Limestone Journeys Triple Echo: ‘Top O’ The World’
New Stone Sculptures at Poulter Country Park
A tall and gleaming ivory-coloured rhino horn can be glimpsed through the trees at Poulter Country Park.
Artist and master craftsman stone waller Ewan Allinson has been commissioned by Junction Arts, Bolsover Countryside Partnership and Limestone Journeys to create three new sculptures using Magnesian Limestone.
Referencing the history of the area from the Ice Age until the present day, the main piece will incorporate rhino-horn and jawbone-like shapes and will be visible from miles around. Two smaller pieces will incorporate seating and act as way-markers in the park, a re-greened ex-colliery site managed by Bolsover Countryside Partnership.
Ewan says: ‘This area was an Ice Age Serengeti! 15,000 years ago you would have seen the same kinds of animals that you see on the Savannah today. People hunted the animals and inhabited the caves around here. These ideas inspired my design for the piece.’
The artworks are part of the developing Poulter Country Park sculpture trail, which connects to the new Archaeological Way multi-user trail. The title ‘Top O’ The World’ was inspired by a story from a local family whose late father coined the name for the viewing point at the top of the park, which offers panoramic views over three counties.
Ewan has worked with community members during the development of the project, demonstrating stonecarving at Langwith show and meeting members of the public at Limestone Journeys’ 5Fest and Whaley Langwith Heritage Centre.
He also delivered two days of stone carving workshops at Whaley Thorns and Langwith Bassett Primary Schools in July with around 50 Key Stage 2 pupils. Langwith Bassett Primary School teacher Helen Turner said: ‘All the children involved were very excited about taking part. They are keen to see their ideas being incorporated into the final piece.’
Ewan will be working on site until late October, assisted by local volunteers, and visitors are welcome to drop by and see him at work. An afternoon launch event is planned for Tuesday 24th November at ‘Top O’ The World’.
For more information, please contact Aly Stoneman, Project Coordinator, Junction Arts: aly@junctionarts.org 01246 209219
This project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through the Limestone Journeys Programme in partnership with Bolsover Countryside Partnership, Derbyshire County Council and Junction Arts.
