Public art - Mary Macarthur statue

Artist: Luke Perry

Location: Mary Macarthur Gardens, near the corner of Sydney Road and Lower High Street, Cradley Heath

The statue was named after the trade unionist who led the women chainmakers in 1910, when they held a strike, in their demands for a mimimum wage.

Unveiled in 2012, after being made for a period of two years. Also called the Womens Chainmakers Statue.

Statue of Mary Macarthur in Cradley Heath (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Lady Chain Makers Monument

Made in a two year period from December 2011 – September 2013.

This prestigious commission involved the building of a 3m steel cast female chain maker and baby to represent the great strike of 1910.

The piece has become a proud symbol of Sandwell as an area and is our most reputed artwork to date.

The commission involved designing and over-all landscaping of the park as an entrance to the town. In the lead up to the open day we ran many public chain making open days, visited schools to make trades union banners, opened a stall in the Market to give feedback, conducted sit down talking shop sessions with retired chain makers, visited nursing homes where ex industry people resided and more. The entire project was followed by local national and international press as well as television. This was one of the reasons for the incredibly well attended open day where nearly 1500 people attended the opening and adjoining festival.

Statue of Mary Macarthur in Cradley Heath (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Statue of Mary Macarthur in Cradley Heath (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Statue of Mary Macarthur in Cradley Heath (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Statue of Mary Macarthur in Cradley Heath (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown