The Lady of the North

Well, it seems like it was Coal all the way today, with a bit of Ulysses slipped in.

We stayed over last night in Whitley Bay and in the evening we joined a group doing a History Walk round Seaton Sluice. I was a bit dubious about this, but it was excellent. To be with a group of interested people and led by an expert Maritime Historian, who not only knew his stuff but could convey it in a clear manner, was a joy. We learnt all about the harbour at a time when, not only coal was exported from here, but salt and glass bottles. There is picture of what remains of the harbour here. 

Then this morning I went to another session of Ulysses and I have to admit that I am now getting a little nearer to appreciating it. You know when a window mists up and then the mist begins to clear from the edges, you just start to see through to the other side and you say – ah that’s what there is!!
 
In the afternoon we meandered our way up the Northumberland coast and then inland to New Hartley. This is an old mining town, known mainly for a terrible disaster in 1862 when 204 men and boys perished underground, because there was only one shaft and they couldn’t get out. A beautiful memorial garden has been made, with a path engraved with all the names of the lost. Sad to see the ages of some of the boys and the number of times the same surname appears. January morning, January mourning.
 
Then we found a place we have often meant to get to – Northumberlandia or the Lady of the North. The largest human landform sculpture in the world, this is the centrepiece of a huge public park. Created by designer Charles Jenck, it reflects the landscape of the Cheviots as well as celebrating the human form. A stunning play space, we were then surprised when we reached the highest point (on the lady’s head!) and looked to the other side – there was a fully-operating surface mine – (see below). Creating this public space seems to have been part of the deal when the company got permission to mine on this land. Whatever the rights and wrongs of this, it is indeed a fabulous place, extremely busy with families at weekends, we were very pleased to get it largely to ourselves this afternoon.
  
The picture was taken from the ‘lady’s head, looking done her nose to one of her breasts – the people are walking past her arm and hand. You really need an aerial picture to appreciate it properly.