An exhibition follows the trail of North-East families who, when the region’s lead mining industry collapsed, pursued dreams of striking it rich during the Gold Rush. Bessie Robinson reports.

A NEW exhibition on the gold fever that sparked a rush from the region to far flung corners of the globe has opened at a North-East museum.

The exhibition, at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum, traces the remarkable stories of pioneering Victorians who had to flee the region to survive.

Lead had been mined in the North Pennines and Weardale, in County Durham, since Roman times.

By the 19th Century, it had made it a prosperous area – until foreign competition and advances in technology hit the UK industry.

When the area’s lead mining industry collapsed, 120 years ago, entire families had to sell off their furniture and pack up a few precious belongings for a journey they could never have imagined they’d be forced to make.

The left for the gold fields thousands of miles away in North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where they would have read about the rich pickings to be had.

Living high in the North Pennines, most would never have seen the sea, but they bravely set sail for an uncertain and uncomfortable passage.

Survival would have been a lottery. Those who chose to head for the west coast of America and Canada faced weeks of sea sickness, rancid water, rotten food and boredom, followed by a 2,000-mile overland trek through often hostile and barren waste.

The lucky struck gold and made their fortunes. Many did not survive the journey.

Killhope’s exhibition, Routes and Riches, traces the families’ journeys using photographs and music, and animated films made by An exhibition follows the trail of North-East families who, when the region’s lead mining industry collapsed, pursued dreams of striking it rich during the Gold Rush. Bessie Robinson reports primary school pupils.

The project began three years ago when Twisted Digit UK artist Rachel Clarke travelled to the Yukon as part of a move to set up creative links between the lead and gold industries, past and present.

At the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, in Dawson City, she uncovered the story of John “Klondike”

Wilkinson, a former lead miner at Bollihope who had struck it rich at the start of the 1896 Gold Rush.

Wilkinson made his fortune, but squandered it after returning home. He and his family are buried in St John’s Chapel cemetery, in Weardale.

Seeing his claim at Eldorado Creek brought the project alive for Ms Clarke, from Stanhope, and inspired her to find out more.

She said: “It was a great story, which only a small number of people knew about, and there were more stories about Weardale families who had made similar life-changing decisions to leave the dale.

“The project has enabled us to share this history with much wider audiences.”

“The Weardale landscape and climate combined to create a harsh working and domestic life, but also moulded communities with great pioneer spirit.

“That same pioneer spirit sought opportunity in new territories all over the world.

“Traditional Weardale family names and their influence can be found around the world, which is something rarely celebrated.”

In the year leading up to the exhibition, Twisted Digits UK held workshops and events attended by more than 400 families, 100 schoolchildren, 50 members of the local community, seven artists, and visited two museums and a quarry.

They produced short films, animations, events and staged performances in the dale. See them at weardale-history.

org.uk ■ Killhope is open daily, from 10.30am to 5pm. Admission charges apply. Call 01388-537505.