New Mural Inspired by the Past, Present and Future of Great Harwood Unveiled
New Mural Inspired by the Past, Present and Future of Great Harwood Unveiled
Great Harwood’s newest public artwork has transformed a town centre car park into a vibrant celebration of local identity, creativity and community spirit.
Image: Rawden Kerr, Great Harwood Town Crier, Cllr Claire Yates, Peter Shaw, Cllr Kimberley Whitehead, Amy Callaghan (Pigs in Mud Arts Studios) and Rachel Gildert (Proffitts CIC)
A striking new mural, stretching 75 metres across a wall, was unveiled today at Great Harwood Pump Track, marking the final piece in the Great Harwood High Street Accelerator Programme, which began last year.
The mural, which surrounds the new pump track at Central Car Park in Great Harwood, celebrates the town’s past, present and future. It was created by local artist Amy Callaghan of Pigs in Mud Art Studios, in collaboration with schoolchildren and community members.
Drawing on local history and nature, the artwork features references to the Mercer family, the town’s own Town Crier, Rawden Kerr, who recently performed the Lancashire Cry at Westminster, and imaginative visions of the future co-designed by pupils from St. Wulstan’s Primary School.
The mural was developed through workshops with pupils from St. Wulstan’s Primary School and a community session at Great Harwood Library, where participants explored everything from the legacy of John Mercer, pioneer of the mercerisation process and a key figure in the town’s industrial heritage, to the town’s historic market charter and the surrounding countryside that has shaped local identity for centuries.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the mural and explore the stories it tells. The project team hopes it will inspire future community-led creative initiatives across Hyndburn.
Amy Callaghan, lead artist from Pigs in Mud Art Studios, said:
“Working with the pupils and wider community was the key to the whole project. Their energy and imagination shaped every panel of the mural, especially the future. It’s their story, I just helped to paint it. I’ve loved working in Great Harwood, the town has such a strong sense of pride and history, and the people were incredibly welcoming and full of ideas. It’s been a joy to help bring their vision to life.”
Image: Amy Callaghan, Pigs in Mud Arts Studios
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Arts, said:
“This mural is a powerful expression of what Great Harwood is all about: a town proud of its rich history and excited for its future. It tells our story, creates a real sense of place, and shows what can be achieved when we invest in creativity and community.”
Peter Shaw, Chair of the Great Harwood High Street Accelerator Panel, said:
“Together, the pump track and mural have transformed the Central Car Park into a lively and welcoming space, offering both a hub for physical activity and a canvas for local identity. These projects mark another milestone in the ongoing regeneration of Great Harwood, bringing colour, energy and opportunity to the heart of the town.”
The unveiling of the mural brings us close to the conclusion of the Great Harwood High Street Accelerator Programme, a UK Government-funded pilot awarded to ten areas across the country to support partnerships between communities and local authorities in tackling local challenges, such as empty shops and increasing footfall on high streets.
Remaining tree planting in several areas around the high streets will take place imminently, and landscaping around the pump track is scheduled for completion in the spring, when seasonal conditions are more suitable for this type of work.
Earlier this year, significant improvements were made to several green spaces and car parks around the high street, several new community notice boards were installed, and more than 20 retail spaces, both existing and new, were transformed through shop front improvement grants awarded to businesses on Queen Street and Blackburn Road.