North East Statues

24/10/2024

Image by Martin Peacock

21/10/2024

First panel at the Odeon/Majestic cinema in Hartlepool is down. Seems like some damage where it was already cracked but I’d hope the other, uncracked ones have a better chance of avoiding it.

Thanks again to David Thompson for photos.

18/10/2024

Seems like they’re trying to save the friezes in Hartlepool. Hope they manage it.

Thanks to David Thompson for the photos.

More info here:

https://northeaststatues.com/2023/05/24/majestic-cinema-friezes/

16/10/2024

https://northeaststatues.com/2023/05/24/majestic-cinema-friezes/

Looks like the Odeon/Majestic in Hartlepool is being demolished today. If anyone has any updates on the panels (it’s not looking promising), let us know.

07/10/2024

Just an update about this page. An increasingly time-consuming job and the first year of parenthood have knocked my free time on the head somewhat.

I’m hoping to get back to posting soon, and we always welcome guest writers if there’s an artwork that needs covering. Sorry for the rare updates!

07/10/2024

Photograph by Stan Laundon

04/06/2024

“Our island was sculpted by ice when the planet warmed, so receding glaciers left erratics. Stones from another place further north were carried along in the ice. Ancient time travellers that helped shape this place.”

Russ Coleman’s Newsham Touchstone - part of the Tees Sculpture Trail.

Photo by Chris Chapman Visuals for River Tees Rediscovered.

Photo by Chris Chapman Visuals for River Tees Rediscovered

26/05/2024

It’s hard to miss Temenos or the Bottle of Notes, but Middlesbrough is also home to many less prominent artworks. Let’s take a meandering walk through the town and learn about some hidden gems you may have missed.

Cover photo by Ian Stubbs

Photograph by Ian Stubbs It’s hard to miss Temenos or the Bottle of Notes, but Middlesbrough is also home to many less prominent artworks. Let’s take a meandering walk through the town …

16/05/2024

We posted last year about the Linthorpe Stag and its changing antlers – from Glynn Porteous’s refined pair, to the rather more rustic ones that followed.

Well now the perpetrator of the new antlers has made himself known. A big thanks to Jason Legget for owning up and being such a good sport.

“So just read your interesting history of the Linthorpe Stag. I have to claim the unfortunate antlers I’m afraid! During the mid-nineties I was a graduate studying design and marketing at the University. My Dad, Robin was one of the financial brokers at Stag Property Services. His boss and proprietor asked him if he knew anyone that could fix the recently vandalised antlers. My dad knowing I was a bit handy and had access to the metalwork shop in the University product design department suggested I do it.

I spent a rather nervous morning climbing up onto the roof, (not great with heights!) removing the old antlers and taking measurements to work out how to create a new set.

I spent the next week in the workshop, probably to the detriment of my ultimate 2:1 degree, finally cutting, bending and welding the monstrosity you see today. I then wrapped the steel bars with fibreglass and tried to make them look at least a little like the antlers they deserved to be… I’m afraid I failed and the results are what you see today.

I presented them back to the owner of the Property Services office, I was amazed by his positive reaction as I fully expected to be told to ‘get lost’ when asked him for my remuneration.

I cannot take full responsibility, my brother Steve helped me mount the antlers using the anchor bolts and then we liberally smothered the whole thing in the silver paint you see today.

I live in Whitley Bay now but often get back to Boro to visit my Dad who is convinced ‘our repair’ is still standing and no significant works have been required since 1995.

So there you go, a little bit of relatively insignificant Boro history restored…”

Image by Katie Lunn

11/05/2024

Genevieve Glatt's daughters visited the park before handing over original designs to archivists.

06/05/2024

https://northeaststatues.com/2023/04/27/loco-no-1/

Locomotion No. 1 mural by Zak Newton (Stockton-on-Tees, 2006).

Photo from the Zak Newton Collection at Teesside Archives (not to be reproduced with permission).

03/05/2024

Another oddity we’re trying to find out more about: Redcar’s Pirate Cat!

Image by Stuart Redpath