Iron Child sculpture in Bourne is on the move

A sculpture known locally as The Iron Child is being relocation.

The installation, created by Bourne artist Helen Graham in 2018, began life as a collaboration with primary school teacher Rebecca Beavis, who encouraged pupils at Bourne Westfield Primary School to put their aspirations on paper. These were kept inside the sculpture before it became a fixture at the Wake Ponds entrance to the Elsea Park housing estate in Bourne.

Since then The Iron Child has been decorated and dressed for several occasions, becoming an Egyptian mummy and having its limbs covered in poppies for Remembrance Day.

But at the November 7 meeting of Elsea Park Community Trust’s board, resident director Peggy Kent brought up a concern that social media was encouraging people to place a poppy on or around the statue.

The trust felt this could pose a danger to motorists, with flying objects in gusty weather, and there was also a risk a child might accidentally step into the road while doing so.

After discussion it was decided to suggest to Bourne Town Council that the artwork be relocated elsewhere.

A subsequent post on Bourne Town Council’s social media, alongside a photo of the sculpture, read: “Hi. The Iron Child here. Just to let you all know that I'm going on a short trip. I won't be going far so I will see you all again soon at my new location!”

The new location is understood to be in West Road by the ‘Welcome to Bourne’ planter and bench, where there is a wide grass verge and public footpath, making it safer for the sculpture to be decorated.

The statue is in council storage and could be moved to the new location this weekend.