Five years of sitting outside Swinton Civic Centre have left Woody – Salford’s iconic tribute to local miners – a little weathered around the edges.
The wooden sculpture of a miner sitting on a bench eating his lunch was created in 2016 by The Friends of Agecroft Colliery to pay tribute to local miners and the many who died, including 178 men and boys who lost their lives in the Clifton Hall Colliery disaster of 1885. The installation also includes a stone commemorating those who worked in the Irwell Valley pits.
The much-loved miner and his bench have been taken away today for minor repairs but will be back to carry on keeping alive the memories of Salford’s proud coal-mining past.
City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Woody has been loved by people from day one and we want to make sure he can continue for many years to come. He will be back after some much needed work.”
