HISTORIC UNVEILING

A 200-metre square mural has been unveiled at Port of Middlesbrough to celebrate the birthplace of modern Middlesbrough and to showcase the site’s 190-year history and its rich rail heritage.

The mural, entitled ‘Hidden Hero’, features Timothy Hackworth, the rail pioneer who designed the original coal export staiths at Port Darlington – now known as Port of Middlesbrough – as well as designing the first locomotive to deliver cargo to the port – which was named “Globe.” Hackworth was pivotal to the original development of Port of Middlesbrough, the growth of Middlesbrough town and the evolution of the railway across the world.

The commemorative mural, which was unveiled by Jane Hackworth-Young, the great-great granddaughter of Hackworth, has been painted onto an external, gable end wall, adjacent to The Staiths –AV Dawson’s new head office at Port of Middlesbrough.

The artist who designed and painted the mural was Lewis Hobson from Durham Spray Paints. AV Dawson worked with Arts Council England’s Borderlands Creative People & Places, who provided some funding towards the project.