Trefonen’s mining past celebrated
Trefonen residents were in for a surprise as a six-foot high steel silhouette of a miner appeared on the skyline on Friday 18 May 2012.
The sculpture was one of three inspiring pieces of work erected by sculptor David Howorth on the old pit mound on Trefonen Playing Field to celebrate the village’s mining history. An octagonal safety fence, depicting mining scenes around the old pit shaft, and another steel miner hacking his way on the side of the mound, completed the trio.
David Howorth was commissioned by the local Heritage Group to undertake this work as part of the phase 2 developments of the Field, funded by a Community Spaces (Lottery) grant.
Trefonen Playing Field Association have been co-ordinating the development projects on the Field and raising the money to fund them. The Association have been working closely with Shropshire Council who own and maintain the site.
Local schoolpupils from Class 4 of Trefonen Primary School, with their teacher Naomi Phillips, met David and his son (who has just designed and fitted a cover for the Blue Peter pond) in the morning, and local volunteers helped lift the sculptures into place in the afternoon.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for parks and open spaces, said:-
“It’s great to see villages like Trefonen being given funding to help enhance their environment and to symbolise and preserve their industrial history. These sculptures will be an interesting addition to the local landscape, which I am sure the residents of Trefonen will be very proud of.”
Joyce Barrow, Shropshire Councillor for St Oswald and a Trefonen resident herself, said:
“These sculptures are fantastic and really complement the landscape, whilst celebrating our local history and heritage in an innovative and exciting way. This remarkable work is a testament to the amazing efforts of all those involved in the project. I am sure these sculptures will undoubtedly draw many more visitors and walkers to Trefonen who will be curious to see the visual impact of the landscape of such inspiring pieces of art.”
Last weekend the Shropshire Way North project opened a 38-mile route that loops around Oswestry. This long distance footpath passes beside the Trefonen Field, and the guide to Route 24 draws the attention of walkers to the sculptures and the mining and brick-making past of the settlement.
There will be a formal launch of the developments on the Field at a fun afternoon on Sunday 2 September 2012.
Further information
1. Trefonen Playing Field Association has been co-ordinating the development projects on the Field and raising the money to fund them, working closely with Shropshire Council who own and maintain the site. Chairman – Howard Martin. Secretary – Kathleen Kimber Shropshire Council Green Space Officer – Shaun Burkey.
2. The Heritage Group: formed in May 2011 and committed to preserving and promoting the history of the area, particularly its industrial heritage. The group has commissioned the sculptures and interpretation panels for the site. It will shortly begin work on promotional printed material, including walks leaflets and a pod cast.
3. Trefonen Playing Field developments: following a household survey in the autumn of 2009, and detailed survey work on the Field, a development plan for the whole site was drawn up and endorsed by Shropshire Council.
Phase 1: begun in September 2010, focused on levelling and draining the central pitch area. A major grant was awarded by Shropshire Council Community Fund. This work has yet to be completed with the installation of secondary drainage, due in May/June 2012.
Phase 2: begun in November 2011, included the heritage area, wildlife areas, planting 100 trees and shrubs, a trim trail, and a car park off the Oswestry/Trefonen road. A major grant was awarded by Community Spaces (Lottery) and the Hilton Jones Trust has funded the trim trail equipment, to be installed late June/July.
