In the course of the project 25 or so talks were given by Richard Carlton (archaeologist), Greg Finch, Ian Forbes, Ian Hancock, Pete Lee, Gary Simpson (stonemason), Tristan Spicer (architect) and Pat Wilson. The cumulative audience was over 1,000 people at various local history society, Rotary Club, conferences, community and other meetings in venues ranging from the Allen Valleys to Nenthead, Weardale, Hexham, Whitley Chapel & Slaley, the Tyne valley, Blaydon and Crawcrook, Ponteland, and the great Victorian lecture ampitheatre of the Mining Institute in Newcastle.
Mostly they related discoveries on lead industry history made as the project progressed, and gave updates on the conservation work and archaeology at Dukesfield but it was also encouraging that some audiences wanted to hear about how the project came together. If it helps other community groups realise that applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund can be for them too, we will be happy.
From Whitley Chapel parish hall….
…to the Mining Institute in Newcastle
