Category Archives: Public Art

Public Art

Skelton Community Mosaic

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This mosaic was installed in September 2017 as part of the Skelton Townscape Heritage Project 

It was researched, designed and produced by the combined efforts of Skelton Villages Civic Pride, Redcar & Cleveland Council’s Community Development staff, the Skelton History Group, pupils at Skelton Primary School and Community artists Helen Jane Gaunt and Derek Mosey.

Skelton Through The Ages 1086 – 2017

      • 1086: The Domesday Book records the manor of Skelton
      • Arms of de Brus: Robert de Brus built the first castle in 12th Century
      • Skelton Castle: building the present castle began in 1788
      • Medieval agriculture: farming was an important part of village life for centuries
      • The old Parish Church: built 1785/86 on the foundations of the 13th Century church
      • A miner and his lamp: the ironstone mining boom in Skelton began in the 1860s

    Skelton Mosaic

    • The High Street and a new Parish Church followed in the 1870s and 1880s
    • A Cleveland Bay horse, England’s oldest breed, pulling a milk cart
    • A Swift flying overhead: their screams are a typical sound of summer
    • The War Memorial: commemorating the dead of two World Wars
    • The Cleveland Way: opened in May 1969
    • The Whipping Post: public punishment on the village green

    Skelton Mosaic

    • Ringrose Community Orchard: a new development, the heritage of the future
    • Children dance round the Maypole in front of the old Infants’ School
    • A sword dancer performing the Long Sword dance
    • 2017 – Planted tubs and a new tree reflect the latest changes

    Skelton Mosaic

Great Ayton Wicker Soldier

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The solider was first erected in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1.
Wicker Soldier, Great Ayton

Woollen medals knitted by the Great Ayton Knit and Knatter group are put on the soldier on the day each one was killed, also a minutes silence is held at the village war memorial on the exact centenary of their death.
War Memorial, Great Ayton

The project will continue into 2018 by which time all 50 who were killed will have been remembered.

Wicker Soldier, Great Ayton

 

Frank Wild Statue, Antarctic Explorer, Skelton

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Commander John Robert Francis “Frank” Wild CBE RNVR FRGS was born in Skelton in 1873.

Quoting Wikipedia :-

Frank Wild took part in the following Antarctic expeditions:

In 1901 he was a member of Robert Falcon Scott’s crew as an Able seaman on the Discovery, along with Ernest Shackleton who was then a sub-lieutenant.
He was with Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition 1908–1909 and was a member of the team that crossed the Ross Barrier and Beardmore Glacier at a record latitude of 88º23’S.
In 1911 he joined Douglas Mawson’s Aurora expedition and was in charge of the western base on the Shackleton Ice Shelf.
He served as Shackleton’s second-in-command on Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–1916).
He was second-in-command of the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition (1921–22).

Frank Wild was also awarded the ‘Polar Medal with Four Clasps’

On 29 September 2016 this statue by sculptor William Harling was unveiled in the Ringrose Orchard by Mr Anthony Wharton.

Frank Wild Statue, Skelton

Phoenix Sculpture, Dormanstown Primary

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This Phoenix Sculpture by Steve Tomlinson stands outside the new Dormanstown Primary Academy
Phoenix, Dormanstown Primary
As stated on the plaque it was donated by the Learning Team from the Newcastle Theatre Royal, presumably when the school was rebuilt, hence the Phoenix.
Phoenix, Dormanstown Primary
I previously captured the old school, previously known as Clara Lady Dorman being demolished in August 2011
Dormanstown Primary School (Demolished August 2011)

Mine Kibble – Cragg Hall, Brotton.

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Although there was an ironstone mine immediately adjacent at Cragg Hall, this is modern and is presumably also from the shaft sinking of Boulby Potash mine in the 1970s like the nearby grab.
Kibble, Cragg Hall, Brotton
The link appears to be Peter Roberts, ex-manager of Boulby who lived in Brotton (sadly he appears to have passed away just a couple of years ago)
Kibble, Cragg Hall, Brotton
For comparison, here’s the 1800’s ironstone kibble at Pinchinthorpe.
Codhill Kibble