Whitworth
Whitworth UKSPF
From the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Whitworth as an area has been awarded £25,000 to spend.
Consultation began with residents, students and councillors, in order to find out which areas in Whitworth areas were in need of improvement and which areas matter the most to people who live, work and visit Whitworth.
Members of the Economic Development team from Rossendale Borough Council, visited Whitworth High School, and consulted with school council students around what areas matter most to them, and what improvements they'd like to see. The students feedback was then used to shape the decisions made.
The Economic Development officers then met with Whitworth Town councillors, and visits of areas across Whitworth were conducted, in order to give context to the officers around the area and which parts were at most need of improvement. The councillors were able to share feedback directly from residents, as well as understanding the information collected by officers from the school pupils.
From this research, a list of priority projects was agreed by Whitworth town councillors, and shared with officers.
The following three projects were chosen:
A mural at railway steps between Quarry Street and Knowsley Crescent, and installation of new litter bin
A seating area on the corner of Tong Lane and Cowm Park Way
Improvements to the Whitworth Square area
The Mural
An expression of interest was put out to local artists to let them know about the opportunity to paint the railway steps between Quarry Street and Knowsley Crescent.
Two artists were interested in the project and it was decided that each artist would paint one wall, to represent two different art styles, both in tribute to Whitworth’s railway history.
Amy Callahan painted 'The Spirit of Shawforth'
In her own words:
‘A mural that was a collaborative process with Whitworth Museum and the students of Whitworth Community High School, looking into the depths of not only what the site once was (Shawforth Train Station).
But also, the people who lived there throughout the past, and what they did.
Motifs in the background were inspired by the original Whit Walk banner of Shawforth to honour the procession, alongside the tradition of Rose Queens.
The figures also represent:
The Whitworth Rushcart (which originally started at Landgate)
The young men who went to war in WW1
The Shawforth Shufflers (a children's clog dancing group)
Ailse O Fusser's (a local legendary packhorse rider),
The Majorettes
The old local football team
The goal was to bring intrigue to young people about what heritage can be.
To make them look beyond the surface of what's obvious to a place, research topics and then tell a story through heritage.
Personally as an artist, I wanted young people to understand that heritage can be vibrant, it can build intriguing and it's something for them to enjoy. Bringing a small idea into a giant space, creating a more welcoming environment for younger people while celebrating the past.'
A visit by the students involved with the project, part way through
Andy Scholes
‘I approached this project knowing that this was the site of the former Shawforth Railway Station and having visited on several occasions an idea formed to produce some large lettering.
I based the style on research and examples I found of lettering on various Railway Engines and Carriages from an era when this was the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) line.
The length and height of the site created an opportunity to paint the large letters that could be glimpsed from either entrance hopefully drawing the viewer in to reveal the full image.’
