Town centre monoliths to display Newbury’s history

Newbury will soon have its history and development charted on nine 2.5m high, aluminium and brushed stainless steel monoliths.

Visitors to the town will be treated to an outdoor history lessons when the columns are placed in strategic points around the town centre. Their installation forms part of the wider Wayfinding Project, which is being undertaken by the Newbury Business Improvement District (BID).

Managing director of the BID, Russell Downing, said the scheme was in response to a key point raised in the BID’s initial consultation, “Individuals clearly stated that they didn’t think there was any real welcome into the town and that is something we wanted to address immediately and in some style.”

He continues “The monoliths, which are all personalised to Newbury, will be installed across the town in time for the start of Christmas shopping.”

The nine stainless steel towers will feature captivating snippets on a host of local points of interest, from the historic Highclere Castle and its TV persona, Downton Abbey, to the transportation hubs of the river, canal and A4 at the heart of the town. They will also point the way to some of the main focal points in Newbury, including the railway station, shopping centre and the Corn Exchange.

The second phase of the scheme, which is funded by a private/public partnership, will see 15 new fingerposts also put up around the town during 2014.

The monoliths will be constructed in time for the start of the Christmas shopping period, which sees late night opening in the town on a Thursday kicking off on Thursday 28 November. In response to feedback from the retailers, the Christmas lights will also be switched on two weeks earlier this year on Saturday 16 November. The annual Christmas parade and official lighting of the tree will take place on Saturday 30 November, as will the opening of Newbury’s first Christmas Market, in Victoria Park.