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All the United Kingdom England Seaham Vane Tempest Sculptures
AO Edited

Vane Tempest Sculptures

Public art now takes pride of place on the site of one of County Durham's last deep coal mines.

Seaham, England

Added By
Alan Newman
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Vane Tempest sculpture   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
Vane Tempest sculpture   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Vane Tempest sculpture   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The bench and metal inlays overlooking Vane Tempest Beach.   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
“Jewels of the Sea”   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
“Jewels of the Sea”   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
“Jewels of the Sea”   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
“Jewels of the Sea”   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
“Jewels of the Sea”   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
“Wind and Fire” sundial   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
“Wind and Fire” sculpture   Andrew Curtis/cc by-sa 2.0
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About

For many years, the economy of Seaham in County Durham relied on three large mines that extracted coal from coal seems several miles out under the North Sea. After the contraction of coal mining in the U.K. started in the mid-1980s, the mines of Seaham closed, one after another.

The longest-surviving mine was the Vane Tempest Colliery, closed in 1993, which was situated on a cliff overlooking the Vane Tempest Beach at Seaham. The site has been redeveloped, largely for housing, and now features some wonderful public art.

One of the most imposing works is a group of sculptures called "Jewels of the Sea." Located in a delightful little public park on the edge of the East Shore housing development, the piece by artist Andrew Mckeown is a series of 34 cast iron sculptures inspired by unicellular aquatic organisms called diatoms. Here in the park there is also a fantastic sculpture incorporating a sundial, known as "Wind and Fire," created by sculptor Craig Knowles.

Almost opposite the park is a large sculpture that serves as both a memorial to the miners killed in the Vane Tempest Colliery and an interpretive installation providing information on the history of the mine. Made of steel, bronze, and plastic, it portrays the profile of the coal mine's surface buildings, including the winding gear, boiler house, and chimney. Between the sculpture and the cliff there is a seating area where metal inlays in the floor represent the miles of tunnels created under the North Sea to access the coal seams.

Related Tags

Sculptures Sculpture Gardens Parks Mines Abandoned Mines Art Memorials

Know Before You Go

The "Vane Tempest" sculpture is located on the side of a small roundabout on North Road overlooking Seaham Beach. The "Jewels of the Sea" sculptures are just across the road on the grassy bank heading northwest.

There is on-street parking before the sculpture on the roundabout, or in the Vane Tempest beach car park slightly further north. 

It's also a pleasant half-mile walk north from the '"Eleven 'O' One" statue in Seaham.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

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jooniur

  • jooniur

Published

July 31, 2019

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Vane Tempest Sculptures
Seaham, England, SR7 7WR
United Kingdom
54.844544, -1.336938

Nearby Places

Seaham Hall Beach

Seaham, England

miles away

'Eleven 'O' One'

Seaham, England

miles away

Charybdis Fountain

Seaham, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seaham

Seaham

England

Places 4

Nearby Places

Seaham Hall Beach

Seaham, England

miles away

'Eleven 'O' One'

Seaham, England

miles away

Charybdis Fountain

Seaham, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seaham

Seaham

England

Places 4

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