Wheel of Time

Wheel of Time was designed and created by Artist Fiona Gray in 2008. The metal ring represents the community in Birtley with the text showing both the new & old areas that make up the town. Using the metal ring was inspired by images of artillery shell casings, the ends of which have text stamped into them. This links directly with the armorments factory based in the town. The metal ring would be made in brushed Stainless steel with the text etched into the surface. Making the ring in metal also represents other industries such as the iron works & the tin plate factory that made milk churns, bread bins etc.

The two brick towers are constructed from a mixture of aged handmade bricks with an uneven colour & rough texture, along with new looking smooth evenly coloured ones. The pillar will start with the old bricks at the base, new bricks at the top & a mixture in the middle giving a graduated effect. There used to be seven brick companies in the town, now only one still remains. The choice of bricks represents the history of Birtley & the present day while the shape of the pillars gives reference the industrial heritage of the town.

 A series of community workshops were undertaken with Birtley Partnership; Housebound group; Barley Mow School; Barley Mow Youth Club; History Group and Lord Lawson School. Project funded & supported by Gateshead Council in partnership with Birtley Town Partnership.

More about the artist: Fiona Gray designs (opens new window)