Durham Miners Gala 2026

The Durham Miners gala is a wonderful experience. This year was the 140th Gala.  I set off early to catch the first banner band to process to the racecourse. 

Here are some pictures of the day.  The first banner of the Durham Miners Association arrived at the County Hotel where it is traditional that they play to entertain the audience and always finish with the miners hymn. 

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The Women's Banner Group always arrive in style.

They were accompanied by other women's groups.

The first banner arrives at the Gala field.  

There were some new banners.This banner was being held and marched by only two men - quite a feat. It commemorates a previous miners strike in 1832 when miners were attacked by the militia.  As the banner legend says about the Friars Goose evictions, they were starved, blacklisted, battered, shackled, jailed, wounded, shot dead, hanged, gibbeted or transported. 

Two banners were draped in black.  This is a traditional way of remembering a death or a mining pit disaster.  In this instance both Lodges were remembering the miners who died in  mining accidents. Easington Lodge remembers the 81 miners who died on 29th May 1951.  Eppleton Lodge remembers the men who died in July 1951.

Easington Lodge banner.

Eppleton Lodge banner.

Look at these two banners from Craghead and Dean and Chapter.  The image is of Durham Cathedral but the Craghead banner has the image reversed.   Not sure why but it could be that the picture negative was developed the wrong way around when it was sent to Tuthills in London - the banner makers. 

Craghead Lodge

Dean and Chapter Lodge

 
 

At the end of the day, the banners and bands march back to their starting point to catch their coaches home.  Banners are carefully rolled up.

After completing an MA in 2020. I wrote an article from my dissertation research about these lovely treasures. 

 My article: Tradition, Change and Meaning: Textile Banners of the Durham Miners' Gala has been published in the Journal; Textile Cloth and Culture. February 2025

Here is the abstract. 

The banners of the Durham Miners’ Gala are functional and political art. They are ‘communicative textiles’ (Andrew, 2008, 35) embracing a range of meanings deriving from their form, use, and social and historical context. They are part of the visual, historical and social culture of the North East of England. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reception and responses to these banners and their images from three perspectives: the social and historical background; a contemporary craft perspective through the creation of a new textile banner with its gendered iconography; and through the parade of the annual Durham Miners’ Gala. 

These portable textile artefacts are accompanied by language, text, sound and motion. This paper will show that they have a life and significance in a variety of arenas reaching diverse audiences. An exploration of the physical context of the Miners’ Gala, with its parade and display, will reveal further dimensions to interpretation and response to these communicative textiles. 

I had a wonderful day out and so did about 200,000 other people.  If you want further information about this wonderful event, check out the Marras - Friends of Durham Miners Gala.

https://www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org/about

Susan J Foulkes July 2026

Further information about the two mining disasters  remembered at this years Gala. The details are available here.

https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/durham/eppleton-colliery-explosion-hetton-le-hole-1951/

https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/durham/easington-colliery-explosion-west-hartlepool-1951/

The Durham Miners Gala still needs supporters to make it happen.  I am a Marra - why not join as well. Find out more from the official web site. 

https://www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org/

Macrame Friendship Bracelets.

I was in London recently and visited one of my favourite venues, the British Film Institute. In the cafe, I noticed a young man engrossed with his lap top but he was braiding.  I went over to chat to him. He was making macrame friendship bracelets for his friends. 

I had tried macrame many years ago and had been looking recently at a pretty macrame band with a diagonal pattern.  I was thinking of trying to make one myself.  Meeting this enthusiastic and skilled young man has spurred me on to try.

He recommended a YouTube video from Masha Knots who produces very clear and numerous videos on making different patterns.  Here is the link.

Basic friendship bracelets knots. Masha Knots

 https://youtu.be/bClGNDcndMg?si=alcrIVK4dZnNcwbn

I watched a number of her videos on the train journey home and could not wait to start that evening. 

There are four basic knots that she uses for her simple braids - the forward knot, the backward knot, the forward-backward knot and the backward -forward knot. 

My first three macrame knots

I am enjoying the exploration of a different technique. I have been wondering if I could use these knot patterns to finish woven bands.  I usually plait the warp ends together then whip the ends.  

My first macrame bands.

I decided to try a flower pattern - I think that it is known as a daisy chain.  This might be promising as another decorative band end. Here is my attempt.

Daisy band

I like the pattern but I  need to practice this technique. My loops are not even.

I tried a three strand textured macrame band but I was not entirely happy with the result.

I was on a plan recently  so I had prepared some warps for practising macrame.  I was wondering if this is a craft to while away a plane journey.

Attached to the chair back

I also tried clipping it to my handbag on my lap in the airport waiting area. 

Clipped to my handbag

Here is my result. 

It is so much fun trying a different craft.  So much to learn.

Happy crafting.

Susan J Foulkes

July 2026