A CERAMIC mural depicting the history of an iron foundry in Poole town centre is decorating a new residential development.

The two buildings in Lagland Street lie opposite the former Lewin’s Foundry, which later became Butler’s Brushworks.

Developers Stonewater commissioned ‘a space’ arts to create the piece of public art. The company chose illustrator and ceramist Lucy Kirk to illustrate the history of the foundry and its owner, Stephen Samuel Lewin.

Lewin established the foundry in 1866, and it developed a reputation for making agricultural machinery, steamboats, and steam locomotives. One of the firm’s earliest locomotives, named Samson, was built in 1874.

However, just 10 years later, Lewin was declared bankrupt and the foundry closed.

The mural has been painted on ceramic tiles to celebrate the town’s links to Poole Pottery, which was situated near the end of Lagland Street.

Philippa Yeates, regional development manager for Stonewater, said: "Since 2012, we’ve aimed to introduce public art into as many of our schemes as possible to make our developments distinctive, and to inspire people to be proud of their homes/community and to ‘buy into’ their external environment. This can also help to build a sense of community.

"Given Lagland Street’s proximity to the original foundry site, a modern take on a traditional tiled mural artwork seemed like a befitting format for this public art piece.”

A number of local buildings, particularly pubs, are decorated with glazed ceramic tiles to reflect the history of pottery in the area.

Stonewater’s two new buildings, which both contain affordable homes, have been named Hucklesby (in memory of the architect who designed the building) and Lewin.

Lucy’s design for the mural has been created in her signature style and the tiles have been installed around each of the building’s entrances.

A second phase of the project is planned, according to ‘a space’ arts, which will see the design installed in communal areas inside the buildings.