On one Saturday each year, though, the usually peaceful city center is transformed by the arrival of thousands of people to watch or take part in the Durham Miners’ Gala. The mining towns and villages of Durham played a huge part in the history of the city, and of County Durham. It’s a proud history, and sometimes a tragic history, and although the last mines in Durham closed in the early 1990s, the Gala still brings tens of thousands of people into the city on the second Saturday in July.

Miners’ Gala History

The Gala developed out of the solidarity the miners felt for each other, and the high regard that the local communities had for these hard-working men, who occasionally gave their lives in order to provide food for their families, and fuel for the whole country. The first Durham mining trade union was formed in 1869, and the first Gala was held two years later.

Banners and Bands

Each Durham colliery had its own banner, and many of them also had their own brass bands – a proud northern tradition. The banners would be brought by the miners traveling on foot, all converging on Durham city center. At its peak the Gala would attract 250,000 people, the biggest gathering of its kind in Britain. The leader of the British Labour Party would traditionally address the crowds, and a good time was had by all.

Today, although the crowds are smaller, a good time is still had by all. The day’s proceedings begin at about 9am, when the bands and the miners and ex-miners start to gather to parade through the streets. It can take a couple of hours or more for the whole procession to pass by, as the bands stop to play some rousing tunes. It brings a festive feeling to the city’s streets, as some collieries have pipe bands, and a few bring dancers too.