A poignant display featuring thousands of poppies has been unveiled in Derbyshire today. The Weeping Window structure, which can be seen cascading down the Silk Mill tower, in Derby, has been created by Derbyshire artist Paul Cummins.
The Weeping Window formed part of the magnificent Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red exhibition which took place in 2014 at the Tower of London. Each poppy represents a soldier who died in the First World War, and are on a nationwide tour. It remain in Derby until July 23 when they travel to Cardiff for the next stop.
The display will open to the public tomorrow at 8am as part of a wider festival, Derby Remembers – a poignant look back at the role of the city and its people in the First World War.
The Silk Mill Museum will be open every day throughout the six weeks from 10am to 5pm (Thursdays 10am-8pm) and a team of volunteers from the Royal British Legion will be on hand to explain the relevant history of Derby and the poppies.
Artist Mr Cummins, a University of Derby graduate from Chesterfield, said it is "surreal" to see his creation back in his home county, but he feels a real sense of pride.He first came up with the idea in 2012 and employed a 400-strong team in the city to make more than 410,000 poppies by hand. The remaining poppies which made up the Tower of London display were created elsewhere but were sent back to Derby to be glazed by Mr Cummins' team.
He said: "It's great to have the poppies back in Derby and on a brilliant building that is the Silk Mill. It's nice for everyone involved in the project to see it come to a completion. It looks fantastic, especially at night, and I hope everyone in Derby can enjoy it."
While the idea for the poppies originated with Mr Cummins, it was London-born Tom Piper's extensive experience as a theatre designer which led to him being involved in one of the most famous installations in British history.
Designer Mr Piper said: "I came up with the metaphor of the poppies turning almost into blood, into a liquid that can flow. So wherever we go we respond to the particular building and the poppies always flow out of a high window and cascade down to the ground.
"Here in Derby, because we're on the sight of an old mill course and in the paving stones you can actually see where that used to be, we've the poppies coming up through the paving stones which kind of teeter on the edge of what used to be the mill course below. The Silk mill is an industrial building with a great heritage. It has a very strong tower and in the evening you get fantastic shadow which comes across."
During the First World War, Derby Silk Mill was divided into two businesses - one grinding corn and the other making medical supplies, both integral to the British war effort. Derby as a whole played a vital part in production during the course of the First World War with Rolls-Royce developing the Eagle Engine at the request of the government to power allied aircraft.
The tour is being organised by 14-18 Now, which is the UK's arts programme for the First World War Centenary, with support from the Backstage Trust and Clore Duffield Foundation. Among those involved in bringing the poppies back to the city were Derby City Council, Derby Museums, the University of Derby, Derby Cathedral, Quad and Marketing Derby.
Deputy chief executive of Derby City Council, Christine Durrant, said: "We are delighted that along with our fantastic partners we are able to present the Weeping Window at The Silk Mill Museum. The Poppies have toured the UK and now people will have the chance to view them in Derby close to where so many of them were made."
Jenny Waldman, Director of 14-18 Now, said: "The poppies have captivated millions of people across the UK, and we are delighted to present Weeping Window at The Silk Mill in Derby as part of the ongoing tour. We are so grateful to artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper for these two enormously powerful artworks of national significance that have a huge impact on all who see them."
The will continue to travel the country until Armistice Day 2018, when it is planned they will be a permanent feature in the Imperial War Museums in Manchester and London.
