Riverside sculptures paying tribute to Sunderland's shipbuilding heritage set for council decision

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Plans for new riverside sculptures honouring Sunderland's shipbuilding past are due to be presented to councillors next week. Sunderland City Council's Planning and Highways Committee will review separate applications for new public art pieces along the riverside walkway in the St Peter's ward.

Two of the sculptures have been crafted by renowned North East artist Ray Lonsdale, complementing the 'Gan Canny' sculpture at Keel Square in the city centre. The third sculpture, a tribute to the city's overlooked women shipyard workers, is the creation of Dr Ron Lawson, a Sunderland-born artist who began his career in heavy industry.

These new sculptures will join Sunderland's Sculpture Trail, which was initiated over thirty years ago and now extends along the final part of the Coast to Coast cycle route. Planning applications for the three sculptures have already been made public, with the artworks expected to be installed later this year, subject to planning approval.

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The first Ray Lonsdale piece, 'It Says Here', is a large sculpture portraying two shipyard workers sharing their lunch together and will be situated on the riverside walkway between Palmer's Hill Road and the 'Shadows in Another Light' sculpture. The second piece from the artist, 'Launch Day', will be located nearby and depicts a young girl sitting with her grandfather overlooking the river Wear, listening to tales of what it was like to work in the shipyards.

A planning and design statement submitted to the council explains that the sculptures aim to "pay tribute to the city as a global hub of shipbuilding" and to "tell the story of the decline of shipbuilding in the city and ultimately the closure of the yards".

The third sculpture, commissioned by the Sunderland branch of the Soroptimists, Sunderland City Council, and Apextra CIC, is a tribute to the hundreds of Wearside women who played a vital role in the city's shipyards during World War II.

According to planning documents, the sculpture, titled 'Molly', is set to be installed on the riverside walkway opposite the National Glass Centre.

The three planning applications will be discussed at a meeting of Sunderland City Council's Planning and Highways Committee at City Hall next week.

Council planning officers have recommended approval for all three applications, deeming the public artworks acceptable. In a committee report, council planners stated that the applications meet design and visual impact requirements, and that the sculptures will not have any "unacceptable impacts" on heritage assets, highway safety, ecology, or archaeology.

The Sculpture Trail, a decade-long project from 1991 to 2001 by sculptor Colin Wilbourn and writer Chaz Brenchley, was designed to merge Sunderland's history and present, with local residents playing a significant role in its creation.

'Shadows in Another Light' is one of the sculptures on the trail, its base adorned with plaques depicting Sunderland's history, including the Lambton Worm. These were crafted in workshops by blind and partially sighted individuals.

The trail also features a 'shadow' of a hammerhead crane, a common sight in Sunderland shipyards, and 'Taking Flight', which depicts a cormorant taking flight in five stages.

Outside the University of Sunderland, there's a collection of large stone books named 'Pathways to Knowledge', referencing Bede and the Great Library of St Peter's. Additionally, a series of three doors called 'Passing Through' symbolise the past, present, and future.

Earlier this year, Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: ""The sculpture trail has been a huge success since its launch.

"We have every confidence that these three new sculptures will continue to build on its success, by drawing more people to the area while ensuring the city's fascinating story continues to be told to future generations."

The final decision on the three new sculptures will be made by members of the Planning and Highways Committee, who are set to meet next on September 30 at City Hall. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to start from 5.30pm.