Arts and heritage trail unveiled at Navigation House

The unique urban art trail comprising 18 cast bronze roundels which reflect the heritage, archaeology, architecture and natural history of the town, will be installed around the town this autumn.

Artist David Mackie, who lead the project, attended the preview along with other organisations and local people involved

The exhibition of all the bronzes is at Navigation House, off Carre Street until October 14. It also includes drawings, prints and other work by local children and residents, which helped generate the final designs.

Early inspiration came from a collection of Iron Age coin moulds that had been found at Sleaford Old Place and from the Cragg map of Sleaford dating from around 1770.

William Alvey School children worked with the shapes and symbols on similar coins and developed designs by working on copies of the map. They created imagery drawn from visits to St Denys’ Church, Sleaford Museum, important and historical buildings in the town, Sleaford’s public art collection and walks along the river.

Workshops with textile artist Becky Adams for pupils at Carre’s Grammar School and St George’s Academy as well as sessions with local families and voluntary groups resulted in further designs.

Mr Mackie has also worked with William Alvey School on Project 72, to create a special artwork to commemorate the 72 local men from the school who died in the First World War. He is pictured (right) with Coun Richard Wright and project co-ordinator Lucy Lumb.