The site at Killhope Lead Mining Museum, including the underground mine, washing floor, Killhope wheel, mine shop and woods have provided a rich landscape to explore sound today and in 19th century life in Weardale. How has sound changed? What has caused these changes? Which soundscapes remain constant through the centuries?

Participants from Wear Valley Learning Centre in Crook, County Durham have been ‘miners of sound’ with artists Claire Webster Saaremets and Peter Saaremets from Newcastle based company Skimstone, using audio-visual equipment to record, photograph and film at Killhope Lead Mining Museum.

Collections of film footage and sounds have been manipulated in computer software to create a new video / sound artwork which includes original compositions, songs and stories about lives during the lead mining era. Soundmine has involved learning about our Weardale heritage, life in the 19th Century and life today, drawing upon the expertise of the staff at Killhope.

The exhibition of images from the project will be on long term display in the Killhope Cafe, Wear Valley Learning Centre and at Newcastle Arts Centre. A Root Sculpture created by Andrew Hall and inspired by The Spar Boxes at Killhope will also be on show at the launch.