Fauldhouse will soon unveil its new and long awaited coal mining sculpture in the centre of the village to celebrate the community’s long mining history.
The project, led by Fauldhouse and Breich Community Development Trust and supported by West Lothian Council, features the inscription ‘Fauldhouse a Community Built on Coal’ - and hopes to celebrate the heritage of the village.
Created by community sculptor Ailsa Magnus and artist Billy Caulfield, the sculpture features several miners in various poses - fittingly the project is called ‘Fauldhouse Mining Tribute’ and has been in production since mid-2019.
The two artists were chosen for their connection to the local community after consultation with locals.
Sculptor Ailsa Magnus said: ”This is the first project both myself and Billy have worked on in West Lothian.
“We started the sculpture in May 2019, launching community consultation workshops and choosing the design before covid struck - that put the project on hold for a while.
”We spent quite a lot of time in Fauldhouse, attending the local gala day and listened to memories from the mining community.
“It felt important to us to represent a more contemporary feel to the mining industry, and of course the 1984 miners strike had a massive impact on the community.
“The two women in the front represent the women that kept the community together - they’re holding the banner as they’re driving things forward following the impact of the miners strike on the Fauldhouse community.”
Ailsa Magnus is currently working with the Whitburn Partnership Centre to create a public art project - which will be unveiled in the next few months.
The progress of the tribute was delayed several times due to Covid-19 restrictions - but has now been placed on the Fauldhouse village green opposite Scotmid on the Main Street.
A launch event is to be held next month on Saturday July 16 at 11am, with former MSP and current local councillor, Neil Findlay, will be officially unveiling the sculpture.
Findlay will be joined by representatives attending from the Scottish National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and music provided by members of the Kinneil Band.
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