The morning of 23rd June dawned clear and dry, which was just as well for the crowd assembled to launch the bronze map of the Waterloo area of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Unveiled by Council Leader Roy Oldham, this large bronze is the second in a series of 18 covering all the wards in the borough.
Leander are responsible for design and historical research as well as making the maps and their oak frames, and installing them on site.
On receipt of their 104th blue plaque, the Civic Trust wrote “We are happy to report that the Stocks Hill plaque arrived here safely today as promised by Leander a few weeks ago. Thanks to all for your ever reliable service” 24th June 2008
These two photos show little elements of a large oval bronze plaque for a Stockport MBC lottery-funded park scheme. The pictorial elements were traced meticulously from old faded photo prints and then etched to produce a casting pattern.
Erecting these two storey balconies in West London was complicated by the sunken garden in front and an access gateway too narrow for a crane. The problem was solved with a specialist articulated Hiab vehicle and a lot of hard work! The balconies were designed and made by Leander for the Cast Iron Company, and installed on the 25th June 2008.
“We are delighted with the plaque. Please thank all your staff for the excellent service” - Friends of the French Covent, E. Yorks (April 2008)
“The plaques have arrived safely and they are wonderful. Thank you very much” - Southport Civic Society (April 2008)
“The RAF plaque is greatly admired. You did a fantastic job on it. It looks fabulous” - Westminster City Council (April 2008). [This plaque commemorates the ‘birthplace’ of the RAF and its unveiling was featured in the press and on TV]
“It has been a pleasure dealing with you and your company. Thank you for all the help you have given us” - Whitley Local History Group, Coventry (April 2008)
What do Mrs Fred Dibnah, Sir Ian McKellen, Jimmy Hill and the Bee Gees have in common? Tricky isn’t it? Well, they’re all due to unveil Leander commemorative plaques over the next three weeks. Four bronze plaques will be fixed to the base of the new Fred Dibnah sculpture in Bolton, Sir Ian is unveiling a plaque at the Garrick Theatre, Stockport and the Bee Gees will arrive in Westminster next week to commemorate the site of their recording studios. Later in May, Jimmy Hill will join David Moorecroft, the Specials and Pete Waterman for the launch of Coventry’s ‘Walk of Fame’ - a set of 11 floor-mounted bronzes. Unfortunately, Lady Godiva is unable to attend!
The Royal Navy training centre, HMS Collingwood at Fareham, has a cast iron barrel-vaulted entrance canopy made by the renowned Walter McFarlane, Saracen Foundry, Glasgow in the 1860s. Although the canopy is a true semi-circular vault, the glazing is made up of hundreds of small pieces of flat glass.
Working for Britannia Ltd, Alton, Hants, Leander have restored the structure at their Buxton works and it was re-erected in April 2008. Photos to follow…
Late last year we sculpted a full Royal Marines insignia, cast it in bronze and delivered it to Port Stanley in the Falklands for a Royal Marines Memorial. Another highly-polished casting has just been completed for a memorial in Crete and a third is under way for the National Arboretum in Lichfield. Other bronze memorials are underway for the Manchester Regt in France and for the Kings Regiment. We take great pride in our military memorial work, so much so that our Steve Hoyle volunteered to drive to France last year to install a memorial for the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion.
Work is just starting on an unusual project with sculptress Denise Dutton. Denise has designed and is creating a range of architectural features - balustrated, gates and grilles - for a major house refurbishment. Denise’s wax originals will be moulded and cast in bronze at our Tanat Foundry in Wales, patinated and installed at the house by our own site team.
In 2007, Leander were commisssioned to produce a large etched stainless steel toposcope in the form of a ring of viewpoint panels mounted on a continuous masonry plinth. Stretched end to end, the panels would cover 14 metres and they provide an excellent depiction of the (almost) 360 degree view from the top of Coles Hill. One of the major high points visible from here is Brown Clee in Shropshire where we installed a cast bronze toposcope in 2006!
Further toposcopes are under way for Rochdale, Oldham and British Waterways, Foxton Locks, Leicestershire.
(The Coles Hill toposcope is being installed in April and pictures will follow)