Stunning artwork panels are being installed at Ledbury Railway Station, giving visitors an insight into the history and heritage of the medieval town.
The artwork will detail the history of the town and its iconic buildings and structures and explore the town’s railway connection.
The work, produced by three respected local artists, will be displayed in a three-panel glazed cabinet set within an existing brick planter at the station, offering a permanent and eye-catching display for rail passengers.
Gareth Davies, from public transport user group Rail and Bus for Herefordshire, is the project leader. He said he hoped the artwork, funded through West Midlands Railway’s Your Community, Your Fund grant, would raise awareness of the attractions of the historic town.
He said: “Ledbury is a jewel of a town. With its timbered Elizabethan black and white buildings, it’s such a lovely place to visit and just have an amble round.
“We have buildings from all eras, spectacular museums and some great examples of medieval paintings in the council offices.
“This project is truly helping to put Ledbury on the rail map and demonstrate that rail companies and communities can work well together for the benefit of local people.”
The artists involved are Jeanette McCulloch, who studied at the Royal College of Art, Caroline Owen Thomas, a renowned calligrapher, and Cheryl Davies, who trained as a botanist and is an accomplished draughtsperson and artist.
“All three of the artists are well known in Ledbury and we are using a local printer to print the artwork, so it really is a community project,” added Gareth.
He said the group would also be producing brochures giving visitors more information about the heritage of the town and the town trail.
The project is one of 21 community projects being supported by West Midlands Railway as part of its Customer & Communities Improvement Fund.
Fay Easton, head of community and stakeholder for West Midlands Railway, said the project would help attract people from across the West Midlands with frequent direct rail services from Birmingham New Street to discover this hidden gem for a wonderful day out.
“Ledbury is a wonderful town; with its independent shops, bars and restaurants, it’s just perfect for a day trip and the journey from Birmingham is fascinating as the train cuts through rural and urban landscapes,” she said.
“This project is also a wonderful example of working partnerships between the community and the train operating company to celebrate and raise awareness of a lovely town.”
To find out more about the 21 Stories projects, visit www.21stories.co.uk
