Rugby is the second largest market town in Warwickshire. The town has a world-renowned heritage as the birthplace of the sport and one of the oldest schools in the country. Rugby School, which started in 1567, is now an independent boarding school. Culturally the town is well known for its grass-roots music and thriving exhibitions and events programme at the gallery and museum. Rugby Borough Council’s Town Centre Regeneration Project is setting the stage for an ambitious redevelopment of the town centre which includes ‘Greening Street and Spaces’ as one of the big ideas.
Rugby Town Centre - Explaining the big ideas
When residents were asked for their thoughts about Rugby - which then formed part of the artists’ brief for this project - they said how proud they are of the town’s heritage and its architecture. They’d said they’d like to see more interesting meeting points and more greenery in the town centre.
Architects, Studio MUTT have created a ‘micro’ park for Market Place, Rugby High Street, a short walk from Rugby Gallery and Museum. The space has been designed as a meeting point, a place to socialise and rest with benches and planting. The design uses split rock which gives texture and interest. 'Rugby Butter Stones’ was inspired by Rugby’s history as a market town, and it’s impressive architecture, particularly it’s rare collection of buildings by the Gothic Revival Architect, William Butterfield, with their display of clashing colours and patterns.
Market Place, Rugby High Street location
'Rugby Butter Stones' is part of the Our Spaces initiative which features many projects to reinvigorate the town centres across Warwickshire. View the other projects within the Our Spaces initiative.
The name ‘Butter Stones’ refers to ‘butter crosses’ - historic market town structures where butter was once sold on market days. Before their use as butter crosses, and long after, these structures had a variety of other uses. ‘Rugby Butter Stones’ is designed to have a similar flexibility of use.