'Everlasting' wall made by 4,000 children turns 25

A long, meandering, decorative wall on a sunny day. Grass around it and trees behind. The wall has thousands of tiles each with an individual design. A blue line travels through the wall, bending, representing the river and splitting up the themes of the tiles.Image source, Chippenham Town Council
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The Millennium Wall is well-known in Chippenham and sits on a path alongside the river

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A quarter of a century ago, 4,000 children in one town had a part in the creation of a 50m-long wall, all to commemorate the millennium.

The Millennium Wall in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is also 2m high and covered with individual tiles, each decorated by a child between five and 12 years old in 2000.

A ceremony by the town council to mark 25 years since it's construction reflected on the history.

"At the time of the opening, a little boy said 'this is like Stonehenge. It will always be there,'" said Jack Konynenburg, one of the main organisers who was then the Principal Architect at North Wiltshire District Council.

Stacks of tiles leaning against each other on a table outside, each with a carefully etched unique design, like black pencil drawings.Image source, Chippenham Museum
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While those children who took part will now be in their 30s or 40s, their initials are on each tile

"It'll still be there in 125 years time, unless they develop the riverside or something like that. In all essence, it'll be there in thousands of years time," he added.

He explained that to make sure it was "everlasting", they cast it in concrete, including putting all the tiles on that way too, which involved "numerous contractors", some of whom were specialists.

A large group of people on a sunny day, standing in front of the wall on the footpath. All are looking at the camera, the wall and trees behind them. Connecting the two halves of the wall over the path is a long arched blue bar. Image source, Chippenham Town Council
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Chippenham Town Council had had a ceremony marking 25 years since the creation of the wall

The headteachers at Chippenham's schools - there were nine then - wanted a project to involve all of them.

The children were given themes to decorate the tiles around like culture, transport, environment and the the future: "They're all really good. There are none that are not interesting."

Potter Christopher White co-ordinated the artists and potters who worked with the schools and children to get the tiles done.

He made letter stamps so each child could imprint their initials: "One of the nice aspects is that it would then be possible so that anybody who'd been involved would be able to show the tile they made to their kids sometime down the line."

Christopher White using a paintbrush on some of the tiles on the wall. He is concentrating on his task and wears glasses, a blue shirt and black jeansImage source, Chippenham Museum
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Christopher White is one of the potters involved - he co-ordinated them and made stamps for the childrens initials

The shape was designed by sixth form students at Hardenhuish School, so with the wall next to the river, there is a blue line that meanders like it, dividing the themes.

Mr Konynenburg said it took over his life for about four months: "It's one of those projects that I was immensely proud to be involved in."

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