The design represents a doorway from one millennium to the next or from the present to the future; it also recalls the stone house after which Stonehouse is believed to be named. On it are carved symbols of the town and the area using several of the ideas suggested by members of the public during the research phase of the project. Children (or very keen adults) will be able to climb through the opening.
At the top
The Tudor rose, adopted as a symbol for the town, allegedly because a carved rose was found on a fireplace in the Elizabethan manor house which was destroyed by fire.
The dove holding an olive branch represents the 'still small voice' of peoples' aspirations for the future.
A row of doves for Doverow Hill.
On the Left
Bricks including a brick from the Stonehouse Brick and Tile Company, made from the local clay. Inset into the 'brickwork' are two stones carved by members of the public at the event in the High Street. Greater crested newts, displaced when the road was widened and realigned.
On the Right
Vines, grown probably in Roman times on the slopes of Doverow Hill.
On the Base
The great wave on the left side represents the Ocean, as the turning place on the canal was called. On the right in the calm waters of the canal is a narrow boat.
The final design is based upon responses to public consultation carried out by Jamie Vans and Maidenhill pupils and celebrates the past, present and future of Stonehouse.
The Millennium Stone is carved from Portland Stone, weighs 2.5 tonnes and took 5 months to carve!
At the Top
The cone shaped bag is of the type made by the Stonehouse Paper and Bag Mills at Bridgend. Sadly these bags are not made any more though if you buy a baguette or an artist's paintbrush it may come in one of the long thin bags in which they specialise.
Flying fish: the three previous sculptures created by Jamie Vans and the pupils from Maidenhill School had fish as their subject; it seemed right to put one into this work as well.
Below
The brush represents the Brushworks the broken handle symbolises loss of a well known local company.
The 202 foot chimney of the Stonehouse Brick and Tile Company. Built in 1900 it was the tallest in the county.
To its right, and roughly to scale, the chimney of the present Dairy Crest works, a familiar landmark of the area.
On the far right, the Dudbridge donkey, the train which ran from Stonehouse to Dudbridge where the line divided with branches to Stroud and Nailsworth.
On the right
The elm tree was once a feature of the English countryside, the tallest of all the native trees and the one the rooks chose to nest in.
The brambles are reaching their fruit into a jam jar, one of the products of the Severn Valley Fruit Company. Many people remember picking fruit for the company.
The Stonehouse Millennium Stone was funded by Stonehouse Town Council - "It all started with a remark at a Council meeting-"
The brief was to create a sculpture in Stonehouse High Street to reflect the history and character of the town at the start of the Millennium. The project was initiated and funded by Stonehouse Town Council who worked in partnership with Jamie Vans, Maidenhill School and the Stroud and Mid-Gloucestershire Education Business Partnership, working with the local community.