Interchange 90 (Corrected)
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No. 90 www.interchange.bowburn.net March / April 2019 Bowburn gets People’s Vote on “Totem Pole” new survey will decide decided to keep going. Further Fun new banner was then added, to mark could be used. Joanne Ashworth, for whether Bowburn has Days were arranged and, in 1996, Bowburn’s centenary in 2006. Groundwork, began consultation A Bowburn Interchange was founded. Later that year a memorial to the with residents in September 2018. a controversial new piece of A village appraisal (survey) asked 52 men who died in the quest for coal She called at the 30 nearest houses, public art. how the village could be made better at Bowburn Colliery was unveiled to ask what nearby residents thought The “Coal Column” was designed and funding was found for some in the Community Centre. In 2007, and inviting them to look at plans in to honour our mining heritage. But environmental works as a result. the coal tub memorial, dedicated to the communal room in Bede Tce. some people think it disgraces it. Marking the village’s mining herit- ‘Mick’ Milburn and all who worked Anyone interested was also invited, Plans that have been nearly twenty age became a priority because of that at the colliery, was installed opposite via Facebook. But only three turned years in the making could fall at the survey and ideas were invited, via the the War Memorial, thanks to Mick’s up. Two were for the Coal Column, last fence. Or they might produce Interchange (see no. 15). Residents son, Jim Milburn. one against. Of the 12 people who a unique object of admiration or were invited to join a bus tour, to The Coal Column idea was revived answered the door to Joanne, 11 dismay for years to come. look at projects elsewhere. in 2009 after Dunelm Homes won were in favour, one was against. This Bowburn Village Celebration planning permission to build the first seemed to show support for the pro- (BVC), publisher of Bowburn • What does it mean? houses on the former Cape site. (See ject (or, at least, little opposition). Interchange since 1996, has a close Interchange no. 51.) That permission However 27 people posted messages interest in this. Its editors always aim • How would it be paid required a “Per Cent for Art” contri- on Facebook, most of them nega- to promote the village and its won- for? bution to pay for a piece of public art tive. So the Parish Council decided derful strengths. They try to avoid • What can you do? on the new estate or nearby. further consultation was needed. taking sides, where any issues seems Meanwhile, in 2004, the Bowburn It agreed that a questionnaire controversial, and their motto has Your questions answered & Parkhill Community Partnership should be delivered to all 2,670 long been “News, not views”. – Page 3 (B&PCP) had been formed, as part houses in the Bowburn area, to be Readers should note, however, that of the wider village regeneration cut out of December’s Interchange, it was BVC that first raised the idea In 2001, an arts development project. (See Interchange no. 27.) with an article about it by Joanne. of marking Bowburn’s mining herit- officer told BVC about works of B&PCP now took up the chance to She also ran an on-line survey. age, back in 2000. It was BVC that art commissioned by community get the Bowburn Coal Column. Its Residents were asked if they wanted organised meetings to discuss possi- groups elsewhere – and about the officers, Richard Cowen, Jan Blakey, a new piece of art to celebrate the vil- ble ways to do this. And it was BVC possibility of funding for one in Janet Blackburn and Mike Syer, went lage’s mining heritage; if they agreed that was introduced by arts develop- Bowburn. An example, described as to see Geoff Woodcock and Paul with the Mary Terrace location, and ment agency, Durham City Arts, to a Coal Seam Column, was pictured Armstrong, of the Esh Group. They if they supported the Coal Column. Colin Rose – the artist who created in the Interchange in August 2001 agreed to contact Colin Rose, the Only 73 people voted. Of those, the idea of the Coal Column. (no. 17), with a short questionnaire artist, and to work with the County 11 didn’t want any public art. Of The Interchange has tried hard to for readers. Council to see the project through… the 62 who did, 39 wanted the Coal inform residents about progress on Then things went quiet. This was But then things went quiet again. Column and 23 wanted something this project and to involve them in partly because of a low response to The next that B&PCP heard else. With this apparent evidence all decisions. We promise to report that questionnaire and also because was that