huskar pit disaster window

COMMUNITY PROJECT WORK

As you can see with the Huskar Pit Disaster window I manage large community window projects working with/teaching volunteers who usually have no previous experience of working with glass .This is the biggest community project I have undertaken involving over 200 people and was completed under the umbrella of Barnsley Adult Learning.

I am happy to undertake community projects of any size and scale for a variety of buildings. Previous projects have included schools, community centres, churches and other religious buildings and libraries.
I am also able to give assistance and advice about securing funding for such a project.

SILKSTONE CHURCH WINDOW

In 1838 on July 4th 26 children drowned in a flooding mine in the Husker Pit at Silkstone Common in Barnsley. In order to commemorate the disaster a stained glass window was commissioned by All Saints Church Silkstone for above the altar in the St James chapel. This project was carried out as part of my work for Barnsley Adult Learning.

The initial sketch of the window was produced by local artist Julie Tyler- this was then changed to become a workable stained glass cartoon (pattern) both in terms of scale and feasibility of design. The design of the window represents the flood through the earth into the mine the flooded mine section at the bottom bears each child's name and age. The colours and design of the window is such that it is childlike and similar to a colouring book. It is quite fitting that this chapel is also used for Sunday School Meetings.

Myself, 20 students from my glass classes at Barnsley Adult Learning (all with varying degrees of competence & experience) and over 200 novices, re-designed and produced this window between July 2009 and March 2010. Each of the 3 windows are made in 3 sections which slot together as the window is fitted/assembled.

Photograph by Rachel Hutton, enhancement by Paul Davies

Photos of the window in the planning stage

Shown is the initial sketch for the window which then was re-worked into a workable pattern called a cartoon ready for manufacture.

My team went to Liverpool to select glass and prepared workable full size cartoons and jigs ready for the glass......

Construction of the panels part 1

Each of the 3 windows were made in 3 panels which then are slotted into each other, cemented to the stonework and tied to re-enforcement bars which hold the window tight and stop it bowing.

Shown here are all the windows through the constructon.

Construction of the panels part 2

This set of photos shows the painted sections of the children's names and ages which were done by Margaret Bower.

At the end of the second section of photos you will see all the windows laid out on the floor to check that they all married up and were the correct size- when packed and stacked up they looked very insignificant!

Photos of windows being cemented & polished

One of the last stages in getting the window ready for fitting is cementing.
This is where cement is pushed into the lead came to fill in any gaps and hold the glass tightly to the lead- it stops the window rattling and flexing and makes it waterproof.
Afer a polish up and a clean the window is ready for fitting.....

Fitting the window

The window was installed by Joseph Burton of J W Burton Ltd York.
Photos show the window going in in sections and being tied into re-enforcing bars as it grows.
On hand to supervise works was the vicar- in his carpet slippers and a camera man from Look North!

Final photos of the window

The window now has a protective grill on the outside but before this was fitted these shots were taken.

The window was dedicated by the Bishop of Pontefract on Sunday 4th July 2010.