CONCERNS are mounting over the future of a large artwork which charts a town’s entire history.

The Saltash Chronicles is a 100 foot embroidery depicting scenes from the settlement’s origins in the Stone Age right through to the modern day.

Around 60 people contributed to the project, which was five years in the making.

The Saltash Chronicles is currently on display in the town’s Baptist Church hall, but this arrangement can only continue until September 2018.

The project’s founder, Andrew Tritton, is worried about the embroidery’s future; he says the Town Council has offered no concrete assurance that it will help find a permanent home for the huge work of art.

‘The Saltash Chronicles is temporarily on display at the Saltash Baptist Church hall, but it needs a permanent home,’ said Mr Tritton.

‘This ambitious project was initially sponsored and part-funded by Saltash Council’s Community Chest. Local historians, artists and embroiderers worked for more than five years to produce a stunning pictorial history of our town.  Since its completion eighteen months ago it has been visited by many people from near and far who have all expressed their pleasure and admiration. 

‘It would be a great pity if this amazing work of art has to be dismantled and stored in a cupboard.’

A previous Town Council had suggested that the embroidery could be placed in the Saltash Railway Station Building, should this property be acquired by the council.

The Town Council do now own the building - but have offered no guarantee that the Chronicles will find a home there.

‘It would seem that the project is no longer on the Council’s radar,’ said Mr Tritton.

‘The Saltash Chronicles Embroidery is listed as one of the attractions on the Town Trail leaflet, so I cannot understand the current situation.’

A spokesperson for Saltash Town Council said that the mayor, Councillor Jean Dent, had replied to those residents who had written to the Council with their concerns about the embroidery.

The Chronicles would be one of ‘a range of options’ for the refurbished station building, said the Council.

Cllr Dent said: ‘We will definitely consider finding a home for the embroidery in the station building, but we won’t know if this is feasible for some time.

‘Until then unfortunately we haven’t anywhere to store it.’