People in Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton can take part in a groundbreaking art project which will see giant mosaics installed to help decorate the three town centres.
In ancient times, skilfully crafted and elaborate mosaics adorned Roman houses and villas with beautiful designs – often depicting scenes about ancient myths.
Mosaic art has enjoyed a revival in recent years and now you can help install beautiful mosaic designs which tell important stories about the three towns by taking part in a series of community workshops.
Designs for each of the pieces have been produced by mosaic artist Oliver Budd.
Some of the panels are made by him, while others have been put together in workshops at schools and within local communities.
The first designs are now complete and feature scenes from Roman times in Sandy, and Saxon and Medieval history in Biggleswade.
For Potton there is a round mosaic depicting the market, the fire, brewery and Four Manors. Mosaic panels will be going up in the towns in a few weeks’ time.
There are 11 more mosaic panels to be made between now and February 2018, so your help is very much needed.
JD Wetherspoon is including one of the mosaic panels on the wall of The Crown pub in Biggleswade.
This will be placed in the yard and describes Samuel Pepys’ visit to Biggleswade and the Great Fire of 1785, which started in the yard and burnt down a third of the town.
Members of the Biggleswade History Society worked on the main figure and the final mosaic tile was put in place by Nora Balfe – who with her husband was landlady of The Crown from 1962 to 1985.
The workshops are free, there is no upper age limit and no experience is needed.
In them you will be able to learn the ancient craft, and help leave a legacy in your town for future generations. They will run for four weeks from July 24 to August 16 from 9.30am to 12.30pm, and 1pm to 4pm.
They will be held at Biggleswade Library in Chestnut Avenue on Monday afternoons only, Potton Town Council offices on Tuesday mornings and afternoons, and Sandy Town Council Offices on Wednesdays mornings and afternoons.
To register, contact the venue that best suits you: Biggleswade Library: 0300 300 6835, Sandy Town Council: 01767 681491 and Potton Town Council 01767 260086.
The project is part of an inclusive community scheme made available by Central Bedfordshire Council as part of its £4 million Market Town Regeneration Fund, and is being managed by Sandy Town Council.
Find out more at www.storyinstone.org.uk or search for Story in Stone on Facebook.
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