woodhorn - Days Out Leaflets

what’s on at woodhorn
July - december 2010
featuring
summer
Programme
PLus
exhiBitions
and events
to the end
of the
year
www.experiencewoodhorn.com
‘Life’s a Beach’
summer Programme
If you like sand but not in your
sandwiches then discover the great
activities at Woodhorn this summer.
An Art History of British Surfing
12 June – 19 September
Art and surfing have been inextricably
linked for hundreds of years, and this
exhibition looks at how these elements
combined to glide into British
consciousness. From early sketches
of surfers during the voyages of
Captain James Cook in the 18th
century, through the flower power of
the 1960s and garish fluorescent
colours of the 1980s –‘An Art History
of British Surfing’ is an exciting visual
feast of boards, paintings, posters, photography
and film. This is a touring exhibition from the
Museum of British Surfing.
Summer
Programme
Every day during the
school holidays
12noon – 3pm
Bring the family and
enjoy the summer fun
with giant skittles and
beach ball games around
Woodhorn’s very own
beach hut.
Sand Sculpture
24 July
Come along and see how
professional sand
sculptors turn a pile of
sand into an amazing work
of art inspired by the
Northumberland coast.
Sand sponsored by
COMPETITION
Why not take part in
our virtual sand
sculpture competition
yourself and send us
a photo of you with
your own creation?
For full details see
the website.
Let’s All Fly a Kite!
8 August
Watch experts fly their
fantastic kites. Then have
a go at making and flying
your own. This event is
weather dependent so
fingers crossed!
Surf
Northumberland
21 August
A day of surf related
talks and events
featuring surfers,
schools and stores from
Northumberland. Find
out about surfing in the
region and how you can
get involved. A must for
all would-be surfers.
The Bank Holiday
Beach Party
30 August
Join the fun at the North
East’s biggest beachless
beach party with games
and music, themed
inflatables, Punch & Judy,
BBQ food, beachy craft
activities, facepainting
and balloon sculpture.
Rain or shine, it’ll be a
party at Woodhorn!
Woodhorn will be open every day
from Saturday 24 July until Monday 6 September
Take a look at WHAT’S ON at WOODHORN from July – December 2010
A Shot Against Time:
Highlights of
Norman Cornish
at Ninety
12 June – 5 September
Norman Cornish has been
capturing the world around his
native Spennymoor for almost
eight decades. Widely
acknowledged as one of the most
important artists to have emerged
from the North East since WWII, he
began his working life as many
other young men in the North East
did, down the pit. This exhibition
celebrates the work of Norman
Cornish at 90 and the fascination that he still has for
the people and mining communities of the region.
This is a touring exhibition from
the University Gallery,
Northumbria University.
Shafts of Light: Mining Art in the
Great Northern Coalfield
11 September – 28 November
No industry has inspired art like coal mining so work
emanating from what would seem to be the least
visually attractive of the heavy industries, deserves
special consideration.
Northern Soul
5 December - February
A touring exhibition of work by renowned photojournalist,
John Bulmer. From the early sixties
he travelled across the north of
England recording everyday life in
its industrial centres. What is
exceptional about this work is
the decision to use colour. In a
recent interview Bulmer
recalled, “It didn’t occur to
anyone to take the north of
England in colour – that was
considered a black and white
subject”. The exhibition is Bulmer’s
own perspective on life in the north. Anyone with
memories of the 1960s will identify with these images.
Heritage Open Days
To mark Heritage Open Days, Woodhorn
has a couple of extra special activities
available for visitors.
Doon the Wagon Way
11 September
Join performers Chris Bostock, Ken Patterson and Richard
Scott for traditional stories and songs of the North East.
Performances throughout the day around the site.
My Life as a Pitman
11 & 12 September 10am – 12.30pm
A special public opening of Woodhorn’s private function
rooms will enable visitors to view the impressive
collection of paintings by Pitman Painter, Oliver
Kilbourn. Kilbourn, who was a central and critically
acclaimed member of the Ashington Group described
the 40 plus paintings as his biography in paint. See for
yourself his interpretation of his lifetime as a coal miner.
Winding House Special Opening
1pm – 4pm
Following renovation of the winding
engine thanks to funding from SITA
Trust, visitors will be able to enter
the last Victorian engine house in
Northumberland and see some of
the workings of the system in
action that raised and lowered the
cages in the pit shaft.
October Half Term
Big Draw 2010: The Soot Storm 24 October
Join an artist Jessamy Kelly in making soot-storm
artworks inspired by the Woodhorn site. £5 per person.
Booking advisable. Children must be accompanied.
Pumpkin Trail 23 – 31 October
Explore Woodhorn’s historic colliery buildings to find the
hidden pumpkins and complete the special trail. Free.
Bird of Prey Display 27 October 10am – 4pm.
Demonstrations 12 noon & 2pm
See the birds on display all day and catch
a spectacular flying demonstrations at
the scheduled times. Free.
Halloween Tours 31 October
Special spooky tours to get the whole
family in the Halloween mood. Booking
advisable. A small charge applies.
Regular activities
Thank Folk it’s Friday
Last Friday of the Month: 2pm – 3pm
Join us in the café on the last Friday of
each month for an informal programme
of traditional music. Enjoy a coffee
while you listen to a live performance
by local singers and musicians. Full
details of the performers are
available on our website.
Sunday Crafternoons
Last Sunday of the Month:
12 noon – 3pm
Sunday Crafternoons take place on the final
Sunday of each month throughout the year. Each
artist-led session features a different craft project
designed to be completed by visitors of all ages and
abilities. Come along to enjoy discovering new skills
and to meet new people. Booking advisable.
