Restoration work begins on Friar Gate landmark
THIS week work is taking place to restore the damaged ‘Derby Heads’ in the city centre.
Artist Tim Clapcott will be working to replace the damaged heads around the base of a tree on Friar Gate.
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The Derby Heads on Friar Gate
The artwork is part of a series originally designed with help from the Royal School for the Deaf and Blind nearly 13 years ago, as part of the Sustrans cycle network improvements.
The Heads are linked to the Reform Bill Riots uprising and the gaol nearby and relate to those convicted.
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The Heads also form part of the city's ghost trail.
Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, cabinet member for planning, environment and public protection, said: “The Derby Heads are a popular attraction on Friar Gate, with photographs regularly being taken by visitors as they pass by.
"They are loved by all ages, with children even playing on them and they are fast becoming an important focal point for our city’s heritage.
"I’m delighted that they are being restored to their former glory.”
The construction work will take one week and will cost £15,000 funded through Derby City Council’s Public Realm budget.
2 Comments
by Derby_born
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:15PM
“The Article has a glaring mistake as the school for the deaf was called "The Royal School for The Deaf and Dumb" not "the deaf and blind"
http://tinyurl.com/b4svuqp
The heads were funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and represent the angry faces of crowds of rioters during the Electoral Reform Riots of 1831. At the time, the rioters uprooted a lamp post and used it to batter down the door of th Derby Gaol on Friar Gate and release the prisoners and the malitia shot several rioters during the action.
I remember my first sight of these heads left me feeling rather puzzled as I could see no point to them. However I soon came to appreciate their importance as a memorial to the fight for our electoral rights. It is shameful that drunken louts could get away with smashing the artwork, they should be found and made to pay the full cost of restoration.
£15,000 is a lot of money, but it iscan expense that would not have been neccessary had brainless morons not caused the damage in the first place!”
by IwasRight
Monday, February 25 2013, 3:15PM
“Yes, that's £15,000. One weeks work. How much was this new?”