Pupils have played their part in the design of a mosaic bench celebrating Biddulph’s heritage.
The Station Road bench features pigeon fancying, quarrying and nursing at the Grange and will be officially unveiled on Saturday at 1pm.
Biddulph Town Council commissioned Staffordshire artist Philip Hardaker to design and install the piece of public artwork.
Children from Kingsfield First School, Roaches Special School in Knypersley, Biddulph’s Brownie groups as well as a wide range of community groups were tasked with creating tiles that represented Biddulph now, and what it meant to them.
It was agreed that a bench would celebrate the industries, which had all been prominent in Biddulph including:
• Forge;
• Textiles/ mills (including fustian)- representing women;
• Nursing at the Grange;
• Transport;
• Farming;
• Dye works; and
• Quarrying – natural whetstone and sand.
Sarah Haydon, town council chief officer, said: “The aim of the bench is to celebrate our past, but also the things we love about the town now. There are images of nature, flowers and animals.”
Among Mr Hardaker’s portfolio are public parks sculptures and mosaics as well as memorials and commissions for Parliament and the royal family.
(Photo: BTC).
