A free exhibition revealing the history of a coalmine which occupied the site where the Etihad Stadium stands today is to open at Beswick Library

The Bradford Pit Project commemorates the mine, which was a part of the Manchester landscape for some 350 years before closing in 1968.

The exhibition, being staged as part of the Manchester Histories Festival, includes a collection of images, narratives, objects and digital material, detailing a vast range of community responses.

Lauren Murphy set up the project in 2013, following the passing of her Granddad, Alan Evans, who suffered an accident at the pit which affected the rest of his life. While researching the pit, during her final year at Manchester Metropolitan University, Lauren found that little evidence of the colliery remained.

After meeting former Bradford miners, Lauren was inspired to set out to commemorate Bradford pit and the men who worked there.

Lauren said: “The project stemmed from my family roots and our connection to the pit and the area. It began as a quest to honour my Granddad and all the lovely miners I had begun to meet. I have a huge respect and admiration for them.

“As the project developed, particularly after being given the opportunity to work with Laing O’Rourke, I began to appreciate that there was a value in marking and preserving the heritage of this area way beyond my own personal connection.
“Working in construction has given me a better understanding of the built environment and the lasting legacy it can have on local communities, particularly in areas undergoing a lot of redevelopment such as East Manchester.

“I really believe that by acknowledging change and engaging with people through the heritage of the area, we can help the community become more aware of its history, and help them celebrate it with pride. I hope that the Bradford Pit Project has played a part in doing this here in East Manchester.”

Archive materials relating to the pit will also feature and signpost to the Bradford Pit Project’s full archive, which is now housed at the Archives+ Centre, at Manchester Central Library.

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