Sky Watch: Pointing Heavenwards

Today's photo is another view, looking skyward, of the sculpture in Henry Square to commemorate the 1917 Munitions Explosion in Ashton's West End.
The explosion occurred at the factory of Hooley Hill Rubber and Chemical Works on William Street in Ashton's West End, which was producing TNT for First World War bombs. Forty-three people lost their lives in the explosion and hundreds more were injured. Among the casualties were many schoolchildren on their way home from school.

The stainless steel sculpture, inspired by drawings by local children, was created by Paul Margetts, who has other pieces of sculpture elsewhere around Ashton.

This sculpture was previously seen here in June 2008, soon after it was installed.

See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It will link with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Small Bang

Another piece of sculpture to appear recently in Ashton is this stainless steel work in Henry Square by Paul Margetts, creator of The Family and Glory of the Garden, situated elsewhere in Ashton.

This creation is intended to be a memorial to those who lost their lives in the 1917 Munitions Explosion in Ashton's West End and is said to be inspired by drawings by local children.

When I arrived at Henry Square I looked all around without seeing the sculpture. Then I noticed it right over in one corner, easily overlooked by those passing by. I have to confess to being a little disappointed in it and thought that something a little more grand should commemorate what was probably Ashton's biggest tragedy. "B-of-the-Bang" this isn't!

Glory of the Garden

"Glory of the Garden" is another sculpture from Paul Margetts, creator of The Family.

The 3.5 metres high sculpture is situated in the Radcliffe Freedom Gardens, near the junction of Oldham Road and Water Street. The inspiration for the sculpture, and its name, comes from Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Glory of the Garden".

The Family

The huge sculpture entitled "The Family" stands at the junction of Fletcher Street and Market Street in Ashton, facing the Market Hall. It is the work of sculptor Paul Margetts, who has a number of other works around the town. It was unveiled in 1995, after being commissioned by MAB (UK) the previous year, the "Year of the Family". Signs of the times in the background are "Superpound Store" on the left and "Dizzi Gothic" on the right.