Measham was one of 245 English communities which were funded to establish millennium greens with input from local communities. An overview of the national scheme can be found here. Funds were provided by the National Lottery and the Countryside Agency. The general design for all such greens was that they should include natural features and opportunities for public events. They were not to have buildings but were expected to have some type of feature or sculpture that could act as a focus for the green. The specific details of each site were to be determined by local people.
Measham chose to have a sculpture commemorating the life of Joseph Wilkes. A competition was held with entrants being judged at a public exhibition. The design chosen was a sundial designed by Steve Field.
It was installed in a site adjacent to the old station building (which now houses the Measham Museum) and officially opened on May 10th 2003.
Joseph Wilkes Memorial Sundial designed by Steve Field
The different segments of the mosaic represent different aspects of Wilkes life and activities. They are loosely grouped into Water, Fire, Air and Earth based activities.
Specific segments represent:
*agricultural improver – irrigation and the use of machinery
*canal builder (note the simple techniques of his ‘navvies’)
*owner of cotton and bleach mills; improver of the River Trent
*from a family of nailmakers
*boilermaker and foundryman
*brickmaker, especially of Jumb(o) size (as recreated on site)
*a portrait of Wilkes based on an old print
*banker and friend of Watt and Boulton
*promoter and user of steam power
*rebuilder of Measham using the characteristic double arch as can still be seen in buildings near to the former canal bridge
*road builder and trustee and keen carriage driver
*coal field developer, supplier of cheese – perhaps to the Royal Navy
Joseph Wilkes of Measham 