A return to Redhills

I was able to make a return this week to Redhills, home of the Durham Miners' Association and what is known as The Pitman's Parliament. It's undergone a huge renovation and is an incredible testimony to the men and women of the Durham coalfield.

I remember Ross Forbes telling me a year ago that it would not be turned into a museum, but if it was a museum of anything, it was of values. That conversation changed the whole direction of my book as I looked at how I could highlight education as a way of demonstrating those values. Redhills is all about power, the power of the workers to take control of their own lives and communities. The image of the names dates back to 1777 when miners would be forced to sign an annual contract which allowed them to work. It continued until the 1870s when the miners themselves took action.

Redhills became a centre for the whole region and events, talks and classes were organised. The image below shows one of these, boldly stating that subjects will be decided by the learners.