In Buxton, Derbyshire, a wooden sculpture known as “Martha,” created as a tribute to local miners, has been knocked off its plinth, prompting questions about further vandalism. The sculpture is part of a series commissioned by the Buxton Civic Association, which manages many of the town’s important woods, including Grin Low, an area historically linked to lime-burning. The sculptures are intended to highlight the role of miners in improving the fertility of nearby farmland.
According to the account, “Charlie” was vandalised in 2021, leading to a public response that resulted in the creation of “Martha.” The sculpture was later targeted as well: it was daubed with swastikas and its eyes were gouged out. The sculptor, Lorraine Botterill, repaired the damage, and Martha was reinstated. The latest incident occurs two years after that reinstatement, when Martha is reportedly smashed off her wooden plinth.
The reports describe repeated acts of destruction directed at a memorial artwork connected to local industrial history and community efforts to preserve and interpret the surrounding woodland environment.
