The 'Charm Bracelet' installation was clattering quite a lot in the strong wind this afternoon. A metal structure so it might be obvious this is a magnetic cache.
Phoenix park is built on the former site of Hickleton Main Colliery which was one of the main sites open from 1892 until 1988.
This mining monument pays tribute to the people and animals who worked underground and the dangers they faced. The lantern with the bird recalls the canaries once used to warn miners of deadly gases — a symbol of vigilance and sacrifice. Surrounding objects like the horseshoe, iron, and pickaxe each tell part of the story: the horseshoe represents the pit ponies that hauled coal in the darkness; the iron stands for the strength and industry that shaped mining communities; and the pickaxe is the miner’s most iconic tool, symbolising the hard, physical labour at the heart of the trade. Together, they honour the resilience, skill, and courage of generations who worked beneath the earth.
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