Shropshire Star

New Bridgnorth trail is a walk of art

A popular art trail looping around a Shropshire town is set to get underway after a series of improvements.

Published
Map sponsors, Peepo owner Phillip Jeffrey and Alison York from Elizabeth Beckett Skincare with the new Bridgnorth Art Trail map

Following on from the 2018 Bridgnorth Art Trail which saw 5,500 people get involved, participants this year will be using brand new trail maps to take them around the two-mile loop with the addition of plaques delving into the railway history in the town.

Art Trail volunteers Donald Wightman and Cliff Bassett installed the plaques on plinths along the trail in efforts to raise awareness about the important role Richard Trevithick played in international railway heritage.

The 12 new plaques read: "This statue is based on the world’s first fare-paying passenger railway locomotive, Catch Me Who Can. It was designed by Richard Trevithick, built by John Urpeth Rastrick at Hazledine’s Foundry in Bridgnorth, and demonstrated in London in 1808. A full sized working replica engine is being built at the Severn Valley Railway by the Trevithick 200 charity."

Brian Jones, trustee of the Trevithick 200 charity, said the initiative was an excellent way to educate young people about the historical significance of Bridgnorth's connections to the railway industry.

Sponsors of the event and popular pit-stop along the trail Peepo Bistro & Bar provided the new and improved maps, along with Elizabeth Beckett Skincare.

The maps are being made available for free from more than 20 outlets across the town, including the visitor point on Listley Street and the library.

Cathy Fox, art trail co-organiser, prepared the maps ready for the start of the tourist season.

"We are continuously improving our trail maps based on feedback from visitors and local residents and we are extremely grateful to Kathryn Holloway of Promofix for her excellent design and production work," she said.

"We're sure everyone is going to like the latest edition."

Town councillor Julia Buckley, chair of the Bridgnorth Art Trail, said that a paint party is also being organised to add to this year's improvements, which will see all the plinths around the trail coated with a new lick of paint.