Monkey Town goes ape

Monkey Town Goes Ape

In the 19th Century, the town of Heywood was built around the area today known as Heap Bridge. Irish ‘navvies’ working on the railway with their native accents, sounded to locals as if they were referring to it as ‘Ape Bridge’.

Since that time, Heywood has been known as Monkey Town.

Rachel Law, Chief Executive of PossAbilities CIC, said: There are those that dislike this tag. We take the view that after 175 years, it’s a nickname that is unlikely to disappear.

“We might as well turn it into a positive force for good.

“That’s why Heywood based social enterprise PossAbilities, supported by the Big Lottery Fund have created Monkey Town Goes Ape. The Monkey Town trail.

“It’s a three-mile trail comprising nine beautiful ape artworks created by local people and school children in collaboration with nine artists.”

St Luke’s CE Primary School have been working with Artist Leanne Thompson to create ‘Beau’ the Ape, they were inspired by all things beautiful.

Phoo Dow comes from a troop of apes who live deep in the African rain forest, Hopwood School worked with artist Isabelle Alexa to create him. Siddal Moor Sports College’s artist Stefan Graham helped them create Glissando Babboono who likes peace, bananas and nuts.

Big Heap was made by Heap Bridge Village Primary School with help from artist Lee Hartley and St Margaret’s C of E Primary School worked with artist Mila Raczkowska to make their Ape, Maggie, she’s named after Saint Margaret.

Each ape has a unique symbol on its base. If you collect rubbings of all nine symbols on your collectors sheet, you will be entered into a draw to win one of the apes at the end of the summer.

A monkey themed town parade on Saturday 6 May and all day garden party at Cherwell Wellbeing Garden & Farm will be the start of the Monkey Town events over the summer finishing with the ‘Gathering of the Apes’ on Friday 25 August with a chance to say farewell as we gather all nine apes together at the Cherwell Wellbeing Garden & Farm.

Rachel said: “Monkey Town Goes Ape! Will brighten up the town, bring people together and make exercise fun.”