The Crookhall Foundation Banner Group was officially formed on 1st September, 2008, following a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve two old Crookhall Lodge Banners and the creation of a brand new banner. A small, committee of four; John Dixon, Irene Gash, Nat Kendrick and Jackie Raine, accompanied by Foundation treasurer Dick Dixon, ran the project and were successful in raising £49,400 to conserve and make a new banner.
A partnership was formed with Helen Lee and her class from Delves Lane Junior School backed by the then Head, Karen Holden. Helen and her pupils had a big input on the reverse of the new banner. It was decided by the steering group to go with history and have the “Emancipation of Labour” motto on the front, mirroring the front of the 1930’s and the 1940’s banners. The reverse of the two old banners had the scene of Conishead Priory. This was replaced on the reverse of the new banner with our own scene desgined with help from the staff and children from Delves School.
The banner was blessed in Delves Lane Methodist Chapel by Minister, Stephen Dallin with David Jackson conducting Consett Brass. On Friday, 11th July 2008, the evening before the Big Meeting, the new banner was officially unfurled in the Delves Club by ex-miners Tommy Hindson and Norman Blakey. The Yorkshire Co-op Brass Band performed a concert to celebrate the occasion.
On Saturday, 12th July, 2008, after 45 years, Crookhall Lodge Banner was once again proudly marched into Durham at the Durham Miners Gala behind the Yorkshire Co-op Brass Band. Afterwards the banner was marched off the Racecourse field, through the crowds of wellwishers, and into Durham Cathedral to be dedicated and blessed by the Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright. After the ceremony the banner was again marched through the streets of Crookhall and Ramsey Terrace, the Aged Miners Homes at Delves Lane, and then on through Delves village where the band boarded the bus to end what was a very emotional and proud day for the whole community. The Foundation, Durham Miners Association, Crookhall Community Association, County and local councillors all contributed to the cost of the big day out. Crookhall Community Association assisted with the cost of Paul Green and his team filming the two events of the unfurling on the Friday and the big day itself, including the dedication service in the Cathedral and producing a DVD.
Earlier Crookhall Banner History
Crookhall Colliery was worked by Consett Iron Company after early pits such as Stockerley House and West Ellimore were incorporated into the workings of the Delves Pit, sunk in 1847. Associated with the Delves Pit (formerley Latterday Saints Pit) were Drift Mines such as Bogle Hole, Humber Hill and Woodside /Esp Green. The main working closed in 1963 but small scale work was proposed in 1965 under the Crookhall Coal Company.
1930 Banner
A Banner of Victory/Humber Hill was mentioned in a local Consett newspaper in 1926. The oldest banner which we believe to be the first Crookhall one is currently displayed in its case in Crookhall Community Centre (which was the former Miners Institute) this was used in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It carries the ‘Emancipation of Labour’ image on one side and Conishead Priory on the other. It is damask silk, blue and yellow, with a red silk border and measures 11 feet 5 inches x 10 feet 2 inches.
1940’s Banner
A new Banner was made in the mid 1940’s and was a true copy of the 1930 Banner with the exception of the centre which is a scrolled square instead of a circle. This banner is kept in Beamish Museum under the name of Willington Mechanics, who would have used the banner when the next Crookhall one was commissioned in 1954. This often happened when banners were recycled once new ones were obtained, the artwork depicting the name of the lodge would be changed accordingly. This banner was discovered at Beamish too late to be included within the HLF funded conservation programme.
1954 Banner
This was the last Crookhall banner to be made before the Victory Pit closed in 1963. It was dedicated in Durham Cathedral at the 1954 Durham Miners Gala.
The front shows a miner of the period holding his safety lamp. The scenes behind him show a penitent firing a pocket of gas; women from the last century carrying corves of coal up a drift; and a scene showing an explosion underground.the caricatures surrounding the miner show 16 scenes connected with the history of mining. The reverse shows a gigantic piece of coal in the centre with the surrounding pictures of the by-products from coal. This banner came under the title of the National Union of Mineworkers.
After the Victory Pit closed, the banner was transferred in whatever way to Medomsley Colliery as theirs had been damaged/mislaid. Medomsley carried this banner with the name Medomsley in the place of Crookhall to the big meeting on quite a few occasions before the demise of their colliery. The banner then went missing. It was only after the fledgling Crookhall Banner Group started searching for their old banners, that this one came to light. The story has it that the blowing down of a pigeon cree led to the discovery of the banner, which was then put away safely in Medomsley Pretoria Club. It eventually made its way to Red Hill, the home of the Durham Miners Association, where it was found by Crookhall who had it restored in 2008, back with the Crookhall lodge logo. In keeping with the history of the banner, the name of Medomsley was left in place and a new piece of silk was commissioned to cover it.
The banner was originally displayed in the concert room of Consett Victoria Social Club (Delves Club) but when the club closed it found a new home within Delves Lane Methodist Chapel where it now takes pride of place. Thanks go to Ronnie Knowles and his colleagues for their help in achieving this. A service of dedication for the Banner was held at the Chapel on 16 June 2013 at which Consett Brass provided the music
2008 Banner updates
Since being created the new banner has been housed in Delves Lane School apart from a brief period when following works carried out at the school damage to its original case meant it had to be removed. However in 2016 Thanks to funding from Durham County Councillors Jane Brown and Bob Glass a new display case was installed. The Foundation was delighted to take part in a curriculum week focusing on mining held by Delves Lane School to celebrate the official unveiling of the new banner case. The Assistant Secretaries attended a special assembly on 27 September 2016 and gave a talk to the children on the history of mining in the Consett area and the miners banners held by the Foundation.
On Thursday 29 September the school held a ‘mini gala’ as part of the unveiling celebrations. Unfortunately extremely high winds prevented us for parading the banners but the children paraded accompanied by Consett Junior Brass then came back to the school hall for the ceremony which included them singing the first verse of the Miners Hymn Gresford. Lanchester, Esh Winning and Eppleton Banner Groups attended enabling the children to see different banners. We are grateful for the funding provided by Councillors Jane Brown and Bob Glass for the new case which provides a splendid home for the banner and keeps history alive for the children who attend the school. Our thanks go to everyone at the school for their hard work in arranging the day and to all who attended.
New Banner Case Delves Lane School
We have attended Durham Miners Gala every year since 2008 and now do so accompanied by Slaithwaite Band. On return from Durham the Band and Banner are marched through the village of Crookhall and a Community Concert held at Crookhall Community Centre.
Retirement of 2008 Banner
The Banner Group has taken a decision to retire the 2008 Banner and 14 July 2018 saw its final appearance at Durham Miners Gala. This decision was taken as over the last couple of years it has suffered damage at the Gala due to the wind resulting in tears in the silk at areas adjoining the paintwork, whilst it is only 10 years since it was made we have been advised that the silk used is actually almost 80 years old!.
The Banner will continue to be on display withing Delves Lane School where it provides education and learning for the children about the history and heritage of the area. We will continue to be a member of and attend meetings of the Durham Mining Communities Banner Groups Association.