Latest S&DR celebrations see Yarm mural unveiled
A new mural in Yarm which tells the story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) has been revealed.
The stunning artwork on West Street is one of a series of works commissioned to mark the bicentenary of the S&DR, as part of the S&DR200 Festival.
Designed by local artists Abby and Owen, the piece faces the railway viaduct in West Street car park and is made up of eight panels which depict the emergence of steam power and its contribution to the industrial revolution of the nineteenth Century. They also link the railway story to the natural world, making reference to the ways in which trains contributed to the scattering of seeds and pollinators, along rail corridors and via the rivers they crossed.
The panels include the following themes:
- Stepping into our history
- Building a bridge to new horizons
- Creating real possibility
- United we move forward
- People brought together
- A story of innovation
- A moment of arrival
- A future in pollination
The mural is the latest celebration of the S&DR and will leave a lasting legacy for residents and visitors to enjoy.
This compliments the recent installation of the historic Head Wrightson No.21 locomotive at Teesdale Business Park, the former site of Head Wrightson's Teesdale Iron Works where the engine was built in 1870.
The engine's prominent positioning between the Infinity Bridge and the Millennium Footbridge establishes a heritage landmark location which showcases Stockton-on-Tees's cultural identity and is another way to proudly celebrate the Borough's engineering and railway heritage.
And set to arrive on Stockton Riverside in the coming weeks will be a three-metre tall, solar-powered, illuminated sculpture which will mark S&DR's legacy, its connection to the community and the importance of light in the safe movement of people and waggons. This will be the final piece in the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary celebrations and will be installed where the original railway ran down to the dockside in the early 19 Century.
Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "The mural at West Street is a permanent reminder of the importance of the North East region and our Borough's role in making history. It's a beautiful representation of the stories behind the railways and really gets over the impact S&DR had on so many aspects of life - from technology, industrialisation, trade and even nature.
"With the historic Head Wrightson No.21 locomotive back in Teesdale and a new sculpture set to be installed in coming months on the riverside, there will be many places for visitors coming to the area and residents to go, to enjoy and learn more about our railway heritage."
Reuben Kench, Chair of the Stockton & Darlington Rail Heritage Partnership, said: "These last few permanent installations now become part of the legacy of the Bicentenary celebrations, reminding future generations of our pride in that history.
"The S&DR200 Festival, taking place over 12 months throughout Stockton, Darlington and County Durham, has attracted millions of viewers and involved thousands of participants.
"It's been a pleasure to bring together so many organisations to make this all possible. It's also been a great pleasure to work with the artists, engineers and historians who have helped us deliver a fitting tribute to the ingenuity and determination of the original creators of the S&DR. The creativity and pride are obvious in the approach of Abby and Owen, whose mural is a rich and evocative representation of the multi-faceted story."
Artists Abby and Owen said: "As working-class creatives from Stockton-on-Tees with a love of railway poster art, it has been a huge honour to create a permanent piece of public art celebrating a story so deeply rooted in our own local heritage and our DNA as artists. We were previously commissioned to create official artwork for S&DR200, which depicts Locomotion No.1 crossing Skerne Bridge and is displayed at Preston Park Museum.
"This mural has allowed us to explore the story on a much bigger scale and is the result of six months of research, sketching and planning. The S&DR's 200-year legacy is an inspiring story of people, connection, collaboration, innovation, and so much more. We wanted the mural to feel like a series of windows into that remarkable human story, inviting people to pause, look closer, and connect with this story that they too are a part of. We're so grateful to have been asked to create these pieces, and hope the artwork brings joy, pride, and a sense of connection to residents and visitors for years to come."
S&DR200 has been delivered by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council. Major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, The National Heritage Lottery Fund, Network Rail and others.
