Newton Aycliffe sculpture lowered into place

Jun 3 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

CRANES yesterday lowered a 16-metre high steel sculpture into place which celebrates a County Durham town’s workers.

The 4.7-tonne In Our Image takes the form of a gigantic head and shoulders and is intended to mark Newton Aycliffe’s industrial heritage and symbolise regeneration.

The monument, by Gateshead sculptor Joseph Hillier, has been two years in the making.

It was commissioned by the former Sedgefield Council, with the project now being delivered by Durham County Council.

In Our Image will act as a gateway to Aycliffe Business Park – the second largest park of its type in the North East.

The artwork features five laser-cut figures that look to be working and climbing upon the vast grid of welded steel to give the impression that the sculpture is ‘under construction’.

The figures were modeled on workers from Newton Aycliffe-based firm Aycliffe Fabrications which constructed the sculpture.

Neil Foster, county council member for regeneration and economic development, said: “In Our Image will go a long way to represent the hard work and progress that has been made in regenerating Newton Aycliffe.”

Christine Bewley, director of Aycliffe Fabrications, said: “In Our Image has been the most technically challenging project our workforce has ever attempted.”