 | ||
The Yorkshire Man of Steel will be a 32 metre high sculpture and visitor centre located in Rotherham (J34,M1), forming a landmark gateway to Yorkshire and the Sheffield City Region. The inspiration for the Yorkshire Man of Steel sculpture came from local sculptor Steve Mehdi’s own experiences in the steel industry and the region’s rich industrial history across the steel and coal industries. The sculpture was originally intended as a memory to generations of people who worked in numerous factories and coal mines, unsung individuals who forged the region's reputation of steel and coal in the process. It will also celebrate the advances in the new technology sector and specialised steel manufacturing which has led to a transformation in the region in the 21st Century.
The vision for this landmark project followed the demise of the Tinsley Cooling Towers in the East end of Sheffield, in 2008. Public comment on his work suggested the ‘Man of Steel’ might become a fitting replacement for the much loved Tinsley Towers.
The sculpture and Interpretation Hub is widely supported by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and a coalition of local companies and institutions. It will stand on land provided by FCC Environment, (one of the world's largest waste services companies) next to the M1 motorway at Kimberworth in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. A 99-year lease has been generously provided by the landowners and work is expected to begin in 2017.
The figure will be made from stainless steel, recognising the important development of stainless steel by Harry Brearley in Sheffield more than 100 years ago. It will sit on a coal-black column, recognising the region's huge coal seams and their historic contribution to industry, commerce and life in general. The column will include an observation deck accessible by lift and stairs. The sculpture will be widely visible to passing traffic travelling on the M1 across the Tinsley Viaduct and visitors to Meadowhall with a combined potential audience of several million people per year. The sculpture will overlook the site of the former Tinsley Towers (Blackburn Meadows) and provide a landmark as well as a catalyst for tourism and inward investment.
Heritage Lottery Fund: The Yorkshire Man of Steel was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding support in April 2016. The award will help fund an eco-friendly Interpretation Hub, which will include an exhibition space, a learning space, a café and a shop. Schools and other visitors of all ages will learn about the heritage of the region and how it has influenced the present.
Heart of Steel Appeal: The 'Heart of Steel' appeal was launched in July 2014 and is an important part of the future community legacy of the Yorkshire Man of Steel: a 2.5 metre 3 tonne Heart of Steel will sit inside the figure, with up to 150,000 names of people from across the region. Thousands of people with local connections and personal recollections have already donated to support the project.
The Rotherham Heart of Steel is a full-size replica of the 'Heart of Steel' and was unveiled in the Minster Gardens in Rotherham town centre on 4 July 2015. At the same time the Yorkshire Man of Steel charity - Yorkshire Icon Ltd (reg no 1159282) - announced its official collaboration with the British Heart Foundation; 10% of all donations to the Heart of Steel appeal will support the BHF and their important work in life-saving heart research. The Rotherham Heart of Steel lighting up ceremony took place at the Minster Gardens on 29 September 2015.
The legacy of the Yorkshire Man of Steel sculpture and Interpretation Hub will be measured by the potential economic and cultural benefit it will bring to the local community: a recent economic report examined a number of similar projects and visitor centres and concluded that the Yorkshire Man of Steel could add several million pounds to the regional visitor economy (Potential socio-economic impacts of the Yorkshire Man of Steel: Summary Report July 2013: Sheffield Business School: Sheffield Hallam University, Dr Nicola Palmer).
The Yorkshire Man of Steel is expected to be delivered in 2018. The cost has been estimated at £3 million.