"Down the pit"

More on coal mines, prompted by me having a chat with an ex-miner the other day. He worked at Betteshanger in the Kent coalfield. I think he was a bit surprised to talk to someone who had some knowledge of, and contact, with coal mining (my father was  Bevin boy, see the end of this post).

Zero and I went down to the Kent coalfield on Saturday, to visit the Waiting Miner: Miner statue rededicated at Kent's Fowlmead Country Park. Fowlmead Country Park has been established on the side of the spoil heap from Betteshanger Colliery. It isn't that impressive for walking, but the facilities for cycling are very good. There were lots of visitors either hiring bikes or bringing their own on Saturday.

The plaque you can see on the plinth lists the names of all the miners who died in the pits of the Kent coalfield.

The Waiting Miner has his back to the former spoil tip, and looks out towards where the Betteshanger Colliery used to be.