In 2006, we commissioned artist Michael Dan Archer to produce a piece of artwork that was both functional and pleasing to the eye. The brief he was given was simply, 'Allenton, past, present and future'. What stands in Allenton shopping centre today is something that gives the area an identity and a focal point for many years to come. It's also somewhere nice to sit and take a well-earned rest.

Local legend tells of a well being dug on the site of Allenton's Crown Inn in 1895, and the ossified remains of a hippopotamus from 125,000 years ago being discovered. The bones are now on display in Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The legend forms the basis of the 'past' part of the sculpture, which is a large ring of beautiful polished black granite that, in the 'present' day, people can sit on. Set onto this are replicas of parts of the hippopotamus skeleton, transformed into cast iron from detailed clay copies and from 3D scans made with cutting-edge laser technology - bringing a 'future' context to the work - from parts of the skeleton. The piece was installed on 3 June 2007. Each of the Chinese granite pieces weighs in the region of three tonnes. Immediately beneath the paving slabs that the pieces sit on is a 4.5 metre square concrete block, 0.3m deep.

For more information on the Allenton artwork, please contact Ian Butler on 01332 641776 , minicom 01332 25666 or by email at ian.butler@derby.gov.uk.