A LASTING memento of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee has been put up in Whittonstall.
A stone commemorating Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne was commissioned by the Whittonstall Community Group (WCG).
The Whittonstall Jubilee stone is hewn from local sandstone, supplied by Dunhouse Quarry, Darlington, and carved by stonemason and sculptor Philip Chatfield.
Philip lived in Whittonstall in the 1970’s while studying Fine Art at Newcastle University. He shared a house, 1 Lawson’s Farm Cottages, with two other students and worked on Lawson’s farm during his time in the village.
He has returned to Whittonstall regularly, staying with good friend and sometime neighbour Mr John Walton.
The stone has been officially installed in the Whittonstall Community Garden by the Reverend Helen Savage as part of the village's Jubilee celebrations.
Under the stone, is a time capsule containing various papers and photographs of interest and pictures created by pupils from Whittonstall First School.
It is hoped the stone will become a significant landmark; that it will be seen and admired by those who live and visit the village and in time, it will take its place in the village’s history.
The stone has gold lettering to its front and to the rear, a sheaf of barley - the logo of Whittonstall Community Group and a nod to its agricultural heritage. From the barley sheaf, encircling both sides of the stone, are several laurel leaves which form a hug around the stone.
"Watching Philip work was an incredible experience", said a spokesperson for WCG. "Starting with two large blocks of stone, the transformation process was almost miraculous for a novice onlooker.
"What began as a series of sketches on paper soon became a firm plan which was then translated into stone using traditional tools in his outdoor office which overlooked the fields and valleys to the north of the village.
"The weather was kind and progress was remarkably swift. Philip had a number of visitors who dropped in to observe the process of carving, to hear his stories and marvel at his expertise. After hours of arduous carving, the stone was finally completed and installed."
The WCG wished to extend thanks to County Durham Community Foundation funding support from the EDF Energy Renewables – Boundary Lane Wind Farm Community Benefits Funds. The project could also not have been completed without the time, good will, commitment and skill of many others who contributed to making it happen.
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