Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | Polmaise Colliery Commemorative Plate

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Actions Displays	Polmaise Colliery Commemorative Plate Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number20898.03 TitlePolmaise Colliery Commemorative Plate CreatorEdwardian Fine Bone China (manufacturer)‎ DescriptionThis poignant bone china plate was created to mark the closure of the Polmaise No.3 & 4 Colliery in 1987 and commemorate the loss of the 55 men who died there during its time in operation. The Davy safety lamp shines out above the phrase, ‘Their light shall never grow dim’ – encircled by the names of those who died, it is a reminder of the perils of coal mining. The village of Fallin to the east of Stirling owes its existence to King Coal. It was built around the development of the Polmaise pit, a true colliery village where workmates were also neighbours and friends. Many of the miners migrated from smaller collieries in Lanarkshire, bringing with them a belief in the fight for social justice – that men should earn a living wage, have decent housing conditions and a safe working environment. The first shafts were sunk in 1904 and at its peak Polmaise employed around 1100 men. Despite being one of the most progressive and productive pits in Scotland, by late 1983 the colliery was threatened with closure, its workers locked out. They were at the forefront of the Miners’ Strike of 1984-85, staying out on strike for longer than any other pit. It was a time when the whole community worked together, supporting each other through uncertain times. The decision was final when British Coal announced the closure of Polmaise on 15th July 1987. As the gates were closed for good two days later, 112 men were made redundant. This plate symbolises their story as well as that of all the other miners who worked at Polmaise before them. Production date 1987 Object namePlate, Commemorative Plate mining MaterialClay TechniqueMoulded Dimensions whole Diameter: 270 mm whole Height: 17 mm

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Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number20898.03

TitlePolmaise Colliery Commemorative Plate

CreatorEdwardian Fine Bone China (manufacturer)‎

DescriptionThis poignant bone china plate was created to mark the closure of the Polmaise No.3 & 4 Colliery in 1987 and commemorate the loss of the 55 men who died there during its time in operation. The Davy safety lamp shines out above the phrase, ‘Their light shall never grow dim’ – encircled by the names of those who died, it is a reminder of the perils of coal mining. The village of Fallin to the east of Stirling owes its existence to King Coal. It was built around the development of the Polmaise pit, a true colliery village where workmates were also neighbours and friends. Many of the miners migrated from smaller collieries in Lanarkshire, bringing with them a belief in the fight for social justice – that men should earn a living wage, have decent housing conditions and a safe working environment. The first shafts were sunk in 1904 and at its peak Polmaise employed around 1100 men. Despite being one of the most progressive and productive pits in Scotland, by late 1983 the colliery was threatened with closure, its workers locked out. They were at the forefront of the Miners’ Strike of 1984-85, staying out on strike for longer than any other pit. It was a time when the whole community worked together, supporting each other through uncertain times. The decision was final when British Coal announced the closure of Polmaise on 15th July 1987. As the gates were closed for good two days later, 112 men were made redundant. This plate symbolises their story as well as that of all the other miners who worked at Polmaise before them.

Production date 1987

Object namePlate, Commemorative Plate

mining

MaterialClay

TechniqueMoulded

Dimensions

whole Diameter: 270 mm
whole Height: 17 mm