There is lots to see above ground at the National Coal Mining Museum, with some of the original machinery still working and sheds full of vehicles and machines, archived for posterity. You begin to realise that, when our mines were gradually closed, it signalled the end of an era not just for the miners themselves and their communities but for whole swathes of British manufacturing capacity that supported the industry.
I found it interesting to try to pick out small photographic compositions from the machinery.
Not a machine of course, but included just because he was cute, a little Welsh pit pony called Ernie, one of four retired pit ponies still kept at the Museum. They spend much of their time grazing in fields around the museum but are brought in to stables so that visitors can see them and learn about their lives.
The machinery parts look delicate with abstract style composition
ReplyDeleteTerrific shots. Ernie earned his retirement.
ReplyDeleteAmazed to see those parts painted in that one photo. The rest with many corrosions look more realistic. It was really something to have the industrial age suddenly be upon the people and the factories. I thought my life lived through "interesting times."
ReplyDeleteFocusing in the machinery parts made for a fascinating post and the pit pony certainky has a better life above ground now.
ReplyDeleteErnie looks happy to be above ground. Nice shots.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos!
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