Feature: Poetry Benches
Originally commissioned for the National Festival of Making, 17 poems were selected for memorialisation by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to mark the events between 2020-2022. The global pandemic and subsequent national lockdowns had a profound on everyone, and locals from Blackburn were inspired to describe their feelings in poetry. Ark Plastics were commissioned to incorporate these poems into plaques on weather-proof benches which now are located around the borough.
The poems can be found at: https://theshuttle.org.uk/covid-benches/ while the locations, details and views are shared below.
Poetry Bench - Blackburn Town Hall
Location
Blackburn Town Hall, King William Street
Plaque
Poem: "People Make A Town"
Seat View
Town Centre Scene
Poetry Bench - Queen's Park
Location
Queen's Park, Queen's Road
Plaque
Poem: "Breathe"
Seat View
View of the Serpentine Lake
Poetry Bench - Little Harwood Clock Tower
Location
Clock Tower Garden, Little Harwood
Plaque
Poem: "Be There and Care"
Seat View
View of the Clock Tower Garden
Poetry Bench - River Darwen Parkway (East)
Location
River Darwen Parkway (East), Millbrook Street side, Lower Darwen
Plaque
Poem: "Be There and Care"
Seat View
View out towards Tockholes and Jubilee Tower
Poetry Bench - St Alban's Court, Daisyfield
Location
St Alban's Court, Whalley Old Road nr Birley Street, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "To My Darling Child"
Seat View
View out towards London Road and Revidge
Poetry Bench - Turton Tower
Location
Turton Tower, Chapeltown Road, Chapeltown
Plaque
Poem: "Watching and Wondering"
Seat View
View of the Tower Gardens
Poetry Bench - Corporation Park
Location
Corporation Park, East Park Road, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Freedom"
Seat View
View of the Large Lake
Poetry Bench - Blacksnape Playing Fields
Location
Blacksnape Playing Fields, Roman Road / Blacksnape Road
Plaque
Poem: "Out of Lockdown"
Seat View
View of Blacksnape and to Darwen beyond
Poetry Bench - Guide Recreational Park
Location
Guide Recreational Park, School Lane, Guide, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "A Covid Reflection"
Seat View
View of the rear of houses on School Lane
Poetry Bench - Roe Lee Park
Location
Roe Lee Park, Emerald Street side, Roe Lee, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Untitled"
Seat View
View of Roe Lee Park
Poetry Bench - Cherry Tree Library
Location
Cherry Tree Library, Cherry Tree Lane, off Preston Old Road, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Green Hills"
Seat View
View of Cherry Tree Library
Poetry Bench - Bold Venture Park
Location
Bold Venture Park, Inverness Road, off Belgrave Road, Darwen
Plaque
Poem: "If I Were A Tree"
Seat View
View of Bold Venture Park statue and lake
Poetry Bench - River Darwen Parkway (West)
Location
River Darwen Parkway (West), near Ewood Park, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "My Darling"
Seat View
View of the recreational sports pitch
Poetry Bench - Mill Hill Recreational Play Area
Location
New Chapel Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Untitled"
Seat View
View of New Chapel Street
Poetry Bench - St Barnabas Street Recreational Play Area
Location
St Barnabas Street recreational play area, between Devonport Road and Belle Vue Street, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Untitled"
Seat View
View of the recreational play area
Poetry Bench - Witton Country Park
Location
Witton Country Park, Preston Old Road, Blackburn
Plaque
Poem: "Untitled"
Seat View
View of the park entrance and footpath
Poetry Bench - Darwen Town Hall
Location
Darwen Town Hall, corner of Parliament Street and Croft Street, Darwen
Plaque
Poem: "People Make A Town"
Seat View
View along Parliament Street
Ark Plastics - Bench Manufacturer
Blackburn with Darwen Council Videos (External Links - vimeo)
