Propelling Nature at Crawter's Brook
2025
The Propelling Nature sculpture is a clear reference to Manor Royal’s aviation heritage and the early propeller shape has been merged with the shape of a natural Sycamore seed.
It is hoped the viewer will be prompted to consider Manor Royals aviation history and the natural importance of Crawters Brook, nestled within the industry and development of Manor Royal Business District.
It is one of three sculptures the sculptor Andrew McKeown was commissioned to deliver as part of the Lost Woodland Gallery.
Situated just off of the path on the western side of the flood alleviation basin at Crawter’s Brook People’s Park.
Zone 4 (Green Zone)
For Crawter’s Brook People’s Park, McKeown developed a series of ideas under the theme of the “Lost Woodland Gallery.” His concept imagines sculptural fragments that appear to have been “claimed by nature, partially rediscovered, fossilised, preserved in time,” reflecting both the woodland setting and Manor Royal’s long history of experimentation and innovation. Artist: Andrew McKeown - www.andrewmckeown.com
Pilot training and simulation has a long history on Manor Royal. The "Link Trainer" (often called the "Blue Box") was the first commercially successful flight simulator. Created in 1929 by Edwin A. Link, it used organ bellows and vacuum pressure to pitch, roll, and simulate flight instruments. It trained over 500,000 pilots for World War II.
The Link Trainer represents the dawn of synthetic flight training that remains a very important part of Manor Royal in the present day, although the simulators look very different now.
