The Pit At The End Of The Road

Featuring the art work of local Castleford artist Michael Milner. The exhibition captures the nostalgia surrounding Milner’s personal recollections of coal mining and the mining communities around him.

Michael Milner uses his childhood memories of growing up in the shadow of Glasshoughton Colliery as his inspiration. The exhibition features paintings of Milner’s personal memories; placing the pit at the centre of home life alongside quotes from Milner’s childhood, which paint an evocative picture of life growing up in the shadow of the pit. A memory soundscape, composed by Dr John Bonner from the University of Huddersfield, accompanies the artworks. To coincide with the exhibition the museum will introduce of the living history characters to bring to the life the community spirit painted in the artwork.

Born in 1942 Michael Milner was brought up in the rural pit village of Glasshoughton, Yorkshire and spent 18 years of his career workings as an engineer for the National Coal Board in Castleford. His later years were spent teaching art to male and female prisons in the region. Today Milner exhibits his colliery scenes locally.