We are delighted to invite University of Kent donors to our new Mining in Kent exhibition which is now open in the Templeman Gallery.
2024 marks both the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Miners’ Strike and the 100th anniversary of the cutting of the first mineshaft at Betteshanger Colliery, the largest of Kent’s mines. Using archive material from Special Collections and Archives, this exhibition tells the story of the history of mining in Kent, from the early days of discovering the Kent coalfield to the impact of the 1984 Miners’ Strike. Mining in Kent features items describing what life was like as a Kent miner, the history of national coal mining strikes told through their portrayal in political cartoons, and an insight into how the 1984 Miners’ Strike was experienced locally in Kent.
We are holding a small launch event in the Templeman Gallery on Thursday 13th June 2024 at 12.30pm, where we will introduce the exhibition and give a short tour of the items on display. We would love for you to join us.
Templeman Gallery is on the first floor of A Block in the Templeman Library, outside the Special Collections and Archives Office and Reading Room. The exhibition will be open until the end of September 2024.