Do you remember the Middleton Miner sculpture? PIC: James HardistyDo you remember the Middleton Miner sculpture? PIC: James Hardisty
Do you remember the Middleton Miner sculpture? PIC: James Hardisty

Middleton Miner - Memories of the sculpture overlooking the M1 in Leeds

It was the sculpture which brightened up the day of thousands of motorists heading into Leeds on the M1.

The Middleton Miner proved somewhat of a talking point back when it was moved by helicopter onto a grassy slag heap in south Leeds overlooking the motorway back in February 1998. The artwork was created by artist Kevin Harrison and pupils from the now demolished Middleton Park High School in LS10. "I worked at the school for about three months undertaking design and making workshop, on the theme of the history of Leeds and Middleton and Hunslet, with pupils in the art department," recalled Kevin who your YEP tracked down for his memories. "We developed the sculpture with images of mining, steel, sheep, trains, money, armoury and art. Some of the older pupils and two students from Leeds Art School helped build the full size sculpture in painted wood in one of the DT rooms at the school." The artwork stayed on display for motorists and the community to enjoy for a month before being taken down and moved back to the school to be sited in the grounds. "On the whole I think people found it an interesting, thought provoking and a positive piece of art," added Kevin. READ MORE: 24 unseen photos of Middleton through the years LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

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