Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

PIT PONY

Region ID

MR

Work ID

400

Manual Reference

MR/WIG16

Title

PIT PONY

Sculptor

Wouda, Marjan

Date of design

1990-1

Year of unveiling

1991

Unveiling details

Road

Spinningate

Precise Location

in entrance to shopping centre

A to Z Ref

OS Ref

Postcode

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

Not listed

Duty of Care

Commissioned by

Groundwork Trust Wigan

Notes

Life-size sculpture of pit pony in harness and blinkers to keep the coal dust out of eyes. Embedded in the skin of the animal are objects associated with the mining industry

Sculpture commissioned by Groundwork Trust Wigan. The sculptor, Marjan Wouda, involved children from a local school in creating the sculpture. It was based on the ponies which worked underground in the local coalmines, pulling tubs of coal on rails. By the 1980s almost all of the local mines had been closed and the few remaining working pit ponies pensioned off. The skin of the pony reveals objects - rope, chains and buckles - associated with the mining industry. The completed sculpture was presented to the owners of the Spinningate shopping centre in Leigh where it was displayed.

Life-size sculpture of pit pony in harness and blinkers to keep the coal dust out of eyes. Embedded in the skin of the animal are objects associated with the mining industry

circa

raw year

1991

Condition

Fair

At risk

Not at risk

Inscriptions

Signatures

none visible

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

sculpture

coal dust and resin

140 cm x 200 cm x 55 cm

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character: nothing recorded

Structural Condition: nothing recorded

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

None