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Middlesbrough’s mighty industrial past has been captured in a powerful poem created by North East poet Ian Horn.  His evocative verse entitled Ironopolis will become part of the public realm artwork at RiversideOne, the £200m development transforming the Middlehaven area of the town.

The poem’s title refers to both the town’s nickname throughout the world when it was at the height of its industrial power and the now defunct Middlesbrough Ironopolis Football Club which won the Northern League Championship three years in a row between 1890 and 1893.

Ian won a £500 first prize and the opportunity to see his poetry immortalised in the development’s streetscape after entering a poetry competition conducted by RiversideOne developer BioRegional Quintain, literature agency New Writing North and the Arts Council.

His winning work will be changed into a nine metres wide iron sculpture that will encircle the base of a tree. The project is part of the overall arts strategy for RiversideOne which will create a variety of impressive and innovative public realm art pieces throughout the development. These will enhance the areas around the new Middlesbrough College, Bridge Street East, Dock Street and the Clock Tower Square.

The RiversideOne development will turn the Middlehaven area of the town into a vibrant community featuring striking residential, leisure, education and commercial facilities. It is currently the largest planned zero carbon development in the UK and will set new standards in urban regeneration.

Pete Halsall, managing director of BioRegional Quintain, said:  “The arts strategy for RiversideOne is fundamental to our delivery of a distinctive, interesting and highly attractive place in which to live, work and relax. With this competition, we wanted someone to create a very personal and passionate insight into the town’s industrial heritage. Ian’s poem does just that and must be applauded for the way it also encapsulates the strength of Middlehaven’s past and future.”

Ian Horn was born and still lives in County Durham.  A poet for over ten years, he helps run Durham-based poetry club Colpitts Poetry and has performed his work widely, including at the Glastonbury music festival and on the BBC.

Ian commented:  “Public art provides a great platform to get people involved and interacting with poetry, so this competition really appealed to me. When I saw the extent of the public realm work being undertaken at RiversideOne, I felt inspired to write about the town’s historic strength. I am very pleased that Ironopolis will form part of what will be an exciting new district of Middlesbrough.”

The £4m phase one public realm work at RiversideOne - which is being funded by English Partnerships and One NorthEast - will feature cubed seating, giant paint splat benches and patterned paved-squares. Ironopolis will form part of the phase one works which are currently being undertaken by County Durham-based Hall Construction Services.

Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR) is the urban regeneration company responsible for attracting business investment and leading major physical regeneration projects across the Tees Valley. TVR is facilitating the public sector partners in BioRegional Quintain’s delivery of £200m of investment at Middlehaven that will create RiversideOne.

Commenting on the poetry competition, TVR chief executive Joe Docherty said: “From the outset we knew we wanted to deliver stunning and thought provoking public art at Middlehaven. We have worked closely with BioRegional Quintain to ensure that the projects celebrate Middlesbrough’s past and earmark an exciting future ahead. This first significant piece by a local and incredibly talented artist sets the standard and is sure to add to the status of RiversideOne.”

RiversideOne is situated close to Middlesbrough Football Club, off Windward Way, and provides fast access to the A66 and A19. People interested in purchasing an apartment at RiversideOne should visit the marketing suite 10am-5.30pm, Thursday to Monday, or contact the sales team on 0808 1722 430. Further information on the development is also available at www.riverside-one.com. Prices are correct at time of going to press.