ABSTRACT
Attending the annual Miners Gala, ‘The Big Meeting’, first held in Durham in 1871, you cannot help but be moved by the milling crowds, the blare of the brass bands and the dozens of miners’ banners proudly held aloft. Each banner represents a pit community and is made of painted cloth which over time, inevitably year on year, will suffer wear and damage, with the very real possibility of the loss of the older and more fragile examples of the genre. This case study explores the development of a conservation strategy for the banners owned by County Durham mining communities in concert with conservators and curators. After a pilot project to retire, conserve and frame one banner, coupled with the commissioning of a new banner, was deemed a success, other similar projects have taken place including the repatriation of banners. The role of conservation professionals is key to help sustain such projects. Their role in discussions with the communities and allied stakeholders is that of problem solver and solution protagonist. The rewards of being involved in these projects are enormous for everyone.
