Stunning Queen Elizabeth II mosaic to brighten up town centre subway
Images of two queens are set to brighten up a Newcastle subway in new tiled design commemorating the borough’s 850th anniversary. The underpass emerges into the Queens Gardens in the town centre and features Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.
The subway tiles have been designed by artist Liz Taylor of Parleycoot, who is based on the Staffordshire/Cheshire border, made by Tunstall-based Digital Ceramics and installed by LP Tiling of Kidsgrove. The artwork portrays the two monarchs at different stages of their lives.
Queens Gardens already has a statue of Queen Victoria, first unveiled in the town in 1903, and it’s hoped that will soon be joined by a statue of Queen Elizabeth[1], designed and sculpted by renowned local artist Andy Edwards.
READ: Council commissions statue of Queen Elizabeth II – here’s a sneak peek[2] | It is based on Her Majesty’s visit to Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1973
READ: ‘Ghost sign’ revealed at former Chesterton bakery that made 2,400 loaves an hour[3] | Swettenhams Model Bakery opened in 1939 and produced up to 345,600 loaves a week
Once the Queens Gardens subway is complete, the next upgrade will be the large underpass at Pool Dam, where a gallery-style design will include photographs from The Brampton archive.
The council’s wider programme of subway art includes the whole of Grosvenor roundabout; Ryecroft subway, which focuses on circus; and Knutton Lane subway which reflects the history of Newcastle and Britain in Bloom.
A subway in Newcastle town centre will feature two queens in a bespoke design to celebrate the borough’s 850th anniversary. (Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)
Newcastle Borough Council leader Simon Tagg said: “There has been a rolling programme of improving the subways ringing the town centre, cleaning them, putting up fresh designs and CCTV where appropriate to make them feel safer and brighter.
“With the recent anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s death 12 months ago, we wanted to do something special – and also complement the hope that we will soon have a statue of each monarch in Queens Gardens.
“Newcastle is steeped in history and the different designs on the subway walls reflect our rich heritage. Once the work is complete I think people will agree that it looks fantastic.”
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References
- ^ joined by a statue of Queen Elizabeth (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Council commissions statue of Queen Elizabeth II – here’s a sneak peek (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Ghost sign’ revealed at former Chesterton bakery that made 2,400 loaves an hour (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Sign up for email alerts from StokeonTrentLive direct to your inbox here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)