the Esh Group had paid that the vast majority of Bowburn only the facts on this matter. But, in Durham City Arts closed down, with its Percent for Art money to the residents didn't really mind, while these days of “fake news”, it is only likely help to find funding. But a Council and would not themselves the majority who had voted were in right that we point out BVC’s early bigger reason was perhaps that other be taking the matter any further. So favour, the Parish Council decided involvement in this project. things were happening to honour in December 2016, B&PCP's offic- in January to go ahead. Early origins Bowburn’s mining heritage. ers met Stephen Reed, of Durham Then there was an outcry on BVC was formed in 1994 to plan In 2005, two of Bowburn’s County Council. He said the money Facebook, where an alternative poll celebrations of the 50th anniversary original Miners’ Lodge banners was available to build the Coal was organised. It asked, “Totem Pole of the end of World War II. The were returned to the village. (See Column, but that the Council itself type Statue for miners or something Bowburn War Memorial was dedi- Interchange no. 32.) These were would not commission the work. else?” 380 people voted “Yes”. No cated on VE Day 1995 and a Fun Day repaired and conserved and – thanks They could only pay money to some Parish Councillor (even those who was organised. The World War II to the wonderful craftsmanship of one else to do that. were not personally that keen on Book of Remembrance (in Bowburn the late John Johnson and the dona- Groundwork gets involved the Coal Column) tried to reverse Community Centre) was produced tion of pews from the “Pineapple B&PCP found that Groundwork the decision, the next month. But then. And a newsletter (“BVC Church” – they are now on perma- would be pleased to manage the they did not want to go ahead if News”) went to every household. nent display, in magnificent cases, project but there was concern about this opposition really represented After the celebrations, it was in the Community Centre. A brand long-term legal responsibility for the views of the village. Indeed, the Column, including land rent, the artist himself, with his own insurance and maintenance. The mining community background, Parish Council was asked if it could was known to be unlikely to pro- take this on and, in February 2017, ceed, if he didn't think his creation that was agreed, subject to all costs was wanted. Moreover, the Percent being covered by the Percent for Art for Art money will only be granted money from the County Council. if there is evidence of community Groundwork was invited to be the support. Parish Council’s agents and the artist The Parish Council decided on was contacted again. The County yet more consultation, hoping for Council’s legal officers checked a larger response, in a more reliable and confirmed that the proposed survey. It asked for a questionnaire site, near the top of Mary Terrace, to be delivered with this Interchange. page 1 Crowtrees Tilery uncovered embers of Bowburn Local History Society (LHS) had a special treat on 8th March when they visited what archaeologists had discovered within Mthe site of the new Integra 61 business park development. It was known from old maps that there had been some tile works there in the 19th century. But no one knew that there Amazon’s “big shed” at Rugeley, was anything left of these, till they were Staffordshire uncovered by Mark Randerson and his colleagues from Durham University. Is the cat out of the bag about Nor had anyone realised how much of these extensive buildings still remained, Amazon secret? revealing the history of tile and brick (Above) Coal bunker and furnaces first making by employees of David Birkett used to bake high stacks of roof tiles. ystery still seemed to surround the identity of the distribution com- and his son, Thomas, and then Robert (Below left) An early “bottle kiln” (for drainage pipes) gave way to a brick kiln. Mpany lined up to use the planned “big shed” near Tursdale, when this Lee, between the 1820s and 1890s. Interchange went to press. But was the cat out of the bag? The works were possibly twice as large boiled water for their tea and a worn Until contracts are exchanged, site- businesses of other parts of the site. as the more famous Potteries at Coxhoe, floor between the two! owners Citrus Group are legally pre- When Citrus representatives attended which were excavated in 2015, and Mark Thanks are due to Citrus, who own vented from revealing the name of the the Community Partnership’s February showed how the dig had revealed that the site, for their permission to visit the firm looking to use this site.