A NEW sculpture has been unveiled in Thornbury illustrating the town’s market history.

The sculpture, of two sheep and a ram, was unveiled outside the Turnberrie’s Community Centre by Richard Goleszowski, creative director of Aardman Productions, creators of Shaun the Sheep.

The sculpture, entitled To Market, To Market, has been a town project bringing together members from Thornbury Museum, pupils from The Castle School, representatives from Turnberrie’s and a number of other community groups.

The project started earlier this year when The Castle School’s art department was approached to help build a permanent sculpture to be placed outside the Turnberrie’s Centre.

A group of year seven pupils worked with volunteers from Thornbury Museum to learn about the town’s history, in particular the importance of the Thornbury market, which was held on land where the Turnberrie’s Centre now stands.

With the help of ceramic artist Karen Hilliard, who lives in Uley, the students designed and then made a sculpture based on the livestock that would have been sold at Thornbury market.

Andrea Hazelhurst, art teacher from The Castle School, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for the students from The Castle School to be inspired by such a talented artist Karen Hilliard and to create a large scale sculpture of such a high standard. The students have really left their mark on the community of Thornbury."

The clay bricks and cement needed for the sculpture were donated by local firms Ibstock and Moreton C Cullimore. Other contributors to the project were Hacket Farm, Oldbury Power Station and Thornbury In Bloom.

At the unveiling last Thursday all those involved in the project were joined by Thornbury mayor Phyllida Parsloe and Mr Goleszowski from Aardman, who also held a drawing demonstration.

Ginny Kauz, from the Turnberrie’s Community Centre, said: "The unveiling was fantastic, we had more than 60 people here at the centre including all those that have been involved.

"The sculpture was done as a joint project with lots of people and has really brought Thornbury together."