GMDT PROJECT LEAD:  Dai Richards

Carlisle Park – Steps also known as Black Steed of Belles – put on hold at this time

In recent years Morpeth has increasingly benefitted from forms of street art and landscape features added to its townscape. We feel this adds to the character and uniqueness of the town, although not everyone might agree on the merits of some features! In 2017, as another example of our work we repainted the Black Steed of Belles poem on the 100 steps and the bandstand in Carlisle Park. In 2023, unfortunately the paint started to wear away and a new project was required to repaint the steps. Investigation started in 2023 to look at best paints to use, hoping we could complete in 2023/24.

It was hoped that we could pull together a team of artists and young people to repaint the steps but at the same time deliver a solution that would help Visually Impaired / Blind and less-abled persons to also learn about the story, by the delivering of a new Information board.

Unfortunately decision has been made due to Health and Safety reasons the steps will not be repainted since individuals reading the story as they walked down the steps is no longer deemed to be a safe thing to do.

We will work with NCC Carlisle Park team to look at options. If you have any suggestions / ideas how make the story still accessible to everyone – please let GMDT know info@gmdt.org.