Featherstone sculpture to honour town's mining heritage

The sculpture by artist Luke Perry will stand approximately 13ft (4m) high when finished

A pit wheel sculpture inspired by Featherstone's mining heritage is to be installed in the town.

The artwork, called The Unbroken Wheel, will be situated on Wakefield Road opposite the Aldi store.

Comprising two decommissioned mining wheels, the 2.5 tonne sculpture by artist Luke Perry will stand approximately 13ft (4m) high.

According to the plans it will be a "sculptural symbol of a community whose labour fuelled the nation".

Planning permission for the sculpture, which was commissioned by Featherstone Town Council, was granted by Wakefield Council on Wednesday.

'Unique symbol'

The two wheels will appear in contrasting colours, one in red oxide paint to symbolise the town's "heritage" and the other in galvanised silver to symbolise its "hope" for the future, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A planning statement submitted to the local authority said: "It will highlight the strength of those whose work built and supported the town whilst unifying the community in celebration of its heritage, creating a unique symbol for its current and future people."

Featherstone was home to three collieries - Featherstone Main, Ackton Hall and Snydale.

During the history of the three pits, more than 300 miners lost their lives at work and in 1893 the town came to national attention when soldiers were ordered to shoot at a crowd of striking miners, killing two, in an event which became known as the Featherstone Massacre.