St Neots approves striking horse sculpture celebrating the town's rich heritage

A permanent stainless steel horse sculpture inspired by St Neots' history and identity is set to be installed near the Priory Centre before the end of the year.

St Neots is set to gain a new permanent public artwork after St Neots Town Council approved the Heartbeat of St Neots sculpture project at its Full Council meeting on 23 June.

The winning design, "Stop, Rest and Trade", has been created by local artist Paul Pibworth and takes the form of a life-sized horse, reflecting the town's historic role as an important coaching stop and centre of trade. The sculpture will be crafted from stainless steel, featuring copper horseshoes and bridlework.

The artwork will stand outside the Oast House, close to the Priory Centre, a prominent location chosen for its links to St Neots' brewing heritage and its position at the heart of the town.

The commission began in 2023 after St Neots Town Council launched an open competition for a community artwork. The project is funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority through Huntingdonshire District Council. Community arts organisation Neotists CIC secured the commission and appointed Paul Pibworth to develop the design.

Public engagement played a key role, with workshops and an online survey reaching almost 10,000 people and attracting 145 responses. Residents overwhelmingly supported a sculpture that reflects the history and identity of St Neots.

Mr Pibworth, who combines a background in engineering with more than 25 years in the creative industries, has previously created large-scale public sculptures including the stainless steel shire horse Stanley's Shoes.

Manufacturing of the sculpture will now begin, alongside the planning process and further consultation on the historical text that will be incorporated into its surface. The finished artwork is expected to be installed before the end of 2026.