The LampLight Project

The LampLight Project brought together several ideas I had long hoped to realise with the South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group: a trail centred on significant mining sites near to Swadlincote; a digital production capturing the essence of the mining community; and the creation of an oral history archive to preserve the memories of the local coalfield and its surrounding communities for the future. Support from Derbyshire Makes provided both the funding and the encouragement needed to turn these ambitions into a reality.

The application process initially felt daunting. As a small group, this was our first time applying for funding of this kind. However, we were well supported throughout and quickly immersed ourselves in the planning, interviewing, and the inevitable learning curves we encountered along the way. We began gathering interviewees, although at that early stage, our generous volunteers may not have fully appreciated what the final, tangible outcome would be. Nonetheless, there was a clear enthusiasm for sharing and listening to stories of a bygone era. As interviews were collected, one of our group members, Linda Mould, carefully transcribed them, enabling us to identify key excerpts for editing and inclusion in the digital trail.

A central feature of the project was the filmed performance of former miner Mark Knight, who kindly agreed to dress in clothing from the group’s artefact collection to ensure historical accuracy. Mark brought the script, written by Andy Barrett, vividly to life, and his performance received widespread praise during the festival – even moving some audience members to tears. The film was presented within a specially constructed booth, built by local carpenter Darren Abell, which we covered in black material to evoke the darkness of the pits. Our original intention had been to create a ghostly projection, but when the technology did not come together in time, and we adapted the design to use a screen instead.