Nuneaton's Gold Belt

Last updated

Gold Belt
Nuneaton Gold Belt - right.JPG
The belt's right-hand end
Artist Alisha Miller
Year2003 (2003)
Location Nuneaton, England
Coordinates 52°31′15″N1°27′58″W / 52.52083°N 1.46611°W / 52.52083; -1.46611

The 'Gold Belt' is a public sculpture located in a walkway underneath the Vicarage Road bridge, Nuneaton, England. The walkway links Riversley Park and the George Eliot Memorial Gardens. [1]

Contents

The 'Gold Belt' was produced as a result of a project between local artist Alisha Miller, Warwickshire County Council and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in 2003.

The 'Gold Belt' represents a coal miner's leather belt. This reinforces a local connection through Nuneaton's mining heritage and also links to the Union Wool and Leather Factory that used to be located on the site of a supermarket close to Riversley Park. [1]

The work was inspired by the motto, "a good reputation is better than a belt of gold", of Edward Melly who donated the park to the people of Nuneaton in 1907. [2]

The Project

With financial support from the Countryside Agency and the Local Authorities, a project developed allowing for research into the local area, community workshops and reminiscence activities. [1]

The research included identifying a spot suitable and meaningful for the sculpture. The bridge was identified as a space that could be transformed through having public artwork. [1]

The workshops involved local children and students and were held at Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery. Historical talks were given and the participants worked with Miller to produce artwork of local scenes. Some of these local scenes are featured on the belt, along with drawings produced by Miller of other local public artwork and features. [1]

A reminiscence session was held at Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery, sharing photographs and memories with the older community members. These memories were collected and featured alongside the images on the belt. [1]

The work was unveiled by the mayor of Nuneaton, Ian Lloyd, on 11 October 2003. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuneaton</span> Market town in Warwickshire, England

Nuneaton is a market town in the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth in northern Warwickshire, England, located adjacent to the county border with Leicestershire to the north-east. Nuneaton's population at the 2021 census was 94,634, an increase from 86,552 at the 2011 census making it the largest town in Warwickshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedworth</span> Human settlement in England

Bedworth is a market town and unparished area in the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire, England. It is situated between Coventry, 6 miles to the south, and Nuneaton, 3 miles (5 km) to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Rugby</span> Borough and Non-metropolitan district in England

The Borough of Rugby is a local government district with borough status in eastern Warwickshire, England. The borough comprises the town of Rugby where the council has its headquarters, and the rural areas surrounding the town. The borough has a population of 114,400 (2021). Of which, 78,125 live in Rugby itself and the remainder living in the surrounding areas. Aside from Rugby itself, more notable settlements include Binley Woods, Brinklow, Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, Dunchurch, Long Lawford, Monks Kirby, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Stretton-on-Dunsmore and Wolston, and the new large development of Houlton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warwickshire</span> County of England

Warwickshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon and Victorian novelist George Eliot,, at Nuneaton. Other significant towns include Rugby, Leamington Spa, Bedworth, Kenilworth and Atherstone. The county offers a mix of historic towns and large rural areas. It is a popular destination for international and domestic tourists to explore both medieval and more recent history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Warwickshire</span> Borough & Non-metropolitan district in England

North Warwickshire is a local government district with borough status in the ceremonial county of Warwickshire, West Midlands, England. The borough includes the two towns of Atherstone and Coleshill, and the large villages of Polesworth, Kingsbury, Hartshill and Water Orton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulkington</span> Village in Warwickshire, England

Bulkington is a large village and former civil parish, now in the unparished area of Bedworth, in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2011 census the ward had a population of 6,146 and 6,303 in the 2001 census. It is located around 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Coventry, just east of the towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth and 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Hinckley. Despite historically having stronger links with Bedworth, Bulkington forms part of the Nuneaton Urban Area. Bulkington was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Bochintone, meaning "estate associated with a man called Bulca".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Anker</span> River in England

The River Anker is a river in England that flows through the centre of Nuneaton. It is a major tributary of the River Tame, which it joins in Tamworth. The name of the river derives from an old British term for winding river. From source to river mouth at Tamworth is 50 kilometres (31 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coventry–Nuneaton line</span>

The Coventry to Nuneaton Line is a railway line linking Coventry and Nuneaton in the West Midlands of England. The line has a passenger service. It is also used by through freight trains, and freight trains serving facilities on the route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedworth railway station</span> Railway station in Warwickshire, England

Bedworth railway station serves the town of Bedworth in Warwickshire, England. It is on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line 6.25 miles (10 km) north of Coventry railway station. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by West Midlands Trains.

Hawkesbury or Hawkesbury Village is a village in the unparished area of Bedworth, in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. Located in between Coventry and Bedworth. In 2021 it had a population of 2290.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weddington, Nuneaton</span> Village in Warwickshire, England

Weddington is an area of Nuneaton and former civil parish, now in the unparished area of Nuneaton, in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district, in the county of Warwickshire, England. It bounded on the northeast by Watling Street, and on the west by the River Anker. The Ward population taken at the 2011 census was 7,256. In 1921 the parish had a population of 87.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bermuda Park railway station</span> Railway station in Warwickshire, England

Bermuda Park railway station is a railway station in the Bermuda area of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. It serves the Bermuda Park Industrial Estate, on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line between the existing stations at Nuneaton and Bedworth. Funding for the new station was approved in December 2011, along with that for the new Coventry Arena railway station. Both stations opened on 18 January 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 North Warwickshire Borough Council election</span>

Elections to North Warwickshire District Council were held on Thursday 5 May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery</span> Museum and gallery in Riversley Park, Nuneaton, England

Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery is set in the grounds of Riversley Park, Nuneaton, England, and has three galleries which house regularly changing temporary and touring exhibitions. There is a gallery dedicated to the writer George Eliot, together with two others focusing on local history and fine art. There is a small display of objects which belonged to the comedian Larry Grayson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayward Gallery</span> Art gallery in London, England

The Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre in central London, England and part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the National Theatre and BFI Southbank repertory cinema. Following a rebranding of the South Bank Centre to Southbank Centre in early 2007, the Hayward Gallery was known as the Hayward until early 2011.

Whittleford Park is a 43 hectare greenspace located between Stockingford and Camp Hill in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Although its development as a public park by Warwickshire County Council only started in 2005 it has a long industrial history involved in coal mining and brick and tile making.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riversley Park</span>

Riversley Park is an urban park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, which covers an area of 13 acres and is located immediately to the south of the town centre, with the River Anker flowing through it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Judd (Nuneaton)</span>

Mount Judd is a man made hill and landmark in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bridging Time, Nuneaton's Gold Belt. Warwickshire, England: The Countryside Agency, Warwickshire County Council, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. 2003.
  2. "Gold Belt - Riversley Park, Nuneaton". Alisha Miller. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  3. "Mayor to unveil mystery artwork". Coventry Telegraph. 6 October 2003.