WARRINGTON Arts Council is seeking planning permission to paint a mural of Warrington Rugby League legend, Paul Cullen, on the wall of the King’s Head on Winwick Street.
The Arts Council is pushing forward the project with Anthony Turk, that artist who painted the famous Warrington Pink Eye, who has a real passion for the town.
The mural will also feature former player and assistant coach Paul Darbyshire who tragically died from motor neurone disease aged just 41.
Paul Taylor, Chair of Warrington Arts Council said, “Anthony is itching to get started on it and we’re extremely proud and excited that this mural will kick off our Art and About in Warrington Initiative that we launched recently.
“This will be the first of many fantastic art projects in town that will brighten the place up and remind us of our amazing heritage and ambition that we have here in Warrington. It is just the first step in a long, winding, walking tour of the town that people will travel to come and experience one day.”
The main image chosen by Anthony is that of Paul Cullen saluting fans after the final match of the season when he saved Warrington from relegation in the 2003. Not only was it the last league game the Warrington Wolves first team would play at the Wilderspool Stadium before it was demolished but it was especially crucial that Warrington weren’t relegated at that particular time as they needed to have the Super League status to ensure that their occupation of the new Halliwell Jones Stadium was sustainable.
The Kings Head, a pub that is well known for attracting rugby fans and has done so for many, many years exists right between the old location of the Wilderspool stadium and the new Halliwell Jones.
Paul added, “We all know rugby is a huge part of the town’s heritage and that’s why we should be loud and proud of what we have and this will further enhance heritage value of the King’s Head, which is already a Grade II listed building thanks to its ornate frontage, by placing this inspiring mural on a wall that is just bare plaster at the moment (since the neighbouring buildings were demolished). This wall was never really meant to be seen at all, and now it’s a bland, brown slab devoid of any character or colour which really lets down the beauty of the architectural designs on the other faces of the building. This will certainly remedy that, and who better than Anthony Turk to get the ball rolling on this great project?”
The existing King’s Head pub
