In the Veins

Archive short

A short film that resonates through time, In the Veins uses over a century of archive footage to shine a light on the mining heritage of Yorkshire and the North East of England.

A story of hardship and hope, division and defiance, perseverance and pride; this is not a history lesson, it’s an emotional journey that digs deep into the heart of a community built on coal.

From villages, towns and communities that grew from the industry, the bonds and friendships fostered, to the formation of activist groups such as ‘Women Against Pit Closures,’ In the Veins celebrates on the success and commiserates the demise of coal in the UK, four decades on from one of the longest industrial disputes of the 20th century.

Commissioned by Teesside University and produced by the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive.

Programming note: In the Veins can be programmed as a short (24 mins) or paired with Trouble and Strife, a 1986 Tyne Tees Television documentary following two groups of County Durham miners’ wives continuing the fight to save coal mining in the region one year on from the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike. The total programme is 54 minutes and lends itself to a Q&A or wrap around activities such as the need for a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.