Footfall first mural - âNEW TRACKSâ A Cambrian Heritage Steam Engine
Footfall has predominantly been an empty shops project within Oswestry utilising window space for community exhibitions. However, it has always been the plan to include underused spaces within the scheme, which has led to the decision to undertake a large-scale external mural project on the side-wall of Home Bargains on New St.
Stephen Haworth, one of the Footfall community partners representatives for OS21, has recently visited the town of Kati Kati in New Zealand, which has become known as âMural Townâ. Kati Kati was a former gold mining town and seriously on the decline in the 1990âs. Roughly the size of Whittington, since 1998 it has had forty-seven large murals painted, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world and transforming the townâs fortunes. Footfall hopes to kick start a similar scheme for Oswestry in order to attract more visitors to the town and help to make the town centre a more vibrant and attractive place for everyone to enjoy.
The site chosen for this first large scale mural seemed a dull and unattractive, urban wall having neither windows nor doors, nor other notable architectural features. Its location though, within the heart of Oswestryâs conservation area and beside a significant pedestrian thoroughfare between the Bailey Street and Willow Street was ideal for this brightening-up project.
Oswestry was the original headquarters for the Cambrian railway, making the railway theme very much in keeping with the townâs heritage. This is particularly relevant now, as the Cambrian railway trust continue in their efforts to reinstate an operating heritage railway within the town. Further, the shape of the bricked section of the wall lent itself ideally to that of a âmovingâ steam train.
For historical correctness a lot of research was undertaken to ensure correct designs, colours, costumes, motifs and logos, in keeping with Cambrian brand and the Edwardian period in which the train is depicted. The carriage colours chosen are brown & white and one of three colour schemes in use during the Cambrian Railway period between 1864 and 1921. Emblems on the carriages and black locomotive include Prince of Wales feathers and the company logo of heraldic shield incorporating a halved St Georgeâs cross with Welsh Dragon recognising the companyâs border location.Â
Local artist and theatre set designer Anna Roberts - who has been a regular volunteer with the Footfall project since it launched in October 2009, put together the original designs for the mural. She was then commissioned by Footfall to complete the project. From her work in theatre Anna is highly qualified and skilled in large-scale artwork and was therefore the ideal local artist to undertake this project. The mural has taken Anna just over three weeks to complete with paintwork assistance from volunteers Tomi Russell and Janice Roberts.
The mural is a first for Oswestry, so it has been difficult to explain to possible sponsors, its true potential value and impact. Therefore in order to get the project off the ground the majority of the funding has been found from within Footfallâs limited budget, assisted by a small donation of ÂŁ250 from Home Bargains and a very generous rate from the artist. Footfall currently does not have the funding to do anything else on this scale, however some grant-aid has been applied for and it is hoped that once people recognise the value of external artworks that others; perhaps local business may help to fund future projects. With grant assistance, perhaps through the LJC, Market Towns Revitalisation Programme or Natwest Community Force scheme, it is hoped that funding for a further five murals within the town over the next year may be possible.
It has taken many months to get to this stage and Footfall would like to thank Stephen Haworth - Footfall PR for OS21 for his perseverance in obtaining all the necessary permissions etc⊠to undertake such a large-scale project. Special thanks also go to Home Bargains, Mason & Owen estate agents on behalf of the landlords, Oswestry Town Council and Shropshire Council employees Steve Oakley and Kate Garner. Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow and Area Director Chris Edwards helped in agreeing to underwrite the scheme for the long term. Thanks are also due to Shropshire Councilâs conservation department, Discover Shropshire volunteers, Cambrian Heritage Railways and of course all Footfallâs partners representatives and volunteers.Â
Over the coming years Footfall hopes to present other murals on large walls and alleyways within the town, themed to Oswestryâs history, culture or traditions, eventually creating a âMarchesâ, mural town recognising and promoting the wealth of artists and talent resident within this area.
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