Four Murals In Houghton le Spring

Whilst in Houghton le Spring, you can take yourself on a little jolly and explore some cultural murals. They are near each other, so a 30 minutes wander is all you need. Each one has something to tell you about the history of Houghton le Spring. My thanks to the artists who are happy to give insightful information.

Stained Glass Wild Boar

Illumination Wall Art AKA Dan Walls 2023

Our first stop is opposite Wetherspoons 'The Wild Boar' pub and on the side wall of the hairdressers you will see a stained glass Wild Boar. It is a nod to Houghton's coat of arms and the Apostle of the North Bernard Gilpin which is mentioned in the St Michaels And All Angels post.

The legend of a wild boar goes back to the 13th century and Richard De Gylpin who slew a vicious swine and added a black boar to his coat of arms.

Dan Wall is the artist who created this as part of the Houghton Mural Thing. He explains how he got started on his website:

[..] "2012 with help from the Princes Trust enterprise scheme I set up Illumination Wall Art. Initially, I started painting cartoon murals for children using my fine art degree and illustration experience. [...] I find working with spray paint and airbrush very liberating. The way the paint behaves allows me to use full extensions of my arms to produce great movement, long lines, and very saturated bright colours."

You can see the Bernard Gilpin stained glass window in St Michaels and All Angels Church which has been used for inspiration.

The White Lion

Durham Spray Paints AKA Lewis Hobson 2021

Just down the road on the walls around the White Lion Pub backyard/garden are black and white murals of scenes from Sunderland Street, Houghton circa 1900. I understand the brickwork makes a grid for the artwork to be transposed. It is certainly a pleasing aspect to study whilst supping up.

Lewis Hobson has several spectacular works around the area such as The Headland in Hartlepool and The Canary at Wheatley Hill.

Much of his work engages with the local communities, and he is often giving practical advice to would-be artists.

Lewis explains how these murals came about:

"They were commissioned by the people that were refurbishing the pub and the pictures were ones I'd found online on how the pub and Houghton used to look. The idea was for them to be cut into the wall so they acted as a portal."

Miner and Pit Pony

Alfred Huntley AKA EYES 2023

Mining was a big part of Houghton le Spring and this mural looks over where the mining area used to be. There is now a retail park and a new installation by Ray Lonsdale.

Alfie's artwork can involve the word EYES within the art. See if you can spot the artist's signature within the mural. I was delighted that I spotted it!

Durham Light Infantry Soldier

On the side of RAF Comrades Club by Mr _Skribz AKA Dan Toase 2023

This is a striking depiction of the cruelties and sentiments of the First World War. Dan Toase explains:

"The idea was that normally people only see the pictures of soldiers when they've either returned, going or just in their formal uniform. So I wanted to show what people don't see through their own eyes when they're on the front line. The main portrait part is of a soldier that's returned and inside the face are 3 Tommy's digging a trench in no man's land with one of them looking at the camera, which shows a very dark almost shell shocked face."

Mural artwork can be a challenge, but there is no stopping the artists even if the wall is awkward to get to, or has uneven surfaces or if there is a door.

These artworks are cultural and have been researched and drafted out before the surface is prepared with the work being carefully laid out. To boot the weather doesn't always help.

Whilst in Houghton le Spring have a look at what else there is. Check for ideas on the Fabulous North map