Travel back in time at Conisbrough and Denaby heritage day

WANTED: fit, strong helpers to bring a celebration of mining history to life.

A new group called It's our Heritage! is organising a “a huge heritage event” in Conisbrough and Denaby on Saturday, June 23, to mark the 150th anniversary of the first house being built in Denaby for the Denaby Main Colliery and the 30th anniversary of the closure of the pit head.

Group member Penny Lloyd-Rees said: “Doncaster Heritage Services have helped us commemorate these anniversaries with flags that they have created with community groups and schools representing elements of local history from the past 150 years. 

“The It's our Heritage! team have complemented their work by organising a parade headed by the City of Sheffield Pipe Band, who will be marching from Conisbrough Church to Denaby Flower Park with the banners, along with some authentic miners banners kindly lent to the organisers by the NUM in Barnsley and Edlington Miners Welfare to start the event in style.

“We will be needing some strong helpers to help with carrying the official miners’ banners in teams of at least four and people who are willing to be stewards on the parade, flanking the edges so the parade is obvious to road users. 

“Stewards will be able to stay with their family group during the parade and will be briefed of their duties before the parade sets out.”

Flower Park in Denaby will be the focus of the activities based on the Edwardian Mining Era, with brass band performances, Punch and Judy shows, magic performances, history exhibitions, games, stalls and activities harking back to that era. 

The Miners’ Chapel will be open to showcase their mining memorabilia and a People and Mining display.

People taking part in the parade participants should meet outside the St Peter's Church Hall on Church Street, Conisbrough between 9.30am and 10am at which time the parade will officially start out. 

The City of Sheffield Pipe band will be playing from 9.30am.

Period costume is encouraged for the parade to make it more of a spectacle —the three eras being highlighted for the day are medieval; Victorian and Edwardian. 

The Victorian era will feature a Victorian fair at St Peter’s church hall from 10am to 2pm, as well as church tours, a graffiti display, a display of church registers, live oral histories, a bake-off competition and church tower tours.

At Conisbrough Castle, the medieval era will be celebrated through a display by the Bodgers Wood Turners, battle re-enactments by the Escafeld Mediaeval Society, a court rolls drama and living history display. 

Costumes do not have to be elaborate or overly authentic as long as they evoke a feeling of the period chosen.

Anyone who can help out with the parade as a steward or banner carrier is asked to get in touch through the event’s Facebook page or email [email protected].