Mining Sculpture

I ran the Oakwell Hall 5km Parkrun this morning on the site of the old Gomersal Colliery, this sculpture sits over the site of the old mineshaft, depicting one miner fixing pitprops and one laid flat cutting out the coal with a pick at the coalface
two shafts were cut in the grounds of Oakwell Hall sunk by Birkenshaw Collieries Ltd between 1913 and 1916.
In 1973 the colliery was closed as a result of the Lofthouse inrush of water, it was judged there was a significant danger of flooding again from neighbouring old workings, so the shaft's were made safe and all the buildings were demolished and the area turned into the park we have today.

[Babs]

Impressive sculpture. Hope the roof doesn't fall in on him. Is this a miners sandwich?

[Corinne C]

A great sculpture

[Lou Ann]

Wonderful to read this. Good for you, running 5 k’s!

[Dawn]

An interesting read

[Diana]

amazing sculpture, well done on the run!

[Peter]

@onewing Thank you Babs for your comment, yes indeed I suspect the sculptor was depicting the dangerous nature of the job:)

[Peter]

@corinnec Thank you for your comment Corinne:)

[Peter]

@louannwarren Thank you Lou Ann for you comment, there was a plaque at the side with information on the collieries history and layout:)

[Peter]

@Dawn Thank you Dawn I do like finding out about the history of this type of thing just to add interest to the image:)

[Peter]

@ludwigsdiana Thank you Diana for your comment I try to do a Parkrun very Saturday morning they are run all over the world, ran this one as our course was flooded from the heavy rains we have been having over here, btw you have a Parkrun in Stellenbosch called Root 44 Parkrun at Audicia wine farm:)