Metal

Harvesting Histories Sowing Seeds

Reinstating a forgotten doorway in the approach to Edge Hill Station and transforming the unused land behind it to make a Secret Garden for the local community.

…the story of a bricked up door, in a wall; once forgotten, now found.

The Gateway to the Blitz project represents a unique social and historical ‘portal’ within the landscape of Edge Hill Station, Liverpool.  Creating a permanent memorial to those who died during the tragedy of the Blitz 70 years ago and also providing access to a new green space for today’s community to use and make new connections in.

Background
The direct hit on a shelter in Durning Road, Edge Hill, was the worst single incident in the Liverpool Blitz as regards to loss of life.  Churchill called it 'the worst single (civilian) incident of the war'.  This occurred in the early hours of 29th November 1940, during the heaviest air raid to date.
'Approximately 300 people were tightly packed into the shelter in the basement of the Ernest Brown Junior Instructional Centre in Durning Road, Edge Hill... It would have been a safe enough place if bombs fell nearby, but it could not withstand a direct hit... In all, 166 men, women and children were killed and many more were seriously injured.'*

Due to proximity to Edge Hill Station, the area was a particular target during the war because of the munitions they stored in the railway sidings.

Project objectives:

- Create a permanent memorial to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Blitz in Edge Hill at the gateway to a community garden.  This will be both an access point and a descriptive & instructional art work.

- Integrate an educational strand with the pupils of St Francis of Assisi school, the educational project partners, in terms of the design of the gateway, the garden and the research into the effect of the Blitz on the local area.

- The space will offer the further possibility of developing a ‘Green Gym’ site, adjacent to the railway lines, by reclaiming the area leading from the gateway.

On Saturday 15th October 2011, the area to be used for Metal and St Francis Of Assisi's community garden was unveiled. Artist Robyn Woolston has since been working with the local community and school children to develop a design for a Blitz memorial gate for the entrance to the garden.

Unfortunately funding was declined for the development of the vegetable garden and green gym, however the Blitz memorial gate will still be put in place. The garden is still going ahead but taking a different approach. If you would like more information or to be involved with the community garden please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your details and we will add you to our mailing list.

Like the community garden on Facebook

*source: http://www.liverpoolblitz70.co.uk/2011/02/02/the-tragedy-of-durning-road