TWO sculptures designed to celebrate the history of Tranent will be placed in the community.
Cockenzie sculptor Gardner Molloy has worked with Tranent Community Council to design the work, which has been commissioned by Fa’side Area Parternship.
Planning applications for the sculptures have now been submitted to East Lothian Council giving a first glimpse of how the scultpures will look.
The first, which is set to be placed across from the Church Street roundabout, will be made up of six pieces and pay tribute to the historic Waggonway.
Drawings of the proposed sculpture (see below) show six blocks stretching 4.5metres which show people carrying coal to the wagons, which were led by horses and took the fuel from the pit at Tranent to Cockenzie Harbour.
The second sculpture is planned for the entrance to the town and will be placed at the rear of Caponhall Court.
It has been designed to celebrate the industry which built the town, with a farmer and coal miner both carved out of stone.
Standing two metres high, the coal miner will be depicted at the bottom, with a separate work depicting a farmer gathering his crop above it.
On the side of the sculpture on the Elphinstone side of the road will be carved with the word ‘Tranent’.
On the Tranent side of the sculpture, the town’s motto ‘Lie Forrit’ will be emblazoned down the side (see drawing below).
Both sculptures will be carved from locally-sourced sandstone.
Renowned local sculptor Mr Molloy created the memorial to miners which was unveiled in Prestonpans last year.
Made up of two 12-ton sandstone blocks which represent the mines themselves, with two mineworkers depicted working within them, the memorial was created by Mr Molloy over three years (see unveiling below).
Prestonpans Miners Memorial Statue Group, which was supported by Prestonpans Community Council, raised more than £30,000 to bring the statue project to reality.
It was officially unveiled in June at its new home at The Shrine, at the junction of Bankton Terrace and Schaw Road, in front of crowds of locals who turned out to celebrate the occasion.
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