Miners’ lamp: Memory and the underground through a light installation on Bonsall Moor

The historic lead mines of the southern Peak District embody the labour and efforts of miners gone, as well as, reflect the industrial past of the region. In my research, I have come to explore these underground places. In the darkness of the underground, light provides not only the ability to see, but also offers comfort. This article focuses on the creation and execution of a temporary 5-day light art installation, named Miners’ Lamp, on Bonsall Moor within the Peak District National Park. Inspired by my subterranean explorations and immersive research, the Miners’ Lamp engages the local community and encourages a reconsideration of the ‘hidden’ labour landscapes on the moor. The installation works with the ideas of darkness, light, memory and the underground showcasing the practice of geography and art in a rural setting and speaking to the politics of preservation through a different aesthetic.