(Please note the December session will take place
on 2 January rather than Boxing Day)
It’s Christmas!
The Christmas Fair
5 December 10am – 4pm
Discover some very special foods and local crafts
from a range of suppliers and talented craft people
within the region. A great opportunity to do your
Christmas shopping away from the hustle of the
shopping malls.
Mrs Claus Crafts Every Sat & Sun in December plus
daily during school holidays. 12pm – 3pm.
Join Mrs Claus to make some seasonal decorations.
Lantern Making 19 December
Join artist Simon Pell to create your own willow and
tissue “withy” lantern with in preparation for the
parade. (Booking essential) £5 per lantern
Lantern Parade
19 December 4pm – 5pm
A magical Christmas lantern
parade around the Woodhorn site
ending with seasonal
refreshments. Free.
You can now follow us on Twitter
and Facebook.
Information is correct at time of going to print. Check the website
for full details of these events and others, and for specific times of
activities. All activities are free unless otherwise stated. Normal
parking charges apply.

F R E E A D M I S S I O N
Discover Woodhorn, the museum,
archive and country park in
Northumberland. There are fascinating
stories to share and wonderful events
to enjoy, all in our unique historic
colliery setting, a Scheduled Ancient
Monument. Be inspired by the
amazing state-of-the-art Cutter
building with its startling
roofline mimicking the
monster coal cutting machines
that once burrowed deep
underground.
See… the work
of the famous
Ashington Group
of Artists,
affectionately
known as the
‘Pitman
Painters’. Find
out how this group of
coal miners from the 1930s came
to be celebrated by the art world. Admire the
amazing pictures behind the story that inspired an
award winning play. And observe rarely seen
aspects of life in what was “the largest pit village in
the world” as seen through the eyes of the men
who made it so.
Unwind… in the countryside of the QEII Country
Park. Stroll around the large lake, looking out for
birds, red squirrels and deer. Wonder at the
mammoth, record breaking task undertaken to
create this wonderful park from what was a colliery
spoil heap.
Sample… some great homemade food at the
Woodhorn café. Enjoy a drink as you take a break
on your visit. Or relax and have lunch with friends
overlooking the Pit Yard through the wall of glass.
Directions
Just 20 minutes north of Newcastle upon Tyne
on the A189, 20 minutes south of Alnwick on the
A1068/A189, and 15 minutes east from Morpeth
on the A197. Head for Ashington and then watch
for the brown and white signs to guide you
to Woodhorn.
A189 to Alnwick
Q
s
/
Opening Times
Museum: Wed – Sun (plus Tues in
school holidays and bank holiday Mons)
Nov – Mar 10am – 4pm
Apr – Oct 10am – 5pm
Archive: Wed – Sun
10am – 4pm all year.
Admission
Admission is FREE. Parking £2.50 all day.
Accessibility
Almost all of the buildings and facilities at Woodhorn are
accessible to those with mobility concerns. Wheelchair and
mobility scooters are available for visitors.
WOODHORN, Museum and Northumberland
Archives
QEII Country Park, Ashington,
Northumberland NE63 9YF
Telephone 01670 528080
Experience…
the lives and loves, struggles and disasters of the
pitmen and their families through the engaging
and emotional Coal Town exhibition. Take in the
proud Northumberland miners’ banner display,
and the evocative colliery buildings. Listen
to the recollections of real life above
and below ground, and savour the
unique atmosphere of this now rare
industrial site.
Explore… 800 years of Northumberland’s past
in the documents, photographs and records
held at Woodhorn in the Northumberland
Archive. Trace your ancestors; uncover
the history of your home; pore over
ancient maps; research an organisation
or individual; delve into almost any
aspect of Northumberland’s past. The
study centre has everything you need to get
you started.
Admission is free but check the website for full
details of the registration process and to use the
on-line catalogue.
Q
Q
A197 to Morpeth
Queen
Elizabeth II
Country Park
Q
Coach Park
s
s
Car
Park
8 i W
/
Q
Light Railway
To Wansbeck District Hospital
A197
Q
A189
8 ] i 8 W
The Cutter &
Welcome Desk
Main Entrance
You could also visit the
stunning beach at nearby
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Take the A197
for 1.5 miles.
Q
n
Q
A189
1156 The oldest
document in our
archive is a Papal
bull of Adrian IV
confirming land
ownership to knight
Askill de Ridale.
1781 George
Stephenson,
mechanical and civil engineer is
born at Wylam. We hold papers
relating to the development of
his safety lamp and the
locomotive.
1838 Grace Darling and
her father rescue
survivors from SS
Forfarshire. Grace’s
letters are in
Woodhorn’s
archive.
1894 The first Woodhorn
shaft is sunk and the oldest
building still on site,
the Jack Engine
house, erected.
1916 The
Woodhorn Disaster
occurs. A memorial
to the 16 men lost
can be found beside
the heapstead.
1934 The
Ashington Group
formed to study art
appreciation.
Woodhorn is home
to their permanent
collection.
1947 The coal
industry is
nationalised. This
inspires artwork for
many of the miners’
banners on display.
1979 Queen
Mother opens
QEII Country Park.
It’s the largest
ever earth moving
project in Europe.
1981 Woodhorn
Colliery closes but
many of the
original buildings
and artefacts are
saved for future
generations.
2006 The Cutter
opens to house
exhibitions, visitor
facilities and the
Northumberland
Archive.
www.experiencewoodhorn.com
Woodhorn is managed by the Woodhorn Charitable Trust,
registered charity No. 1129712
Photography credits: Front cover Cyber Pitmen at Miners’ Picnic 2009.