Photo Critique - A midden in 2009

Rocking Magpie · #1 (**permalink**) 16-06-2009, 21:17

Photographers Comments
I was photographing the village I come from as a sort of project when I spotted this midden still in use.

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Andi · #2 (**permalink**) 26-06-2009, 23:02

There's almost a sacred quality to this photo - dunno how to explain the feeling. Is it the old bricks, their clay and firing giving all the variation of colour..... the crumbs of coal, the old zinc bucket.....I'm so glad you took a shot of this. Its a world that has gently all but diappeared - thankyou for reminding me

**Dennyboy** · #3 (**permalink**) 27-06-2009, 00:02

Alan, what is a midden? looks like a coal store/chimney type thing?

Rocking Magpie · #4 (**permalink**) 27-06-2009, 11:59

1) A midden is where we used to store the ashes from the coal fires (hence the air bricks above) - the other; higher metal plate is for the new coal to be dropped into.
2) I was stunned to find one still in use in 2009! Even my Mother in Law and elderly brother who both still live in the village couldn't believe it either.
If you ever visit Beamish Open-air Museum in Co. Durham you will see a version of this in a street there. I have some photos of Beamish on my website.

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