A Walk at The National Coal Mining Museum for England– Horbury and District Group
17 th May 2025
For our annual walk this year we chose a walk around the nearby National Coal Mining
Museum between Wakefield and Huddersfield. Eight of us, plus the always enthusiastic
Fudge the dog, set off on a leisurely walk to see an exhibition of sculptures by Barnsley born
sculptor Graham Ibbeson. The exhibition from Coal Queens to Comedy Kings is positioned
around the site.
One of our members, Janet, volunteers at the museum and was able to guide us round the
site and talk about the sculptures. Most of the sculptures have a connection to the coal
industry, which shaped the culture and landscape of West and South Yorkshire for
centuries. Some of the sculptures will be familiar to people from public places such as the
comedian Eric Morecambe from the seafront at Morecambe. Eric was a Bevin Boy
conscripted to work in a coal mine in Accrington in 1944. We were fortunate to have
sunshine and were able to stop for a picnic lunch on our way round. It was good seeing the
ponies in their stables and listen to the Hade Edge Band who had been there for a
commemorative event at the Miners’ memorial.
The exhibition continues until 7 September.
Find out more here about the museum here: https://www.ncm.org.uk
Words and pictures kindly supplied by Rosalind Watson.
