Leeswood Lady

Philip Bews designed and carved the Leeswood Lady and Baby in 2019 to accompany  another earlier statue, the Stationmaster (2017), who walks a few feet in front of them. The sculptures commemorate the arrival of the Midland railway when the Chorlton-cum-Hardy station opened in October 1880.

The Leeswood lady is depicted in Victorian dress carrying a carpet bag in her left hand and holding a baby in her right arm. The statue is decorated with copper and brass nails and brass objects, which were added by Manchester artist, Tracey Cartledge. She had worked previously in a similar way on  decorating the Stationmaster with  her husband, Paul Wigley and their daughter Ros. They ran workshops with the local residents and councillors collaborating on the decoration.

Leeswood Lady and Baby was commissioned by Southway Housing Trust.

Location: Leeswood Avenue, Chorlton, Manchester, Greater Manchester.