Passengers arriving at Worcester Foregate Street train station are now being welcomed to the city by a beautiful new mural celebrating 200 years of trail travel.
The colourful design by local artist Sarah Brown, who worked with local people to create it, is also waymarking the entrance to The Arches walkway, linking the station with the city’s riverside.
The striking new artwork sits under Foregate Street railway bridge opposite the station and is part of Great Western Railway (GWR)’s contribution to Railway 200, the national campaign celebrating a British innovation that changed the world.
GWR’s funding was matched by Worcester City Council to enable Severn Arts to commission Sarah Brown’s creation.
Councillor Lynn Denham, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “Sarah Brown’s beautiful mural is a wonderful addition to Worcester’s culture. It makes Foregate Street Station more welcoming to visitors, celebrates our railway heritage and entices people to explore The Arches walkway and the businesses based there.”
Laura Worsfold, Severn Arts Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to see this vibrant new mural unveiled at Foregate Street bridge, right at the heart of Worcester’s Creative Quarter. It’s a brilliant example of how collaboration between artists, students and local communities can transform public spaces into something meaningful and inspiring. Not only does it celebrate 200 years of railway heritage, but it also enriches the city’s cultural landscape and creates a welcoming, creative gateway to the Arches for residents and visitors alike.”
Sarah Brown, the artist behind the eye-catching mural, has worked on many site-specific commissions and has had her work exhibited across the world. Based just over the border in Gloucestershire, she is a glass artist, illustrator and co-creator. Visitors to Redditch will be familiar with her Planting Doddin mural in the town.
Artist Sarah Brown said: “I loved working with Heart of Worcester College art students and Platform Housing to gather the stories and key locations that are now featured in this artwork. It was a lot of fun to hear the ways rail travel has impacted people in Worcestershire over the years, from enabling care of their grandchildren, to unforgettable memories of adventures in the school holidays and so many more.
“I hope that this captures the essence of the beautiful architecture and nature of Worcester and the magic of rail travel so many talked about, as well as the major aspirations of rail travel from steam to diesel, electric, hydrogen and beyond!"
Sarah Brown worked with people living in and around Worcester to create the Foregate Street mural, aiming to incorporate as many local stories, locations and landmarks as possible.
Students from Heart of Worcestershire College helped find the buildings that they felt made Worcester distinctive. The finished artwork includes Worcester Cathedral, The Hive, Friar Street and the lights that are strung between its buildings, the Boathouse, The Arches, Foregate Street Station, and not forgetting Greggs - one of the students’ favourite places to go. The River Severn is also featured, with its swans and rowers.
Many of the stories entwined in the piece came from residents of Platform Housing. They shared tales of going on adventures, visiting family and friends, and memories of steam engines. The train shown heading over The Arches represents the evolution of rail from steam to diesel to electric and onwards to hydrogen. The smoke coming from the engine curls into the number 200 to commemorate two centuries of rail travel, but the remaining sky is clear to represent the cleaner air from the modernisation of rail.
The artwork aims to help people celebrate trains as an exciting, efficient and eco-friendly way to travel – and Worcester as a fabulous place to visit.
The mural is positioned at the entrance to The Arches, an area of refurbished Victorian railway arches that is now home to creative enterprises, cafes and bars. It also provides a new route for pedestrians and cyclists to quickly get from Foregate Street Station to The Hive and the river beyond.
