Deep in the Heart of the Seam*

The river Tyne South has a tributary called the river Allen. The Allen flows south to north up the centre of the Pennine hills, and its erosive effect has created Allendale, in which sits Allendale Town - now a village but formerly a thriving Victorian industrial centre that, at one point produced one-sixth of total global lead production. Allandale is part of the 1500 square kilometers 'North Pennine Orefield' that stretches from Hadrian's Wall to the river Tees, producing lead, but also zinc, barium, iron and copper - 10 million tonnes of ore, extracted over a period of 800 years, into the 20th century

We hope to visit Allendale tomorrow, but got a preview today, courtesy of the village primary school, whose students have artwork displayed in a Hexham art centre. The children were supported in selecting working artists to lead them in creating art that celebrates the heritage of the working people who are their ancestors, and whose lives were lived out 'Beneath Our Feet'. They produced animations, pottery, metalwork and these small-scale representations of miners' union-lodge banners

The work is of extraordinary quality and I found it very moving

There are proposals to mine the moon, of course there are; and one day it will happen, if our civilisation survives that long. No wonder the moon has sought sanctuary in the Abbey. The place of greatest safety is traditionally the Frith Stool, close to the high altar - a wooden seat that may have been here since 674 - but this is too small for the moon. More artwork of course. Curious, but not as profound as Allendale school

(* a line from Cousin Jack, a song about mining by Show of Hands)