Barnsley Interchange.

“The whole project was such an amazing and very rewarding experience.”

Darfield