Christianmpoulsen, In your original post you mention Bigges Main, and also Blucher. Both these were collieries in Northumberland. Bigges Main was somewhere in the Wallsend area, and Blucher was at Throckley. If you search for the 'Durham Mining Museum' you will find information re all the collieries in Durham and Northumberland.
The photograph shows the rappers. I believe that there was also a group of them at Earsdon in Northumberland.
Thank you, yes, many of my ancestors were miners at both Bigges Main and Blucher. I’ve visited the Durham Mining Museum site. I received the photograph handed down the family, from the line with an ancestor who lived and worked at Blucher. I initially didn’t know anything about Rapper Sword Dancing and didn’t know what this photo depicted.
I have since learnt what it is and it’s relation to each mine having their own ‘teams’ in the North-East. I believe that this team matches the description of the Blucher Pit teams outfit (each mine had their own specific outfit and they competed with each other). This would fit the fact it was handed down from someone who worked at Blucher Pit. What I don’t know, and doubt I will find out, is if Thomas Armstrong b1871 d1910 was in their team, and is in this photo. (Or indeed his father Henry Armstrong b1826 d1896).
It seems likely, as to have the photo and pass it down to children, grandchildren and so on, it would seem likely he was in it, rather than just being mates or whatever.
