Sculpture – Gilbert13 Design

Mass Trespass Banner 2022 on display at Smithills Hall

“Will yo come o’ Sunday Mornin?”

This is a collaborative artwork created by the children of Bolton alongside Mark and Angela Gilbert during a project run by the Friends of Bolton Science and Technology Centre called “Say Yes to the Mass Trespass”. Over 100 young people took part in the project in which they learnt all about the Mass Trespass of 1896, visited many of the sites and helped create the artwork inspired by the event.

The profile of the banner represents the topographical route the the mass trespass walk took and depicts landmarks and characters past and present. The quote “Will yo come o’ Sunday Mornin?” was the title of the song written by Bolton socialist poet Allen Clarke. The crowd of clay figures have all been crafted by local children and represent some of the 10,000 people who gathered on that day showing the power of people all working together. Lets remember its thanks to this group of peoples brave act of defiance we now have access and a right to roam on beautiful places like Winter Hill.

Thank you to the following schools for their participation in the project: St Peters Smithills Deane CEP, St Michaels CEP, Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, Blackshaw CEP and Rumworth PSP Community Group.