Derby - Poppies and Peregrines
w/e 18 June 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
The "Weeping Window" section by Paul Cummins
(artist) and Tom Piper (designer) from the "Blood Swept
Lands and Seas of Red" installation that graced the Tower
of London in 2014 is currently on display at the Silk Mill Museum
in Derby.
We approached the Silk Mill from the Exeter Bridge over the River
Derwent.
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The path by the side of the river is lined with painted poppies
directing people to the museum.
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The very impressive "Weeping Window" installation tumbles
from the highest point of the Silk Mill and spreads out at the
bottom where visitors stand in awe and reflect on those who gave
their lives in World War One. Each poppy in the original work
represented a life lost in the conflict.
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The "Weeping Window" is a temporary installation and
is in Derby until July 23rd . Robert Bakewell's wrought iron
gates that were repositioned at the side of the museum near to
their original position will still be here to view once the handmade
pottery poppies have been removed.
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The tumbling poppies skirt the blue plaque at the museum's entrance.
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Inside the Silk Mill, mementoes and souvenirs that were available
to be purchased included mugs, scarves emblazoned with poppies
and Little Willie Beer with labels depicting the WW1 tank that
went by that name. An area was set aside for "Remember &
Reflect" cards could be written and posted on the wall.
It was heartening to read some of the cards that were written
by visitors not only from the Derby locale but from places all
over the UK and abroad. I saw one from Italy, another from America
and all generations were represented with cards, as shown for
example in the picture top left, written by a nine year old and
another by someone aged 66. In an adjacent room a craft area
enabled children to create art work and display it on the walls
around the Rolls Royce engine.
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The Rolls Royce Eagle Aero Engine too is number one on a Trail
around Derby highlighting monuments and stories relating to the
First World War. This engine was developed to power aircraft
in that conflict following a request from the Government. The
"Weeping Window" and Bakewell's Gates are also visible
from this room.
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We left the Silk Mill and passed the foot of the outstanding
artwork making our way onto Cathedral Green. A steady stream
of visitors continued to arrive to see the installation.
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Derby Cathedral is currently undergoing some restoration work
and the roof is completely covered but the crowd assembled on
the Green were more interested in the tower.
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The reason for the interest is the small platform on the tower
which is where peregrine falcons nest. The group looking up at
the tower included members of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust complete
with telescopes but I was able to capture this image of one adult
and two chicks with the aid of the zoom on the camera. The video
cameras fixed to the platform show live webcam feeds.
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