13th March 2023

Object of the Month

“Snap Time” by Charlie Baillie

BEKMM: 2019.21.3

This month’s object has been chosen by one of Kent Mining Museum’s Learning and Engagement Officers Stacy Golding.

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“From the moment I encountered this painting it drew me in.  For me, the looming wooden supports together with the darkness of the surroundings paints a scene of isolation and eeriness.  Despite this overwhelming backdrop you see the two miners (with what looks likes smiles on their faces) going about their daily business, enjoying their snap, and perhaps sharing a joke or two.

I see something new in the painting every time, and I hope visitors to the museum enjoy pondering its story as much as I have.”

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Charlie Baillie was a miner at Chislet Colliery, who later transferred to Snowdown in 1969. He was also a well-known pit artist who studied at Canterbury College. This painting is one of a series done by him which depict scenes of life down in the pit.

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Stacy’s father, George Shiel Jr., and grandfather, George Shiel Sr., were also miners at Chislet Colliery.

About Object of the Month

Did you know we have a below-ground section inside the museum?

Our ‘below ground’ is our underground exhibition space, this basement level not only houses the Kent Coalfield Archives but also allows us to hold temporary exhibitions which can explore more deeply some of the stories and experiences which we are unable to share in the main exhibition.

There are new artefacts every month for you to discover in our ‘object of the month’ case, temporary exhibitions and displays created through our learning and engagement programme.

Can you submit an Object and turn it into a relic of history?

Do you have a family member that worked in the Kent Coalfield that also took part in either WWI, WWII, or the Spanish Civil War?
Do you or a family member have a military identity card, a photograph, a memento, a medal or badge?
We’d love to include them in our next temporary exhibition “The Pits During Wartime: Bombs, Bravery and the Bevin Boys” opening this April!

Please get in touch with our curator Lidia at lidia@betteshangerparks.co.uk if you’d like to loan an object for us to display.