Hetton Railway Bicentenary Sculpture

HETTON RAILWAY BICENTENARY SCULPTURE

200 years after the first complete railway designed by George Stephenson was opened by the Hetton Coal Company in 1822. The Hetton Railway Bicentenary Sculpture was unveiled at a Celebration Banquet on the 19th of November 2022 at Hallgarth Manor.

Funding for the project was raised by the Coalfields Area Committee of Sunderland City Council, Crowdfunding and the HCR 200 charity. Ron Lawson did the fabrication and Norfolk Street Arts the glass panels and work with schools and community groups. The design would be based upon the first Stephenson engines used on the railway as shown on the Bouvier’s lithograph.

Workshops were carried out with a total of 9 schools, they engaged with 440 individuals across 23 workshop sessions. Each session comprised a brief history of the Hetton Colliery Railway and its international importance. Work was carried out with participants to create their own glass panel inspired by the history. Ceramic techniques were used to fuse the glass, giving each panel texture. When all of the tiles were completed they were be fired in a glass kiln to form larger panel sections, which were  fitted to the steel frame of the locomotive to form the body panels of the sculpture, which was provided with LED lighting fitted.

The sculpture is at present on display in the Heritage Room of Easington Lane Community Access Point, where it has been visited by participating schools, special guests/partners such as Redhills of Durham Miners Association. This has resulted in additional footfall, potentially leading to the "rejuvenation" of the Heritage Room, subject to a successful funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will be moved to its permanent location in the Heritage and Visitor Centre of the new Elemore Eco Park, when it opens in March.