A sculpture celebrating Tebay’s rich railway heritage could be installed at the village roundabout as part of a £25,000 project.
The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and based at Tebay, is looking for a sculptor and is working with the parish council.
Tebay Parish Council was told that, following a successful public consultation exercise attended by 60 people, preference was given for an image of a steam engine.
Scheme manager David Evans said the wish was to appoint a specialist sculptor to design, manufacture and install the sculpture as part of an artistic engagement project.
“Our vision is to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales, enabling more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from this inspirational landscape,” said Mr Evans.
He added that the aim of the Tebay roundabout sculpture project was to raise awareness of the area’s railway heritage, including the existing and redundant routes through the area and the people who worked on and around the railway.
During the recent consultation event, people favoured celebrating a bank engine, said Mr Evans. These locomotives waited in the sheds at Tebay for pushing heavy passenger trains up Shap Bank on Shap Fell.
“Shap Bank was arguably the most popular venue for railway photographers during steam days. Rising at a steady gradient of 1 in 75 the line reaches the summit at milepost 267½, a distance of five miles from Tebay. At its height over 200 people worked from Tebay on the railways.
“Tebay was also the junction where the former South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway joined what is now the West Coast main line. The railway, which closed in the 1960s, ran through the centre of the roundabout and along what is now the A685 to Kirkby Stephen,” said Mr Evans.
Tebay roundabout is located off Junction 38 of the M6, on the east side of the motorway with roads heading off to Orton, Kirkby Stephen and Kendal. It is hoped that the sculptor will explore creative ways to design and manufacture a passive, see-through, low maintenance, steel sculpture of approximately five metres in diameter which celebrates the area’s railway heritage and sits gently and sensitively in the landscape.
In addition, the aim is for the sculpture to stimulate interest in Tebay’s landscape and heritage, encourage visitors and in turn support local businesses.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for a sculptor to help bring Tebay’s railway heritage to life. So, if you’re interested, or know somebody who might be, do get in touch.” added Mr Evans.
